Joshua 23:6-14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 23:1-10

As to the date of this edict of Joshua, I. No mention at all is made of the place where this general assembly was held; some think it was at Timnath-serah, Joshua's own city, where he lived, and whence, being old, he could not well remove. But it does not appear that he took so much state upon him; therefore it is more probable this meeting was at Shiloh, where the tabernacle of meeting was, and to which place, perhaps, all the males that could had now come up to worship before the Lord, at... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 23:11-16

Here, I. Joshua directs them what to do, that they might persevere in religion, Josh. 23:11. Would we cleave to the Lord, and not forsake him, 1. We must always stand upon our guard, for many a precious soul is lost and ruined through carelessness: ?Take heed therefore, take good heed to yourselves, to your souls (so the word is), that the inward man be kept clean from the pollutions of sin, and closely employed in the service of God.? God has given us precious souls with this charge, ?Take... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 23:6

Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses ,.... To observe which required spiritual strength, fortitude of mind, a holy courage, a firm and fixed resolution, and particularly to destroy the Canaanites required in that book, and to abstain from all communion and fellowship with them: that ye turn not aside therefrom, to the right hand or the left ; See Gill on Joshua 1:7 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 23:7

That ye come not among these nations, those that remain among you ,.... That remained unsubdued, or that were suffered to dwell among them, being tributaries to them; with these they were not to converse freely and familiarly, nor to carry on trade and commerce with them, nor enter into any alliances or marriages with them, and not even attend any of their feasts, and especially their idolatrous ones: neither make mention of the name of their gods ; not in common conversation, and still... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 23:8

But cleave unto the Lord your God ,.... To his word, worship, and ordinances; externally, by close adherence to them, and strict observation of them; and internally, by strong affection to him, hope, trust, and confidence in him, expectation of all good things from him, and constant application to him for help in all times of need, and a fixed dependence on him: as ye have done unto this day ; that is, since they came into the land of Canaan, and had been under the government of Joshua;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 23:9

For the Lord hath driven out before you great nations and strong ,.... Especially as they were reckoned in those times, before any great monarchies had existed, as did afterwards; and indeed these were, considering the land they inhabited, very numerous and populous, and were very stout and able bodied men, and some of a gigantic stature; and all dwelt in strong fortified cities, and were able to bring out large armies into the field, with chariots of iron, so that they were very formidable;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 23:10

One man of you shall chase a thousand ,.... Here Kimchi and Ben Melech observe, that the future tense is put for the past, and that the sense is, one of them had chased a thousand in their war with the Canaanites; but Abarbinel disapproves of this observation, and thinks it refers to time to come, what they should be able to do if they cleaved unto the Lord; this was fulfilled in Samson, Judges 15:15 ; such a promise was made, Leviticus 26:8 , for the Lord your God he it is that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 23:11

Take good heed therefore unto yourselves ,.... To be upon their guard, and to be watchful, were very necessary to them, that they might not be ensnared by the Canaanites, and drawn aside by them into idolatry, and so apostatize from the Lord and his worship, since their temptations would be many: that ye love the Lord your God ; which would the most strongly influence and engage them to serve and worship the Lord, and obey his commands, and be the best preservative against idolatry and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 23:12

Else if ye do in any wise go back ,.... From the Lord and his worship, from his word and ordinances: and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even those that remain among you ; in cities not taken, or in several which the Philistines were in possession of, or lived among them as tributaries to them, if they should take to them, and be free and familiar with them, which may lead on to nearer connections in civil and religious matters: and shall make marriages with them ; marry... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 23:13

Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you ,.... Or, "knowing ye shall know" F18 ידוע תדעו "sciendo scietis", Montanus; "sciendo scitote", Pagninus, Vatablus. ; or "know ye"; this may be taken for granted, or the fullest proof, and clearest demonstration, and strongest assurance will be given of it, that in case of such bad conduct, and disobedience to the will of God, no more of the nations of the Canaanites will be... read more

Group of Brands