Joshua 23:1-13

1. A reminder of past blessings 23:1-13

Joshua reminded the Israelites of God’s faithfulness in fighting for them and giving them victory over their enemies, as He had promised, if they kept His covenant with them. Joshua urged the people to remain loyal and promised that God would then drive out the Canaanites that still remained in the land (Joshua 23:4-7; Joshua 23:12-13).

"Joshua passed on to Israel the secret of success and prosperity that the Lord had given him at the beginning of the Conquest [Joshua 1:6-7; Joshua 1:9; Joshua 1:18]. God’s promise [concerning occupation of the land] was not unconditional; Israel’s faithfulness was required." [Note: Madvig, p. 362.]

"To make mention of the names of the idols [Joshua 23:7] (Ex. xxiii. 13), to swear by them, to serve them (by sacrifices), and to bow down to them (to invoke them in prayer), are the four outward [false] forms of divine worship." [Note: Keil and Delitzsch, p. 224.]

"For Israel, Yahweh claimed to fulfill all the functions for which other nations needed a multitude of gods. The problem was that Israel could never really come to believe the claim totally. She constantly sought the favors of the gods who had claimed to give fertility to the land long before Israel entered it or the gods who seemed at the moment to have military power." [Note: Butler, p. 255.]

The nation as a whole had been faithful to God during Joshua’s administration. Therefore he did not mention individual sins and failures here. Joshua, as Moses, called the people to love Yahweh as well as obey Him (Joshua 23:11). He also reminded his hearers of the dire consequences of failing to obey God out of love (Joshua 23:12-13).

"If Israel does not do her part, then God will not do his. Here is the danger of freedom. God seeks man’s free response of love. God does his part to deserve and receive such love. God does not force his attentions upon man. But the man who ignores God’s claims finds God’s punishment." [Note: Ibid., p. 256.]