Joshua 23-24

CHAPTER 23:
            This chapter is the first of two of Joshua’s farewell addresses to the nation. He is now 110 years old (Joshua 24:29), which means that approximately three decades have passed since Israel entered the promised land. Though scripture doesn’t say for certain, it is reasonable to infer that Caleb and Joshua are approximately the same age, and since Caleb was 85 years old at the conclusion of the conquest and the start of the division of land among the tribes (Joshua 14:10), that means Joshua was also about the same age. Furthermore, because of Caleb’s earlier statement to Joshua in that same chapter (v.7), we know that the conquest of Canaan took about 7 years. Therefore, it’s been about 32 years since Israel first entered the promised land to begin their campaign of conquering and settlement.
            Verse 1 affirms that God has “…given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about…”, and now Joshua is on his deathbed. Just as Moses had done prior to his passing of the leadership mantle to Joshua, Joshua now summons all the men of Israel to give them one last exhortation and warning. He begins by reminding them of how God fought for them during the military campaigns thus far (v.3), but that there still remains land and nations to be conquered. (v.4) Joshua exhorts the men of Israel to continue the conquest, that God “…shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight…”. (v.5)
            But that will only open if Israel is faithful to the covenant that God made with their fathers via the law given to them by Moses. “…turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left…”. (v.6) He warns them not to mingle with those heathen nations whom God has condemned and that must be driven out of the promised land. (v.7) The reason for this is because of the idolatry that is practiced by those people. There’s a good reason the LORD made that the first commandment when giving the law to Moses on Mount Sinai. Over and over again, Israel’s greatest weakness since being brought out of Egypt is their penchant for worshiping false gods. Joshua now pleads with the men to “…cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day.” (v.8)
            It’s no coincidence that the previous chapter told of the misunderstanding between the western and eastern tribes regarding the building of the monument at the bank of the Jordan river. That’s what Joshua is referring to here. Ever since entering the promised land, this second generation has displayed a righteous zeal for the LORD their God, and has obeyed His every direction and law. This was evidenced in the account of Achan and his sin at Jericho. Now, the second generation has given birth to the third, and those sons and daughters are coming of age, and there will be a tendency to forget what happened to their grandfathers when they forgot God and turned to the idols of the heathen nations around them.
            Joshua circles back to his main point in verses 9-11, reminding the men of how the strength of those foreign nations utterly crumbled before the might of God. It was He that fought for Israel and gave them the victory, not them in their own might. Therefore, Israel will continue to have victory in the rest of their conquest and settlement, but only if they continue to be faithful and obedient to “…the LORD your God.” (v.11)
            As with Moses in his final address to the nation, Joshua warns of the consequences if Israel does not remain faithful and obedient. God will cease fighting for them, and those heathen people will instead “…be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes…”. (v.13) Israel will end up losing their inheritance entirely and becoming the conquered rather than the conquerors.
            Joshua closes with the familiar theme of blessings and cursings. (Deuteronomy 27-28) He reminds the men of Israel “…that not one good thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you…”. (v.14) God had kept His promises to Israel regarding the inheritance of the promised land for Abraham’s descendants. But just as His blessings would come for faithfulness and obedience, so would His judgment and wrath for rebellion and disobedience. (v.15) (Deuteronomy 28:63) If Israel failed to keep their end of the covenant, “…then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which He hath given you.” (v.16)
            As we already well know from the remainder of the Old Testament, that is exactly what happened. Israel remembered God for a time, but their obedience didn’t last very long, and they did exactly what Moses and Joshua had warned them not to do. They failed to completely drive out the heathen nations, and instead mingled among them, strayed from the Lord and His law, and God severely chastened them accordingly. Even unto today, Israel is still waiting for that coming time when God will fulfill His promise to Abraham and they will have complete possession of that promised land from which they will rule the whole earth with King Jesus on the throne for a thousand years.

CHAPTER 24:
           The second farewell address is given to the whole nation. (v.1) The previous one was for only the elders of the tribes, the men who are the leaders of their families. This one is for all the people. As with the giving of the law at Mount Sinai, this chapter follows the structure of a treaty between a lord and his subjects in the tradition of the ANE at this time period. Just as Moses had done with his farewell sermons in the book of Deuteronomy, Joshua now reminds the people of their covenant with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the same God that had brought them forth from the land of Egypt into this promised land.
 
            The preamble & historical prologue (v.2-13): God called Abraham to come out of the land of Ur of the Chaldees, to leave behind the false gods of his fathers, and to set out for a new home in Canaan. The LORD “…multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.” (v.3) When Jacob and his children went down to Egypt, they were few in number. But the nation that God delivered from slavery 430 years later was as numerous as the stars of the night sky. (Genesis 15:5) God performed miraculous signs and wonders in the process of delivering His chosen people from bondage. (v.5-7) He gave the fledgling nation many great victories in the process of bringing them into the promised land. (v.8-10) Balak hired Balaam to curse Israel, but God ignored him and blessed Israel instead. And then, when the second generation arrived in the promised land, God granted them even greater victories over the heathen nations there. (v.11-13) Israel didn’t have to build new cities or plow new fields for crops. All of that was already present and theirs for the taking.
 
            Covenant stipulations (v.14-18): Because of all that God has done for Israel, and because of the covenant that He made with them at Mount Sinai which their fathers agreed to, Joshua exhorts the nation to “…fear the LORD, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth…”. (v.14) This generation has a clear choice before them. They can serve the false gods of Egypt, or the false gods of the heathen nations whom they just conquered in the promised land, or they can serve and obey the one true God of their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (v.15) “But as for me and my house,” Joshua proclaims, “we will serve the LORD.”
            As they did with Moses at Mount Sinai, Israel answers Joshua’s call with a resounding affirmative. (v.16-18) They echo his confirmation of God’s miraculous deliverance of their fathers from Egypt as well as His almighty hand in their victories over the Amorites. “…therefore will we also serve the LORD; for He is our God.”
 
            Covenant sanctions (v.19-20): Here Joshua gives the warning of the consequences of Israel’s violation of this covenant. His response to Israel’s affirmation of their allegiance and faithfulness seems contradictory at first. “Ye cannot serve the LORD: for He is an holy God; He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.” (v.19) Joshua is testing the people’s words and intentions. Their fathers had made the same vow at Mount Sinai and yet they disobeyed by demonstrating a complete lack of faith when it came time to follow God’s direction at the border of the promised land. So Joshua is emphasizing once more God’s holiness and His righteous jealousy. He reminds the people yet again of what will happen if they renege on their vow: “…He will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.” (v.20)
 
            Covenant ratification (v.21-25): Israel swears once more, “…Nay; but we will serve the LORD.” (v.21) So Joshua solemnly affirms that they are witnesses against themselves, that they have chosen to serve the LORD, and the people confirm this. (v.22) He exhorts them yet again to turn away from the false gods and “…incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.” (v.23) And yet again the people answer, “…The LORD our God will we serve, and His voice will we obey.” (v.24) Joshua ceremonially confirms the covenant. (v.25)
 
          Covenant deposition and witnesses (v.26-28): Joshua then writes down the covenant and also places a memorial in the form of a large stone set under an oak tree near the tabernacle. (v.26) He declares the stone will be a witness unto the people of what has transpired this day, of their vow to serve and obey God alone. (v.27) After all this the people return to their homes. (v.28)
 
            Verses 29-33: Joshua is 110 years old at the time of his death, and he’s buried on the land that is his inheritance, near Mount Ephraim. (v.30) Israel kept their covenant with the LORD for at least another generation, possible two. (v.31) They also made sure to bury the bones of Joseph in Shechem as he had requested before his death. (v.32) He, too, had died at 110 years old. This coda by the author is meant to connect the promises of God to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the book of Genesis to the current generation that has just conquered and settled in the promised land. God had fulfilled His word to Abraham and his descendants, and now it’s up to the people to continue in faith and obedience to the renewed covenant that Joshua has just reaffirmed with them.
            Eleazar also passes away and is buried near Mount Ephraim on the land belonging to his son, Phineas. (v.33) He, Joshua, and Caleb are the last of that first generation that came out of Egypt. (Caleb, too, is presumably dead by this point in the narrative.) The book of the conquering and settling of the promised land is now closed, and a new chapter - both literal and figurative - in the history of Israel is about to begin with a whole new generation.