Joshua 23:6-11

Promises of Blessings for Obedience Joshua 23:6-11

6 Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;
7 That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:
8 But cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day.
9 For the Lord hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.
10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.
11 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God.

7.

Was the Pentateuch written in the days of ?Joshua 23:6

Joshua urged his people to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses. The book of the law of Moses is an evident reference to the five books of the PentateuchGenesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Moses compiled the writing of the book of the Law and commanded the priests to keep it where it could be read regularly to the people of Israel (Deuteronomy 31:9; Deuteronomy 31:24). Joshua urged his people to keep this law and not to turn aside from it in either directionto the right or to the left. Certainly the book was written and was known to the people or this passing reference on the part of Joshua would have had no meaning. Here is good evidence for the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch.

8.

How had God fought for Israel? Joshua 23:3; Joshua 23:10

When Moses and the people of Israel stood at the edge of the Red Sea with the Egyptians behind them and no way of escape to the right or to the left, Moses said, The Lord shall fight for you (Exodus 14:14). God did fight for Israel. By His providences the chariot wheels were removed from the chosen chariots of Egypt. The armies of Pharaoh were overthrown in the midst of the sea. When the sun and moon stood still so that the people could avenge themselves upon their enemies, it was said again, The Lord fought for Israel (Joshua 10:14). These people had experienced God's providences on their behalf and knew of the times when God had fought for Israel in the days of their ancestors.

9.

What great nations had been driven out? Joshua 23:9

A list of thirty-one kings whom the Israelites had beaten is given in chapter twelve. The kings beyond the Jordan had also been defeated. Some of these nations were great and powerful nations. Only by the providences of God were the Israelites able to overthrow these kingdoms.

10.

Why say one man could chase a thousand? Joshua 23:10

Joshua was expressing the unusual strength which would come to the Israelites when they followed the Lord. Moses had earlier said that five of them would chase an hundred and an hundred would put ten thousand to flight (Leviticus 26:8). Later Moses had used this very terminology to express the unusual strength which would be Israel's as he said one would chase a thousand and two put ten thousand to flight (Deuteronomy 32:30). Unusual feats of courage were performed by these Israelites. Shamgar slew six hundred men with an ox goad (Judges 3:31), and Samson slew a thousand men with a new jawbone of an ass (Judges 15:15). One of David's mighty men was famous for his fighting against eight hundred men (2 Samuel 23:8). Even though individual feats of this nature can be isolated in the Scripture, Joshua's reference was a general allusion to the fact that they would be able to overcome great odds as they followed the Lord faithfully.

11.

Why did Joshua urge the people to take good heed to themselves? Joshua 23:11

Joshua's exhortation was really quite explicit. A stronger translation of this passage would indicate that he urged them to guard carefully their souls. Here was an exhortation that they should love the Lord with all their hearts, souls, and minds. They were to give Him first place in their thoughts and in their devotions. Joshua was most concerned over their spiritual attitudes and made this clear as he gave this exhortation.