231 Now after a long time, when the Lord had given Israel rest from wars on every side, and Joshua was old and full of years, 2 Joshua sent for all Israel, for their responsible men and their chiefs and their judges and their overseers, and said to them, I am old, and full of years: 3 You have seen everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations because of you; for it is the Lord your God who has been fighting for you. 4 Now I have given to you, as the heritage of your tribes, all these nations which are still in the land, together with those cut off by me, from Jordan as far as the Great Sea on the west. 5 The Lord your God will send them away by force, driving them out before you; and you are to take their land for your heritage, as the Lord your God said to you. 6 So be very strong to keep and do whatever is recorded in the book of the law of Moses, not turning away from it to the right or to the left; 7 Have nothing to do with these nations who still are living among you; let not their gods be named by you or used in your oaths; do not be their servants or give them worship: 8 But be true to the Lord your God as you have been till this day. 9 For the Lord has sent out from before you nations great and strong: and they have all given way before you till this day. 10 One man of you is able to put to flight a thousand; for it is the Lord your God who is fighting for you, as he has said to you.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 23:1-10
Commentary on Joshua 23:1-10
(Read Joshua 23:1-10)
Joshua was old and dying, let them observe what he said now. He put them in mind of the great things God had done for them in his days. He exhorted them to be very courageous. Keep with care, do with diligence, and regard with sincerity what is written. Also, very cautiously to endeavour that the heathen idolatry may be forgotten, so that it may never be revived. It is sad that among Christians the names of the heathen gods are so commonly used, and made so familiar as they are. Joshua exhorts them to be very constant. There might be many things amiss among them, but they had not forsaken the Lord their God; the way to make people better, is to make the best of them.