231 Now it came about after many days , when e the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their enemies on every side , and Joshua was old , advanced in years , 2 that Joshua called for all Israel , for their elders and their heads and their judges and their officers , and said to them, "I am old , advanced in years . 3 "And you have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations because e of you, for the Lord your God is He who has been fighting for you. 4 "See , I have apportioned to you these nations which remain as an inheritance for your tribes , with all the nations which I have cut off , from the Jordan even to the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun 5 "The Lord your God , He will thrust them out from before you and drive them from before you; and you will possess their land , just as the Lord your God promised you. 6 " Be very firm , then, to keep and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses , so that you may not turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left , 7 so that you will not associate with these nations , these which remain among you, or mention the name of their gods , or make anyone swear by them, or serve them, or bow down to them. 8 "But you are to cling to the Lord your God , as you have done to this day . 9 " For the Lord has driven out great and strong nations from before you; and as for you, no man has stood before you to this day . 10 " One of your men puts to flight a thousand , for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, just as He promised 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.