1 Now long after Yahweh had given Israel rest from all the enemies surrounding them -- Joshua was old now, far advanced in years-
2 Joshua summoned all Israel, their elders, leaders, judges and officials, and said to them, 'I myself am old, far advanced in years;
3 you for your part have witnessed all that Yahweh your God has done to all these nations for your sake; Yahweh your God himself has fought for you.
4 Look, these nations still remaining, and all the nations which I have exterminated from the Jordan all the way to the Great Sea in the west, I have allotted to you as the heritage for your tribes.
5 Yahweh your God will himself drive them out before you; he will dispossess them before you and you will take possession of their country, as Yahweh your God has promised you.
6 'So be very firm about keeping and doing everything written in the Book of the Law of Moses, not swerving from that either to right or to left.
7 Never mix with the peoples who are still left beside you. Do not utter the names of their gods, do not swear by them, do not serve them and do not bow down to them.
8 On the contrary, you must be loyal to Yahweh your God as you have been till now.
9 Yahweh has dispossessed great and powerful nations before you, and no one so far has been able to resist you.
10 One man of you was able to rout a thousand of them, since Yahweh your God was himself fighting for you, as he had promised you.
11 Be very careful, as you value your life, to love Yahweh your God.
12 'But should you in any way relapse, if you make friends with the remnant of these nations still living beside you, if you intermarry with them, if you mix with them and they with you,
13 then know for certain that Yahweh your God will stop dispossessing these nations before you, and for you they will be a snare, a pitfall, thorns in your sides and thistles in your eyes, until you vanish from this fine country given you by Yahweh your God.
14 'Today, you see, I am going the way of all the earth. Acknowledge with all your heart and soul that of all the promises made to you by Yahweh your God, not one has failed: all have been fulfilled -- not one has failed.
15 'As every promise made to you by Yahweh your God has been fulfilled for you, by the same token Yahweh will fulfil all his threats against you, even to exterminating you from this fine country given you by Yahweh your God.
16 'For if you violate the covenant which Yahweh your God has imposed on you, if you go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then Yahweh's anger will be roused against you and you will quickly vanish from the fine country which he has given you.'
Versículos relacionados com Joshua, 23:
Joshua chapter 23 describes Joshua's final speech to the people of Israel before his death. He reminds the people of God's faithfulness to fulfill their promises and encourages them to remain faithful to the Lord, obeying their law and avoiding idolatry. Joshua warns the people about the dangers of associating themselves with the pagan nations around them, which could lead to apostasy and consequent divine punishment. Following are five verses related to these themes:
Deuteronomy 4:23-24: "Take care, do not forget the covenant of the Lord, your God, who he has concluded with you, and do not make you an idol in any way, according to the Lord, your God, commanded you. For the Lord your God is a devouring fire, a zealous God. " This verse highlights the importance of faithfulness to God and the prohibition of idolatry, something Joshua also emphasized in his speech.
Exodus 23:32-33: "Thou shalt not make a covenant with them, nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in thy land, that they do not sin against me; for thou shalt serve their gods, which shall be a bond for you." This verse warns against the association with pagan nations and highlights the dangers of apostasy.
Deuteronomy 7:2-4: "And when the Lord thy God has given these nations in your hands, thou shalt exterminate them completely. Thou shalt not with them covenant, nor have mercy on them. Your children, you will not even take your daughters to your children. For they would divert your children from me, that they may serve other gods. " This verse is similar to the previous one, admonishing Israel not to make a covenant with the pagan nations.
Deuteronomy 28:15: "But if you do not listen to the voice of the Lord, your God, and do not take care of fulfilling all your commandments and statutes that I command you today, will come upon you all these curses, and will reach you." This verse highlights the importance of obedience to God and the consequences of disobedience.
Joshua 24:14-15: "Now I have feared the Lord, and served it with sincerity and faithfulness. Take the gods to whom you have served your parents beyond the Euphrates and Egypt, and serve the Lord." This verse summarizes Joshua's appeal to the people to remain faithful to God and avoid idolatry.
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