1 A long time after Yahweh gave peace to Israel in all its borders,
2 Joshua, who was now very old and burdened with age, summoned all Israel - their elders, leaders, secretaries and judges - and he said to them: "I am now very old.
3 You have seen all that Yahweh has done to all these nations for your sake and how he himself has fought for you.
4 See, I have distributed to you the territory of all these nations that we destroyed from the Jordan to the Great Sea, as well as those nations that still remain.
5 Yahweh, our God, will continue driving them back before you and will deprive them of their lands that you may take them as Yahweh has promised you.
6 Therefore be very valiant and have the determination to do all that is written in the book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside from it either to the right or to the left.
7 Do not intermingle with these nations that are left among you. Do not call upon their gods or swear by their name. Do not serve them or bow before them,
8 but remain united to Yahweh, our God, as you have done to this day.
9 For that reason, Yahweh has driven away before you many powerful nations: no one was able to stand before your presence.
10 One of you pursued a thousand since Yahweh, our God, fought for you as he had promised.
11 So then, be very careful to love Yahweh, your God.
12 But if you separate yourselves from him and become one with the rest of these nations that still remain among you, if they come to be your relatives and you intermarry with them,
13 know very well that Yahweh shall no longer drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a scourge on your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this beautiful land Yahweh, our God, has given you.
14 I am now about to go the way of all creatures, so I say to you: know in your soul and in your conscience that all the promises of Yahweh, our God, have been fulfilled; not one of them has failed.
15 But just as all these promises of Yahweh in your favor have been fulfilled, so shall Yahweh bring all the evil he has threatened against you until you have been wiped out from this magnificent land he has given you,
16 if you break the covenant that Yahweh, our God, has given us. If you follow and serve other gods and bow before them, the wrath of Yahweh shall rise against you, and you shall suddenly perish from this fertile land 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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