Joshua 23:1

THE MESSAGE

A long time later, after God had given Israel rest from all their surrounding enemies, and Joshua was a venerable old man, Joshua called all Israel together—elders, chiefs, judges, and officers. Then he spoke to them: "I'm an old man. I've lived a long time. You have seen everything that God has done to these nations because of you. He did it because he's God , your God. He fought for you. "Stay alert: I have assigned to you by lot these nations that remain as an inheritance to your tribes—these in addition to the nations I have already cut down—from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west. God , your God, will drive them out of your path until there's nothing left of them and you'll take over their land just as God , your God, promised you. "Now, stay strong and steady. Obediently do everything written in the Book of The Revelation of Moses—don't miss a detail. Don't get mixed up with the nations that are still around. Don't so much as speak the names of their gods or swear by them. And by all means don't worship or pray to them. Hold tight to God , your God, just as you've done up to now. " God has driven out superpower nations before you. And up to now, no one has been able to stand up to you. Think of it—one of you, single-handedly, putting a thousand on the run! Because God is God , your God. Because he fights for you, just as he promised you. "Now, vigilantly guard your souls: Love God , your God. Because if you wander off and start taking up with these remaining nations still among you (intermarry, say, and have other dealings with them), know for certain that God , your God, will not get rid of these nations for you. They'll be nothing but trouble to you—horsewhips on your backs and sand in your eyes—until you're the ones who will be driven out of this good land that God , your God, has given you. "As you can see, I'm about to go the way we all end up going. Know this with all your heart, with everything in you, that not one detail has failed of all the good things God , your God, promised you. It has all happened. Nothing's left undone—not so much as a word. "But just as sure as everything good that God , your God, has promised has come true, so also God will bring to pass every bad thing until there's nothing left of you in this good land that God has given you. If you leave the path of the Covenant of God , your God, that he commanded you, go off and serve and worship other gods, God 's anger will blaze out against you. In no time at all there'll be nothing left of you, no sign that you've ever been in this good land he gave you."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
A long time after the Lord had given Israel rest from all the enemies around them, Joshua was old, advanced in age.

Hebrew Names Version
It happened after many days, when the LORD had given rest to Yisra'el from all their enemies round about, and Yehoshua was old and well stricken in years;

King James Version
And it came to pass a long time after that the Lord had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.

Lexham English Bible
And it happened, after a long time, after Yahweh had given rest to Israel from all their surrounding enemies, and after Joshua was old and well-advanced in years,

English Standard Version
A long time afterward, when the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their surrounding enemies, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years,

New Century Version
The Lord gave Israel peace from their enemies around them. Many years passed, and Joshua grew very old.

New English Translation
A long time passed after the Lord made Israel secure from all their enemies, and Joshua was very old.

Amplified Bible
A long time after that, when the LORD had given Israel rest from all their enemies on every side, and Joshua had grown old and advanced in years,

New American Standard Bible
Now it came about after many days, when the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies on every side, and Joshua was old, advanced in years,

Geneva Bible (1587)
And a long season after that the Lord had giuen rest vnto Israel from all their enemies round about, and Ioshua was olde, and stricken in age,

Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened after many days, after Yahweh had given rest to Israel from all their enemies on every side, and Joshua was old, advanced in years,

Contemporary English Version
The Lord let Israel live in peace with its neighbors for a long time, and Joshua lived to a ripe old age.

Complete Jewish Bible
A long time afterwards, when Adonai had given Isra'el rest from all their surrounding enemies, and Y'hoshua was old, with age taking its toll,

Darby Translation
And it came to pass a long time after that Jehovah had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua had become old, advanced in age,

Easy-to-Read Version
The Lord gave Israel peace from their enemies around them. He made Israel safe. Many years passed, and Joshua became very old.

George Lamsa Translation
AND it came to pass after a long time, when the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua was old, and well advanced in years.

Good News Translation
Much later the Lord gave Israel security from their enemies around them. By that time Joshua was very old,

Literal Translation
And it happened many days after Jehovah had given rest to Israel from all their enemies all around, that Joshua was old, going on in days.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And after a longe season, whan the LORDE had broughte Israel to rest from all their enemies rounde aboute: and Iosua was now olde and well stricken in age,

American Standard Version
And it came to pass after many days, when Jehovah had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua was old and well stricken in years;

Bible in Basic English
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,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And it came to passe, along season after that the Lorde had geuen rest vnto Israel from al their enemies round about, that Iosuah waxed olde, and was stricken in age.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And it came to pass after many days, when the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua was old and well stricken in years;

King James Version (1611)
And it came to passe, a long time after that the Lord had giuen rest vnto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Ioshua waxed old, and stricken in age.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And it came to pass after many days after the Lord had given Israel rest from all his enemies round about, that Joshua was old and advanced in years.

English Revised Version
And it came to pass after many days, when the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua was old and well stricken in years;

Berean Standard Bible
A long time after the LORD had given Israel rest from all the enemies around them, when Joshua was old and advanced in years,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe whanne myche tyme was passid after that the Lord had youe pees to Israel, for alle naciouns `in cumpas weren suget; and whanne Josue was thanne of long lijf, and `of ful eld age, Josue clepide al Israel,

Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, many days after that Jehovah hath given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua is old, entering into days,

Update Bible Version
And it came to pass after many days, when Yahweh had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua was old and well stricken in years;

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass, a long time after that the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies on all sides, that Joshua became old [and] advanced in age.

World English Bible
It happened after many days, when Yahweh had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua was old and well stricken in years;

New King James Version
Now it came to pass, a long time after the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua was old, advanced in age.

New Living Translation
The years passed, and the Lord had given the people of Israel rest from all their enemies. Joshua, who was now very old,

New Life Bible
A long time after that, the Lord had given Israel rest from all those around them who hated them. Joshua had grown old, and had lived many years.

New Revised Standard
A long time afterward, when the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their enemies all around, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it came to pass, after many days, when Yahweh had given rest unto Israel, from all their enemies round about, - and, Joshua, had become old, advanced in days,

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when a long time was passed, after that the Lord had given peace to Israel, all the nations round about being subdued. and Josue being now old, and far advanced in years:

Revised Standard Version
A long time afterward, when the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now it came about after many days, when the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies on every side, and Joshua was old, advanced in years,

Contextual Overview

¹A long time later, after God had given Israel rest from all their surrounding enemies, and Joshua was a venerable old man, Joshua called all Israel together—elders, chiefs, judges, and officers. Then he spoke to them: "I'm an old man. I've lived a long time. You have seen everything that God has done to these nations because of you. He did it because he's God , your God. He fought for you. "Stay alert: I have assigned to you by lot these nations that remain as an inheritance to your tribes—these in addition to the nations I have already cut down—from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west. God , your God, will drive them out of your path until there's nothing left of them and you'll take over their land just as God , your God, promised you. "Now, stay strong and steady. Obediently do everything written in the Book of The Revelation of Moses—don't miss a detail. Don't get mixed up with the nations that are still around. Don't so much as speak the names of their gods or swear by them. And by all means don't worship or pray to them. Hold tight to God , your God, just as you've done up to now. " God has driven out superpower nations before you. And up to now, no one has been able to stand up to you. Think of it—one of you, single-handedly, putting a thousand on the run! Because God is God , your God. Because he fights for you, just as he promised you. "Now, vigilantly guard your souls: Love God , your God. Because if you wander off and start taking up with these remaining nations still among you (intermarry, say, and have other dealings with them), know for certain that God , your God, will not get rid of these nations for you. They'll be nothing but trouble to you—horsewhips on your backs and sand in your eyes—until you're the ones who will be driven out of this good land that God , your God, has given you. "As you can see, I'm about to go the way we all end up going. Know this with all your heart, with everything in you, that not one detail has failed of all the good things God , your God, promised you. It has all happened. Nothing's left undone—not so much as a word. "But just as sure as everything good that God , your God, has promised has come true, so also God will bring to pass every bad thing until there's nothing left of you in this good land that God has given you. If you leave the path of the Covenant of God , your God, that he commanded you, go off and serve and worship other gods, God 's anger will blaze out against you. In no time at all there'll be nothing left of you, no sign that you've ever been in this good land he gave you." ³Joshua's Charge A long time later, after God had given Israel rest from all their surrounding enemies, and Joshua was a venerable old man, Joshua called all Israel together—elders, chiefs, judges, and officers. Then he spoke to them: "I'm an old man. I've lived a long time. You have seen everything that God has done to these nations because of you. He did it because he's God , your God. He fought for you. ⁴"Stay alert: I have assigned to you by lot these nations that remain as an inheritance to your tribes—these in addition to the nations I have already cut down—from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west. God , your God, will drive them out of your path until there's nothing left of them and you'll take over their land just as God , your God, promised you. ⁶"Now, stay strong and steady. Obediently do everything written in the Book of The Revelation of Moses—don't miss a detail. Don't get mixed up with the nations that are still around. Don't so much as speak the names of their gods or swear by them. And by all means don't worship or pray to them. Hold tight to God , your God, just as you've done up to now. ⁹" God has driven out superpower nations before you. And up to now, no one has been able to stand up to you. Think of it—one of you, single-handedly, putting a thousand on the run! Because God is God , your God. Because he fights for you, just as he promised you.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the Lord: Joshua 11:23, Joshua 21:44, Joshua 22:4, Psalms 46:9

waxed old: Joshua 13:1, Genesis 25:8, Deuteronomy 31:2

stricken in age: Heb. come into days

Reciprocal: Exodus 33:14 - rest Deuteronomy 25:19 - when the Judges 11:26 - three hundred 2 Samuel 7:1 - the Lord 2 Samuel 23:1 - the last 1 Kings 1:1 - and stricken in years 1 Chronicles 22:18 - and hath 2 Chronicles 14:6 - the Lord 2 Chronicles 14:7 - and he hath given 2 Chronicles 15:15 - the Lord 2 Chronicles 20:30 - his God Isaiah 63:14 - the Spirit Hebrews 4:8 - had

Cross-References

Genesis 17:17
Abraham fell flat on his face. And then he laughed, thinking, "Can a hundred-year-old man father a son? And can Sarah, at ninety years, have a baby?"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And it came to pass a long time after,.... Or "after many days" o, that is, years:

that the Lord had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about; the greatest part of the land of Canaan was subdued, the whole divided by lot to the tribes of Israel, and they quietly settled in the respective portions assigned them, the Canaanites that remained giving them no disturbance, in which state of rest and peace they had now been for some years; and this may be reasonably supposed to be the last year of the life of Joshua, see Joshua 23:14.

that Joshua waxed old [and] stricken in age; and became feeble and decrepit, and greatly declined; for though he was ten years younger than Moses when he died, yet not so vigorous, strong, and robust as he, but was pressed and bore down with the infirmities of age.

o מימים רבים "post dies multos", Pagninus, Masius, Tigurine version; "exactis maltis diebus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This and the next chapter contain the last addresses of Joshua. These addresses were no doubt among the closing acts of Joshua’s life, but were evidently given on different occasions, and are of different character and scope. In the former Joshua briefly reminds the princes of the recent benefits of God toward them and their people, declares that God had fulfilled all His promises, and exhorts to faithfulness on their side to God that so His mercies may not be withdrawn: in the latter he takes a wider range, rehearses the gracious dealings of God with the nation from its very origin, and upon these as his grounds, he claims for God their sincere and entire service. But he grants them the option of withdrawing from the covenant if they so choose; and when they elect still to abide by it, it is solemnly renewed by the free consent of the whole people. Joshua’s reproofs and warnings are in sum and substance identical with those with which Moses closed his career (Deuteronomy 31:0, etc.). Compare throughout the marginal references.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XXIII

Joshua, being old, calls for the rulers and different heads of

the Israelites, 1, 2,

to whom he relates how God had put them in possession of the

promised land, 3, 4;

from which all their remaining enemies should be expelled, 5.

Exhorts them to be faithful to God, and to avoid all connections

with the idolatrous nations, 6-8.

Encourages them with the strongest promises, that no enemy

should ever be able to prevail against them, if they continued

to love the Lord their God, 9-11.

Lays also before them the consequences of disobedience, 12, 13.

Shows them that as all God's promises had been fulfilled to

them while they were obedient, so his threatening should be

fulfilled own them if they revolted from his service; and

that if they did so, they should be utterly destroyed from

off the good land, 14-16.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXIII

Verse Joshua 23:1. A long time after that the Lord had given rest — This is supposed to have been in the last or one hundred and tenth year of the life of Joshua, about thirteen or fourteen years after the conquest of Canaan, and seven after the division of the land among the tribes.