Joshua 24
1 Joshua assembles the tribes at Shechem.
2 A brief history of God's benefits, from Terah.
14 He renews the covenant between them and God.
26 A stone the witness of the covenant.
29 Joshua's age, death, and burial.
32 Joseph's bones are buried.
33 Eleazar dies.
Joshua <03091> [Joshua.]
This must have been a different assembly from that mentioned in the preceding chapter, though probably held not long after the former.
Shechem <07927> [Shechem.]
As it is immediately added, that "they presented themselves before God," which is supposed to mean at the tabernacle; some are of opinion that Joshua caused it to be conveyed from Shiloh to Shechem on this occasion, to give the greater solemnity to his last meeting with the people. The Vatican and Alexandrian copies of the Septuagint, however, read [Selo,] both here and in verse 25; which many suppose to have been the original reading. Dr. Shuckford supposes that the covenant was made at Shechem, and that the people went to Shiloh to confirm it. But the most probable opinion seems to be that of Dr. Kennicott, that when all the tribes were assembled as Shechem, Joshua called the chiefs to him on that mount, which had before been consecrated by the law, and by the altar which he had erected.
summoned <07121> [called.]
appeared <03320> [presented.]
ancestors .......... father <01> [Your fathers.]
God ......................... worshiped other gods <0312 0430 05647> [served other gods.]
In the case of Abraham this was probably the case, till he was called to the knowledge of God, when above 70 years old.
took <03947> [I took.]
gave <05414> [gave.]
Isaac <03327> [unto Isaac.]
Esau ... Esau <06215> [unto Esau.]
Jacob ........... Jacob <03290> [Jacob.]
sent <07971> [sent.]
struck <05062> [plagued.]
brought <03318> [I brought.]
Egypt <04714> [Egyptians.]
cried out <06817> [And when.]
made <07760> [he put.]
drowned <0935> [brought.]
eyes <05869> [your eyes.]
lived <03427> [ye dwelt.]
crossed <05674> [And ye.]
leaders <01167> [the men.]
sent <07971> [I sent.]
swords <02719> [not.]
gave <05414> [And I.]
cities <05892> [cities.]
obey <03372> [fear.]
worship ............. worshiped ......... worship <05647> [serve.]
aside <05493> [put.]
From this exhortation of Joshua, we not only learn that the Israelites still retained some relics of idolatry, but to what gods they were attached. 1. Those whom their fathers worshipped on the other side of the food, or the river Euphrates, i.e., the gods of the Chaldeans, fire, light, the sun, etc. 2. Those of the Egyptians, Apis, Anubis, serpents, vegetables, etc. 3. Those of the Amorites, Moabites, Canaanites, etc., Baal-peor, Astarte, etc. How astonishing is it, that after all that God had done for them, and all the miracles they had seen, there should still be found among them both idols and idolaters!
Egypt <04714> [in Egypt.]
choose <0977> [choose.]
gods ........... gods <0430> [whether the gods.]
gods ........... gods <0430> [or the gods.]
family <01004> [as for me.]
worship <05647> [will we also.]
<03201> [Ye cannot.]
holy <06918> [holy.]
jealous <07072> [a jealous.]
forgive <05375> [he will not.]
turn <07725> [he will turn.]
worship <05647> [Nay.]
witnesses ................ witnesses <05707> [Ye are witnesses.]
Ye have been sufficiently apprised of the difficulties in your way--of God's holiness, and the nature of his service--your own weakness, inconstancy, and insufficiency--your need of the Divine help, and the hope of assistance held out in the law--and the awful consequences of apostasy: and now ye make your choice. Remember then that ye are witnesses against yourselves; and your own conscience will be witness, judge, and executioner.
chosen <0977> [ye have.]
aside <05493> [put away.]
submit <05186> [incline.]
<03772> [made.]
Shechem <07927> [in Shechem.]
Joshua <03091> [Joshua.]
took <03947> [took.]
set <06965> [set it.]
oak <0427> [under.]
A curious coincidence of circumstances is related by Livy, the Roman historian: he writes that "when three ambassadors were sent from Rome to complain of the perfidious conduct of the ’qui, the General informed them, that they might deliver their message to an oak which shaded his tent." On this one of the ambassadors turning away, said, "This venerable oak, and all the gods, shall know that you have violated the peace; they shall now hear our complaints; and may they also soon be witnesses, when we revenge with our arms the violation of divine and human rights." It is worthy of remark that Joshua merely set up a pillar under an oak,--the one, perhaps, to protect the other; while the General directed the ambassadors to address the oak, perhaps with an idolatrous feeling that they were addressing one of the gods, who would aid his cause; while the Roman ambassadors caught the feeling, and really invoked the aid of the oak and the gods.
heard <08085> [it hath.]
deny <03584> [deny.]
After <0310 01697> [after these.]
hundred <03967> [an hundred.]
Timnath <08556> [Timnath-serah.]
Gaash <01608> [Gaash.]
worshiped <05647> [served.]
Joshua's ........... outlived him <03091 0748> [overlived Joshua. Heb. prolonged their days after Joshua. which had.]
bones <06106> [bones.]
buried <06912> [buried.]
pieces of money <07192> [pieces of silver. or, lambs.]
Eleazar <0499> [Eleazar.]
died <04191> [died.]
Phinehas <06372> [Phinehas.]
CONCLUDING REMARKS ON JOSHUA. The Book of Joshua is one of the most important documents in the Old Testament. The rapid conquest of the Promised Land, and the actual settlement of the Israelites in it, afford a striking accomplishment of the Divine predictions to Abraham and the succeeding patriarchs; and at the same time bear the most unequivocal and ample testimony to the authenticity of this sacred book. Several of the transactions related in it are confirmed in a very extraordinary manner, by the traditions current among heathen nations, and preserved by ancient profane historians of undoubted character. Thus there are monuments still in existence, which prove that the Carthaginians were a colony of Syrians who escaped from Joshua; as also that the inhabitants of Leptis, in Africa, came originally from the Sidonians, who abandoned their country on account of the calamities with which it was overwhelmed. Procopius relates that the Phoenicians fled before the Hebrews into Africa, and spread themselves abroad as far as the pillars of Hercules; and adds, "In Numidia, where now stands the city Tigisis (Tangiers), they have erected two columns, on which, in Phoenician characters, is the following inscription:--"We are the Phoenicians who fled from the face of Jesus (Joshua) the son of Naue" (Nun).
