Joshua 24:21-24

24:21 The people said to Joshua, “No! We really will ¹  worship ²  the Lord!” 24:22 Joshua said to the people, “Do you agree to be witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to worship the Lord?” ³  They replied, “We are witnesses!” ⁴  24:23 Joshua said, ⁵  “Now put aside the foreign gods that are among you and submit to ⁶  the Lord God of Israel.”

24:24 The people said to Joshua, “We will worship ⁷  the Lord our God and obey him.” ⁸ 

[24:21]  ¹ tn The translation assumes that כִּי (ki) is emphatic. Another option is to take it as explanatory, “No, for we will….”

[24:21]  ² tn Or “will serve.”

[24:22]  ³ tn Heb “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves the Lord to serve him.”

[24:22]  ⁴ sn Like witnesses in a court of law, Israel’s solemn vow to worship the Lord will testify against them in the divine court if the nation ever violates its commitment.

[24:23]  ⁵ tn The words “Joshua said” are supplied for clarification.

[24:23]  ⁶ tn Heb “bend your heart toward.” The term לֵבָב (levav, “heart”) probably here refers to the people’s volition or will.

[24:24]  ⁷ tn Or “will serve.”

[24:24]  ⁸ tn Heb “and listen to his voice.”