Joshua 23

Verse 1. Long time. Josue governed only ten years after the distribution of the land. Towards the close of his life, perceiving that the Israelites were too indolent in subduing the people of the country, and fearing lest they should by degrees begin to imitate their corrupt manners, he called a general assembly either at his own city, or at Silo, or more probably at Sichem, (as it is mentioned Calmet. 24:1, which seems to give farther particulars of this assembly) and laid before his people, in the strongest terms, the dangers to which they would be exposed, by entertaining a friendship for the enemies of God, and by abandoning him. Calmet.—He called together all the heads of the people. Menochius.

Verse 3. For you. God fought for his people three ways: 1. By destroying their enemies himself in a miraculous manner, as he did the Egyptians; 2. By assisting their endeavours, as at Jericho, and in the victory of Gabaon, when he caused the walls of the former town to fall down, and hurled stones upon the fleeing enemy near the latter; (Calmet. 10) 3. By giving courage and strength to Israel, while he filled their opponents with dismay, and this was most frequently the case. He continues to assist his servants in their spiritual warfare against the world, the flesh, and the devil, in all these different ways. Worthington.

Verse 4. And now. Hebrew “Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations, which remain to be subdued, to be an inheritance for your tribes from the Jordan, (these two words are transposed, and should come after, Calmet.) with all the nations that I have cut off—even unto the great sea westward.” He mildly expostulates with them for not following up his victories, by reducing the few scattered nations whom he had abandoned to them as a prey. Bible.—They ought to be considered not only as the enemies of God, but also as unjust detainers of another’s right, and Josue promises that nothing will be wanting on the part of God to render their reduction easy, if they will but do their duty to Him and to themselves. Bible.

Verse 7. Come in, an expression which may denote any familiarity, or marriage. Menochius.—Hebrew is in the form of a prohibition, “Come not among (have no connections with) these nations … Neither mention their gods, nor swear (or cause to swear by them.”) The psalmist (15:4,) says, speaking either of idols, ( Bible.) or of sinners, Nor will I be mindful of their names by my lips. Osee (2:16,) says, She shall call me no more Baali, (“my lord,” a term applied by wives to their husbands) on account of its reminding one of the idol Baal. Hence David calls Jerobaal, or Gedeon, Jeroboschot, 2 Kennicott. 11:21. Saint Paul would not have Christians so much as to name the sins of impurity. Ephes. 5:3. The more religious Jews will not even mention an idol, or an unclean animal; and they beg pardon before they speak of a heretic. Drusius.—Some understand that the worship of idols is meant by naming them, as those who invoke the name of Jesus Christ, were his disciples. Acts 9:14. 1 Timothy 2:15. Exodus 20:24. To swear by idols is always sinful, (Exodus 23:13,) while it is an act of religion to swear on proper occasions, by the name of God. Theophrastus (ap. Joseph. c. Ap. i.) observes, that the laws of the Tyrians prohibit the using of foreign oaths, such as that of the Corban, which was peculiar to the Jews. Calmet.

Verse 8. Day. Those who had formerly given way to idolatry were all cut off, and all Israel had lately given a proof of their attachment unto the Lord. Bible.

Verse 10. Thousand. This Moses had repeatedly foretold. Leviticus 26:13. Deuteronomy 28:7.

Verse 13. Side. Hebrew “snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your side.” Children and slaves were formerly beaten on this part, Sirach 30:12 and 42:5. Horace (epod. iv.) says, Ibericis peruste funibus latus. The first word S. Jerom seems to have read with th at the end, as peth, means a hole, ( Calmet.) by which means it was customary to take wild beasts, and to annoy the enemy. Bible.—Septuagint render side, “they shall be nails in your heels.”

Verse 14. This day: shortly I must die. Calmet.—Metam properamus ad unam. (Hor.) “We hasten to one common goal.” Bible.—The pagans called death, or the grave, the common place; and Plautus says, in the same sense, Quin prius me ad plures penetravi. ( Calmet.) “Before I penetrate the receptacle of the many.” Bible.—Mind. Hebrew “you know in your hearts, and in all your souls;” you are convinced, you cannot be ignorant that God has fulfilled his engagements. Calmet.—The Septuagint read, “you shall know,” and so forth The experience of future ages will only establish this truth more fully. Bible.

Verse 16. And speedily. This word is added to express the force of the Hebrew term. Menochius.—“Punishment is seldom lame in overtaking the wicked. Bible.—This. He emphatically sets before them what labours they had sustained in making the acquisition, and what ingratitude they will be guilty of, if they ever forfeit so great a blessing. Menochius.—The treat or prediction was verified during the captivity, and still more after the destruction of Jerusalem. Calmet.