Joshua 23
Joshua's Charge to the
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1 |
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.
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2 |
And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their
judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:
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3 |
and ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because
of you; for the LORD your God is he that
hath fought for you.
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4 |
Behold, I have divided unto you by lot
these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes,
from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the
great sea westward.
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5 |
And the LORD your
God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of
your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.
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6 |
Be ye therefore very courageous to keep
and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that
ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;
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7 |
that ye come not among these nations,
these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of
their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them,
nor bow yourselves unto them:
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8 |
but cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this
day.
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9 |
For the LORD hath
driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as
for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this
day.
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10 |
One man of you shall chase a thousand: Deut. 32.30 for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you. Deut. 3.22
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11 |
Take good heed therefore unto yourselves,
that ye love the LORD your God.
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12 |
Else, if ye do in any wise go back, and
cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that
remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto
them, and they to you:
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13 |
know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps
unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until
ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
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14 |
And, behold, this day I am going
the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all
your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things
which the LORD your God spake concerning you;
all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed
thereof.
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15 |
Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have
destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
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16 |
When ye have transgressed the covenant of
the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and
have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then
shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against
you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he
hath given unto you.
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