Keraia
Joshua 23

Joshua 23:5

Joshua’s Charge to Leaders · Joshua 23:1–16
Read Joshua 23

Translations

Modern
The LORD your God will push them out of your way and drive them out before you, so that you can take possession of their land, as the LORD your God promised you.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And YHWH your God, He will expel them from before you and drive them out of your sight; and you shall possess their land as YHWH your God has spoken to you.
Latin
Dominus Deus vester disperdet eas et auferet a facie vestra, et possidebitis terram, sicut vobis pollicitus est.

Original

Hebrew
English
The LORD your God will push them out of your way and drive them out before you, so that you can take possession of their land, as the LORD your God promised you.

Notes

Joshua 23:4–5

The Israelites had not yet conquered some of the land Joshua assigned to the tribes. Israel took possession of the land slowly for several reasons:

  • There was an ecological reason. God said that the people should not drive out all the inhabitants at once, so that wild animals would not increase too quickly (see Exodus 23:29–30).

  • There was also a military reason. Israel did not yet have enough strength or technology to defeat some groups, especially those with iron chariots (see Judges 1:19).

  • There was also a theological reason. God allowed some Canaanite groups to remain in the land to test Israel’s faithfulness and obedience (see Judges 2:20–3:4).

However, Israel did not remain faithful. Instead of driving out the remaining Canaanites, the Israelites lived among them and adopted some of their practices. This brought strong temptations that led Israel away from loyalty to the Lord. Joshua warned the people that this danger was real and serious (see Joshua 23:15–16).

Joshua 23:1–11

Joshua strongly encouraged Israel’s leaders to be faithful.

Theme notes and profiles

Joshua

Glossary

Joshua (Person) Joshua, Book of Judges, Book of King Rest Tribe of Dan