Joshua 24:20

Translations

Modern

If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, He will turn and bring disaster on you and consume you, even after He has been good to you.”

Traditional

If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.

Literal

If you forsake YHWH and serve foreign gods, He will turn and do harm to you and consume you after that He has done good to you.”

Latin

Si dimiseritis Dominum, et servieritis diis alienis, convertet se, et affliget vos atque subvertet, postquam vobis præstiterit bona.

Original

Hebrew

English

If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, He will turn and bring disaster on you and consume you, even after He has been good to you.”

Notes

Joshua 24:19–24

Joshua challenged the Israelites from another perspective to show how serious their commitment needed to be. He wanted to make sure they were not responding only out of excitement in the moment.

Joshua 24:1–27

In both its form and its content, this covenant statement is similar to an ancient Near Eastern suzerain–vassal treaty (a treaty between a powerful ruler and a weaker people). The suzerain protects them and provides benefits, and in return, the weaker people (the vassal) owe loyalty and obedience.

The covenant begins with a preamble, which identifies the speaker (24:2). It then includes a historical prologue. This section recounts the suzerain’s gracious acts, describing what God had done for the people in the past (24:3–13).

Next, the covenant lists the stipulations, or required obligations, that the people must follow (24:14–15). It also warns of curses and promises blessings, depending on whether the people obey or disobey (24:19–20).

Finally, the passage notes where the covenant text was recorded so it could be read again in the future (implied in 24:26). It also names witnesses who confirmed the covenant agreement (24:22, 27). See also study note on Exodus 20:1–23:33.

Theme notes and profiles

Joshua God’s Covenants Shechem The Broken Covenant The Limitations of Law

Related verses

Hebrews 10:26–27
If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,
Jeremiah 17:13
O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who abandon You will be put to shame. All who turn away will be written in the dust, for they have abandoned the LORD, the fountain of living water.
Ezekiel 18:24
But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.
Acts 7:42
But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
1 Chronicles 28:9
As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
Isaiah 65:11–12
But you who forsake the LORD, who forget My holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny,
Isaiah 63:10
But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them.
2 Chronicles 15:2
So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.
Ezra 8:22
For I was ashamed to ask the king for an escort of soldiers and horsemen to protect us from our enemies on the road, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him.”
Isaiah 1:28
But rebels and sinners will together be shattered, and those who forsake the LORD will perish.
Joshua 23:12–15
For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them,
Hebrews 10:38
But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him.”

Joshua 24:20

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