Berean Study Bible Joshua Reviews Israel’s HistoryNear the close of his life, Joshua gathered Israel at Shechem for a decisive renewal of the covenant. Shechem stood between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, where Israel had previously heard the blessings and curses of the law (Joshua 8:30–35). The location also recalled God’s first promise of the land to Abraham (Genesis 12:6–7) and Jacob’s return to the land under God’s protection (Genesis 33:18–20). Israel’s presence there testified that the Lord had fulfilled what He promised to the patriarchs. 1Ki 12:1-3 Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there… He summoned the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of Israel, The representatives of every level of Israel’s public life were called to bear responsibility for the nation’s response to God. Elders provided community leadership, judges administered justice, and officers carried out the decisions of the assembly. Joshua did not treat covenant faithfulness as a private concern; the whole nation, from its leaders to its families, was accountable to the Lord. Jos 23:2 he summoned all Israel, including its elders… and they presented themselves before God. Israel’s leaders came as subjects before their covenant King. Their gathering likely occurred at the sanctuary established at Shechem, where worship and solemn commitment accompanied Joshua’s final charge. As Israel stood before the Lord, the nation was reminded that its future security depended not on military strength or political order, but on faithful obedience to the God who had given them the land. 1Sa 10:19 But today you have rejected your God, who saves you… And Joshua said to all the people, Joshua gathered Israel at Shechem to renew the covenant before the LORD. As Moses had assembled the nation to hear God’s commands, Joshua now led the people to remember their history and respond in faithful obedience. Deu 31:11-13 when all Israel comes before the LORD your God… “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Joshua delivered God’s own testimony, grounding Israel’s covenant commitment in the authority of the God who had chosen, redeemed, and preserved them. The God of Israel was not one deity among many, but the Lord who had bound Himself to this nation by covenant. 2Sa 12:7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man!… ‘Long ago your fathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, Israel’s account began before Abraham’s call, in the household of Terah. Abraham and Nahor belonged to the same family, yet God set Abraham apart to become the father of the covenant people and the channel of blessing to the nations. Gen 11:26-27 When Terah was 70 years old, he became the father of Abram… lived beyond the Euphrates Abraham’s ancestors came from the region of Mesopotamia, east of the Euphrates River. From that distant land, God called Abraham to leave his former country and follow Him into the land of promise. Gen 11:31-32 And Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot… and worshiped other gods. Israel’s heritage began in an idolatrous world, showing that Abraham was chosen by God’s grace rather than human merit. The Lord called him away from false worship and established a people who would know and serve the true God alone. Deu 29:16-18 For you yourselves know how we lived in the land of Egypt… But I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates God called Abraham out of a land marked by idolatry and separated him for His covenant purposes. Abraham’s journey began in Ur and continued through Haran before God brought him into Canaan. Israel’s existence rested not on human achievement or ancestry alone, but on God’s gracious initiative in choosing and calling their forefather. Act 7:2-4 And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me!… and led him through all the land of Canaan, Abraham lived as a sojourner in the land God promised to give his descendants. He traveled through its central regions, built altars to the Lord, and learned to trust God’s promise though he possessed no permanent inheritance there except a burial place. His pilgrimage established Canaan as the covenant land and anticipated Israel’s later entrance under Joshua. Gen 13:14-17 After Lot had departed, the LORD said to Abram,… and I multiplied his descendants. God fulfilled His promise despite Abraham and Sarah’s long years of childlessness. From one elderly couple came Isaac, Jacob, the twelve tribes, and eventually a nation too numerous to count. The increase of Abraham’s offspring displayed God’s power and faithfulness, while the promise ultimately extends to all who belong to Christ through faith, the promised offspring of Abraham. Gen 17:2 I will establish My covenant between Me and you… I gave him Isaac, Isaac was the child of promise, born when Abraham and Sarah were beyond ordinary hope of bearing children. Through Isaac—not Ishmael—the covenant line continued to Jacob and Israel. Isaac’s near sacrifice on Mount Moriah also foreshadowed God’s provision of His own Son, the true sacrifice through whom the covenant promises reach the nations. Gen 17:19 But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will bear you a son,… and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. God continued His covenant purposes through Isaac’s household. Though the twins became fathers of distinct peoples, Jacob was chosen to bear the covenant line and was later renamed Israel. From him came the twelve tribes through whom God would bring the promised Messiah. Paul points to Jacob and Esau as evidence that God’s saving purpose rests on His sovereign call rather than human merit (Romans 9:10–13). Gen 25:21-26 Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife… I gave Esau Mount Seir to possess, Esau became the father of the Edomites, whose territory lay south and southeast of the Dead Sea. God commanded Israel to respect Edom’s inheritance because He had given Mount Seir to Esau’s descendants (Deuteronomy 2:4–5). Although Edom was not the covenant nation, God’s provision for Esau demonstrates His faithfulness and justice among all peoples. Deu 2:5 Do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their… but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt. Jacob’s family entered Egypt during the famine through God’s providential preservation of Joseph. Their descent fulfilled God’s earlier word to Abraham that his descendants would dwell as strangers in a foreign land (Genesis 15:13; 46:1–7). Egypt became both a place of refuge and, later, bondage, preparing the way for the Lord’s mighty deliverance in the Exodus. Gen 46:3-7 “I am God,” He said, “the God of your father”… Then I sent Moses and Aaron, God appointed Moses and Aaron to confront Pharaoh and lead Israel from bondage. Moses, preserved in infancy and raised in Pharaoh’s household, stood before Egypt’s ruler by God’s command. Aaron served alongside his brother as spokesman and priest. Their calling fulfilled God’s covenant promise to Abraham that Israel’s descendants would be oppressed in a foreign land but would later be delivered. Psa 105:26 He sent Moses His servant, and Aaron, whom He had chosen. and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, God brought the ten plagues upon Egypt as righteous judgment for its oppression of Israel and as a public demonstration of His supremacy over Pharaoh and Egypt’s false gods. Neither royal power nor pagan worship could resist the Lord. The judgments compelled Pharaoh to release the Israelites and revealed that the God of Israel acts decisively to save His people. Exo 12:12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt… and afterward I brought you out. God Himself delivered Israel from Egypt, leading them from slavery toward the land promised to their fathers. The Exodus became the central testimony of God’s redeeming faithfulness under the old covenant. Passover memorialized that deliverance and anticipated the greater redemption accomplished through Christ, the true Passover Lamb, who delivers His people from sin and death. Exo 12:51 And on that very day the LORD brought the Israelites out… When I brought your fathers out of Egypt The Lord begins Israel’s history of possession in Canaan with His sovereign rescue from Egyptian slavery. The Exodus fulfilled God’s covenant promise to Abraham that his descendants would be afflicted in a foreign land and afterward delivered with great possessions (Genesis 15:13–14). Exo 12:51 And on that very day the LORD brought the Israelites out… and you reached the Red Sea, Israel stood before an impassable barrier with no human means of escape. The nation’s passage through the sea marked a decisive separation from Egypt’s rule and became a lasting testimony to God’s saving power (Exodus 14:21–22; 1 Corinthians 10:1–2). Neh 9:9 You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt;… the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen Pharaoh’s army represented the military strength of the greatest empire of the region. Chariots and mounted forces made Israel’s situation appear hopeless, yet the pursuit displayed that deliverance depended wholly on the Lord rather than Israel’s strength. Exo 14:9 The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots… as far as the Red Sea. At the sea, God divided the waters for His people and destroyed the pursuing Egyptian army when the waters returned (Exodus 14:26–28). The place that seemed to imprison Israel became the setting of their freedom, foreshadowing the greater deliverance from sin and death accomplished by Christ. Exo 14:23-28 And the Egyptians chased after them—all Pharaoh’s horses… So your fathers cried out to the LORD, Israel’s forefathers appealed to God under Egyptian oppression, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 2:23–25). Their deliverance began not with human strength but with the Lord’s faithful response to their distress. Exo 2:23-25 After a long time, the king of Egypt died.… and He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, The pillar of cloud stood between Israel and Pharaoh’s army, bringing light to God’s people while bringing darkness to their enemies (Exodus 14:19–20). The Lord Himself guarded Israel when escape appeared impossible. Exo 14:19-20 And the angel of God withdrew and went behind them.… over whom He brought the sea and engulfed them. After Israel crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, the returning waters destroyed Pharaoh’s pursuing army (Exodus 14:21–28). The event revealed God’s judgment upon Egypt and His power to save His people completely. Israel’s passage through the sea also foreshadowed the believer’s identification with God’s saving deliverance (1 Corinthians 10:1–2). Exo 14:27-28 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea,… Your very eyes saw what I did to the Egyptians. The generation that left Egypt witnessed the Lord’s mighty acts firsthand. Such remembrance carried the responsibility to trust Him, obey His commands, and teach His works to later generations. Exo 14:31 When Israel saw the great power that the LORD had exercised… Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time. Israel remained in the wilderness for forty years because of unbelief at Kadesh-barnea, yet God sustained them with manna, water, guidance, and covenant instruction. The wilderness became a place of discipline, testing, and daily dependence upon the Lord. Deu 29:5 For forty years I led you in the wilderness… Later, I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived beyond the Jordan. After preserving Israel through the wilderness, God led them into the Transjordan region, much of which lies within modern Jordan. The Amorite kingdoms of Sihon and Og controlled fertile territory, fortified cities, and major trade routes east of the Jordan. Israel’s arrival fulfilled the long-awaited movement toward the land promised to Abraham’s descendants. Deu 3:8 At that time we took from the two kings of the Amorites… They fought against you, Sihon refused Israel peaceful passage and attacked them, while Og of Bashan also came out against them in battle (Numbers 21:21–35). Israel did not seize the land through an unprovoked campaign but faced hostile rulers who opposed their advance. The conflict revealed that entrance into God’s promised inheritance involved real opposition and required dependence upon Him. Num 21:23-24 But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory.… but I delivered them into your hand, The Lord gave Israel victory over enemies stronger and more established than they were. Sihon’s kingdom and Og’s realm fell because God fought for His covenant people. Their defeat testified that Israel’s future rested neither on military strength nor on human planning, but on the faithfulness of the God who had redeemed them from Egypt. Deu 3:2 But the LORD said to me, “Do not fear him… that you should possess their land The conquered territory became an inheritance for the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh (Numbers 32; Joshua 13). God’s gift of land gave Israel a place to dwell under His rule, worship Him, and display covenant faithfulness among the nations. The inheritance also anticipated the greater inheritance granted to all who belong to Christ, who are made heirs of God through Him. Num 32:33 So Moses gave to the Gadites, to the Reubenites… when I destroyed them before you. God’s judgment on the Amorite kings was part of His righteous judgment against entrenched idolatry and wickedness, while also fulfilling His promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:16). Israel was therefore warned not to imitate the practices of the nations they displaced. The Lord who judges evil also delivers His people, and His victories call them to exclusive loyalty, obedient faith, and grateful remembrance. Num 21:35 So they struck down Og, along with his whole army… Then Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. Moab, descended from Lot, occupied the territory east of the Dead Sea. Israel’s victories over Sihon and Og had brought the nation to Moab’s border and filled Balak with fear. Unable to overcome Israel by ordinary military strength, Balak sought spiritual power against them. His opposition formed part of the wider resistance Israel faced as God brought His people toward the land He had promised Abraham. Num 22:2-4 Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done… He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you, Balaam came from Pethor near the Euphrates, far from Moab, and was known as a man whose blessings and curses were considered powerful. Balak hoped that a curse would weaken Israel and secure Moab. Yet the Lord forbade Balaam to curse the people He had blessed, and every attempted curse became a declaration of God’s favor and Israel’s future victory. God’s protection did not depend on Israel’s strength or Balak’s schemes; no enemy could overturn the blessing God had placed upon His covenant people. Num 22:5-6 he sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor at Pethor,… but I would not listen to Balaam. Balak king of Moab hired Balaam from Pethor near the Euphrates to curse Israel as they approached the land of Canaan (Numbers 22–24). God overruled Balak’s scheme and would not permit a curse against the people He had chosen. Balaam could speak only the words God placed in his mouth, showing that no human counsel, occult power, or royal opposition can overturn God’s covenant purpose. What others intended for Israel’s harm, God turned toward their good. Deu 23:5 Yet the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam,… So he blessed you again and again, Balaam pronounced repeated blessings over Israel rather than the curse Balak demanded. His oracles affirmed Israel’s distinct calling, God’s presence among them, their future strength, and the certainty of God’s promises to Abraham (Numbers 23:8–10, 19–24; 24:5–9). God’s protection was not merely defensive; He transformed hostile intentions into public confirmation of His favor. Deuteronomy later recalls that the Lord “turned the curse into a blessing” because He loved Israel (Deuteronomy 23:5). This pattern reaches its fullest fulfillment in Christ, who bore the curse of sin so that the blessing promised to Abraham might come to all who believe (Galatians 3:13–14). Num 24:10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck… and I delivered you from his hand. Israel was preserved from Balaam’s attempted spiritual assault and from the danger Balak sought to bring upon them. The Lord had delivered His people from Egypt, sustained them in the wilderness, and guarded them on the border of the Promised Land. Although Balaam later enticed Israel into sin through Moabite influence (Numbers 31:16; Revelation 2:14), God’s original purpose to bring Israel into the land was not defeated. His deliverance points to the greater rescue accomplished through Jesus Christ, who delivers His people from the domain of darkness and brings them into His kingdom (Colossians 1:13–14). Deu 23:4 For they did not meet you with food and water… After this, you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The Lord brought Israel through the Jordan at flood stage, just as He had brought the previous generation through the Red Sea. The crossing ended the wilderness years and publicly confirmed Joshua’s leadership as Moses’ successor. Israel entered the land not by its own strength but by God’s presence, as the ark of the covenant went before the people. Jericho stood near the entrance to Canaan and became the first major stronghold confronting Israel in the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jos 3:14-17 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan,… The people of Jericho fought against you, Jericho shut its gates and resisted Israel’s advance, trusting in its defenses rather than submitting to the God whose works had become known throughout Canaan. Yet the city fell when Israel obeyed God’s unusual command to march around it and sound the trumpets. The collapse of Jericho’s walls showed that Israel’s inheritance would be received through faith and obedience, not military superiority. Rahab’s rescue from Jericho also revealed God’s mercy toward those who turned from idolatry and trusted Him. Jos 6:20-21 So when the rams’ horns sounded, the people shouted.… as did the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites, These peoples occupied different regions of Canaan and practiced forms of idolatry and immorality that had long provoked God’s judgment. Their opposition to Israel was part of a larger conflict between the worship of the living God and the corrupt religion of the land. God had warned Israel not to adopt their gods or customs, because compromise with Canaanite worship would draw the covenant people away from the Lord. Israel’s later history demonstrates the seriousness of that warning. Deu 7:1-2 When the LORD your God brings you into the land… and I delivered them into your hand. The Lord alone gave Israel victory over the nations of Canaan, fulfilling His covenant promise to give Abraham’s descendants the land. Israel could not claim the land as a reward for its own righteousness or power; every victory testified to God’s faithfulness. The Lord’s deliverance also called Israel to continued obedience, gratitude, and exclusive devotion. God’s victories over Israel’s enemies point forward to the greater salvation accomplished by Christ, who delivers His people from the dominion of sin and death. Jos 21:44 And the LORD gave them rest on every side,… I sent the hornet ahead of you, The Lord went before Israel in the conquest, fulfilling His promises in Exodus 23:28 and Deuteronomy 7:20. The hornet denotes God’s effective judgment against the nations of Canaan, whether through actual affliction, terror, or providentially stirred panic. Israel entered a land already shaken by the knowledge that the God of Israel fought for His people. Exo 23:28 I will send the hornet before you to drive the Hivites… and it drove out the two Amorite kings before you, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan ruled powerful Amorite kingdoms east of the Jordan. Their defeat prepared the way for Israel’s entrance into Canaan and displayed God’s faithfulness to His covenant. The judgment of the Amorites also fulfilled the word given to Abraham, for their long-standing iniquity had reached its appointed measure. Deu 4:47 They took possession of the land belonging to Sihon… but not by your own sword or bow. Israel did fight under God’s command, yet neither military strength nor human strategy secured the land. The victories belonged to the Lord, who gave His people what they could not gain for themselves. Their inheritance rested on God’s power, grace, and covenant faithfulness. Hos 1:7 Yet I will have compassion on the house of Judah,… So I gave you a land on which you did not toil The Lord gave Israel Canaan as the promised inheritance of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:7; 26:3; 28:13). Israel’s possession of the land rested on God’s covenant faithfulness, not on its own strength or merit. The conquest required Israel’s obedience and courage, yet the decisive victory and inheritance came from the Lord (Joshua 21:43–45). Psa 105:44 He gave them the lands of the nations… and cities that you did not build, Israel entered established Canaanite cities and received homes, wells, and fortified settlements prepared before their arrival, as Moses had foretold (Deuteronomy 6:10–11). The gift provided the security and order needed for Israel to live as God’s covenant people in the land. Their inheritance pointed beyond material provision to the grace by which God gives what His people cannot earn. Deu 6:10 And when the LORD your God brings you into the land… and now you live in them Israel’s dwelling in these cities testified publicly that God had fulfilled His word. At Shechem, Joshua called the nation to remember that their settled life, peace, and prosperity were not grounds for self-confidence but reasons for faithful worship and obedience. God’s gifts carried the responsibility to reject idolatry and serve Him alone. Jos 21:43 Thus the LORD gave Israel all the land He had sworn… and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’ Vineyards and olive groves represented lasting abundance, since both required years of cultivation before producing fruit. The Lord supplied Israel with the rich produce of the land before they could establish such harvests themselves. The abundance of Canaan revealed God’s generous provision and anticipated the spiritual life found in Christ, the true vine, from whom His people receive abiding nourishment and fruitfulness (John 15:1–5). Deu 6:11 with houses full of every good thing,…
Choose Whom You Will ServeJoshua calls Israel to respond to the LORD’s saving acts with reverent awe, obedient trust, and covenant loyalty. The God who delivered them from Egypt, preserved them in the wilderness, and gave them the land is holy and worthy of their undivided allegiance. Reverence for the LORD remains the beginning of wisdom because it recognizes His rightful authority over every part of life. 1Sa 12:24 Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully… and serve Him in sincerity and truth; Israel’s worship and obedience were to arise from whole hearts rather than outward ritual alone. At Shechem, where Joshua renewed the covenant, the people were summoned to faithful service consistent with the character of the God who had been faithful to them. Genuine devotion joins worship, moral obedience, and steadfast loyalty. 2Co 1:12 For this is our boast: Our conscience testifies… cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, Abraham’s family had lived among idol worshipers beyond the Euphrates, and Israel had spent generations surrounded by Egypt’s many gods. Joshua’s command reveals that old loyalties and foreign practices still threatened Israel’s covenant faithfulness. The LORD had redeemed His people from bondage so that they would belong to Him alone, not blend His worship with the worship of false gods. Gen 35:2-4 So Jacob told his household and all who were with him,… and serve the LORD. The repeated command places exclusive devotion at the center of Israel’s covenant life. Service to the LORD involved more than sacrifices and ceremonies; it required obedience in the home, the community, and the land God had given them. Israel’s future would depend upon whether they served the LORD alone. 1Sa 7:3 Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel,… But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, Joshua confronts Israel with the moral responsibility of covenant loyalty. The LORD had redeemed them from Egypt, preserved them in the wilderness, and given them the land; yet Israel must respond in willing faithfulness rather than outward conformity. Deu 10:12 And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you… then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, The decision cannot be delayed or treated as neutral. Israel’s worship would shape its obedience, justice, homes, and future in the land. Covenant renewal required the people publicly to affirm their allegiance to the God who had claimed them as His own. 1Ki 18:21 Then Elijah approached all the people and said,… whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, Israel’s ancestry did not provide a basis for idolatry. Terah’s household had served other gods before the LORD called Abraham from Mesopotamia (Joshua 24:2–3). God’s covenant with Abraham began with a decisive separation from the worship and values of his former land. Act 7:2-4 And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me!… or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. The religions of Canaan promised fertility, agricultural prosperity, and security through Baal, Asherah, and other false gods. Israel’s life among the Canaanites created a continual temptation to adopt their worship, a danger that later led repeatedly to national apostasy. Jdg 6:10 And I said to you: ‘I am the LORD your God.… As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!” Joshua declares that his household will belong wholly to the LORD, regardless of the nation’s response. His leadership joins personal conviction with family responsibility and calls Israel to follow the one true God without divided allegiance. Christ likewise calls His people to wholehearted devotion, for no one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). Gen 18:19 For I have chosen him, so that he will… The people replied, Israel answered Joshua as one covenant community at Shechem, where the Lord had renewed His covenant with the nation. Their united declaration recognized that the choice before them concerned every family and tribe. Exo 24:3 When Moses came and told the people all the words… “Far be it from us The people strongly rejected the thought of disloyalty to the God who had claimed them as His own. Their words reflected the seriousness of covenant faithfulness before the Lord. Jos 22:29 Far be it from us to rebel against the LORD… to forsake the LORD Abandoning the LORD would mean rejecting the God who delivered Israel from Egypt, sustained them in the wilderness, and gave them the land of Canaan. Israel’s later history shows that such apostasy brought spiritual ruin and divine discipline. 1Sa 12:10 Then they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned… to serve other gods! The gods of Canaan, including Baal and Asherah, promised fertility, harvests, and security but were powerless idols. Israel’s confession reaffirmed the first commandment: the LORD alone was to receive their worship, trust, and obedience. Deu 11:16 But be careful that you are not enticed to turn aside… For the LORD our God brought us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, Israel’s covenant identity rested on Yahweh’s decisive rescue from Egypt. The God who called Abraham and preserved the patriarchs acted openly in history to redeem their descendants, making them His people before calling them to covenant obedience. Deu 4:37-38 Because He loved your fathers, He chose their descendants… out of the house of slavery, Egypt had reduced Israel to brutal servitude, yet Pharaoh’s power could not prevent God’s deliverance. The exodus established the pattern of redemption: God frees His people from bondage so that they may belong to Him and serve Him. Christ fulfills this pattern by delivering believers from slavery to sin and bringing them into the freedom of God’s kingdom. Exo 13:3 So Moses told the people, “Remember this day,… and performed these great signs before our eyes. The plagues, the crossing of the Red Sea, the wilderness provision, and God’s judgments on Israel’s enemies displayed His authority over creation, false gods, and earthly kings. These works confirmed that the LORD alone was Israel’s Savior and that His covenant promises could be trusted. Deu 6:22 Before our eyes the LORD inflicted great and devastating… He also protected us throughout our journey The wilderness years revealed both Israel’s unbelief and God’s enduring faithfulness. He led them by the cloud and fire, fed them with manna, gave water from the rock, and preserved them against danger. God’s care did not depend on Israel’s strength but on His commitment to His covenant. Deu 29:5 For forty years I led you in the wilderness… and among all the nations through which we traveled. The LORD guarded Israel as they passed through hostile territories and gave them victory over kings and peoples who opposed His purpose. Their arrival in the promised land testified that the God who delivered them from Egypt was fully able to complete what He had promised. Deu 29:16-17 For you yourselves know how we lived in the land of Egypt… And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, Israel confessed that possession of Canaan came through the LORD’s power, not through superior strength or strategy. He fulfilled the land promise made to Abraham and confirmed to Isaac and Jacob. The victories over Canaan’s peoples displayed His faithfulness to His covenant and His judgment upon nations whose sin had reached its appointed measure. Jos 23:9 The LORD has driven out great and powerful nations… including the Amorites who lived in the land. The Amorites represented a formidable part of the Canaanite population and included the kingdoms of Sihon and Og, defeated east of the Jordan before Israel entered Canaan. Their overthrow demonstrated that no fortified city, established kingdom, or military force could prevent the LORD from giving His people the inheritance He had promised. Num 13:29 The Amalekites live in the land of the Negev;… We too will serve the LORD, The people responded to God’s saving acts with a renewed pledge of covenant loyalty at Shechem. Serving the LORD required more than gratitude for past deliverance; it demanded the rejection of idols and steadfast obedience in the land. Israel’s continued blessing depended upon wholehearted devotion to the God who had redeemed and preserved them. Jos 22:5 But be very careful to observe the commandment and the law… because He is our God!” The LORD had bound Himself to Israel as their covenant God, and Israel belonged to Him as His people. Their confession rejected the gods of the Amorites and all surrounding nations. Such exclusive allegiance remains the proper response to God’s grace, fulfilled ultimately in those who belong to Him through Jesus Christ. Deu 26:17-18 Today you have proclaimed that the LORD is your God… But Joshua said to the people, Joshua spoke at Shechem during Israel’s covenant renewal, near the place where Abraham first received God’s promise concerning the land and where Jacob had buried foreign gods. Having led Israel after Moses and witnessed God’s faithfulness in conquest and settlement, Joshua pressed the nation to consider the weight of the commitment they were making. Jos 23:2 he summoned all Israel, including its elders… “You are not able to serve the LORD, Israel’s confident pledge to serve the LORD could not rest on enthusiasm or national resolve. Their history in the wilderness revealed how quickly they turned from God when tested. Joshua exposed the insufficiency of a divided heart and called them to dependence upon the God they claimed to serve. Jhn 15:5 I am the vine and you are the branches… for He is a holy God; The LORD is utterly pure, righteous, and set apart from all false gods. His presence cannot be treated casually, and His covenant people cannot worship Him while preserving fellowship with sin and idolatry. God’s holiness requires wholehearted obedience from those who bear His name. Psa 99:9 Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His holy mountain,… He is a jealous God; The LORD had bound Himself to Israel in covenant and rightly demanded their exclusive worship. He would not share their devotion with the gods of the nations, whether the gods of their ancestors, Egypt, or Canaan. Israel’s worship belonged to Him alone, as a wife’s faithfulness belongs to her husband. Exo 20:5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them;… He will not forgive your rebellion or your sins. Joshua warned that God would not overlook deliberate, continuing rebellion disguised by empty promises. Persistent idolatry would bring covenant judgment rather than blessing. Yet God’s holiness also reveals humanity’s need for atonement and a faithful Savior; through Jesus Christ, repentant sinners receive the forgiveness that rebellious hearts cannot earn. Exo 23:21 Pay attention to him and listen to his voice;… If you forsake the LORD Israel stood in a binding covenant with the God who had delivered them from Egypt, sustained them in the wilderness, and given them the land. Turning from Him would be deliberate covenant rebellion, not a harmless change of religious preference. 2Ch 15:2 So he went out to meet Asa and said to him,… and serve foreign gods, The gods of Canaan, including Baal and Asherah, offered Israel the temptation to conform to surrounding nations. Idolatry would corrupt worship, morality, and national identity by transferring devotion from the living God to powerless creations. Jdg 10:13 But you have forsaken Me and served other gods,… He will turn and bring disaster on you The Lord’s judgment would reverse the protection and blessing Israel had received under His covenant. Deuteronomy had already warned that persistent disobedience would bring covenant curses rather than prosperity and peace. Deu 31:17 On that day My anger will burn against them,… and consume you, Israel could not presume upon its privileged position among the nations. The God who judged the Canaanites for their wickedness would also judge His own people if they embraced the same rebellion, a warning fulfilled in the later exiles. Num 16:21 Separate yourselves from this congregation… even after He has been good to you.” God’s past goodness made Israel’s potential unfaithfulness especially grievous. Joshua calls the people to remember that covenant obedience is the grateful response to divine mercy, not a means of earning it. Deu 8:10-14 When you eat and are satisfied, bless the LORD your God… “No!” Israel rejected the alternative of serving the gods worshiped beyond the Euphrates or among the Amorites. Having heard Joshua recount the LORD’s saving acts—from Abraham’s calling to the exodus, conquest, and gift of the land—the people recognized that allegiance to idols would deny the God who had redeemed them. Dan 3:18 But even if He does not, let it be known to you,… replied the people. The united answer renewed Israel’s covenant responsibility before Joshua, the elders, leaders, judges, and officers gathered at Shechem. Like the people at Sinai, Israel publicly accepted the obligation to belong wholly to the LORD. Exo 19:8 And all the people answered together, “We will do everything… “We will serve the LORD!” Serving the LORD required exclusive worship, obedience to His commands, and the removal of rival gods from their midst. Israel’s confession pointed to the covenant ideal expressed in Deuteronomy: to love the LORD with all the heart, soul, and strength. Joshua would soon warn them that such a pledge could not be sustained by mere resolve; faithful service required hearts turned from idolatry to the holy and gracious God who had chosen them. Jos 22:5 But be very careful to observe the commandment and the law… Then Joshua told them, Joshua renewed Israel’s covenant commitment at Shechem, where the Lord had first promised the land to Abraham. Near the end of his life, Joshua pressed the nation to remember that obedience to God required a deliberate and enduring allegiance. Jos 23:14-16 Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth… “You are witnesses against yourselves Israel’s own confession would stand as testimony to the seriousness of their pledge. No one could claim ignorance or deny the commitment made before the Lord and the assembled nation. Deu 30:19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today… that you have chosen to serve the LORD.” Serving the LORD meant rejecting rival gods and ordering life under His covenant commands. Israel had received God’s mercy, deliverance, and inheritance; their choice carried the responsibility to remain faithful to Him. 1Ki 18:21 Then Elijah approached all the people and said,… “We are witnesses!” they said. The people publicly accepted responsibility for their vow. Their united response bound them to the covenant they had affirmed, calling each generation to remember that the Lord deserves wholehearted faithfulness. Rut 4:11 “We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people… “Now, therefore,” Israel’s history of deliverance, preservation, and victory demanded a covenant response. The Lord had acted faithfully from Abraham’s call beyond the Euphrates through the conquest of Canaan. Deu 10:12-13 And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you… he said, Joshua spoke as Israel’s covenant leader near the end of his life. At Shechem, a place associated with earlier covenant promises and Jacob’s removal of foreign gods, he called the nation to renewed faithfulness. Deu 31:7-8 Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him… “get rid of the foreign gods among you Idolatry had not been fully removed from Israel’s midst. The gods once served by their ancestors and the gods of Canaan represented divided loyalty and rebellion against the Lord’s command to worship Him alone. Genuine repentance required more than verbal agreement; it required the removal of every rival to God. Jdg 10:16 So they put away the foreign gods from among them… and incline your hearts to the LORD, Israel was to turn inwardly and willingly toward the Lord. Covenant faithfulness involved the heart, expressed through love, obedience, and undivided devotion. A people rescued by God could not serve Him while cherishing the worship and values of the nations around them. 1Ch 28:9 As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father… the God of Israel.” The Lord alone had bound Himself to Israel, redeemed them from Egypt, given them the land, and fulfilled His promises. His covenant name distinguished Him from every false god and called His people to belong wholly to Him. Exo 5:1 After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said… So the people said to Joshua, Israel answered as one assembly at Shechem, where Joshua renewed the covenant in the land God had given them. Their united response recognized Joshua’s God-given leadership and accepted the responsibilities of covenant life after his death. Jos 1:16 So they answered Joshua, “Everything you have commanded us… “We will serve the LORD our God The people pledged exclusive loyalty to Yahweh, who had called Abraham, delivered Israel from Egypt, and driven out the nations before them. Their confession rejected the gods of their ancestors and of the Canaanites, affirming that the LORD alone was Israel’s God. Jos 22:5 But be very careful to observe the commandment and the law… and obey His voice.” Service to the LORD required obedience to the covenant commands given through Moses. Joshua recorded this commitment and set up a great stone as a witness, reminding future generations that Israel had bound itself to hear God’s word and live under His authority. Deu 26:17 Today you have proclaimed that the LORD is your God… On that day Joshua solemnly sealed Israel’s renewed commitment immediately after calling the nation to choose whom they would serve. The decisive gathering marked the close of his leadership and bound the people to the Lord who had given them the land. Deu 29:12 so that you may enter into the covenant of the LORD… Joshua made a covenant for the people, Acting as the Lord’s appointed leader, Joshua renewed the covenant obligations given through Moses at Sinai. Israel pledged exclusive loyalty to the Lord, whose faithfulness had sustained them from Abraham’s day through the conquest. 2Ki 11:17 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king… and there at Shechem Shechem stood near the place where the Lord first promised the land to Abraham and where Jacob built an altar to God. The location joined God’s ancient promise with Israel’s present possession of the land and their responsibility to live faithfully within it. Gen 12:6-7 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site… he established for them a statute and ordinance. Joshua set forth binding covenant requirements, making clear that life in the land depended on obedience to God’s revealed will. The covenant pointed beyond Joshua to Christ, who fulfilled the law and establishes the new covenant through His saving work. Exo 15:25 And Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him… Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Joshua added the covenant renewal at Shechem and Israel’s pledged obedience to the sacred record entrusted to the nation. Moses had written the Law as God commanded, and Joshua’s record preserved the people’s renewed commitment within that continuing covenant testimony. God’s written Word stood as an enduring witness, calling future generations to remember His faithfulness and obey His commands. Deu 31:24-26 When Moses had finished writing in a book… Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak The stone became a public memorial of the covenant, standing as a lasting reminder of the words Israel had heard and the allegiance they had professed. Shechem was closely associated with the patriarchs and with Israel’s earlier rejection of foreign gods, giving added weight to this act of covenant renewal. The memorial was not an object of worship but a visible witness against any future abandonment of the LORD. 1Sa 7:12 Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up.… that was near the sanctuary of the LORD. The stone was placed near the sacred place where Israel had gathered before God, joining covenant commitment with worship. The LORD’s sanctuary reminded the people that He dwelt among them as their holy King. Their promise to serve Him was therefore made not merely before Joshua or one another, but before the God who had redeemed them, given them the land, and required their wholehearted faithfulness. 1Sa 3:3 Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down… And Joshua said to all the people, Joshua addressed Israel as the covenant leader appointed to succeed Moses. At Shechem, before the tribes and their representatives, he called the whole nation to recognize its shared obligation before the LORD. Jos 23:2 he summoned all Israel, including its elders… “You see this stone. Joshua set up a stone beneath the oak near the sanctuary of the LORD at Shechem (Joshua 24:26). The location recalled God’s earlier appearance to Abraham, when He promised this land to Abraham’s offspring (Genesis 12:6–7). The memorial joined Israel’s present commitment to God’s ancient promise and faithful fulfillment. Jos 4:6-7 to serve as a sign among you. In the future,… It will be a witness against us, The stone stood as a lasting public testimony to the covenant Israel had renewed. Though inanimate, it represented the permanence of God’s words and the seriousness of Israel’s oath. Israel could not later claim ignorance of what they had pledged. Jos 22:27-28 Rather, let it be a witness between us and you… for it has heard all the words the LORD has spoken to us, Joshua spoke of the stone as having heard the covenant words proclaimed in the presence of the people. The LORD had revealed His faithfulness in delivering Israel from Egypt, preserving them in the wilderness, giving them victory in Canaan, and granting them the land. Their promise to serve Him alone rested upon what God had already done for them. Deu 5:27 Go near and listen to all that the LORD our God says.… and it will be a witness against you The memorial would testify against every generation that turned from the LORD. Covenant faithfulness was never merely private; the nation’s worship and obedience affected the entire community. God had given Israel clear commands, and He would hold them accountable for rejecting His rule. Deu 30:19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today… if you ever deny your God.” Denying the LORD meant forsaking Him for idols and refusing the covenant they had freely affirmed. Israel’s later history would show the danger Joshua anticipated, yet God’s judgment would never cancel His faithfulness to His promises. The stone remained a silent reminder that the LORD alone was Israel’s God and deserved their undivided allegiance. 2Ti 2:12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him;… Then Joshua sent the people away, The covenant assembly at Shechem ended with Israel freshly reminded of the Lord’s mighty acts, His exclusive claim upon them, and their solemn commitment to serve Him. Joshua released the tribes to live out that commitment in their homes and communities. His approaching death would leave Israel without the human leader who had guided them through conquest and settlement, making obedience to God’s covenant the decisive safeguard for the nation. Jos 22:6 So Joshua blessed them and sent them on their way,… each to his own inheritance. Every tribe returned to the land allotted by the Lord, fulfilling His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Their inheritance was both a gift of divine faithfulness and a stewardship requiring continued trust and obedience. The land testified that God had brought His people into rest, yet each generation would need to reject idolatry and serve Him wholeheartedly. Israel’s inheritance also anticipates the lasting inheritance secured for believers through Christ, whose people receive an eternal dwelling in God’s presence. Jdg 2:6 After Joshua had dismissed the people, the Israelites…
Joshua’s Death and BurialA period of settled life in the land followed Joshua’s final covenant renewal at Shechem. Israel had received its inheritance, and Joshua had called the people to serve the LORD alone in response to His faithfulness. Jos 23:1 A long time after the LORD had given Israel rest… Joshua son of Nun, Joshua came from the tribe of Ephraim and had served Moses faithfully before leading Israel across the Jordan. His name, meaning “The LORD is salvation,” fittingly reflects the God who brought His people into the land He had promised. Joshua’s leadership points forward to Christ, who brings His people into the fuller rest secured by His saving work. Jos 1:1 Now after the death of His servant Moses,… the servant of the LORD, The title given to Joshua at his death places him beside Moses as a faithful servant entrusted with God’s purposes. Though he held great authority over Israel, his defining identity was his obedience to the LORD. His life demonstrated that true leadership is exercised under God’s command and for the good of His people. Jdg 2:8 And Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD,… died at the age of 110 Joshua’s long life ended after he had seen the LORD fulfill His promises concerning the land. At 110, he belonged to the final generation connected to the Exodus and wilderness years. His death closed a decisive chapter in Israel’s history, while his final charge remained: Israel was to fear the LORD, reject idols, and serve Him in covenant faithfulness. Gen 50:22-23 Now Joseph and his father’s household remained in Egypt,… And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, Joshua received his inheritance after the land had been allotted to the tribes (Joshua 19:49–50). His burial there testified that the Lord had fulfilled His promise to bring Israel into Canaan and to give each tribe its appointed possession. The faithful leader who had led Israel into the land rested within the portion God had given him. Gen 50:13 They carried him to the land of Canaan… at Timnath-serah The people of Israel gave Joshua this city, Timnath-serah, meaning “portion of abundance,” in the territory of Ephraim, and he rebuilt it and lived there (Joshua 19:50). Judges 2:9 calls the place Timnath-heres, likely an alternate form of the same name. Joshua’s home and burial place preserved the memory of a servant who sought no royal dynasty or personal glory, but faithfully completed the work entrusted to him. Jos 19:50 as the LORD had commanded. They gave him the city… in the hill country of Ephraim, Joshua was himself from the tribe of Ephraim, the son of Nun (Numbers 13:8). This central highland region also contained Shiloh, where the tabernacle stood during much of Joshua’s lifetime. His burial among his own people joined his personal inheritance to Israel’s covenant life in the land. 1Sa 1:1 Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from… north of Mount Gaash. Mount Gaash marked the location of Joshua’s grave with geographical precision, though its exact site is now uncertain. The same burial notice appears in Judges 2:9, linking Joshua’s death with the generation that had witnessed the Lord’s mighty works. His resting place stood as a witness that God had given Israel the land, while calling later generations to remain faithful to the Lord who had fulfilled His word. 2Sa 23:30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash, Israel had served the LORD Israel’s obedience reflected covenant loyalty to the God who redeemed them from Egypt and brought them into the land. Their service involved worshiping the LORD alone, rejecting the gods of Canaan, and ordering national life according to His commands. Deu 10:20 You are to fear the LORD your God and serve Him.… throughout the days of Joshua Joshua led the people in the conquest and settlement of Canaan with steadfast dependence upon the LORD. Having urged Israel to choose whom they would serve, he set before them the lasting obligation of covenant faithfulness. His leadership points forward to Christ, who brings His people into the inheritance secured by God’s grace. Jdg 2:7 And the people served the LORD throughout the days of Joshua… and of the elders who outlived him The leaders who remained after Joshua’s death preserved the godly influence of a generation shaped by Moses and Joshua. Their continued leadership restrained Israel from quickly adopting the idolatry and practices of the surrounding nations. Jos 23:2-4 he summoned all Israel, including its elders… and who had experienced all the works that the LORD had done for Israel. These elders had witnessed the LORD’s mighty acts in delivering, providing for, and establishing Israel in the land. Their firsthand knowledge gave weight to their testimony and helped sustain the nation’s faith. When that generation passed away, later Israelites failed to remember the LORD’s works, opening the way for the spiritual decline recorded in Judges. Deu 29:2-6 Moses summoned all Israel and proclaimed to them,… And the bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought up out of Egypt, Joseph had made Israel swear to carry his remains from Egypt when God visited and delivered them (Genesis 50:25). Moses honored that oath at the exodus (Exodus 13:19), and Israel completed it after entering Canaan. Joseph’s burial testifies that he trusted God’s promise of the land more than the honor and security he possessed in Egypt. Exo 13:19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him.… were buried at Shechem Shechem stood near the place where the Lord first appeared to Abram and promised the land to his descendants (Genesis 12:6–7). Jacob later settled there and built an altar to the God of Israel (Genesis 33:18–20). Joseph’s resting place in Shechem joined the patriarchal promises to Israel’s actual possession of the land. Gen 47:29-30 When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called… in the plot of land that Jacob had purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, Jacob’s purchase provided a lawful family holding in Canaan long before the conquest (Genesis 33:19). The burial site preserved a visible connection between Jacob’s household, Joseph’s descendants, and the covenant land. Shechem would later serve as a city of refuge and a Levitical city, marking it as a significant place in Israel’s spiritual and national life. Act 7:16 Their bones were carried back to Shechem… for a hundred pieces of silver. The stated price recalls the historical transaction recorded in Genesis and emphasizes that the land had been secured by Jacob’s household. Israel’s inheritance rested ultimately on God’s gift, yet God’s promise was fulfilled in real places, families, and acts of faithful obedience. Gen 33:19 And the plot of ground where he pitched his tent,… So it became an inheritance for Joseph’s descendants. The land became part of the inheritance associated with Ephraim and Manasseh, Joseph’s sons. Joseph’s burial among his descendants declared that God had brought His people from slavery into the inheritance He promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jos 16:4 So Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph… Eleazar son of Aaron also died, Eleazar was the third son of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel, and succeeded his father in the priestly role. His death marks the end of an era for the Israelites, as he was a key figure during the conquest of Canaan and the distribution of the land. Eleazar’s role as high priest was crucial in maintaining the spiritual leadership and religious practices of the Israelites, as outlined in the books of Exodus and Leviticus. His death signifies a transition in leadership and a reminder of the mortality of even the most revered leaders. Num 20:25-29 Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor.… and they buried him at Gibeah, Gibeah, in this context, is not to be confused with the more infamous Gibeah of Saul. This Gibeah is a location in the hill country of Ephraim. The act of burial in a specific location often held significant meaning, indicating a place of honor or familial connection. Burial practices in ancient Israel were deeply tied to family and tribal identity, and being buried in one’s own land was considered a blessing and a sign of belonging. Jdg 2:9 They buried him in the land of his inheritance… which had been given to his son Phinehas Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, is noted for his zealousness for God’s covenant, as seen in Numbers 25, where he took decisive action against idolatry and immorality. His inheritance of Gibeah signifies the continuation of the priestly line and the blessings associated with faithfulness to God. The land given to Phinehas serves as a tangible representation of God’s favor and the perpetuation of the priestly duties through his lineage. Num 25:11-13 Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest,… in the hill country of Ephraim. This central region had also been associated with Joshua and the tabernacle at Shiloh. Eleazar’s resting place testified that the priestly leadership remained within the land God had given Israel, even as a new generation assumed responsibility for covenant faithfulness. Jos 17:15 Joshua answered them, “If you have so many people…”… This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com. Bible Hub |
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