Read Scripture ad-free with Bible Gateway Plus—trusted Study Bibles and commentaries beside every verse. Try it FREE for 7 days.
Log In/Sign Up

#
Joshua 23
New International Version

### Joshua’s Farewell to the Leaders

23 After a long time had passed and the Lord had given Israel rest(A) from all their enemies around them, Joshua, by then a very old man,(B) 2 summoned all Israel—their elders,(C) leaders, judges and officials(D)—and said to them: “I am very old.(E) 3 You yourselves have seen everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the Lord your God who fought for you.(F) 4 Remember how I have allotted(G) as an inheritance(H) for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain—the nations I conquered—between the Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea(I) in the west. 5 The Lord your God himself will push them out(J) for your sake. He will drive them out(K) before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the Lord your God promised you.(L)

6 “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law(M) of Moses, without turning aside(N) to the right or to the left.(O) 7 Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear(P) by them. You must not serve them or bow down(Q) to them. 8 But you are to hold fast to the Lord(R) your God, as you have until now.

9 “The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations;(S) to this day no one has been able to withstand you.(T) 10 One of you routs a thousand,(U) because the Lord your God fights for you,(V) just as he promised. 11 So be very careful(W) to love the Lord(X) your God.

12 “But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them(Y) and associate with them,(Z) 13 then you may be sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive out(AA) these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares(AB) and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes,(AC) until you perish from this good land,(AD) which the Lord your God has given you.

14 “Now I am about to go the way of all the earth.(AE) You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise(AF) has been fulfilled; not one has failed.(AG) 15 But just as all the good things(AH) the Lord your God has promised you have come to you, so he will bring on you all the evil things(AI) he has threatened, until the Lord your God has destroyed you(AJ) from this good land he has given you.(AK) 16 If you violate the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you.(AL)”

#### Cross references

1. Joshua 23:1 : S Dt 12:9; Jos 21:44
2. Joshua 23:1 : S Jos 13:1
3. Joshua 23:2 : S Jos 7:6
4. Joshua 23:2 : Jos 24:1
5. Joshua 23:2 : S Jos 13:1
6. Joshua 23:3 : S Ex 14:14; S Dt 20:4
7. Joshua 23:4 : Jos 19:51
8. Joshua 23:4 : S Nu 34:2; Ps 78:55
9. Joshua 23:4 : S Nu 34:6
10. Joshua 23:5 : ver 13; Jdg 2:21
11. Joshua 23:5 : Ps 44:5; Jer 46:15
12. Joshua 23:5 : Ex 23:30
13. Joshua 23:6 : S Dt 28:61
14. Joshua 23:6 : S Dt 17:20
15. Joshua 23:6 : Jos 1:7
16. Joshua 23:7 : Ex 23:13; Jer 5:7; 12:16
17. Joshua 23:7 : S Ex 20:5
18. Joshua 23:8 : S Dt 10:20
19. Joshua 23:9 : Dt 11:23
20. Joshua 23:9 : Dt 7:24
21. Joshua 23:10 : Lev 26:8; Jdg 3:31
22. Joshua 23:10 : S Ex 14:14
23. Joshua 23:11 : S Dt 4:15
24. Joshua 23:11 : Jos 22:5
25. Joshua 23:12 : S Ge 34:9
26. Joshua 23:12 : S Ex 34:16; Ps 106:34-35
27. Joshua 23:13 : S ver 5
28. Joshua 23:13 : S Ex 10:7
29. Joshua 23:13 : S Nu 33:55
30. Joshua 23:13 : Dt 1:8; 1Ki 9:7; 2Ki 25:21
31. Joshua 23:14 : 1Ki 2:2
32. Joshua 23:14 : Ps 119:140; 145:13
33. Joshua 23:14 : S Jos 21:45
34. Joshua 23:15 : 1Ki 8:56; Jer 33:14
35. Joshua 23:15 : 1Ki 14:10; 2Ki 22:16; Isa 24:6; 34:5; 43:28; Jer 6:19; 11:8; 35:17; 39:16; Mal 4:6
36. Joshua 23:15 : Jos 24:20
37. Joshua 23:15 : Lev 26:17; Dt 28:15; Jer 40:2
38. Joshua 23:16 : Dt 4:25-26

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

### More on the NIV

- Unleash God's Word!

#### Bible Gateway Recommends

NIV, Lucado Encouraging Word Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New International Version
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Artisan Collection Bible, Gilded Edges, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Journal the Word Bible, Red Letter, Comfort Print: Reflect, Take Notes, or Create Art Next to Your Favorite Verses
Retail: $39.99
Our Price: $27.99
Save: $12.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, The Woman's Study Bible, Full-Color, Red Letter: Receiving God's Truth for Balance, Hope, and Transformation
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV Application Bible, Red Letter, Comfort Print: Bringing the Ancient Message of the Bible into Your World
Retail: $54.99
Our Price: $35.00
Save: $19.99 (36%)
Buy Now
NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
View more titles