Joshua Reviews Israel’s History

1Then Joshua (YHWH saves) assembled all the tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God) at Shechem (shoulder). He summoned the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of Israel, and they presented themselves before God {Elohim}.

2And Joshua (YHWH saves) said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), says: ‘Long ago your⁺ fathers, including Terah (station) the father of Abraham (father of many) and Nahor (snorting), lived beyond the Euphrates \the River/a and worshiped other gods. 3But I took your⁺ father Abraham (father of many) from beyond the Euphrates and led him through all the land of Canaan (lowland), and I multiplied his descendants. I gave him Isaac (he laughs), 4and to Isaac (he laughs) I gave Jacob (he grasps the heel) and Esau (hairy). I gave Esau Mount Seir (shaggy) to possess, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt (land of bondage).

5Then I sent Moses (drawn out) and Aaron (light bringer), and I afflicted the Egyptians (land of bondage) by what I did there, and afterward I brought you⁺ out. 6When I brought your⁺ fathers out of Egypt (land of bondage) and you⁺ reached the Red Sea (the Sea of Reeds),b the Egyptians (double straits) pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea. 7So your fathers cried out to the LORD {YHWH}, and He put darkness between you⁺ and the Egyptians (double straits), over whom He brought the sea and engulfed them. Your⁺ very eyes saw what I did to the Egyptians (land of bondage). Then you⁺ lived in the wilderness for a long time.

8Later, I brought you⁺ to the land of the Amorites (sayers) who lived beyond the Jordan (flowing down). They fought against you⁺, but I delivered them into your⁺ hand, that you⁺ should possess their land when I destroyed them before you⁺. 9Then Balak (devastator) son of Zippor (sparrow), the king of Moab (of his father), set out to fight against Israel (he wrestles with God). He sent for Balaam (not of the people) son of Beor (burning) to curse you⁺, 10but I would not listen to Balaam (not of the people). So he blessed you⁺ again and again, and I delivered you⁺ from his hand.

11After this, you⁺ crossed the Jordan (flowing down) and came to Jericho (city of palms). The people of Jericho fought against you⁺, as did the Amorites (sayers), Perizzites (villagers), Canaanites (merchants), Hittites, Girgashites (dwelling on clay), Hivites, and Jebusites (Jerusalemites), and I delivered them into your⁺ hand. 12I sent the hornet ahead of you⁺, and it drove out the two Amorite (a sayer) kings before you⁺, but not by your own sword or bow. 13So I gave you⁺ a land on which you did not toil and cities that you⁺ did not build, and now you⁺ live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you⁺ did not plant.’

Choose Whom You Will Serve
(Deuteronomy 10:12–22)

14Now, therefore, fear the LORD {YHWH} and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your⁺ fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt (land of bondage), and serve the LORD. 15But if it is unpleasing in your⁺ sight to serve the LORD {YHWH}, then choose for yourselves this day whom you⁺ will serve, whether the gods your⁺ fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites (sayers) in whose land you⁺ are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”

16The people replied, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD {YHWH} to serve other gods! 17For the LORD our God {YHWH Elohenu} brought us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt (land of bondage), out of the house of slavery, and performed these great signs before our eyes. He also protected us throughout our journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18And the LORD {YHWH} drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites (sayers) who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because He is our God {Elohenu}!”

19But Joshua (YHWH saves) said to the people, “You⁺ are not able to serve the LORD {YHWH}, for He is a holy God {Elohim}; He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your⁺ rebellion or your⁺ sins. 20If you⁺ forsake the LORD {YHWH} and serve foreign gods, He will turn and bring disaster on you⁺ and consume you⁺, even after He has been good to you⁺.”

21“No!” replied the people (YHWH saves). “We will serve the LORD {YHWH}!”

22Then Joshua (YHWH saves) told them, “You⁺ are witnesses against yourselves that you⁺ have chosen to serve the LORD {YHWH}.”

“We are witnesses!” they said.

23“Now, therefore,” he said, “get rid of the foreign gods among you⁺ and incline your⁺ hearts to the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God).”

24So the people said to Joshua (YHWH saves), “We will serve the LORD our God {YHWH Elohenu} and obey His voice.”

25On that day Joshua (YHWH saves) made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem (shoulder) he established for them a statute and ordinance. 26Joshua (YHWH saves) recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God {Elohim}. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak (terebinth)c that was near the sanctuary of the LORD {YHWH}. 27And Joshua (YHWH saves) said to all the people, “You see this stone. It will be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words the LORD {YHWH} has spoken to us, and it will be a witness against you⁺ if you⁺ ever deny your⁺ God {Elohim}.”

28Then Joshua (YHWH saves) sent the people away, each to his own inheritance.

Joshua’s Death and Burial
(Judges 2:6–9)

29Some time later, Joshua (YHWH saves) son of Nun (fish / posterity), the servant of the LORD {YHWH}, died at the age of 110. 30And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath-serah (portion of the sun)d in the hill country of Ephraim (doubly fruitful), north of Mount Gaash (quaking). 31Israel (he wrestles with God) had served the LORD {YHWH} throughout the days of Joshua (YHWH saves) and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced all the works that the LORD had done for Israel.

32And the bones of Joseph (YHWH has added), which the Israelites (God prevails) had brought up out of Egypt (land of bondage), were buried at Shechem (shoulder) in the plot of land that Jacob (he grasps the heel) had purchased from the sons of Hamor (he donkey), Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver \a hundred kesitahs/.e So it became an inheritance for Joseph’s descendants.

33Eleazar (God has helped) son of Aaron (light bringer) also died, and they buried him at Gibeah, which had been given to his son Phinehas (mouth of brass) in the hill country of Ephraim (doubly fruitful).