Joshua's Charge to Israel's Leaders

23 A long time afterward, when the Lord had given (A)rest to Israel from all their surrounding enemies, and Joshua (B)was old and well advanced in years, Joshua (C)summoned all Israel, its elders and heads, its judges and officers, and said to them, “I am now old and well advanced in years. And you have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake, (D)for it is the Lord your God who has fought for you. Behold, (E)I have allotted to you as an inheritance for your tribes those nations that remain, along with all the nations that I have already cut off, from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west. The Lord your God (F)will push them back before you and drive them out of your sight. And you shall possess their land, (G)just as the Lord your God promised you. Therefore, (H)be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, (I)turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, (J)that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you (K)or make mention of the names of their gods (L)or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them, (M)but you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day. (N)For the Lord has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, (O)no man has been able to stand before you to this day. 10 (P)One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God (Q)who fights for you, just as he promised you. 11 (R)Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God.

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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) summoned all Israel—their elders,(C) leaders, judges and officials(D)—and said to them: “I am very old.(E) 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) 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. 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)

“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) 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. But you are to hold fast to the Lord(R) your God, as you have until now.

“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.

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