The conquest and the judges · Joshua 24
“As for Me and My House, We Will Serve the LORD”
Near the end of his life, Joshua gathers all the tribes of Israel at Shechem before God. In the name of the LORD, he retraces their history: Abraham taken from beyond the River, where other gods were served, Isaac and Jacob, the exodus from Egypt, the Red Sea, the conquest of the land. Then he issues the call: “Fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth.” If that seems wrong to them, let them choose this day whom they will serve, the gods from beyond the River or those of the Amorites. As for him, his mind is made up: “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” The people promise to stay faithful, but Joshua warns them: “He is an holy God; he is a jealous God.” They repeat their commitment. Joshua then makes a covenant with them at Shechem and sets up a great stone as a witness, then sends the people home. He dies at the age of one hundred and ten.
What happens
- Joshua gathers all the tribes at Shechem before God Joshua 24:1
- The LORD recalls his work: Abraham taken from beyond the River Joshua 24:2–3
- “Fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth” Joshua 24:14
- “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” Joshua 24:15
- The people commit themselves; Joshua warns them: “an holy God… a jealous God” Joshua 24:16–19
- Covenant at Shechem: a great stone will stand as witness Joshua 24:25–27
Who is in this story
The lesson
Serving the LORD is a personal choice, one we renew every day: “choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Joshua sets the example for his whole household, and reminds us that a living faith puts foreign gods out of the heart (24:23) instead of adding them to the LORD.
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Quick quiz on this story
Where does Joshua gather all the tribes of Israel for his final address?
“Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers.” Joshua 24:1
How old is Joshua when he dies?
“Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old,” and they buried him in Timnath-serah. Joshua 24:29–30
What does Joshua set up at Shechem to serve as a witness against the people?
Joshua took a great stone and set it up under the oak: it would be a witness, for it had heard all the words of the LORD. Joshua 24:26–27
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