Josue being old admonisheth the people to keep God’s commandments: and
to avoid marriages and all society with the Gentiles for fear of being
brought to idolatry.
23:1. And when a long time was passed, after that the Lord had given
peace to Israel, all the nations round about being subdued, and Josue
being now old, and far advanced in years:
23:2. Josue called for all Israel, and for the elders, and for the
princes, and for the judges, and for the masters, and said to them: I
am old, and far advanced in years,
23:3. And you see all that the Lord your God hath done to all the
nations round about, how he himself hath fought for you:
23:4. And now since he hath divided to you by lot all the land, from
the east of the Jordan unto the great sea, and many nations yet remain:
23:5. The Lord your God will destroy them, and take them away from
before your face, and you shall possess the land as he hath promised
you.
23:6. Only take courage, and be careful to observe all things that are
written in the book of the law of Moses: and turn not aside from them
neither to the right hand nor to the left:
23:7. Lest after that you are come in among the Gentiles, who will
remain among you, you should swear by the name of their gods, and serve
them, and adore them:
23:8. But cleave ye unto the Lord your God, as you have done until this
day.
23:9. And then the Lord God will take away before your eyes nations
that are great and very strong, and no man shall be able to resist you.
23:10. One of you shall chase a thousand men of the enemies: because
the Lord your God himself will fight for you, as he hath promised.
23:11. This only take care of with all diligence, that you love the
Lord your God.
23:12. But if you will embrace the errors of these nations that dwell
among you, and make marriages with them, and join friendships:
23:13. Know ye for a certainty that the Lord your God will not destroy
them before your face, but they shall be a pit and a snare in your way,
and a stumbling-block at your side, and stakes in your eyes, till he
take you away and destroy you from off this excellent land, which he
hath given you.
23:14. Behold this day I am going into the way of all the earth, and
you shall know with all your mind that of all the words which the Lord
promised to perform for you, not one hath failed,
23:15. Therefore as he hath fulfilled in deed, what he promised, and
all things prosperous have come: so will he bring upon you all the
evils he hath threatened, till he take you away and destroy you from
off this excellent land, which he hath given you,
23:16. When you shall have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your
God, which he hath made with you, and shall have served strange gods,
and adored them: then shall the indignation of the Lord rise up quickly
and speedily against you, and you shall be taken away from this
excellent land, which he hath delivered to you.