Joshua 24:1-27

Joshua assembled all Israel’s tribes at Shechem. He summoned all the leaders—elders, judges, and officials of Israel—and they all stood in the presence of God. Then Joshua said to them all: “This is what YAHWEH the God of Israel has to say to you: ‘Long ago, your forefathers—Terah, father of Abraham and father of Nahor—lived beyond the Euphrates and worshiped other gods. I took your father Abraham from that land and led him through all the land of Canaan. I gave him a son, Isaac, and through Isaac I multiplied his descendants. I gave Isaac two sons, Jacob and Esau. To Esau and his descendants I gave the hill country of Edom as their inheritance, while Jacob and his family went down to Egypt. When the time of their captivity was complete, I sent Moses and Aaron to Egypt to deliver them. I struck the land with great plagues, and afterward I led you out from there. I freed your forefathers from Egypt and brought you to the Red Sea, but the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen. Then our people cried out to YAHWEH for help, and he put a thick, dark cloud between you and the Egyptians. When the Egyptians attempted to follow them, I caused the sea to roll over them and drown them. You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the desert for many years. I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived east of the Jordan. When they fought against you, I gave them into your hands. As you advanced, I gave you victory over them, and you took possession of their land. ‘Later, when Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, opposed Israel, he sent for the prophet Balaam son of Beor to come and curse you. But I refused to listen to Balaam. Instead he had to prophesy my blessings over you! I rescued you from his power. ‘Later, after you crossed the Jordan miraculously, you faced another impossibility—Jericho! The lords of Jericho, as well as the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites, fought with you, but I gave you victory over them all! I sent the hornet ahead of you to run off the two Amorite kings. Your weapons and strength had nothing to do with it! I gave you land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built. You are now living in the land I gave you. You are eating grapes from vines that others planted and olives from trees planted by the people who lived there before you.’ “Now therefore, worship YAHWEH with holy awe and serve him in authentic love and loyalty. Remove from your hearts every false god to whom your fathers bowed down beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt and serve YAHWEH. If it seems wrong in your eyes to serve YAHWEH, then make your decision today which gods you will worship—the gods which your ancestors worshiped in Mesopotamia or the gods which the Amorites worship in the land where you are now living—but I and my family, we will give our lives to worship and serve YAHWEH!” The people responded enthusiastically: “Far be it from us to abandon YAHWEH and serve other gods! Our God, YAHWEH, set us and our fathers free from slavery in the land of Egypt, the house of bondage. He performed these many great signs and wonders before our eyes. YAHWEH supernaturally protected us throughout our entire journey as we passed through the territory of other nations. And as we advanced, YAHWEH powerfully drove out from before us all the people, including the Amorites who inhabited the country. Yes, Joshua! We, too, will worship and serve YAHWEH, for he alone is our God.” Joshua warned the people, “Don’t be so quick to say, ‘We will worship and serve YAHWEH,’ for he is a holy God. And he will tolerate no rivals. God will not forgive the sin of unfaithfulness to him. If after YAHWEH has been gracious to you, you turn and forsake him to worship other gods, then he will turn and deal harshly with you and totally consume you!” “No, no!” the people responded. “We promise to worship and serve YAHWEH!” Then Joshua said to them, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve YAHWEH.” “Yes, we are witnesses,” they responded. “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away these foreign gods that are among you, and yield your hearts fully to YAHWEH the God of Israel!” And the people promised Joshua, “We really will worship and serve our God, YAHWEH, and listen to his voice.” On that day when the people were gathered at Shechem, Joshua made a covenant between them and YAHWEH, which contained laws the people were to obey. Joshua recorded all this in a book of divine instruction. Then he set up a large stone memorial at the tent pole near the holy place of YAHWEH. Joshua said to all the people, “Look at this stone! It will serve as a witness, for it heard all the words that YAHWEH spoke to us; it will be a witness against you if you rebel against our God.”