1 And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had
given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed
old and stricken
in age.
2 And
Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads,
and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken
in age:
3 And
ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations
because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.
4 Behold,
I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance
for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even
unto the great sea westward.
5 And
the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out
of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath
promised unto you.
6 Be
ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book
of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the
right hand or to the left;
7 That
ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make
mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto
them:
8 But
cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.
9 For
the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you,
no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.
10 One
man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that
fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.
11 Take
good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.
12 Else
if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these
that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them,
and they to you:
13 Know
for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these
nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges
in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land
which the LORD your God hath given you.
14 And,
behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye
know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed
of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are
come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.
15 Therefore
it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you,
which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil
things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your
God hath given you.
16 When
ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you,
and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall
the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from
off the good land which he hath given unto you.
