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class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/joshua/24.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/joshua/24.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/joshua/24.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />If you abandon the LORD and serve other gods, he will turn against you and destroy you, even though he has been so good to you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/joshua/24.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/joshua/24.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, He will turn and bring disaster on you and consume you, even after He has been good to you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/joshua/24.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/joshua/24.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/joshua/24.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />If you abandon the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and destroy you after He has done good to you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/joshua/24.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has done good to you.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/joshua/24.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has done good to you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/joshua/24.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />If you forsake Yahweh and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has done good to you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/joshua/24.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />If you do abandon (reject) the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume <i>and</i> destroy you after He has done you good.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/joshua/24.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />If you abandon the LORD and worship foreign gods, he will turn against you, harm you, and completely destroy you, after he has been good to you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/joshua/24.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />If you abandon the LORD and worship foreign gods, He will turn against you, harm you, and completely destroy you, after He has been good to you."&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/joshua/24.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />If ye forsake Jehovah, and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/joshua/24.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />If you turn your backs on the LORD and worship the gods of other nations, the LORD will turn against you. He will make terrible things happen to you and wipe you out, even though he had been good to you before. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/joshua/24.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/joshua/24.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />If you abandon the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you. He will destroy you, although he has been so good to you."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/joshua/24.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />and if you leave him to serve foreign gods, he will turn against you and punish you. He will destroy you, even though he was good to you before." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/joshua/24.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />If you abandon the LORD and serve foreign deities, then he will turn and do you harm, consuming you after all the good he has done for you."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/joshua/24.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, He will turn and bring disaster on you and consume you, even after He has been good to you.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/joshua/24.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />If you abandon the LORD and worship foreign gods, he will turn against you; he will bring disaster on you and destroy you, though he once treated you well." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/joshua/24.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />If you forsake the LORD, and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after he has done you good."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/joshua/24.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/joshua/24.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />If you forsake Yahweh, and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after he has done you good.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/joshua/24.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />When you forsake YHWH, and have served gods of a stranger, then He has turned back and done harm to you, and consumed you, after that He has done good to you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/joshua/24.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> When ye forsake Jehovah, and have served gods of a stranger, then He hath turned back and done evil to you, and consumed you, after that He hath done good to you.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/joshua/24.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />If ye shall forsake Jehovah and serve strange gods, and he turned back and did evil to you, and finished you after that he did good to you.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/joshua/24.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />If you leave the Lord, and serve strange gods, he will turn, and will afflict you, and will destroy you after all the good he hath done you. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/joshua/24.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />If you leave behind the Lord, and you serve foreign gods, he will turn himself, and he will afflict you, and he will overthrow you, after all the good that he has offered to you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/joshua/24.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />If you forsake the LORD and serve strange gods, he will then do evil to you and destroy you, after having done you good.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/joshua/24.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/joshua/24.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />If you forsake the LORD and serve strange gods of the land, then the LORD will turn and do you harm, and consume you after having been good to you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/joshua/24.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Will you forsake LORD JEHOVAH and will you serve other foreign gods of the land, and will LORD JEHOVAH turn to do evil to you and will he consume you after he did good to you?”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/joshua/24.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then He will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after that He hath done you good.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/joshua/24.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Whensoever ye shall forsake the Lord and serve other gods, then he shall come upon you and afflict you, and consume you, because he has done you good.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/joshua/24-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p91zXIGB0Rk?start=6478" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/joshua/24.htm">Choose Whom You will Serve</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">19</span>But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God; He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your rebellion or your sins. <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">If</a> <a href="/hebrew/5800.htm" title="5800: ṯa·‘az·ḇū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- To loosen, relinquish, permit. A primitive root; to loosen, i.e. Relinquish, permit, etc.">you forsake</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/5647.htm" title="5647: wa·‘ă·ḇaḏ·tem (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-2mp) -- To work, serve. A primitive root; to work; by implication, to serve, till, enslave, etc.">and serve</a> <a href="/hebrew/5236.htm" title="5236: nê·ḵār (N-ms) -- That which is foreign, foreignness. From nakar; foreign, or a foreigner, or heathendom.">foreign</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hê (N-mpc) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">gods,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: wə·šāḇ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">He will turn</a> <a href="/hebrew/7489.htm" title="7489: wə·hê·ra‘ (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConjPerf-3ms) -- A primitive root; properly, to spoil; figuratively, to make good for nothing, i.e. Bad.">and bring disaster</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·ḵem (Prep:: 2mp) -- ">on you</a> <a href="/hebrew/3615.htm" title="3615: wə·ḵil·lāh (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent. A primitive root; to end, whether intransitive or transitived.">and consume</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ·ḵem (DirObjM:: 2mp) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self.">you,</a> <a href="/hebrew/310.htm" title="310: ’a·ḥă·rê (Prep) -- The hind or following part. From 'achar; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after.">even after</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer- (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3190.htm" title="3190: hê·ṭîḇ (V-Hifil-Perf-3ms) -- To be good, well, glad, or pleasing. A primitive root; to be make well, literally or figuratively.">He has been good</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·ḵem (Prep:: 2mp) -- ">to you.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">21</span>“No!” replied the people. “We will serve the LORD!”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/2-11.htm">Judges 2:11-15</a></span><br />And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. / Thus they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they followed after various gods of the peoples around them. They bowed down to them and provoked the LORD to anger, / for they forsook Him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/31-16.htm">Deuteronomy 31:16-18</a></span><br />And the LORD said to Moses, “You will soon rest with your fathers, and these people will rise up and prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake Me and break the covenant I have made with them. / On that day My anger will burn against them, and I will abandon them and hide My face from them, so that they will be consumed, and many troubles and afflictions will befall them. On that day they will say, ‘Have not these disasters come upon us because our God is no longer with us?’ / And on that day I will surely hide My face because of all the evil they have done by turning to other gods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/12-10.htm">1 Samuel 12:10-12</a></span><br />Then they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and Ashtoreths. Now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, that we may serve You.’ / So the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and He delivered you from the hands of your enemies on every side, and you dwelt securely. / But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king to rule over us’—even though the LORD your God was your king.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-7.htm">2 Kings 17:7-23</a></span><br />All this happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had worshiped other gods / and walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites, as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel. / The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city, they built high places in all their cities. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/2-19.htm">Jeremiah 2:19</a></span><br />Your own evil will discipline you; your own apostasies will reprimand you. Consider and realize how evil and bitter it is for you to forsake the LORD your God and to have no fear of Me,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/4-1.htm">Hosea 4:1-2</a></span><br />Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land! / Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-28.htm">Isaiah 1:28</a></span><br />But rebels and sinners will together be shattered, and those who forsake the LORD will perish.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/18-24.htm">Ezekiel 18:24</a></span><br />But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/15-2.htm">2 Chronicles 15:2</a></span><br />So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/9-26.htm">Nehemiah 9:26-27</a></span><br />But they were disobedient and rebelled against You; they flung Your law behind their backs. They killed Your prophets, who had admonished them to return to You. They committed terrible blasphemies. / So You delivered them into the hands of enemies who oppressed them, and in their time of distress they cried out to You. From heaven You heard them, and in Your great compassion You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hands of their enemies.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/6-24.htm">Matthew 6:24</a></span><br />No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/16-13.htm">Luke 16:13</a></span><br />No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/1-21.htm">Romans 1:21-25</a></span><br />For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-21.htm">1 Corinthians 10:21-22</a></span><br />You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too. / Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/1-6.htm">Galatians 1:6-9</a></span><br />I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— / which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ. / But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">If you forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he has done you good.</p><p class="hdg">he will turn</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/23-12.htm">Joshua 23:12-15</a></b></br> Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, <i>even</i> these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_chronicles/28-9.htm">1 Chronicles 28:9</a></b></br> And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_chronicles/15-2.htm">2 Chronicles 15:2</a></b></br> And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD <i>is</i> with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/deuteronomy/32-23.htm">Consume</a> <a href="/joshua/10-20.htm">Consumed</a> <a href="/joshua/9-27.htm">Cutting</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-35.htm">Disaster</a> <a href="/joshua/19-51.htm">End</a> <a href="/joshua/24-15.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/numbers/35-23.htm">Harm</a> <a href="/numbers/20-19.htm">Hurt</a> <a href="/joshua/24-19.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/joshua/24-19.htm">Serve</a> <a href="/joshua/24-15.htm">Served</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-16.htm">Strange</a> <a href="/joshua/20-9.htm">Stranger</a> <a href="/joshua/24-14.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/joshua/22-18.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/joshua/23-6.htm">Turning</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/9-15.htm">Consume</a> <a href="/judges/6-21.htm">Consumed</a> <a href="/judges/6-30.htm">Cutting</a> <a href="/judges/20-34.htm">Disaster</a> <a href="/judges/3-18.htm">End</a> <a href="/judges/2-11.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/judges/15-3.htm">Harm</a> <a href="/1_samuel/20-21.htm">Hurt</a> <a href="/joshua/24-21.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/joshua/24-21.htm">Serve</a> <a href="/joshua/24-31.htm">Served</a> <a href="/joshua/24-23.htm">Strange</a> <a href="/judges/10-16.htm">Stranger</a> <a href="/joshua/24-23.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/judges/2-17.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/joshua/24-23.htm">Turning</a><div class="vheading2">Joshua 24</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/24-1.htm">Joshua assembles the tribes at Shechem</a></span><br><span class="reftext">2. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/24-2.htm">A brief history of God's benefits from Terah</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/24-14.htm">He renews the covenant between them and God</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/24-26.htm">A stone the witness of the covenant</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/24-29.htm">Joshua's age, death, and burial</a></span><br><span class="reftext">32. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/24-32.htm">Joseph's bones are buried</a></span><br><span class="reftext">33. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/joshua/24-33.htm">Eleazar dies</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/joshua/24.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/joshua/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/joshua/24.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>If you forsake the LORD</b><br>This phrase emphasizes the covenant relationship between the Israelites and God. Forsaking the LORD implies a deliberate turning away from the covenant obligations. Historically, Israel's relationship with God was based on the covenant made at Sinai, where they pledged exclusive worship to Yahweh. This warning reflects the conditional nature of the covenant, where blessings are contingent upon obedience.<p><b>and serve foreign gods,</b><br>The mention of "foreign gods" highlights the prevalent temptation for Israel to adopt the deities of surrounding nations, such as Baal and Asherah. This was a recurring issue throughout Israel's history, as seen in the Book of Judges and the accounts of the kings. Serving foreign gods was not just a religious act but also a cultural assimilation that threatened Israel's distinct identity as God's chosen people.<p><b>He will turn and bring disaster on you</b><br>This phrase underscores the consequences of breaking the covenant. The idea of God "turning" suggests a change in His dealings with Israel, from protection and blessing to judgment and punishment. This is consistent with the Deuteronomic theology, where blessings and curses are outlined based on Israel's faithfulness (Deuteronomy 28). Historical examples include the Babylonian exile, which was seen as a direct result of Israel's unfaithfulness.<p><b>and consume you,</b><br>The term "consume" indicates total destruction or severe judgment. This can be seen in the context of the conquest narratives, where God commanded the Israelites to completely destroy the Canaanite nations. The warning here is that the same fate could befall Israel if they turn away from God. This reflects the seriousness of idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness.<p><b>even after He has been good to you.”</b><br>This phrase serves as a reminder of God's past faithfulness and blessings to Israel, such as the deliverance from Egypt and the provision in the wilderness. It highlights the ingratitude and betrayal involved in forsaking God after experiencing His goodness. This echoes the prophetic messages found in books like Hosea, where God's past kindness is contrasted with Israel's unfaithfulness. The goodness of God is a recurring theme that points to His character and the expectation of a reciprocal relationship with His people.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/joshua.htm">Joshua</a></b><br>The leader of Israel after Moses, who is delivering his farewell address to the Israelites in this chapter.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The covenant God of Israel, who has delivered them from Egypt and given them the Promised Land.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/f/foreign_gods.htm">Foreign gods</a></b><br>The deities worshiped by the surrounding nations, which the Israelites are warned against serving.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The people of God, who are being reminded of their covenant obligations and the consequences of disobedience.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/s/shechem.htm">Shechem</a></b><br>The place where Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to renew the covenant with God.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_seriousness_of_idolatry.htm">The Seriousness of Idolatry</a></b><br>Idolatry is not just the worship of physical idols but can include anything that takes the place of God in our lives. We must examine our hearts for modern-day idols.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/covenant_faithfulness.htm">Covenant Faithfulness</a></b><br>God’s faithfulness to His promises requires a response of faithfulness from His people. We are called to remain steadfast in our commitment to God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_disobedience.htm">Consequences of Disobedience</a></b><br>The warning in <a href="/joshua/24-20.htm">Joshua 24:20</a> reminds us that turning away from God has serious consequences. We must be vigilant in our walk with God to avoid spiritual disaster.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_goodness_and_justice.htm">God’s Goodness and Justice</a></b><br>God’s goodness is evident in His blessings, but His justice requires that He respond to unfaithfulness. We should not take His grace for granted.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/renewal_of_commitment.htm">Renewal of Commitment</a></b><br>Just as the Israelites renewed their covenant with God, we should regularly renew our commitment to follow Christ, especially in times of spiritual complacency.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_joshua_24.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Joshua 24</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_bible's_stance_on_stoning.htm">What is the Bible's stance on stoning?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_about_hornets.htm">What does the Bible mention about hornets?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_'the_hornet'_align_with_history.htm">Joshua 24:12 - How does the account of God sending 'the hornet' align with historical or natural evidence of plagues or insects driving out inhabitants?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_achan's_sin_cause_israel's_loss.htm">Why did Achan's disobedience lead to Israel's defeat?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/joshua/24.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 20.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Then he will turn.</span> There is no contradiction between this passage and <a href="/james/1-17.htm">James 1:17</a>, any more than our expression, the sun is in the east or in the west, conflicts with science. St. James is speaking of God as He is in Himself, sublime in His unchangeableness and bountiful purposes towards mankind. Joshua and the prophets, speaking by way of accommodation to our imperfect modes of expression, speak of Him as He is in relation to us. In reality it is not He but we who change. He has no more altered His position than the sun, which, as we say, rises in the east and sets in the west. But as He is in eternal opposition to all that is false or evil, we, when we turn aside from what is good and true, must of necessity exchange His favour for His displeasure. <span class="cmt_word">Do you hurt.</span> Literally, <span class="accented">do evil to you.<span class="cmt_word"></span> After that he hath done you good.</span> This implies what has been before stated, that it is not God who is inconsistent but man, not God who has changed His mind, but man who has changed his. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/joshua/24-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">If</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֤י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you forsake</span><br /><span class="heb">תַֽעַזְבוּ֙</span> <span class="translit">(ṯa·‘az·ḇū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5800.htm">Strong's 5800: </a> </span><span class="str2">To loosen, relinquish, permit</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and serve</span><br /><span class="heb">וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(wa·‘ă·ḇaḏ·tem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5647.htm">Strong's 5647: </a> </span><span class="str2">To work, to serve, till, enslave</span><br /><br /><span class="word">foreign</span><br /><span class="heb">נֵכָ֑ר</span> <span class="translit">(nê·ḵār)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5236.htm">Strong's 5236: </a> </span><span class="str2">That which is foreign, foreignness</span><br /><br /><span class="word">gods,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·hê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">He will turn</span><br /><span class="heb">וְשָׁ֨ב</span> <span class="translit">(wə·šāḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn back, in, to retreat, again</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and bring disaster</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהֵרַ֤ע</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hê·ra‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7489.htm">Strong's 7489: </a> </span><span class="str2">To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, bad</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on you</span><br /><span class="heb">לָכֶם֙</span> <span class="translit">(lā·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">and consume</span><br /><span class="heb">וְכִלָּ֣ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ḵil·lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3615.htm">Strong's 3615: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶתְכֶ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(’eṯ·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Direct object marker | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_853.htm">Strong's 853: </a> </span><span class="str2">Untranslatable mark of the accusative case</span><br /><br /><span class="word">even after</span><br /><span class="heb">אַחֲרֵ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(’a·ḥă·rê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_310.htm">Strong's 310: </a> </span><span class="str2">The hind or following part</span><br /><br /><span class="word">He has been good</span><br /><span class="heb">הֵיטִ֥יב</span> <span class="translit">(hê·ṭîḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3190.htm">Strong's 3190: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be good, well, glad, or pleasing</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to you.”</span><br /><span class="heb">לָכֶֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(lā·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/joshua/24-20.htm">Joshua 24:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/joshua/24-20.htm">Joshua 24:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/joshua/24-20.htm">Joshua 24:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/joshua/24-20.htm">Joshua 24:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/joshua/24-20.htm">Joshua 24:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/joshua/24-20.htm">Joshua 24:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/joshua/24-20.htm">Joshua 24:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/joshua/24-20.htm">Joshua 24:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/joshua/24-20.htm">Joshua 24:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/joshua/24-20.htm">Joshua 24:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/joshua/24-20.htm">OT History: Joshua 24:20 If you forsake Yahweh and serve foreign (Josh. Jos)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/joshua/24-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Joshua 24:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Joshua 24:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/joshua/24-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Joshua 24:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Joshua 24:21" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>