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Joshua 24:16 The people replied, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Joshua 24:16 The people replied, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/joshua/24-16.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/15/06_Jos_24_16.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Joshua 24:16 - Choose Whom You will Serve" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The people replied, Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!" /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad16.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/joshua/24-15.htm" title="Joshua 24:15">◄</a> Joshua 24:16 <a href="/joshua/24-17.htm" title="Joshua 24:17">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div 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 />Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/joshua/24.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />The people replied, “We would never abandon the LORD and serve other gods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/joshua/24.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/joshua/24.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />The people replied, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/joshua/24.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/joshua/24.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />So the people answered and said: “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/joshua/24.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />The people answered and said, “Far be it from us that we would abandon the LORD to serve other gods;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/joshua/24.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The people answered and said, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/joshua/24.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And the people answered and said, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/joshua/24.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And the people answered and said, “Far be it from us that we should forsake Yahweh to serve other gods;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/joshua/24.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The people answered, “Far be it from us to abandon (reject) the LORD to serve other gods;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/joshua/24.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The people replied, “We will certainly not abandon the LORD to worship other gods!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/joshua/24.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The people replied, “We will certainly not abandon the LORD to worship other gods! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/joshua/24.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And the people answered and said, Far be it from us that we should forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/joshua/24.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />The people answered: We could never worship other gods or stop worshiping the LORD. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/joshua/24.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/joshua/24.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The people responded, "It would be unthinkable for us to abandon the LORD to serve other gods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/joshua/24.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The people replied, "We would never leave the LORD to serve other gods! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/joshua/24.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />In response, the people said, "Far be it from us that we should abandon the LORD to serve other gods, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/joshua/24.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />The people replied, ?Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/joshua/24.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The people responded, "Far be it from us to abandon the LORD so we can worship other gods!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/joshua/24.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/joshua/24.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the people answered, and said, Be it far from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/joshua/24.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake Yahweh, to serve other gods; <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/joshua/24.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And the people answer and say, “Far be it from us to forsake YHWH, to serve other gods;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/joshua/24.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And the people answer and say, 'Far be it from us to forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/joshua/24.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />An the people will answer and say, Woe to us forsaking Jehovah to serve other gods;<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/joshua/24.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And the people answered, and said: God forbid we should leave the Lord, and serve strange gods. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/joshua/24.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And the people responded, and they said: “Far be it from us that we would forsake the Lord, and serve foreign gods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/joshua/24.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/joshua/24.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/joshua/24.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/joshua/24.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And all of the people answered and they said: “God forbid us that we would forsake LORD JEHOVAH and we would serve other gods<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/joshua/24.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And the people answered and said: 'Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/joshua/24.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the people answered and said, Far be it from us to forsake the Lord, so as to serve other gods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/joshua/24-16.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=6429" 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">15</span>But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!” <span class="reftext">16</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: hā·‘ām (Art:: N-ms) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">The people</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6030.htm" title="6030: way·ya·‘an (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To answer, respond.">replied,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2486.htm" title="2486: ḥā·lî·lāh (Interjection:: 3fs) -- Far be it! Or chalilah; a directive from chalal; literal for a profaned thing; used Far be it!">“Far be it</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·nū (Prep:: 1cp) -- ">from us</a> <a href="/hebrew/5800.htm" title="5800: mê·‘ă·zōḇ (Prep-m:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To loosen, relinquish, permit. A primitive root; to loosen, i.e. Relinquish, permit, etc.">to 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: la·‘ă·ḇōḏ (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To work, serve. A primitive root; to work; by implication, to serve, till, enslave, etc.">to serve</a> <a href="/hebrew/312.htm" title="312: ’ă·ḥê·rîm (Adj-mp) -- Another. From 'achar; properly, hinder; generally, next, other, etc.">other</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hîm (N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">gods!</a> </span><span class="reftext">17</span>For the LORD our God brought us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and performed these great signs before our eyes. He also protected us throughout our journey and among all the nations through which we traveled.…<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="/exodus/19-8.htm">Exodus 19:8</a></span><br />And all the people answered together, “We will do everything that the LORD has spoken.” So Moses brought their words back to the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/24-3.htm">Exodus 24:3</a></span><br />When Moses came and told the people all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all responded with one voice: “All the words that the LORD has spoken, we will do.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/24-7.htm">Exodus 24:7</a></span><br />Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people, who replied, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/5-27.htm">Deuteronomy 5:27</a></span><br />Go near and listen to all that the LORD our God says. Then you can tell us everything the LORD our God tells you; we will listen and obey.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/6-13.htm">Deuteronomy 6:13-14</a></span><br />Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name. / Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/11-16.htm">Deuteronomy 11:16</a></span><br />But be careful that you are not enticed to turn aside to worship and bow down to other gods,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/13-4.htm">Deuteronomy 13:4</a></span><br />You are to follow the LORD your God and fear Him. Keep His commandments and listen to His voice; serve Him and hold fast to Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/12-10.htm">1 Samuel 12:10</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.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/8-57.htm">1 Kings 8:57-58</a></span><br />May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He never leave us or forsake us. / May He incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep the commandments and statutes and ordinances He commanded our fathers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-35.htm">2 Kings 17:35-39</a></span><br />For the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites and commanded them, “Do not worship other gods or bow down to them; do not serve them or sacrifice to them. / Instead, worship the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm. You are to bow down to Him and offer sacrifices to Him. / And you must always be careful to observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments He wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/15-12.htm">2 Chronicles 15:12-15</a></span><br />Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul. / And whoever would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, would be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman. / They took an oath to the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting, trumpets, and rams’ horns. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/44-20.htm">Psalm 44:20-21</a></span><br />If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, / would not God have discovered, since He knows the secrets of the heart?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/81-9.htm">Psalm 81:9</a></span><br />There must be no strange god among you, nor shall you bow to a foreign god.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/42-8.htm">Isaiah 42:8</a></span><br />I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/2-11.htm">Jeremiah 2:11-13</a></span><br />Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols. / Be stunned by this, O heavens; be shocked and utterly appalled,” declares the LORD. / “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/12-23.htm">1 Samuel 12:23</a></b></br> Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/romans/3-6.htm">Romans 3:6</a></b></br> God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/romans/6-2.htm">Romans 6:2</a></b></br> God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/joshua/24-14.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/joshua/24-15.htm">Serve</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/joshua/24-18.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/joshua/24-18.htm">Serve</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 /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <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>The people replied</b><br>This phrase indicates a collective response from the Israelites, showing unity in their declaration. It reflects the communal nature of their society, where decisions and declarations were often made as a group. This response comes after Joshua's challenge to the people to choose whom they will serve, highlighting the importance of leadership and covenant renewal in Israel's history.<p><b>Far be it from us</b><br>This expression is a strong idiomatic phrase used to reject an idea emphatically. It shows the people's determination and commitment to remain faithful to the LORD. This language is often used in the Old Testament to express a deep moral or spiritual conviction, indicating the seriousness with which the Israelites viewed their covenant relationship with God.<p><b>to forsake the LORD</b><br>Forsaking the LORD would mean abandoning the covenant relationship established at Sinai and reaffirmed in the Promised Land. Historically, Israel's identity was deeply tied to their worship of Yahweh, and forsaking Him would lead to dire consequences, as seen in the cycles of sin and redemption throughout the book of Judges. This phrase underscores the gravity of apostasy and the importance of faithfulness.<p><b>to serve other gods!</b><br>The mention of "other gods" refers to the pagan deities worshiped by surrounding nations, such as Baal and Asherah. The Israelites were constantly tempted by these foreign gods, which represented fertility, prosperity, and other aspects of life. This phrase highlights the ongoing struggle against idolatry, a central theme in the Old Testament. It also foreshadows the challenges Israel would face in maintaining their distinct identity amidst a polytheistic culture. The rejection of other gods is a reaffirmation of the first commandment, emphasizing exclusive devotion to Yahweh.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/joshua.htm">Joshua</a></b><br>The leader of Israel who succeeded Moses and led the Israelites into the Promised Land. In this chapter, he is renewing the covenant between God and Israel.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The people of God who are gathered at Shechem to hear Joshua's final exhortation and to renew their commitment to the LORD.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/shechem.htm">Shechem</a></b><br>A significant location in Israel's history, where God first promised the land to Abraham and where Joshua renews the covenant.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The covenant God of Israel, who delivered them from Egypt and gave them the Promised Land.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/o/other_gods.htm">Other gods</a></b><br>The false deities worshiped by the surrounding nations, which Israel is warned against following.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/c/commitment_to_god.htm">Commitment to God</a></b><br>The Israelites' response highlights the importance of a firm commitment to God, rejecting all forms of idolatry. Believers today must also choose to serve God wholeheartedly.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/covenant_renewal.htm">Covenant Renewal</a></b><br>Just as Israel renewed their covenant with God, Christians are called to regularly renew their commitment to Christ, remembering His faithfulness and their promises to Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/guarding_against_idolatry.htm">Guarding Against Idolatry</a></b><br>The temptation to serve "other gods" is as real today as it was for Israel. Modern idols can be anything that takes priority over God in our lives, such as wealth, power, or relationships.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_affirmation.htm">Community Affirmation</a></b><br>The collective response of the Israelites underscores the importance of community in faith. Believers should encourage one another in their commitment to God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/historical_reflection.htm">Historical Reflection</a></b><br>Reflecting on God's past faithfulness, as Joshua did, strengthens our faith and commitment. Remembering how God has worked in our lives can inspire continued devotion.<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_does_'let_your_yes_be_yes'_mean.htm">What does 'We will serve the Lord' mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_joshua_24_14-15_reconcile_idolatry.htm">Joshua 24:14-15 – How does this pledge to exclusively serve the Lord reconcile with the later biblical narratives showing continued idolatry in Israel? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_psalm_80_18_poetic_exaggeration.htm">Psalm 80:18 implies Israel’s unwavering devotion once revived; however, biblical accounts frequently show Israel backsliding. Is this consistent, or is it poetic exaggeration?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_deut._7_16_align_with_israel's_losses.htm">How can Deuteronomy 7:16's promise of victory over enemies be reconciled with records of Israel's military setbacks in other biblical accounts?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/joshua/24.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(16) <span class= "bld">God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods.</span>--The feelings of the people are naturally shocked by the bare mention of apostasy. They will not <span class= "ital">forsake </span>Jehovah on any account. But their answer only betrayed their want of intelligence. They missed the point of Joshua's argument, as may be seen by his reply.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/joshua/24.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 16.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord.</span> There could be no doubt of the sincerity of the people at that moment. The only doubt is that afterwards expressed by Joshua, whether the feeling were likely to be permanent. The best test of sincerity is not always the open hostility of foes, for this very often braces up the energies to combat, while at the same time it makes the path of duty clear. Still less is it the hour of triumph over our foes, for then there is no temptation to rebel. The real test of our faithfulness to God is in most cases our power to continue steadfastly in one course of conduct when the excitement of conflict is removed, and the enemies with which we have to contend are the insidious allurements of ease or custom amid the common place duties of life. Thus the Israelites who, amid many murmurings and backslidings, kept faithful to the guidance of Moses in the wilderness, and who followed with unwavering fidelity the banner of Joshua in Palestine, succumbed fatally to the temptations of a life of peace and quietness after his death. So too often does the young Christian, who sets out on his heavenward path with earnest desires and high aspirations, who resists successfully the temptations of youth to unbelief or open immorality, fall a victim to the more insidious snares of compromise with a corrupt society, and instead of maintaining a perpetual warfare with the world, rejecting its principles and despising its precepts, sinks down into a life of ignoble ease and self indulgence, in the place of a life of devotion to the service of God. He does not east off God's service, he does not reject Him openly, but mixes up insensibly with His worship the worship of idols which He hates. Such persons halt between two opinions, they strive to serve two masters, and the end, like that of Israel, is open apostasy and ruin. For "God forbid" see <a href="/joshua/22-29.htm">Joshua 22:29</a>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/joshua/24-16.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">The people</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעָם֙</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘ām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> </span><span class="str2">A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">replied,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּ֤עַן</span> <span class="translit">(way·ya·‘an)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6030.htm">Strong's 6030: </a> </span><span class="str2">To answer, respond</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Far be it from us</span><br /><span class="heb">חָלִ֣ילָה</span> <span class="translit">(ḥā·lî·lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interjection | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2486.htm">Strong's 2486: </a> </span><span class="str2">For, a profaned thing, far be it!</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to forsake</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵעֲזֹ֖ב</span> <span class="translit">(mê·‘ă·zōḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<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">יְהוָ֑ה</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">to serve</span><br /><span class="heb">לַעֲבֹ֖ד</span> <span class="translit">(la·‘ă·ḇōḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<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">other</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲחֵרִֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḥê·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_312.htm">Strong's 312: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hinder, next, other</span><br /><br /><span class="word">gods!</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהִ֥ים</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·hîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<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 /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/joshua/24-16.htm">Joshua 24:16 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/joshua/24-16.htm">Joshua 24:16 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/joshua/24-16.htm">Joshua 24:16 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/joshua/24-16.htm">Joshua 24:16 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/joshua/24-16.htm">Joshua 24:16 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/joshua/24-16.htm">Joshua 24:16 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/joshua/24-16.htm">Joshua 24:16 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/joshua/24-16.htm">Joshua 24:16 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/joshua/24-16.htm">Joshua 24:16 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/joshua/24-16.htm">Joshua 24:16 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/joshua/24-16.htm">OT History: Joshua 24:16 The people answered Far be it (Josh. Jos)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/joshua/24-15.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Joshua 24:15"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Joshua 24:15" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/joshua/24-17.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Joshua 24:17"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Joshua 24:17" /></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>