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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 />&#8220Now then,&#8221 said Joshua, &#8220throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/joshua/24.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“All right then,” Joshua said, “destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/joshua/24.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/joshua/24.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Now, therefore,” he said, “get rid of the foreign gods among you and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/joshua/24.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Now therefore put away, <i>said he</i>, the strange gods which <i>are</i> among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/joshua/24.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“Now therefore,” <i>he said,</i> “put away the foreign gods which <i>are</i> among you, and incline your heart to the LORD God of Israel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/joshua/24.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Now then, do away with the foreign gods which are in your midst, and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/joshua/24.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Now therefore, put away the foreign gods which are in your midst, and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/joshua/24.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Now therefore, put away the foreign gods which are in your midst, and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/joshua/24.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“So now, put away the foreign gods which are in your midst, and incline your hearts to Yahweh, the God of Israel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/joshua/24.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“Now then, remove the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your hearts toward the LORD, the God of Israel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/joshua/24.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Then get rid of the foreign gods that are among you and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/joshua/24.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then get rid of the foreign gods that are among you and offer your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/joshua/24.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Now therefore put away, said he, the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto Jehovah, the God of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/joshua/24.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Joshua said, "But you still have some idols, like those the other nations worship. Get rid of your idols! You must decide once and for all that you really want to obey the LORD God of Israel." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/joshua/24.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD, the God of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/joshua/24.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Turn yourselves entirely over to the LORD God of Israel."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/joshua/24.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"Then get rid of those foreign gods that you have," he demanded, "and pledge your loyalty to the LORD, the God of Israel." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/joshua/24.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Joshua said, "Therefore abandon the foreign gods that are among you, and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/joshua/24.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />?Now, therefore,? he said, ?get rid of the foreign gods among you and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/joshua/24.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Joshua said, "Now put aside the foreign gods that are among you and submit to the LORD God of Israel." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/joshua/24.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"Now therefore put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/joshua/24.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Now therefore put away (said he) the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD God of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/joshua/24.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“Now therefore put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to Yahweh, the God of Israel.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/joshua/24.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />“And now, turn aside the gods of the stranger which [are] in your midst, and incline your heart to YHWH, God of Israel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/joshua/24.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and, now, turn aside the gods of the stranger which are in your midst, and incline your heart unto Jehovah, God of Israel.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/joshua/24.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And now remove the strange gods which are in the midst of you, and incline your heart to Jehovah the God of Israel.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/joshua/24.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Now therefore, said he, put away strange gods from among you, and incline your hearts to the Lord the God of Israel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/joshua/24.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />“Now therefore,” he said, “take away strange gods from among yourselves, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/joshua/24.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />“Now, therefore, put away the foreign gods that are among you and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/joshua/24.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/joshua/24.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Then Joshua said to them, Now therefore put away the strange gods which are among you, and incline your hearts to the LORD God of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/joshua/24.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Yeshua said to them: “From now on, put away foreign gods that are in your midst and prepare your heart in the presence of LORD JEHOVAH, the God of Israel”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/joshua/24.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Now therefore put away the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD, the God of Israel.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/joshua/24.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And now take away the strange gods that are among you, and set your heart right toward the Lord God of Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/joshua/24-23.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=6503" 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">22</span>Then Joshua told them, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.” “We are witnesses!” they said. <span class="reftext">23</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6258.htm" title="6258: wə·‘at·tāh (Conj-w:: Adv) -- Now. From eth; at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive.">“Now, therefore,” he said,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5493.htm" title="5493: hā·sî·rū (V-Hifil-Imp-mp) -- To turn aside. Or suwr; a primitive root; to turn off.">“get rid of</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/5236.htm" title="5236: han·nê·ḵār (Art:: N-ms) -- That which is foreign, foreignness. From nakar; foreign, or a foreigner, or heathendom.">the 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/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/7130.htm" title="7130: bə·qir·bə·ḵem (Prep-b:: N-msc:: 2mp) -- Inward part, midst. From qarab; properly, the nearest part, i.e. The center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial.">among you</a> <a href="/hebrew/5186.htm" title="5186: wə·haṭ·ṭū (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-Imp-mp) -- A primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away; used in a great variety of application.">and incline</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/3824.htm" title="3824: lə·ḇaḇ·ḵem (N-msc:: 2mp) -- Inner man, mind, will, heart. From labab; the heart; used also like leb.">your hearts</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</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/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hê (N-mpc) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">the God</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">of Israel.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">24</span>So the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God and obey His voice.”…<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="/deuteronomy/10-16.htm">Deuteronomy 10:16</a></span><br />Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and stiffen your necks no more.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/7-3.htm">1 Samuel 7:3</a></span><br />Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”<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="/jeremiah/4-1.htm">Jeremiah 4:1-2</a></span><br />“If you will return, O Israel, return to Me,” declares the LORD. “If you will remove your detestable idols from My sight and no longer waver, / and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/18-31.htm">Ezekiel 18:31</a></span><br />Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/14-3.htm">Hosea 14:3</a></span><br />Assyria will not save us, nor will we ride on horses. We will never again say, ‘Our gods!’ to the work of our own hands. For in You the fatherless find compassion.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zephaniah/1-4.htm">Zephaniah 1:4-6</a></span><br />“I will stretch out My hand against Judah and against all who dwell in Jerusalem. I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal, the names of the idolatrous and pagan priests— / those who bow on the rooftops to worship the host of heaven, those who bow down and swear by the LORD but also swear by Milcom, / and those who turn back from following the LORD, neither seeking the LORD nor inquiring of Him.”<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/55-6.htm">Isaiah 55:6-7</a></span><br />Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. / Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.<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="/matthew/22-37.htm">Matthew 22:37</a></span><br />Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’<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="/john/4-24.htm">John 4:24</a></span><br />God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/12-1.htm">Romans 12:1-2</a></span><br />Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. / Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD God of Israel.</p><p class="hdg">put away</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/24-14.htm">Joshua 24:14</a></b></br> Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/35-2.htm">Genesis 35:2-4</a></b></br> Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that <i>were</i> with him, Put away the strange gods that <i>are</i> among you, and be clean, and change your garments: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/20-23.htm">Exodus 20:23</a></b></br> Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.</p><p class="hdg">incline</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/2-2.htm">Proverbs 2:2</a></b></br> So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, <i>and</i> apply thine heart to understanding;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hebrews/12-28.htm">Hebrews 12:28,29</a></b></br> Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/joshua/23-14.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/joshua/24-14.htm">Hearts</a> <a href="/numbers/21-15.htm">Incline</a> <a href="/joshua/24-9.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/joshua/24-22.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/joshua/24-17.htm">Midst</a> <a href="/joshua/24-20.htm">Strange</a> <a href="/joshua/24-14.htm">Throw</a> <a href="/joshua/24-20.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/joshua/24-20.htm">Turning</a> <a href="/joshua/5-12.htm">Yield</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/5-9.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/judges/9-3.htm">Hearts</a> <a href="/1_kings/8-58.htm">Incline</a> <a href="/joshua/24-31.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/joshua/24-24.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/judges/1-29.htm">Midst</a> <a href="/judges/10-16.htm">Strange</a> <a href="/judges/2-2.htm">Throw</a> <a href="/judges/1-3.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/judges/3-19.htm">Turning</a> <a href="/2_samuel/1-21.htm">Yield</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>Now, therefore,</b><br>This phrase indicates a conclusion or a call to action based on previous statements. In the context of <a href="/joshua/24.htm">Joshua 24</a>, Joshua has just recounted the history of Israel, emphasizing God's faithfulness and the people's covenant relationship with Him. The "therefore" serves as a pivot from recounting past events to urging a response from the Israelites.<p><b>he said,</b><br>Joshua, as the leader of Israel, is speaking with authority. His role as Moses' successor and a military leader who led the Israelites into the Promised Land gives weight to his words. This is a moment of covenant renewal, and Joshua's leadership is crucial in guiding the people to recommit to God.<p><b>get rid of the foreign gods among you</b><br>This command addresses the presence of idolatry within the Israelite community. Despite God's clear instructions to worship Him alone, the Israelites had been influenced by the surrounding Canaanite culture, which included the worship of various deities. The call to "get rid of" these gods is a call to repentance and purification, aligning with the first commandment in <a href="/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3</a>, "You shall have no other gods before Me."<p><b>and incline your hearts to the LORD,</b><br>This phrase emphasizes a shift in internal disposition. "Incline your hearts" suggests a deliberate turning or dedication of one's innermost being towards God. It is not merely about external actions but involves a sincere commitment and love for God, as seen in <a href="/deuteronomy/6-5.htm">Deuteronomy 6:5</a>, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."<p><b>the God of Israel.</b><br>This title reaffirms the covenant relationship between God and the nation of Israel. It highlights God's unique identity and His special relationship with His chosen people. The phrase underscores the exclusivity of worship due to Yahweh, distinguishing Him from the foreign gods mentioned earlier. This covenant identity is central to Israel's history and future, as seen throughout the Old Testament narrative.<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 final address to the Israelites, urging them to remain faithful to God.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The people of Israel, who are being called to renew their covenant with God and abandon any idolatry.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/f/foreign_gods.htm">Foreign gods</a></b><br>The idols and deities from surrounding nations that some Israelites may have been tempted to worship.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/s/shechem.htm">Shechem</a></b><br>The location where Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to renew their covenant with God.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord,_the_god_of_israel.htm">The LORD, the God of Israel</a></b><br>The one true God whom Joshua is urging the Israelites to serve wholeheartedly.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/r/reject_idolatry.htm">Reject Idolatry</a></b><br>Just as the Israelites were called to put away foreign gods, Christians today must identify and reject modern forms of idolatry, such as materialism or anything that takes precedence over God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/heart_inclination.htm">Heart Inclination</a></b><br>The Hebrew word for "incline" (natah) suggests a deliberate turning or bending towards God. Believers are encouraged to consciously direct their hearts and lives towards God in all they do.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/covenant_renewal.htm">Covenant Renewal</a></b><br>Joshua's call to the Israelites is a reminder of the importance of regularly renewing our commitment to God, reflecting on our spiritual journey, and making necessary changes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_accountability.htm">Community Accountability</a></b><br>The gathering at Shechem highlights the role of community in faith. Believers should support and hold each other accountable in their walk with God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faithfulness_to_god.htm">Faithfulness to God</a></b><br>The call to serve the LORD alone is a timeless principle, urging believers to remain steadfast in their faith amidst a world of distractions and competing loyalties.<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/how_is_ruth_accepted_despite_nehemiah_13.htm">How can we reconcile Nehemiah 13:1–3 banning Ammonites and Moabites from the assembly with earlier passages showing Ruth, a Moabite, fully accepted among God’s people? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_one_law_for_all_reconcile.htm">Numbers 15:15-16: How does one law for both Israelites and foreigners reconcile with other passages that treat outsiders differently?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_god_demand_execution_in_2_chron_15_13.htm">Why would a loving God demand the execution of anyone who refused to seek Him (2 Chronicles 15:13), conflicting with other biblical passages emphasizing mercy?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/could_a_foreign_widow_freely_glean_fields.htm">Ruth 2:2-3 - Is it historically plausible that a foreign widow could freely glean in a stranger's field with no social or legal barriers?</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 23.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you.</span> Keil and Delitzsch notice that the words translated "among you" have also the meaning, "within you," and argue that Joshua is speaking of inward tendencies to idolatry. But this is very improbable. For <p><span class="note_emph">(1)</span> the word is the same as we find translated in ver. 17, "through whom." And <p><span class="note_emph">(2)</span> the internal scrutiny which the law demanded was hardly so well understood at this early period as by diligent study it afterwards became. The plain provisions of the law demanded obedience. Comparatively little heed was given at first to inward feelings and tendencies. There can be little doubt that the meaning is precisely the same as in <a href="/genesis/35-2.htm">Genesis 35:2</a>, and that though the Israelites dare not openly worship strange gods, yet that teraphim and other images were, if not worshipped, yet preserved among them in such a way as to be likely to lead them into temptation. The history of Micah in <a href="/judges/17-5.htm">Judges 17:5</a> is a proof of this, and it must be remembered that this history is out of its proper place. The zealous Phinehas (<a href="/judges/20-28.htm">Judges 20:28</a>) was then still alive, and the worship at Micah's house had evidently been carried on for some time previous to the disgraceful outrage at Gibeah. The putting away the strange gods was to be the outward and visible sign, the inclining of the heart the inward and spiritual grace wrought within them by the mercy of God. For it is not denied that God desired their affections, and that those affections could scarcely be given while their heart went secretly after idols. It may be further remarked in support of this view that the Israelites are not exhorted to turn their heart from the false gods, but to put them away. It is a plain, positive precept, not a guide for the inner consciousness. On the other hand, the command to incline the heart to the Lord rests upon the simple ground of common gratitude. St. Augustine thinks that if any false gods were secretly in Israel at this time, they would have been met by a severer punishment than that accorded to Achan. Masius - "pace divini viri" - proceeds to argue that murders, thefts, and adulteries were worse sins than those of Achan, that it were not reasonable to suppose that Israel was free from such sins, and they were not punished like Achan's. He forgets to urge <p><span class="note_emph">(1)</span> that the condition of the children of Israel was very different in Achan's time to that of the death of Joshua, and . . . <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/joshua/24-23.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">“Now, therefore,” [he said],</span><br /><span class="heb">וְעַתָּ֕ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·‘at·tāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6258.htm">Strong's 6258: </a> </span><span class="str2">At this time</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“get rid of</span><br /><span class="heb">הָסִ֛ירוּ</span> <span class="translit">(hā·sî·rū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5493.htm">Strong's 5493: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn aside</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the foreign</span><br /><span class="heb">הַנֵּכָ֖ר</span> <span class="translit">(han·nê·ḵār)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | 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">אֱלֹהֵ֥י</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">among you</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(bə·qir·bə·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7130.htm">Strong's 7130: </a> </span><span class="str2">The nearest part, the center</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and incline</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהַטּוּ֙</span> <span class="translit">(wə·haṭ·ṭū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5186.htm">Strong's 5186: </a> </span><span class="str2">To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your hearts</span><br /><span class="heb">לְבַבְכֶ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ḇaḇ·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3824.htm">Strong's 3824: </a> </span><span class="str2">Inner man, mind, will, heart</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the LORD,</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֖ה</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">the God</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהֵ֥י</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">of Israel.”</span><br /><span class="heb">יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃</span> <span class="translit">(yiś·rā·’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> </span><span class="str2">Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/joshua/24-23.htm">Joshua 24:23 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/joshua/24-23.htm">Joshua 24:23 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/joshua/24-23.htm">Joshua 24:23 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/joshua/24-23.htm">Joshua 24:23 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/joshua/24-23.htm">Joshua 24:23 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/joshua/24-23.htm">Joshua 24:23 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/joshua/24-23.htm">Joshua 24:23 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/joshua/24-23.htm">Joshua 24:23 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/joshua/24-23.htm">Joshua 24:23 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/joshua/24-23.htm">Joshua 24:23 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/joshua/24-23.htm">OT History: Joshua 24:23 Now therefore put away the foreign gods (Josh. Jos)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/joshua/24-22.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Joshua 24:22"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Joshua 24:22" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/joshua/24-24.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Joshua 24:24"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Joshua 24:24" /></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>