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Joshua 24:22 Then Joshua told them, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD." "We are witnesses!" they said.
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And they said, <i>We are</i> witnesses.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/joshua/24.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />So Joshua said to the people, “You <i>are</i> witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD for yourselves, to serve Him.” And they said, “<i>We are</i> witnesses!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/joshua/24.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />So Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves the LORD, to serve Him.” And they said, “<i>We are</i> witnesses.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/joshua/24.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves the LORD, to serve Him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/joshua/24.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves the LORD, to serve Him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/joshua/24.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves Yahweh, to serve Him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/joshua/24.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Joshua then said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves the LORD, to serve Him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/joshua/24.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Joshua then told the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you yourselves have chosen to worship the LORD.” “We are witnesses,” they said.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/joshua/24.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Joshua then told the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you yourselves have chosen to worship Yahweh."” We are witnesses,” they said.” <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/joshua/24.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you Jehovah, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/joshua/24.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Joshua said, "You have heard yourselves say that you will worship and obey the LORD. Isn't that true?" "Yes, it's true," they answered. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/joshua/24.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/joshua/24.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Joshua said to the people, "You have testified that you have chosen to serve the LORD." They answered, "Yes, we have!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/joshua/24.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Joshua told them, "You are your own witnesses to the fact that you have chosen to serve the LORD." "Yes," they said, "we are witnesses." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/joshua/24.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Joshua responded, "You are giving testimony against yourselves, that you have chosen to serve the LORD." They replied, "We are witnesses!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/joshua/24.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Joshua told them, ?You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.? ?We are witnesses!? they said.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/joshua/24.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Joshua said to the people, "Do you agree to be witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to worship the LORD?" They replied, "We are witnesses!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/joshua/24.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen you the LORD, to serve him." They said, "We are witnesses."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/joshua/24.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And Joshua said to the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/joshua/24.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen Yahweh yourselves, to serve him.” They said, “We are witnesses.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/joshua/24.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And Joshua says to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves, that you have chosen YHWH for yourselves, to serve Him,” and they say, “Witnesses!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/joshua/24.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Joshua saith unto the people, 'Witnesses ye are against yourselves, that ye have chosen for you Jehovah to serve Him (and they say, 'Witnesses!')<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/joshua/24.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Joshua will say to the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves, for ye chose to yourselves Jehovah to serve him. And they will say, Witnesses.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/joshua/24.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And Josue said to the people: You are witnesses, that you yourselves have chosen you the Lord to serve him. And they answered: We are witnesses. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/joshua/24.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And Joshua said to the people, “You yourselves are witnesses, that you have chosen the Lord so that you may serve him.” And they answered, “We are witnesses.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/joshua/24.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Joshua therefore said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.” They replied, “We are witnesses!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/joshua/24.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/joshua/24.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And Joshua said to the people, You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/joshua/24.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Yeshua said to the people: “You are witnesses in your souls that you have chosen for yourselves to serve LORD JEHOVAH.” And they said to him: “We are witnesses!”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/joshua/24.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And Joshua said unto the people: 'Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve Him.--And they said: 'We are witnesses.'--<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/joshua/24.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Joshua said to the people, Ye <i>are</i> witnesses against yourselves, that ye have chosen the Lord to serve him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/joshua/24-22.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=6493" 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">21</span>“No!” replied the people. “We will serve the LORD!” <span class="reftext">22</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3091.htm" title="3091: yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘ (N-proper-ms) -- Or Yhowshua; from Yhovah and yasha'; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua, the Jewish leader.">Then Joshua</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. "></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.">told</a> <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.">them,</a> <a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: ’at·tem (Pro-2mp) -- You (masc. sing.). ">“You</a> <a href="/hebrew/5707.htm" title="5707: ‘ê·ḏîm (N-mp) -- A witness. Contracted from uwd; concretely, a witness; abstractly, testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e. Prince.">are witnesses</a> <a href="/hebrew/bā·ḵem (Prep:: 2mp) -- ">against yourselves</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: ’at·tem (Pro-2mp) -- You (masc. sing.). ">you</a> <a href="/hebrew/977.htm" title="977: bə·ḥar·tem (V-Qal-Perf-2mp) -- To choose. A primitive root; properly, to try, i.e. select.">have chosen</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·ḵem (Prep:: 2mp) -- "></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/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/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·w·ṯōw (DirObjM:: 3ms) -- 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/5707.htm" title="5707: ‘ê·ḏîm (N-mp) -- A witness. Contracted from uwd; concretely, a witness; abstractly, testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e. Prince.">“We are witnesses!”</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mə·rū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">they said.</a> </span><span class="reftext">23</span>“Now, therefore,” he said, “get rid of the foreign gods among you and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”…<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/26-17.htm">Deuteronomy 26:17-18</a></span><br />Today you have proclaimed that the LORD is your God and that you will walk in His ways, keep His statutes and commandments and ordinances, and listen to His voice. / And today the LORD has proclaimed that you are His people and treasured possession as He promised, that you are to keep all His commandments,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/24-3.htm">Exodus 24:3-7</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.” / And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he got up and built an altar at the base of the mountain, along with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. / Then he sent out some young men of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/12-3.htm">1 Samuel 12:3-5</a></span><br />Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore it to you.” / “You have not cheated us or oppressed us,” they replied, “nor have you taken anything from the hand of man.” / Samuel said to them, “The LORD is a witness against you, and His anointed is a witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.” “He is a witness,” they replied.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/23-3.htm">2 Kings 23:3</a></span><br />So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of the covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/10-28.htm">Nehemiah 10:28-29</a></span><br />“The rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the people of the land to obey the Law of God—along with their wives and all their sons and daughters who are able to understand, / hereby join with their noble brothers and commit themselves with a sworn oath to follow the Law of God given through His servant Moses and to obey carefully all the commandments, ordinances, and statutes of the LORD our Lord.<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="/2_chronicles/34-31.htm">2 Chronicles 34:31-32</a></span><br />So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of the covenant that were written in this book. / Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin take a stand in agreement to it. So all the people of Jerusalem carried out the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/119-106.htm">Psalm 119:106</a></span><br />I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/42-5.htm">Jeremiah 42:5-6</a></span><br />Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act upon every word that the LORD your God sends you to tell us. / Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us when we obey the voice of the LORD our God!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/44-25.htm">Jeremiah 44:25-26</a></span><br />This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: As for you and your wives, you have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled with your hands your words: ‘We will surely perform our vows that we have made to burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and to pour out drink offerings to her.’ Go ahead, then, do what you have promised! Keep your vows! / Nevertheless, hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah living in Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by My great name, says the LORD, that never again will any man of Judah living in the land of Egypt invoke My name or say, ‘As surely as the Lord GOD lives.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/27-25.htm">Matthew 27:25</a></span><br />All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/19-22.htm">Luke 19:22</a></span><br />His master replied, ‘You wicked servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew that I am a harsh man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/9-41.htm">John 9:41</a></span><br />“If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/15-22.htm">John 15:22-24</a></span><br />If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. / Whoever hates Me hates My Father as well. / If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/5-33.htm">Acts 5:33</a></span><br />When the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolved to put the apostles to death.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And Joshua said to the people, You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/26-17.htm">Deuteronomy 26:17</a></b></br> Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/15-6.htm">Joshua 15:6</a></b></br> And the border went up to Bethhogla, and passed along by the north of Betharabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/19-22.htm">Luke 19:22</a></b></br> And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, <i>thou</i> wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:</p><p class="hdg">ye have</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/119-11.htm">Psalm 119:11,173</a></b></br> Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/10-42.htm">Luke 10:42</a></b></br> But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/deuteronomy/21-5.htm">Chosen</a> <a href="/joshua/21-8.htm">Decision</a> <a href="/joshua/24-21.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/joshua/24-21.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/joshua/24-21.htm">Serve</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/30-19.htm">Witnesses</a> <a href="/joshua/24-15.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/5-8.htm">Chosen</a> <a href="/judges/20-9.htm">Decision</a> <a href="/joshua/24-23.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/joshua/24-24.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/joshua/24-24.htm">Serve</a> <a href="/ruth/4-9.htm">Witnesses</a> <a href="/judges/5-9.htm">Yourselves</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>Then Joshua told them,</b><br>Joshua, the leader of Israel after Moses, is addressing the Israelites at Shechem. This location is significant as it is where God first promised the land to Abraham (<a href="/genesis/12-6.htm">Genesis 12:6-7</a>). Joshua is nearing the end of his life and is reaffirming the covenant between God and Israel. His role as a leader is to guide the people in their commitment to God, emphasizing the importance of serving the LORD faithfully.<p><b>“You are witnesses against yourselves</b><br>Joshua is emphasizing personal accountability. In the ancient Near Eastern context, covenants often required witnesses to ensure the terms were upheld. Here, the Israelites themselves are the witnesses, highlighting the seriousness of their commitment. This self-witnessing underscores the personal responsibility each individual has in their relationship with God.<p><b>that you have chosen to serve the LORD.”</b><br>The choice to serve the LORD is a central theme in the book of Joshua. This decision is not just a verbal agreement but a commitment to live according to God's laws and commands. The act of choosing is significant, as it reflects the free will given by God to His people. This echoes the call to choose life and blessings by obeying God, as seen in <a href="/deuteronomy/30-19.htm">Deuteronomy 30:19-20</a>.<p><b>“We are witnesses!” they said.</b><br>The response of the Israelites indicates their agreement and acceptance of the covenant. This collective affirmation is crucial, as it shows unity and shared responsibility among the people. Their declaration is a public acknowledgment of their commitment to God, similar to the public confessions seen in other parts of Scripture, such as <a href="/nehemiah/9.htm">Nehemiah 9</a>. This moment foreshadows the New Testament call for believers to be witnesses of Christ (<a href="/acts/1-8.htm">Acts 1:8</a>), emphasizing the continuity of God's call for His people to testify to their faith.<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 guided the Israelites into the Promised Land. In this chapter, he is renewing the covenant between God and the people of Israel.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelites.htm">The Israelites</a></b><br>The people of God who have settled in the Promised Land. They are gathered at Shechem to renew their commitment to serve 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 with the people.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/c/covenant_renewal.htm">Covenant Renewal</a></b><br>The event where Joshua calls the Israelites to reaffirm their commitment to serve the LORD and forsake other gods.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/w/witnesses.htm">Witnesses</a></b><br>The Israelites themselves, who declare their choice to serve the LORD, thus holding themselves accountable to their promise.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_choice.htm">The Importance of Choice</a></b><br>Every believer must consciously choose to serve the LORD, recognizing the weight of this decision.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/a/accountability_in_faith.htm">Accountability in Faith</a></b><br>By declaring their choice, the Israelites hold themselves accountable. Similarly, Christians should be accountable to their commitments to God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_witnesses.htm">The Role of Witnesses</a></b><br>Being a witness to one's own promises to God emphasizes personal responsibility in the faith journey.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/renewal_of_commitment.htm">Renewal of Commitment</a></b><br>Regularly renewing one's commitment to God is vital for spiritual growth and alignment with His will.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/forsaking_other_'gods'.htm">Forsaking Other 'Gods'</a></b><br>Just as the Israelites were called to forsake other gods, Christians must identify and turn away from modern-day idols that compete for their 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_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/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/evidence_for_malachi_4_3's_fulfillment.htm">Has there been any historical or archaeological evidence to support the fulfillment of Malachi 4:3, where the righteous literally tread on the ashes of the wicked?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_it_wrong_to_elope.htm">Is it wrong to elope?</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 22</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Ye are witnesses against yourselves.</span> Joshua has not disguised from them the difficulty of the task they have undertaken. Like a true guide and father, he has placed the case fully and fairly before them, and they have made their choice. He reminds them that their own words so deliberately uttered will be forever witnesses against them, should they afterwards refuse to keep an engagement into which they entered with their eyes open. They do not in any way shrink from the responsibility, and by accepting the situation as it is placed before them, render it impossible henceforth to plead ignorance or surprise as an excuse for their disobedience. And it is well to observe, as has been remarked above, that such an excuse never was pleaded afterwards, that the obligation, though evaded, was never disavowed. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/joshua/24-22.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">Then Joshua</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ</span> <span class="translit">(yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3091.htm">Strong's 3091: </a> </span><span class="str2">Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">told</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֨אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[them],</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעָ֗ם</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">“You</span><br /><span class="heb">אַתֶּם֙</span> <span class="translit">(’at·tem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_859.htm">Strong's 859: </a> </span><span class="str2">Thou and thee, ye and you</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are witnesses</span><br /><span class="heb">עֵדִ֤ים</span> <span class="translit">(‘ê·ḏîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5707.htm">Strong's 5707: </a> </span><span class="str2">A witness, testimony, a recorder, prince</span><br /><br /><span class="word">against yourselves</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּכֶ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(bā·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">that</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּֽי־</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</span><br /><span class="heb">אַתֶּ֞ם</span> <span class="translit">(’at·tem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_859.htm">Strong's 859: </a> </span><span class="str2">Thou and thee, ye and you</span><br /><br /><span class="word">have chosen</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּחַרְתֶּ֥ם</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ḥar·tem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_977.htm">Strong's 977: </a> </span><span class="str2">To try, select</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to serve</span><br /><span class="heb">לַעֲבֹ֣ד</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">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">“We are witnesses!”</span><br /><span class="heb">עֵדִֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(‘ê·ḏîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5707.htm">Strong's 5707: </a> </span><span class="str2">A witness, testimony, a recorder, prince</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they said.</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mə·rū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/joshua/24-22.htm">Joshua 24:22 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/joshua/24-22.htm">Joshua 24:22 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/joshua/24-22.htm">Joshua 24:22 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/joshua/24-22.htm">Joshua 24:22 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/joshua/24-22.htm">Joshua 24:22 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/joshua/24-22.htm">Joshua 24:22 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/joshua/24-22.htm">Joshua 24:22 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/joshua/24-22.htm">Joshua 24:22 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/joshua/24-22.htm">Joshua 24:22 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/joshua/24-22.htm">Joshua 24:22 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/joshua/24-22.htm">OT History: Joshua 24:22 Joshua said to the people You (Josh. Jos)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/joshua/24-21.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Joshua 24:21"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Joshua 24:21" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/joshua/24-23.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Joshua 24:23"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Joshua 24:23" /></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>