约书亚的诀别之言

23 此后很长时间,耶和华使以色列人四境太平,没有战事。约书亚年事已高, 他召来了以色列的长老、族长、审判官和官长,对他们说:“我已经老了, 你们都亲眼看见你们的上帝耶和华怎样为了你们而对付列邦,亲自为你们争战。 从约旦河到地中海的这片土地,无论是已征服的还是没有征服的,我已经用抽签的方式分给你们各支派作产业。 你们的上帝耶和华必把列邦从你们面前赶出去,使他们离开你们。这样,你们就可以承受他们的土地,正如你们的上帝耶和华的应许。 所以,你们应当刚强,谨遵摩西律法书上所记载的一切,不可有半点偏离。 不可与你们中间剩下的异族混杂,不可提他们的神明或凭它们起誓,不可供奉、祭拜他们的神明。 你们要一如既往地倚靠你们的上帝耶和华, 因为祂为你们赶走了强大的外族人,至今无人敌得过你们。 10 你们一个人能打败他们一千人,因为你们的上帝耶和华照着祂的应许为你们争战。 11 所以你们要特别谨慎,爱你们的上帝耶和华。 12 如果你们悖逆,跟你们当中剩下的异族人联合,通婚往来, 13 毫无疑问,你们的上帝耶和华必不再为你们赶走他们。相反,他们还要成为设在你们当中的圈套和陷阱,你们的肉中刺、眼中钉,直到你们在你们的上帝耶和华所赐给你们的这块美好的土地上灭亡。

14 “我快要走完人世的路程了。你们深知你们的上帝耶和华赐给你们的一切美好应许没有一句落空,都已经应验了。 15 正如你们的上帝耶和华已成就祂应许给你们的一切福气,如果你们违背祂,祂必照样降各样灾祸给你们,直到把你们从祂所赐的这美好土地上毁灭。 16 你们如果违背你们的上帝耶和华吩咐你们遵守的约,去供奉、祭拜别的神明,祂必向你们发怒,使你们在祂所赐的这美好土地上迅速灭亡。”

Joshua’s Farewell Address

23 A long time after the Lord had given Israel rest from all the enemies around them, Joshua was old, getting on in years. So Joshua summoned all Israel, including its elders, leaders, judges, and officers,(A) and said to them, “I am old, getting on in years, and you have seen for yourselves everything the Lord your God did to all these nations on your account, because it was the Lord your God who was fighting for you.(B) See, I have allotted these remaining nations to you as an inheritance for your tribes, including all the nations I have destroyed, from the Jordan westward to the Mediterranean Sea. The Lord your God will force them back on your account and drive them out before you so that you can take possession of their land,(C) as the Lord your God promised you.

“Be very strong(D) and continue obeying all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you do not turn from it to the right or left and so that you do not associate with these nations remaining among you. Do not call on the names of their gods or make an oath to them;(E) do not worship them or bow down to them. Instead, remain faithful to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day.(F)

“The Lord has driven out great and powerful nations before you,(G) and no one is able to stand against you to this day.(H) 10 One of you routed a thousand(I) because the Lord your God was fighting for you, as He promised.[a](J) 11 So be very diligent to love the Lord your God for your own well-being. 12 For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations remaining among you,(K) and if you intermarry or associate with them(L) and they with you, 13 know for certain that the Lord your God will not continue to drive these nations out before you. They will become a snare and a trap for you,(M) a scourge for your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you disappear from this good land the Lord your God has given you.

14 “I am now going the way of all the earth,[b](N) and you know with all your heart and all your soul that none of the good promises the Lord your God made to you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you; not one promise has failed.(O) 15 Since every good thing the Lord your God promised you has come about, so He will bring on you every bad thing until He has annihilated you from this good land the Lord your God has given you.(P) 16 If you break the covenant of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, and go and worship other gods, and bow down to them, the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly disappear from this good land He has given you.”

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 23:10 Lit promised you
  2. Joshua 23:14 = I am going to die