Joshua 23:9-11

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

⁹For the Lord has driven out from before you great and strong nations; and as for you, no man has been able to withstand you to this day.

¹⁰One man of you shall put to flight a thousand, for it is the Lord your God Who fights for you, as He promised you.

¹¹Be very watchful of yourselves, therefore, to ^[a]love the Lord your God.

Joshua 23:11 Everything depended on whether or not Israel would continue to be faithful to the covenant. Joshua’s words do not conceal his apprehension. Seven times he refers to the idolatrous nations still left in Canaan. He knew the snare they would be to Israel, and he therefore prescribed three safeguards. First, there must be brave adherence to God’s word (Josh. 23:6). Second, there must be a vigilantly continued separation from the Canaanite nations (Josh. 23:7). Finally, there must be a cleaving to the Lord with real and fervent love (Josh. 23:8-11) (J. Sidlow Baxter, Explore the Book).