Joshua 24 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Joshua 24 meaning explained in AI Summary

The Covenant Renewal at Shechem: Chapter 24 of the book of Joshua describes the covenant renewal ceremony that takes place at Shechem. In this ceremony, the people of Israel recommit themselves to the covenant that God made with their ancestors. The covenant renewal ceremony is a reminder of the importance of the covenant relationship between God and his people. It is also a reminder that God is faithful to his covenant, even when his people are not. The book of Joshua ends with the people of Israel entering the Promised Land and beginning to settle in the land. The book is a story of God's faithfulness and his desire to bless his people. It is also a story of the challenges that the people of Israel face as they seek to live in accordance with God's covenant.

This chapter marks the powerful conclusion to the book of Joshua and a pivotal moment in Israel's history.

1. Covenant Renewal at Shechem: Joshua gathers all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, a significant location where God first promised the land to Abraham (Genesis 12:6-7).

2. Recounting God's Faithfulness: Joshua delivers a stirring speech, reminding the Israelites of God's faithfulness throughout their history. He recounts their journey from Abraham's time, through Egypt, the Exodus, the wilderness wanderings, and finally, their conquest of Canaan.

3. Call to Choose: Joshua emphasizes that it's time for the Israelites to choose whom they will serve: the idols of their ancestors, the gods of the Amorites, or Yahweh, the one true God. He passionately declares that he and his household will serve the Lord.

4. The People's Response: The Israelites, moved by Joshua's words and their own experiences, wholeheartedly commit to serving Yahweh alone. They renounce their foreign gods and pledge their allegiance to God.

5. Covenant Confirmation: Joshua records this covenant renewal in the Book of the Law and sets up a large stone as a witness to their commitment. This act symbolizes the solemnity and binding nature of their promise.

6. Joshua's Death and Burial: The chapter concludes with the death of Joshua at the age of 110. He is buried in his inheritance, leaving behind a legacy of faithful leadership and a nation poised to inherit the promises of God.

Key Themes:

Faithfulness of God: The chapter highlights God's unwavering faithfulness to his promises, even when his people faltered.
Importance of Choice: Joshua emphasizes the freedom and responsibility of choosing to follow God.
Covenant Renewal: This event signifies a fresh commitment to the covenant relationship between God and Israel.
Legacy and Leadership: Joshua's life and leadership serve as an example for future generations to follow.

Overall, Joshua 24 is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness, the importance of choosing to follow him, and the enduring nature of his covenant with his people.

Joshua 24 bible study ai commentary

This chapter encapsulates the end of the era of conquest and the transfer of responsibility to the nation of Israel. At the sacred site of Shechem, Joshua orchestrates a formal covenant renewal ceremony, structured like an ancient suzerain-vassal treaty. He recounts God's history of salvation from Abraham to the conquest, compelling the people to make a deliberate, exclusive choice to serve Yahweh over the idols of their past and present. The ceremony concludes with a solemn oath, a written record, a stone of witness, and a record of the deaths of the founding generation, sealing the promises of the past and setting the stage for Israel's future in the land.

Joshua 24 Context

This assembly at Shechem is historically and theologically monumental. Shechem was where God first promised the land to Abraham (Gen 12:6-7) and where Jacob later purged his household of foreign gods (Gen 35:2-4). It was a place of new beginnings and covenant memory. The structure of Joshua's address mirrors well-known Hittite suzerain-vassal treaties of the 2nd millennium BC: 1) Preamble (identifying the suzerain), 2) Historical Prologue (listing the suzerain's benevolent acts), 3) Stipulations (the required loyalty), 4) Witnesses, and 5) Blessings/Curses. This familiar political format powerfully frames Israel's relationship with Yahweh not as a partnership of equals, but as a commitment of a grateful vassal to their divine King and deliverer.

Joshua 24:1

Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel. And they presented themselves before God.

In-depth-analysis

Gathered all the tribes: This is a national, unifying event. Unlike the two-part farewell in chapter 23 (to the leaders), this includes everyone, signifying corporate responsibility.
Shechem: The choice of location is a deliberate theological statement, grounding this new commitment in the foundational promises made to Abraham and Jacob at this very site.
Presented themselves before God: The Hebrew wayyityatsevu lifnei ha'elohim suggests a formal, solemn assembly in a sacred space, likely where the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant were temporarily set up. They are entering God's very presence to transact this covenant.

Bible references

Genesis 12:6-7: "Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem... Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, 'To your offspring I will give this land.'" (The foundational promise).
Genesis 35:2-4: "So Jacob said to his household... 'Put away the foreign gods that are among you'... and Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree that was near Shechem." (A historical precedent for the chapter's theme).
Deuteronomy 29:10-11: "You are standing today, all of you, before the LORD your God... so that you may enter into the covenant of the LORD your God." (Parallel to Moses' covenant renewal).

Cross references

1 Sam 10:19 (presenting before God); Deut 11:26-30 (covenant ceremony near Shechem); 2 Chr 34:30-32 (Josiah's covenant renewal).

Joshua 24:2-13

And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods...'" [This section continues to recount God's saving acts: Isaac, Jacob, Esau, Egypt, the Exodus, the wilderness, Balaam, and the conquest of Canaan].

In-depth-analysis

Thus says the LORD: Joshua speaks not his own words, but as a prophet delivering a divine message. This section is the "Historical Prologue" of the covenant treaty form.
Lived beyond the Euphrates: A reminder of their pagan, idolatrous origins in Mesopotamia (Ur of the Chaldees). God's grace began not with a worthy people, but with a people He sovereignly chose out of idolatry.
They served other gods: Hebrew elohim acherim. This is a crucial admission. Israel's foundational father, Terah, was an idolater. Their special status is purely due to God's electing grace, not their heritage.
I took... I gave... I sent: God is the exclusive subject of the verbs of salvation. The pronoun "I" dominates the narrative, emphasizing His sole agency in their history and deliverance.
I would not listen to Balaam: A powerful assertion of God's sovereignty. He overruled the curse of a pagan prophet and turned it into a blessing, demonstrating His power over all spiritual forces.
I sent the hornet: A metaphor for the panic and chaos God incited among the Canaanites. It underscores that the victory was supernatural, not achieved by Israel's "own sword" or "bow" (v. 12).

Bible references

Genesis 11:31-12:1: "Terah took Abram his son... and they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans... 'Go from your country... to the land that I will show you.'" (The call from idolatry).
Deuteronomy 26:5: "A wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there..." (A similar creedal recitation of salvation history).
Psalm 44:3: "For not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm..." (Echoes the theme of divine agency).
Ephesians 2:11-13: "remember that you were at that time separated from Christ... having no hope and without God in the world. But now... you have been brought near..." (Parallels the call of Gentiles from their own pagan past).

Cross references

Gen 50:24-25 (Joseph's promise); Exod 3:10 (call of Moses); Exod 12:37 (Exodus); Num 22-24 (Balaam); Deut 7:20 (the hornet); Psa 136 (liturgical recital of these events).

Polemics

This historical recital is a direct polemic against the gods of Mesopotamia ("beyond the River") and the gods of Egypt. Yahweh asserts that He alone is the God of history, the one who controlled their destiny even when their ancestors worshipped other deities. He proved His superiority over the Egyptian pantheon through the plagues and over the powers of divination by subverting Balaam.

Joshua 24:14-15

“Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

In-depth-analysis

Now therefore: This connects the previous history (what God did) to the required response (what Israel must do). Gratitude for salvation is the basis for obedience.
Sincerity and faithfulness: Hebrew b'tamim u've'emet. This is not just outward ritual but an internal, wholehearted, and true devotion. Tamim often means blameless or complete.
Choose this day: The verb bâchar (choose) makes this a moment of decisive, conscious commitment. Faith is not passive inheritance; it requires a personal decision.
Three options: The choice is explicitly between: 1) Ancestral Mesopotamian gods, 2) Contemporary Canaanite/Amorite gods, or 3) Yahweh. It forces a clean break from all spiritual rivals.
As for me and my house: Joshua presents himself as the model. His personal decision precedes and influences his household. It is a powerful statement of spiritual leadership and familial dedication.

Bible references

1 Kings 18:21: "Elijah came near to all the people and said, 'How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.'" (A similar call for decisive choice).
Matthew 6:24: "No one can serve two masters, for 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 God and money." (NT principle of exclusive loyalty).
Romans 12:1-2: "present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God... do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind." (The call to a decisive, consecrated life).

Cross references

Gen 35:2 (put away foreign gods); Deut 30:19 (choose life); Matt 10:32-33 (confessing Christ); Rom 6:16-18 (slaves to God or sin).

Joshua 24:16-18

Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods, for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. And the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.”

In-depth-analysis

The people answered: A unified, corporate response.
Far be it from us: An emphatic rejection of apostasy. On the surface, it's the perfect answer.
for it is the LORD our God who... They correctly ground their commitment in the historical prologue they just heard. They understand that their allegiance is a response to His salvation.
Therefore we also will serve the LORD: They echo Joshua's resolve, turning his personal declaration into a national one.

Bible references

Exodus 19:8: "All the people answered together and said, 'All that the LORD has spoken we will do.'" (The similar enthusiastic response at Mount Sinai).
Deuteronomy 5:27-29: "Go near and hear all that the LORD our God will say... and we will hear and do it... Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments." (God's recognition of human sincerity mixed with future fallibility).

Cross references

Exod 20:2 (basis of the commandments); Psa 116:16 ("O LORD, I am your servant").

Joshua 24:19-20

But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgression or your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.”

In-depth-analysis

You are not able to serve the LORD: A shocking and seemingly discouraging response. Joshua is not trying to dissuade them but to force them to understand the radical gravity of their promise. This is a reality check against cheap grace or easy-believism.
A holy God: Hebrew elohim qedoshim. The plural form qedoshim (holy ones) emphasizes the intensity and multifaceted nature of God's holiness. He is utterly separate from sin and idols.
A jealous God: Hebrew el qanna. "Jealousy" here is not petty envy but the righteous zeal of a covenant-maker for the exclusive love and loyalty that is rightfully His. It is the fury of a loving husband against adultery.
He will not forgive: This is not an absolute statement against God's nature to forgive (cf. Exod 34:6-7), but a stern warning about the specific sin of apostasy. Deliberately forsaking the covenant with Yahweh for other gods is an offense He will not tolerate; it invites judgment, not pardon.
Turn and do you harm: The same God who blessed them is fully capable of judging and consuming them. His goodness does not negate his justice.

Bible references

1 Samuel 6:20: "And the men of Beth-shemesh said, 'Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God?'" (Realization of God's dangerous holiness after the Ark incident).
Hebrews 12:28-29: "let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." (The NT echoes the theme of God's holy, consuming nature).
Isaiah 6:3-5: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts... 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips... for my eyes have seen the King...'" (Isaiah's encounter with God's utter holiness).

Cross references

Exod 20:5 (jealous God); Exod 34:14-16 (no other gods); Heb 10:26-31 (warning against deliberate sin after receiving knowledge of the truth).

Joshua 24:21-25

And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the LORD.” 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.” He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel.” And the people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.” So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and put in place statutes and rules for them at Shechem.

In-depth-analysis

No, but we will serve the LORD: Their second affirmation is made in the face of the stark warning. This makes their commitment stronger and more deliberate. They are now accepting the terms and consequences.
You are witnesses against yourselves: The oath is now legally binding. Their own words will condemn them if they break the covenant. This internalizes responsibility.
Then put away the foreign gods: This is the proof of their sincerity. Joshua calls for immediate, tangible action. True repentance involves not just words, but turning from sin. The lingering presence of household idols was a persistent problem.
Incline your heart: A call for internal transformation to match their external declaration.
Joshua made a covenant: He acts as the mediator, formalizing their spoken commitment into a berith (covenant), complete with choq u'mishpat (statute and rule).

Bible references

Genesis 35:2: "Put away the foreign gods that are among you..." (Joshua's demand directly echoes Jacob's at the same location).
Deuteronomy 31:26: "Take this Book of the Law... and it shall be there as a witness against you." (The Law itself as a witness).
Romans 6:13: "Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God..." (Parallels the demand to put away one thing and turn to another).

Cross references

Judg 10:16 (putting away foreign gods); 1 Sam 7:3-4 (call for repentance); Rom 10:9-10 (confession with mouth, belief in heart).

Joshua 24:26-28

And Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone and set it up there under the terebinth that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God.” So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.

In-depth-analysis

Wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God: The events and terms of this covenant are recorded and added to the authoritative sacred text (likely Deuteronomy or a collection of Mosaic law), giving it lasting legal and spiritual force.
A large stone: A physical, enduring monument to the covenant. In a world with limited literacy, such markers served as powerful public reminders of significant events and oaths.
Under the terebinth that was by the sanctuary: This links the new stone of witness to the sacred tree under which Jacob buried the idols (Gen 35:4) and near where Abraham built his first altar (Gen 12:6-7), layering historical and theological significance.
This stone... has heard all the words: A powerful personification. The inanimate stone is called as a silent, unmovable witness that will outlast them all. Its very presence will testify to the promises they made on this day.
Every man to his inheritance: The covenant is renewed, the charge is given, and the nation is now dismissed to live out their commitment in the land God has given them.

Bible references

Genesis 31:45-48: "Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar... Laban said... 'This heap is a witness between you and me today.'" (Precedent for a stone as a covenant witness).
Deuteronomy 32:1: "Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak, and let the earth hear the words of my mouth." (Personification of creation as a witness).
Luke 19:40: "He answered, 'I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.'" (Jesus using similar imagery of creation testifying).

Cross references

Gen 28:18 (Jacob's stone pillar); Isa 19:19-20 (altar as a sign and witness); 2 Cor 3:3 (written on hearts, not stone).

Joshua 24:29-33

After these things Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died... And they buried him in his own inheritance... Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work that the LORD did for Israel.As for the bones of Joseph, which the people of Israel brought up from Egypt, they buried them at Shechem...And Eleazar the son of Aaron died, and they buried him at Gibeah...

In-depth-analysis

Servant of the LORD (eved YHWH): The highest honorific, previously reserved for Moses. It affirms that Joshua faithfully completed his divine commission.
Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua: This verse serves as a positive epitaph for Joshua's leadership and a tragic foreshadowing of what is to come. His generation, the eye-witnesses to God's work, remained faithful.
Bones of Joseph: The burial of Joseph's bones fulfills a 400-year-old oath (Gen 50:25; Exod 13:19). It is the final bookend to the entire story of the patriarchs and the Exodus. The promise made to Joseph in Egypt is finally and fully realized in the Promised Land.
Three Burials: The chapter and the book conclude with the burials of Joshua (Israel's political/military leader), Joseph (the foundational patriarchal promise), and Eleazar (the high priest). This marks the definitive end of an era. The entire founding leadership of the nation in the land is now gone.

Bible references

Judges 2:10: "And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel." (The tragic sequel to Joshua 24:31).
Genesis 50:25: "Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath, saying, 'God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.'" (The original promise being fulfilled).
Hebrews 11:22: "By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones." (The NT highlights Joseph's faith in God's future promise).

Cross references

Deut 34:5 (Moses as "servant of the Lord"); Gen 33:19 (Jacob's purchase of the land at Shechem); Judg 2:7 (almost identical wording to v. 31).

Joshua chapter 24 analysis

Covenant Structure: The chapter is a masterclass in ancient political and religious theology, perfectly mirroring a suzerain-vassal treaty to define Israel's relationship with God as their Divine King. The structure is: Preamble (v. 2a), Historical Prologue (v. 2b-13), Stipulations (v. 14, 23), Choice & Oath (v. 15-24), and Witnesses (v. 22, 26-27).
From Idolatry to Exclusivity: The entire narrative is framed by a call out of idolatry. It begins by reminding Israel that their own forefathers were idolaters ('eved elohim acherim), and it culminates with the demand to "put away" foreign gods. The service of God ('eved YHWH) is presented as the only true path to freedom, contrasting with the slavery to false gods.
The Trilogy of Burials: The end of the book signifies the end of an epoch through three burials: Joshua (the faithful civic leadership passes), Eleazar (the faithful priesthood passes), and Joseph's bones (the patriarchal promise is finally and completely fulfilled). This brings the entire narrative from Genesis to Joshua to a complete and satisfying close, while simultaneously creating suspense for the next generation.
"Servant of the LORD" ('eved YHWH): This title, bestowed on both Moses and Joshua at their deaths, is the Bible's ultimate commendation for leadership. It signifies not power or glory, but a life of perfect obedience and faithfulness to the divine commission. It becomes a model for all future kings, prophets, and leaders in Israel.
Shechem as a Microcosm of Salvation History: The use of Shechem as the setting intentionally ties together the key moments of the story: Abraham's initial promise, Jacob's personal purification and recommitment, and now Israel's national covenant renewal.

Joshua 24 summary

At Shechem, a place rich with patriarchal history, Joshua convenes all Israel for a final covenant renewal. Recounting God’s saving acts from Abraham's pagan origins to the conquest of Canaan, he challenges them to choose exclusive loyalty to God over all idols. After a sober warning about God’s holiness, the people swear a binding oath. Joshua formalizes the covenant in writing and erects a stone as a perpetual witness. The book closes by noting the deaths and burials of Joshua, Eleazar, and the bones of Joseph, marking the end of the founding era and the complete fulfillment of the promise to the patriarchs.

Joshua 23 AI

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Joshua chapter 24 kjv

¹ And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.
² And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.
³ And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.
⁴ And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.
⁵ I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out.
⁶ And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea.
⁷ And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season.
⁸ And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before you.
⁹ Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:
¹⁰ But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.
¹¹ And you went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand.
¹² And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow.
¹³ And I have given you a land for which ye did not labor, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.
¹⁴ 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.
¹⁵ And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
¹⁶ And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
¹⁷ For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed:
¹⁸ And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God.
¹⁹ And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.
²⁰ If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.
²¹ And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.
²² 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.
²³ Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.
²⁴ And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.
²⁵ So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.
²⁶ And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.
²⁷ And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.
²⁸ So Joshua let the people depart, every man unto his inheritance.
²⁹ And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
³⁰ And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash.
³¹ And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.
³² And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.
³³ And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son, which was given him in mount Ephraim.

Joshua chapter 24 nkjv

¹ Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and called for the elders of Israel, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.
² And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Your fathers, including Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, dwelt on the other side of the River in old times; and they served other gods.
³ Then I took your father Abraham from the other side of the River, led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants and gave him Isaac.
⁴ To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I gave the mountains of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.
⁵ Also I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to what I did among them. Afterward I brought you out.
⁶ 'Then I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea; and the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea.
⁷ So they cried out to the LORD; and He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, brought the sea upon them, and covered them. And your eyes saw what I did in Egypt. Then you dwelt in the wilderness a long time.
⁸ And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, who dwelt on the other side of the Jordan, and they fought with you. But I gave them into your hand, that you might possess their land, and I destroyed them from before you.
⁹ Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose to make war against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you.
¹⁰ But I would not listen to Balaam; therefore he continued to bless you. So I delivered you out of his hand.
¹¹ Then you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho. And the men of Jericho fought against you?also the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. But I delivered them into your hand.
¹² I sent the hornet before you which drove them out from before you, also the two kings of the Amorites, but not with your sword or with your bow.
¹³ I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.'
¹⁴ "Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD!
¹⁵ And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
¹⁶ So the people answered and said: "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;
¹⁷ for the LORD our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went and among all the people through whom we passed.
¹⁸ And the LORD drove out from before us all the people, including the Amorites who dwelt in the land. We also will serve the LORD, for He is our God."
¹⁹ But Joshua said to the people, "You cannot serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.
²⁰ If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good."
²¹ And the people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD!"
²² So Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD for yourselves, to serve Him." And they said, "We are witnesses!"
²³ "Now therefore," he said, "put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD God of Israel."
²⁴ And the people said to Joshua, "The LORD our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey!"
²⁵ So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.
²⁶ Then Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.
²⁷ And Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness to us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD which He spoke to us. It shall therefore be a witness to you, lest you deny your God."
²⁸ So Joshua let the people depart, each to his own inheritance.
²⁹ Now it came to pass after these things that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being one hundred and ten years old.
³⁰ And they buried him within the border of his inheritance at Timnath Serah, which is in the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash.
³¹ Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the LORD which He had done for Israel.
³² The bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, they buried at Shechem, in the plot of ground which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for one hundred pieces of silver, and which had become an inheritance of the children of Joseph.
³³ And Eleazar the son of Aaron died. They buried him in a hill belonging to Phinehas his son, which was given to him in the mountains of Ephraim.

Joshua chapter 24 niv

¹ Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.
² Joshua said to all the people, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods.
³ But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac,
⁴ and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his family went down to Egypt.
⁵ "?'Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out.
⁶ When I brought your people out of Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea.
⁷ But they cried to the LORD for help, and he put darkness between you and the Egyptians; he brought the sea over them and covered them. You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time.
⁸ "?'I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land.
⁹ When Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you.
¹⁰ But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand.
¹¹ "?'Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands.
¹² I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you?also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow.
¹³ So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.'
¹⁴ "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
¹⁵ But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
¹⁶ Then the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!
¹⁷ It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled.
¹⁸ And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God."
¹⁹ Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins.
²⁰ If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you."
²¹ But the people said to Joshua, "No! We will serve the LORD."
²² Then Joshua said, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD." "Yes, we are witnesses," they replied.
²³ "Now then," said Joshua, "throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel."
²⁴ And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God and obey him."
²⁵ On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws.
²⁶ And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the LORD.
²⁷ "See!" he said to all the people. "This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God."
²⁸ Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to their own inheritance.
²⁹ After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten.
³⁰ And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
³¹ Israel served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the LORD had done for Israel.
³² And Joseph's bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. This became the inheritance of Joseph's descendants.
³³ And Eleazar son of Aaron died and was buried at Gibeah, which had been allotted to his son Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim.

Joshua chapter 24 esv

¹ Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel. And they presented themselves before God.
² And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods.
³ Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac.
⁴ And to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. And I gave Esau the hill country of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.
⁵ And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt with what I did in the midst of it, and afterward I brought you out.
⁶ "'Then I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea. And the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea.
⁷ And when they cried to the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians and made the sea come upon them and cover them; and your eyes saw what I did in Egypt. And you lived in the wilderness a long time.
⁸ Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan. They fought with you, and I gave them into your hand, and you took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you.
⁹ Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. And he sent and invited Balaam the son of Beor to curse you,
¹⁰ but I would not listen to Balaam. Indeed, he blessed you. So I delivered you out of his hand.
¹¹ And you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho, and the leaders of Jericho fought against you, and also the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And I gave them into your hand.
¹² And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out before you, the two kings of the Amorites; it was not by your sword or by your bow.
¹³ I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.'
¹⁴ "Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
¹⁵ And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
¹⁶ Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods,
¹⁷ for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed.
¹⁸ And the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."
¹⁹ But Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins.
²⁰ If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good."
²¹ And the people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD."
²² 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."
²³ He said, "Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel."
²⁴ And the people said to Joshua, "The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey."
²⁵ So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and put in place statutes and rules for them at Shechem.
²⁶ And Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone and set it up there under the terebinth that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.
²⁷ And Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God."
²⁸ So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.
²⁹ After these things Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being 110 years old.
³⁰ And they buried him in his own inheritance at Timnath-serah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash.
³¹ Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work that the LORD did for Israel.
³² As for the bones of Joseph, which the people of Israel brought up from Egypt, they buried them at Shechem, in the piece of land that Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money. It became an inheritance of the descendants of Joseph.
³³ And Eleazar the son of Aaron died, and they buried him at Gibeah, the town of Phinehas his son, which had been given him in the hill country of Ephraim.

Joshua chapter 24 nlt

¹ Then Joshua summoned all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, including their elders, leaders, judges, and officers. So they came and presented themselves to God.
² Joshua said to the people, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Long ago your ancestors, including Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River, and they worshiped other gods.
³ But I took your ancestor Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him into the land of Canaan. I gave him many descendants through his son Isaac.
⁴ To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I gave the mountains of Seir, while Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.
⁵ "Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I brought terrible plagues on Egypt; and afterward I brought you out as a free people.
⁶ But when your ancestors arrived at the Red Sea, the Egyptians chased after you with chariots and charioteers.
⁷ When your ancestors cried out to the LORD, I put darkness between you and the Egyptians. I brought the sea crashing down on the Egyptians, drowning them. With your very own eyes you saw what I did. Then you lived in the wilderness for many years.
⁸ "Finally, I brought you into the land of the Amorites on the east side of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I destroyed them before you. I gave you victory over them, and you took possession of their land.
⁹ Then Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, started a war against Israel. He summoned Balaam son of Beor to curse you,
¹⁰ but I would not listen to him. Instead, I made Balaam bless you, and so I rescued you from Balak.
¹¹ "When you crossed the Jordan River and came to Jericho, the men of Jericho fought against you, as did the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. But I gave you victory over them.
¹² And I sent terror ahead of you to drive out the two kings of the Amorites. It was not your swords or bows that brought you victory.
¹³ I gave you land you had not worked on, and I gave you towns you did not build ? the towns where you are now living. I gave you vineyards and olive groves for food, though you did not plant them.
¹⁴ "So fear the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD alone.
¹⁵ But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD."
¹⁶ The people replied, "We would never abandon the LORD and serve other gods.
¹⁷ For the LORD our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us.
¹⁸ It was the LORD who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the LORD, for he alone is our God."
¹⁹ Then Joshua warned the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy and jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins.
²⁰ If you abandon the LORD and serve other gods, he will turn against you and destroy you, even though he has been so good to you."
²¹ But the people answered Joshua, "No, we will serve the LORD!"
²² "You are a witness to your own decision," Joshua said. "You have chosen to serve the LORD." "Yes," they replied, "we are witnesses to what we have said."
²³ "All right then," Joshua said, "destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel."
²⁴ The people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God. We will obey him alone."
²⁵ So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day at Shechem, committing them to follow the decrees and regulations of the LORD.
²⁶ Joshua recorded these things in the Book of God's Instructions. As a reminder of their agreement, he took a huge stone and rolled it beneath the terebinth tree beside the Tabernacle of the LORD.
²⁷ Joshua said to all the people, "This stone has heard everything the LORD said to us. It will be a witness to testify against you if you go back on your word to God."
²⁸ Then Joshua sent all the people away to their own homelands.
²⁹ After this, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110.
³⁰ They buried him in the land he had been allocated, at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
³¹ The people of Israel served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him ? those who had personally experienced all that the LORD had done for Israel.
³² The bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought along with them when they left Egypt, were buried at Shechem, in the plot of land Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor for 100 pieces of silver. This land was located in the territory allotted to the descendants of Joseph.
³³ Eleazar son of Aaron also died. He was buried in the hill country of Ephraim, in the town of Gibeah, which had been given to his son Phinehas.