Joshua 23 1

Joshua 23:1 kjv

And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.

Joshua 23:1 nkjv

Now it came to pass, a long time after the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua was old, advanced in age.

Joshua 23:1 niv

After a long time had passed and the LORD had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them, Joshua, by then a very old man,

Joshua 23:1 esv

A long time afterward, when the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their surrounding enemies, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years,

Joshua 23:1 nlt

The years passed, and the LORD had given the people of Israel rest from all their enemies. Joshua, who was now very old,

Joshua 23 verses

Joshua 23 1 Meaning

Joshua 23:1 initiates Joshua’s farewell address to Israel, marking a significant transition from the period of conquest and settlement to an era of settled existence. The verse establishes the context for Joshua's final charge: a substantial period had elapsed since the Lord provided rest from surrounding enemies, and Joshua, now advanced in age, felt compelled to deliver a pivotal message. It underscores God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promise of providing a secure homeland, while also setting the stage for Joshua to remind the people of their ongoing covenant obligations.

Joshua 23 1 Context

Joshua 23 marks a pivotal moment in the Book of Joshua. The immediate context is Joshua's farewell address, mirroring Moses's final discourses in Deuteronomy. After the initial intense period of conquest and the subsequent distribution of land to the tribes, this chapter opens with the declaration that a significant time has passed and Israel has experienced a period of relative peace and stability. Joshua, now aged and nearing the end of his life, summons all Israel, their leaders, and officials, not for battle, but for a solemn exhortation. Historically, this setting occurs after the primary military campaigns have secured the land, transitioning from an age of aggressive conquest to one of settled occupation. Culturally, it underscores the importance of a spiritual leader’s final words, emphasizing continuity of faith and warning against future deviations from the covenant with Yahweh. This peace, described as "rest," serves as the foundation upon which Joshua builds his warning against idolatry and assimilation, highlighting that their security and prosperity are directly contingent upon their fidelity to God.

Joshua 23 1 Word analysis

• And it came to pass (וַיְהִי - va-yehi): A common narrative connector in Hebrew, indicating a transition to a new phase or event. It functions as "and it happened that..." or "now it was that...". It suggests the natural progression of time.
• a long time after (יָמִים רַבִּים אַחֲרֵי - yamim rabbim acharey): Literally "many days after." This phrase denotes a significant period, emphasizing that the "rest" spoken of was not fleeting but enduring. It points to a substantial duration of peace, a testament to God's promise.
• that the LORD (יהוה - Yahweh): The personal, covenant name of God. This specific reference reinforces that the "rest" and victory were not by human might or fortune but by divine intervention and faithfulness to His covenant. It emphasizes God's active role as the provider and sustainer.
• had given rest (הֵנִיחַ - heniaḥ): From the root נוח (nuakh), meaning "to rest, settle down." In the Hiphil causative stem, it means "He caused to rest" or "He gave rest." This signifies an act of divine provision, implying a cessation from labor, struggle, or war. It connects to the theme of the promised land being a place of rest, foreshadowed in earlier books (Deut 12:10). This rest is not just a physical absence of conflict, but a secure, settled existence as part of God's covenant blessings.
• to Israel (לְיִשְׂרָאֵל - leYisrael): Specifies the beneficiary of God's provision—the covenant people. The rest was granted specifically to them, affirming their identity as recipients of divine favor.
• from all their enemies (מִכָּל־אֹיְבֵיהֶם - mikol-oyveyhem): Highlights the totality of the peace. Not just some enemies, but all of them. This underscores the completeness of God’s provision and the fulfillment of His promises (Josh 21:44).
• round about (מִסָּבִיב - misaviv): Meaning "from around" or "all around." This detail paints a picture of comprehensive security, implying no lingering threats from any direction. The enemies had been subjugated or removed.
• that Joshua (וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ - viY'hoshua): The leader God chose after Moses, whose name means "Yahweh is salvation" or "Yahweh saves." His personal status is crucial for the message that follows.
• waxed old (זָקֵן - zaqen): Literally "became old" or "aged." This describes Joshua's physical state. It highlights the passage of time since the major conquests and emphasizes that his life’s mission was nearing its end.
• and stricken in age (בָּא בַּיָּמִים - ba bayyamim): An idiom meaning "came into the days" or "advanced in days/years." It signifies not just being old, but very old, having lived a full life. This is also used of Abraham (Gen 24:1), Isaac (Gen 35:29), and David (1 Kgs 1:1), marking the end of a patriarch’s active period. The phrase conveys a sense of fulfillment regarding the years allotted to him.

Words-group analysis:

• "long time after that the LORD had given rest... from all their enemies round about": This phrase functions as a comprehensive summary of God's faithfulness and the status of Israel in the land. It emphasizes that the promised land has truly become a land of "rest," fulfilling prophecies, a significant achievement by divine grace rather than human strength. This context of divine provision underpins Joshua’s subsequent warning. The duration ("long time") implies sustained peace and stability, proving the efficacy and permanence of God’s help, providing a strong basis for Israel's trust and obedience.

Joshua 23 1 Bonus section

• The "rest" described in Joshua 23:1 is a partial, temporal fulfillment of the broader concept of rest in the Bible. While it signifies a cessation from external warfare, the full "rest" (Heb 4:9) that God intends for His people also includes spiritual rest from the struggle with sin and entry into God’s eternal presence. This verse highlights the physical security given by God as a picture of what true spiritual peace could be if they remained faithful.
• The absence of specific years for "a long time after" suggests that the precise duration is less important than the qualitative reality that a generation had grown up in peace, often leading to a comfortable complacency. This setup allowed Joshua to highlight the spiritual dangers that emerge in times of prosperity rather than only during conflict.
• Joshua's transition from military general to spiritual elder reflects a shift in leadership emphasis from conquest to covenant faithfulness, marking a crucial developmental phase in Israel's national history. The period of rest given by God allowed for the institutionalization of God's law and practices within the land.

Joshua 23 1 Commentary

Joshua 23:1 is more than a simple chronological marker; it sets the theological stage for Joshua's ultimate exhortation to Israel. The phrase "the Lord had given rest" is paramount, echoing the theme of divine provision that pervades the Pentateuch and the Book of Joshua itself (e.g., Deut 12:10, Josh 21:44). This "rest" (מְנוּחָה - menuḥah) signifies not merely a pause in conflict, but a deep, secure, and settled state within the promised land, secured by God’s power from all surrounding threats. It underlines the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises to Abraham and Moses regarding the land of inheritance. Joshua, being "old and stricken in age," adds solemnity and weight to his words, similar to Moses’s farewell. His age signifies that a foundational generation of leaders is passing away, compelling him to deliver a crucial charge that will impact the nation's future spiritual and political well-being. This verse implicitly suggests that God's work for them is complete in providing the land and rest; now, their ongoing prosperity depends solely on their faithful adherence to His commandments. It prepares the audience for a testament that is both a reflection on divine faithfulness and a solemn warning concerning the conditional nature of their continued rest in the land.