Joshua 24 18

Joshua 24:18 kjv

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.

Joshua 24:18 nkjv

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."

Joshua 24:18 niv

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."

Joshua 24:18 esv

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."

Joshua 24:18 nlt

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."

Joshua 24 verses

Joshua 24 18 Meaning

Joshua 24:18 expresses the people of Israel’s responsive commitment to serve the Lord Yahweh alone. Their declaration is a direct consequence of acknowledging Yahweh's powerful and specific acts of deliverance throughout their history, culminating in their successful settlement in the land by His hand, particularly His driving out the native inhabitants like the Amorites. This statement signifies their chosen allegiance, recognizing Yahweh as their unique and only true God.

Joshua 24 18 Context

Joshua 24 narrates the final covenant renewal ceremony at Shechem, a pivotal moment marking Joshua’s farewell and the end of the foundational period of Israel in the promised land. Joshua gathers all the tribes of Israel, reiterates God’s faithfulness from Abraham to their present settlement, and then presents them with a profound challenge: "Choose this day whom you will serve... as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Josh 24:15).

The people’s initial response (Josh 24:16-17) is a resounding affirmation of their choice to serve Yahweh, prompted by a recounting of God's miraculous deeds. Verse 18 then details a specific, recent act of deliverance—driving out the Amorites and other peoples—which directly leads to their emphatic declaration, "Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God." This statement is not just an emotional outburst but a solemn, collective commitment rooted in their shared history of God's redemptive power and provision, contrasting the uncertainty and idolatry of their surroundings with the tangible evidence of Yahweh's presence and power. It's a re-affirmation of the Sinai Covenant principles, binding them to exclusive loyalty to Yahweh before Joshua’s passing.

Joshua 24 18 Word analysis

• And the LORD (וַֽיהוָה֙ / vayh-vah): Begins with "and," linking this statement directly to the people’s preceding recount of God’s saving acts. "The LORD" (YHWH) emphasizes the covenant name of Israel’s God, the self-existent, faithful One.
• drove out (גֵרַ֨שׁ / ge-rash): A strong verb indicating expulsion, dispossession, or casting out. It signifies Yahweh’s active, forceful agency in removing the previous inhabitants, showcasing His power and sovereignty over the land and its peoples.
• before us (מִפָּנֵי֙נוּ / mi-paneinu): Literally "from before our face," emphasizing God’s direct intervention and active participation on behalf of Israel, removing obstacles in their very sight. It signifies a divine front-line action.
• all the peoples (אֶת־כָּל־הָֽעַמִּים֙ / et-kol-ha'ammim): Highlights the comprehensive nature of God's conquest. Not just one tribe, but every hindering people. This demonstrates the completeness of His deliverance.
• the Amorites (וְאֶת־הָֽאֱמֹרִ֖י / ve-et-ha'emori): Specifically names a prominent indigenous group who were strong and challenging (e.g., Amos 2:9-10). Their specific mention underscores God’s conquest of powerful foes, reinforcing the might of Yahweh. "Who lived in the land" emphasizes their prior established presence that God overcame.
• Therefore (וְגַם־אֲנַ֨חְנוּ / ve-gam-anakhnu): "And also/even we." This transition highlights a logical consequence of the recounted events. Their declaration is a reasoned response to God's actions, emphasizing their inclusion in this response.
• we also (אֲנַ֙חְנוּ גַ֜ם / anakhnu gam): An emphatic form, signifying their collective, voluntary, and personal decision. It reinforces "gam," underlining that they too, as individuals and as a community, make this solemn vow.
• will serve (נַעֲבֹ֣ד / na'avod): From the Hebrew root עָבַד ('avad), which carries the meaning of work, labor, and worship. It implies diligent and active obedience, loyalty, and devotion, not merely intellectual assent. This is a life-encompassing commitment. In contrast to serving idols which demands their 'service' by fear or rituals, this is willing service born from gratitude.
• the LORD (יְהוָה֙ / YHWH): Reiterates the exclusive object of their service: the personal, covenantal God of Israel, setting Him apart from all other deities.
• for he is (כִּֽי הוּא־ / ki hu): "For" (ki) indicates the reason or justification for their commitment, rooting their service in God's nature and relationship. "He" (hu) is emphatic, pointing specifically and singularly to Yahweh as the unique and rightful recipient of their worship.
• our God (אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ / eloheinu): From אֱלֹהִים (Elohim - God/gods) with the possessive suffix "-einu" (our). This denotes a deep, personal, and exclusive covenantal relationship. He is not just "a god" or "the God," but their God, belonging uniquely to them in a reciprocal bond established through the covenant. This implicitly rejects all other deities previously served by them or others.

Joshua 24 18 Bonus section

The Hebrew phrasing, especially "Gam anachnu" ("even we" or "we too"), carries significant weight. It implies that in light of God's unwavering faithfulness, even a people prone to wander will (and indeed, must) respond with allegiance. It reinforces the people’s sense of ownership in this commitment; it's not merely Joshua's will for them, but their own, deeply personal choice.

Furthermore, this declaration directly confronts the widespread polytheism and syncretism prevalent in Canaanite culture. In a land where people worshipped multiple deities (often according to practical benefits or local superstitions), Israel's assertion of "He is our God" stands as a bold, theological statement of exclusive monotheistic loyalty. This commitment was constantly tested throughout their history, serving as a prophetic standard against which their subsequent actions of wavering and idolatry would be measured. This moment in Shechem becomes a paradigm for the ongoing spiritual battle to remain true to the one living God in a world full of false alternatives.

Joshua 24 18 Commentary

Joshua 24:18 encapsulates Israel’s faith-response to a God who acts. It begins with the acknowledgement of God’s mighty deliverance—He is the one who effectively "drove out" their enemies, ensuring their secure inheritance. This remembering of God’s active history on their behalf forms the foundational 'therefore' for their resolute declaration: "we also will serve the LORD." Their service is not a transactional deal but a grateful commitment arising from God’s prior faithfulness. The core of their allegiance is stated powerfully in "for he is our God." This phrase highlights exclusivity and intimacy. It distinguishes Yahweh from all false gods worshipped in the land and across the river, establishing Him as the singular object of their worship and the sovereign Lord of their lives. It's a statement of identity: because Yahweh is who He is and has done what He has done, Israel must and will serve Him alone. This response sets the trajectory for covenant obedience, demanding loyal submission in every aspect of life. It’s a collective vow of worship, devotion, and obedience that shapes the nation's spiritual identity. This echoes the very heart of the Sinai covenant: "I am the LORD your God... you shall have no other gods before me" (Exod 20:2-3).

• Practical Usage:
  • Reflecting on Deliverance: Individuals and communities can pause to recall God's specific interventions and acts of deliverance in their own lives and history, making those experiences the foundation for renewed commitment to Him.
  • Exclusive Allegiance: This verse calls for a personal inventory of whom or what one truly serves in life—challenging any divided loyalties or 'other gods' (like money, fame, power, or even self) that compete for ultimate devotion.
  • Active Worship: Understanding 'serve' as 'avod' encourages worship that is not just passive adoration but involves active obedience, stewardship, and loving labor in every sphere of life.