Chapter 24: Conclusion of Joshua (JPSA)

The first of the Nebi'im ( Prophets - Tanak) is Joshua;

it concludes with a challenge "Choose this day whom

you will serve".  The selection of verses (13 - 27) are

from the Jewish Publication Society of America 

edition of 1985.

I (thus says the Lord) have given

you a land for which you did not

labor and towns which you did

not build, and you have settled

in them, you are enjoying

vineyards and olive groves which 

you did not plant.

"Now, therefore, Revere the Lord

and serve Him with undivided 

loyalty; put away the _gods that

your forefathers served beyond

the Euphrates and in Egypt,

and serve the Lord.  Or if you

are loath to serve the Lord, choose

this day which ones you are going

to serve -- the _gods that your

forefathers served beyond the 

Euphrates, or those of the

Amorites in whose land you are

settled; but I (Joshua) and my

household will serve the Lord."

In reply, the people declared, 

"Far be it from us to forsake the

Lord and serve other _gods!  For

it was the Lord our God who brought

us and our fathers up from the land 

of Egypt, the house of bondage,

and who wrought those wondrous

signs before our very eyes, and

guarded us all along the way that

we traveled and among all the

peoples through whose midst we

passed.  And then the Lord drove

out before us all the peoples -- the

Amorites -- that inhabited the country.

We too will serve the Lord, for He is

our God."

Joshua, however, said to the people,

"You will not be able to serve the Lord, 

for He is a holy God.  He is a jealous

God; He will not forgive your transgres-

sions and your sins.  If you forsake the

Lord and serve alien _gods, He will turn

and deal harshly with you and make an

end of you, after having been gracious

to you."  But the people replied to Joshua,

"No we will serve the Lord!"  Thereupon

Joshua said to the people, "You are

witnesses against yourselves that you by 

your own act chosen to serve the Lord."

"Yes, we are!" they responded.

"Then put away the alien _gods that  you

have among you and direct your hearts

to the Lord, the God of Israel."

And the people declared to Joshua,

"We will serve none but the Lord our

God, and we will obey none but Him."