Jos 23:4-13 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Josh 23:4-5: 23:4-5 Some of the land that Joshua had assigned to the various tribes remained unconquered . Israel’s gradual occupation of the land had an ecological reason (see Exod 23:29-30 ), a military reason (see Judg 1:19 ), and a theological reason (see Judg 2:20–3:4 ). Israel’s ensuing unfaithfulness delayed the settlement process by several centuries; instead of driving out the remaining Canaanites, Israel absorbed them, bringing God’s people even greater temptations to unfaithfulness. Joshua knew this to be a real danger (Josh 23:15-16 ).

Summary for Josh 23:4-5: 23:4-5 ^a Some of the land that Joshua had assigned to the various tribes remained unconquered. Israel’s gradual occupation of the land had an ecological reason (see Exod 23:29-30 ^b), a military reason (see Judg 1:19 ^c), and a theological reason (see Judg 2:20–3:4 ^d). Israel’s ensuing unfaithfulness delayed the settlement process by several centuries; instead of driving out the remaining Canaanites, Israel absorbed them, bringing God’s people even greater temptations to unfaithfulness. Joshua knew this to be a real danger (Josh 23:15-16 ^e).
23:6 ^f Since before crossing the Jordan River to take the land of Canaan, Joshua’s guiding principle had been to be very careful to follow everything Moses wrote and not deviate. Now he passed on these instructions to the leaders who would succeed him in leading Israel.
23:7 ^g Do not even mention ... swear by ... serve ... or worship them: These four actions describe progressive involvement with idolatry.
23:8 ^h To cling tightly or passionately to God would render impotent the temptation to stray off toward other gods. This same verb described a man clinging to his wife (Gen 2:24 ⁱ) and Ruth clinging to Naomi (Ruth 1:14 ^j).
23:9 ^k Examples of great and powerful nations included the Anakim (11:21-22 ^l) and the city of Hazor (11:10 ^m).
23:10 ⁿ God fights for you: Just as God had fought for the Israelites in the past (e.g., 10:11-14 ^o), he would continue to fight for them in the future.
23:11 ^p be very careful to love: Love is a function of will and intention. Emotion and attraction are the results, not the essence, of love. Because love is (or is not) willed, love can be commanded but not coerced.
Summary for Josh 23:12-16: 23:12-16 ^q Apostasy—turning away from the true God—is fatal.

• Because God is holy, Joshua could speak with optimism regarding God’s promises and the good land into which God had brought them. God will not change his holy character even if his people change. The rebellion of God’s people cannot damage his holiness, but rebellion will destroy those who rebel. 23:12 ^r Joshua warned God’s people not to intermarry with their polytheistic neighbors because such an intimate relationship would lead the Israelites astray (Deut 7:3-4 ^s). However, Canaanites who desired to worship the Lord and join God’s people were welcomed (Josh 6:25 ^t; Ruth 4:10 ^u). Race, language, and ethnicity had no bearing on God’s prohibition of intermarriage; it was a matter of faithfulness to the Lord (cp. 2 Cor 6:14-15 ^v).
23:13 ^w will no longer drive them out: If Israel associated with the Canaanite remnant, God would oblige the Israelites by not driving out that remnant. God ultimately gives people what they seek.