Joshua’s Charge to Leaders

1A long time after the LORD {YHWH} had given Israel (he wrestles with God) rest from all the enemies around them, when Joshua (YHWH saves) was old and well along in years, 2he (YHWH saves) summoned all Israel (he wrestles with God), including its elders, leaders, judges, and officers. “I am old and well along in years,” he said, 3“and you⁺ have seen everything that the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem} has done to all these nations for your⁺ sake, because it was the LORD your⁺ God who fought for you⁺.

4See, I have allotted as an inheritance to your⁺ tribes these remaining nations, including all the nations I have already cut off, from the Jordan (flowing down) westward to the Great Sea (the Mediterranean Sea).a 5The LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem} will push them out of your⁺ way and drive them out before you⁺, so that you⁺ can take possession of their land, as the LORD your⁺ God promised you⁺.

6Be very strong, then, so that you can keep and obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses (drawn out), not turning aside from it to the right or to the left. 7So you are not to associate with these nations that remain among you⁺. You⁺ must not call on the names of their gods or swear by them, and you⁺ must not serve them or bow down to them. 8Instead, you⁺ shall hold fast to the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem}, as you⁺ have done to this day.

9The LORD {YHWH} has driven out great and powerful nations before you⁺, and to this day no one can stand against you⁺. 10One of you⁺ can put a thousand to flight, because the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem} fights for you⁺, just as He promised. 11Therefore watch yourselves carefully, that you love the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem}. 12For if you⁺ turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you⁺, and if you⁺ intermarry and associate with them, 13know for sure that the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem} will no longer drive out these nations before you⁺. Instead, they will become for you⁺ a snare and a trap, a scourge in your⁺ sides and thorns in your⁺ eyes, until you⁺ perish from this good land that the LORD your⁺ God has given you⁺.

14Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you⁺ know with all your⁺ heart and soul that not one of the good promises the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem} made to you⁺ has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you⁺; not one promise has failed. 15But just as every good thing the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem} promised you⁺ has come to pass, likewise the LORD will bring upon you⁺ the calamity He has threatened, until He has destroyed you⁺ from this good land He has given you⁺. 16If you⁺ transgress the covenant of the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem}, which He commanded you⁺, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you⁺, and you⁺ will quickly perish from this good land He has given you⁺.”