Joshua Chapter 23

1 these were the cities of the children of Merari according to their families, even the rest of the families of the Levites; and their lot was twelve cities.

2 All the cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.

3 These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus it was with all these cities.

4 So Jehovah gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.

5 And Jehovah gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; Jehovah delivered all their enemies into their hand.

6 There failed not aught of any good thing which Jehovah had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

7 Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,

8 and said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded you, and have hearkened unto my voice in all that I commanded you:

9 ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of Jehovah your God.

10 And now Jehovah your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he spake unto them: therefore now turn ye, and get you unto your tents, unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave you beyond the Jordan.

11 Only take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded you, to love Jehovah your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

12 So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away; and they went unto their tents.

13 Now to the one half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given

14 inheritance in Bashan; but unto the other half gave Joshua among their brethren beyond the Jordan westward. Moreover when Joshua sent them away unto their tents, he blessed them,

15 and spake unto them, saying, Return with much wealth unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.

16 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the land of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the commandment of Jehovah by Moses.

darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext

1 And it came to pass a long time after that Jehovah had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua had become old, advanced in age,

2 that Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am become old, advanced in age;

3 and ye have seen all that Jehovah yourGod hath done to all these nations because of you. For Jehovah yourGod is he that hath fought for you.

4 Behold, I have divided unto you by lot for an inheritance, according to your tribes, these nations that remain, from the Jordan, as well as all the nations that I have cut off, as far as the great sea toward the sun-setting.

5 And Jehovah yourGod, he will expel them from before you, and dispossess them from out of your sight; and ye shall take possession of their land, as Jehovah yourGod hath said unto you.

6 And be ye very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;

7 that ye enter not among these nations, these that remain among you; and ye shall make no mention of the name of theirgods, nor cause to swear [by them], neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them;

8 but ye shall cleave unto Jehovah yourGod, as ye have done unto this day.

9 For Jehovah hath dispossessed from before you great and strong nations; and as to you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.

10 One man of you chaseth a thousand; for Jehovah yourGod, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath said unto you.

11 Take great heed therefore unto your souls, that ye love Jehovah yourGod.

12 For if ye in any wise go back, and cleave unto the residue of these nations, these that remain among you, and make marriages with them, and come in unto them and they unto you:

13 know for a certainty that Jehovah yourGod will no more dispossess these nations from before you, and they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which Jehovah yourGod hath given you.

14 And behold, I am going this day the way of all the earth; and ye know in all your heart, and in all your soul, that not one thing hath failed of all the good words that Jehovah yourGod hath spoken concerning you: all are come to pass unto you — not one thing hath failed thereof.

15 But it shall come to pass, that as every good word hath been fulfilled to you, that Jehovah yourGod spoke to you, so will Jehovah bring upon you every evil word, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which Jehovah yourGod hath given you;

16 when ye transgress the covenant of Jehovah yourGod which he commanded you, and go and serve othergods, and bow yourselves unto them, so that the anger of Jehovah shall be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.

lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM

1 And it came to pass after many days after the Lord had given Israel rest from all his enemies round about, that Joshua was old and advanced in years.

2 And Joshua called together all the children of Israel, and their elders, and their chiefs, and their judges, and their officers; and said to them, I am old and advanced in years.

3 And ye have seen all that the Lord our God has done to all these nations before us; for [it is] the Lord our God who has fought for you.

4 See, that I have given to you these nations that are left to you by lots to your tribes, all the nations beginning at Jordan; and [some] I have destroyed; and the boundaries shall be at the great sea westward.

5 And the Lord our God, he shall destroy them before us, until they utterly perish; and he shall send against them the wild beasts, until he shall have utterly destroyed them and their kings from before you; and ye shall inherit their land, as the Lord our God said to you.

6 Do ye therefore strive diligently to observe and do all things written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not to the right hand or to the left;

7 that ye go not in among these nations that are left; and the names of their gods shall not be named among you, neither shall ye serve them, neither shall ye bow down to them.

8 But ye shall cleave to the Lord our God, as ye have done until this day.

9 And the Lord shall destroy them before you, [even] great and strong nations; and no one has stood before us until this day.

10 One of you has chased a thousand, for the Lord our God, he fought for you, as he said to you.

11 And take ye great heed to love the Lord our God.

12 For if ye shall turn aside and attach yourselves to these nations that are left with you, and make marriages with them, and become mingled with them and they with you,

13 know that the Lord will no more destroy these nations from before you; and they will be to you snares and stumbling-blocks, and nails in your heels, and darts in your eyes, until ye be destroyed from off this good land, which the Lord your God has given you.

14 But I hasten to go the way [of death], as all that are upon the earth also [do]: and know ye in your heart and in your soul, that not one word has fallen [to the ground] of all the words which the Lord our God has spoken respecting all that concerns us; there has not one of them failed.

15 And it shall come to pass, that as all the good things are come upon us which the Lord spoke concerning you, so the Lord God will bring upon you all the evil things, until he shall have destroyed you from off this good land, which the Lord has given you,

16 when ye transgress the covenant of the Lord our God, which he has charged us, and go and serve other gods, and bow down to them.

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Evoluto autem multo tempore, postquam pacem dederat Dominus Israeli, subiectis in gyro nationibus universis, et Iosue iam longævo, et persenilis ætatis:

2 vocavit Iosue omnem Israelem, maioresque natu, et principes ac duces, et magistros, dixitque ad eos: Ego senui, et progressioris ætatis sum:

3 vosque cernitis omnia, quæ fecerit Dominus Deus vester cunctis per circuitum nationibus, quo modo pro vobis ipse pugnaverit:

4 et nunc quia vobis sorte divisit omnem Terram, ab Orientali parte Iordanis usque ad mare magnum, multæque adhuc supersunt nationes:

5 Dominus Deus vester disperdet eas et auferet a facie vestra, et possidebitis Terram, sicut vobis pollicitus est.

6 tantum confortamini, et estote soliciti, ut custodiatis cuncta quæ scripta sunt in volumine legis Moysi: et non declinetis ab eis neque ad dexteram neque ad sinistram:

7 ne postquam intraveritis ad Gentes, quæ inter vos futuræ sunt, iuretis in nomine deorum earum, et serviatis eis, et adoretis illos:

8 sed adhæreatis Domino Deo vestro: quod fecistis usque in diem hanc.

9 Et tunc auferet Dominus Deus in conspectu vestro gentes magnas et robustissimas, et nullus vobis resistere poterit.

10 Unus e vobis persequetur hostium mille viros: quia Dominus Deus vester pro vobis ipse pugnabit, sicut pollicitus est.

11 Hoc tantum diligentissime præcavete, ut diligatis Dominum Deum vestrum.

12 Quod si volueritis gentium harum, quæ inter vos habitant, erroribus adhærere, et cum eis miscere connubia, atque amicitias copulare:

13 iam nunc scitote quod Dominus Deus vester non eas deleat ante faciem vestram, sed sint vobis in foveam ac laqueum, et offendiculum ex latere vestro, et sudes in oculis vestris, donec vos auferat atque disperdat de Terra hac optima, quam tradidit vobis.

14 En ego hodie ingredior viam universæ terræ, et toto animo cognoscetis quod de omnibus verbis, quæ se Dominus præstiturum vobis esse pollicitus est, unum non præterierit incassum.

15 Sicut ergo implevit opere quod promisit, et prospera cuncta venerunt: sic adducet super vos quidquid malorum comminatus est, donec vos auferat atque disperdat de Terra hac optima, quam tradidit vobis,

16 eo quod præterieritis pactum Domini Dei vestri, quod pepigit vobiscum, et servieritis diis alienis, ad adoraveritis eos: cito atque velociter consurget in vos furor Domini, et auferemini ab hac Terra optima, quam tradidit vobis.

web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV

1 After many days, when the LORD had given rest to Israel from their enemies all around, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years,

2 Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders and for their heads, and for their judges and for their officers, and said to them, “I am old and well advanced in years.

3 You have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you; for it is the LORD your God who has fought for you.

4 Behold, I have allotted to you these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even to the great sea toward the going down of the sun.

5 The LORD your God will thrust them out from before you, and drive them from out of your sight. You shall possess their land, as the LORD your God spoke to you.

6 “Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that you not turn away from it to the right hand or to the left;

7 that you not come among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves to them;

8 but hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day.

9 “For the LORD has driven great and strong nations out from before you. But as for you, no man has stood before you to this day.

10 One man of you shall chase a thousand; for it is the LORD your God who fights for you, as he spoke to you.

11 Take good heed therefore to yourselves, that you love the LORD your God.

12 “But if you do at all go back, and hold fast to the remnant of these nations, even these who remain among you, and make marriages with them, and go in to them, and they to you;

13 know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no longer drive these nations from out of your sight; but they shall be a snare and a trap to you, a scourge in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you.

14 “Behold, today I am going the way of all the earth. You know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you. All have happened to you. Not one thing has failed of it.

15 It shall happen that as all the good things have come on you of which the LORD your God spoke to you, so the LORD will bring on you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you,

16 when you disobey the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and bow down yourselves to them. Then the LORD’s anger will be kindled against you, and you will perish quickly from off the good land which he has given to you.”

ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8

1 And it cometh to pass, many days after that Jehovah hath given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua is old, entering into days,

2 and Joshua calleth for all Israel, for its elders, and for its heads, and for its judges, and for its authorities, and saith unto them, `I have become old; I have entered into days;

3 and ye--ye have seen all that Jehovah your God hath done to all these nations because of you, for Jehovah your God <FI>is<Fi> He who is fighting for you;

4 see, I have caused to fall to you these nations who are left for an inheritance to your tribes, from the Jordan, (and all the nations which I cut off), and the great sea, the going in of the sun.

5 `As to Jehovah your God, He doth thrust them from your presence, and hath dispossessed them from before you, and ye have possessed their land, as Jehovah your God hath spoken to you,

6 and ye have been very strong to keep and to do the whole that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, so as not to turn aside from it right or left,

7 so as not to go in among these nations, these who are left with you; and of the name of their gods ye do not make mention, nor do ye swear, nor do ye serve them, nor do ye bow yourselves to them;

8 but to Jehovah your God ye do cleave, as ye have done till this day.

9 And Jehovah is dispossessing from before you nations great and mighty; as for you, none hath stood in your presence till this day;

10 one man of you doth pursue a thousand, for Jehovah your God <FI>is<Fi> He who is fighting for you, as He hath spoken to you;

11 and ye have been very watchful for yourselves to love Jehovah your God.

12 `But--if ye at all turn back and have cleaved to the remnant of these nations, these who are left with you, and intermarried with them, and gone in to them, and they to you,

13 know certainly that Jehovah your God is not continuing to dispossess these nations from before you, and they have been to you for a gin, and for a snare, and for a scourge, in your sides, and for thorns in your eyes, till ye perish from off this good ground which Jehovah your God hath given to you.

14 `And lo, I am going, to-day, in the way of all the earth, and ye have known--with all your heart, and with all your soul--that there hath not fallen one thing of all the good things which Jehovah your God hath spoken concerning you; the whole have come to you; there hath not failed of it one thing.

15 `And it hath been, as there hath come upon you all the good thing which Jehovah your God hath spoken unto you, so doth Jehovah bring upon you the whole of the evil thing, till His destroying you from off this good ground which Jehovah your God hath given to you;

16 in your transgressing the covenant of Jehovah your God which He commanded you, and ye have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them, then hath the anger of Jehovah burned against you, and ye have perished hastily from off the good land which He hath given to you.'

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).