SEV Biblia, Chapter 24:23
Quitad, pues, ahora los dioses ajenos que están entre vosotros, e inclinad vuestro corazón al SEÑOR Dios de Israel.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Joshua 24:23
Verse 23. Now therefore put away] As you have promised to reform, begin instantly the work of reformation. A man's promise to serve God soon loses its moral hold of his conscience if he do not instantaneously begin to put it in practice. The grace that enables him to promise is that by the strength of which he is to begin the performance.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. Now therefore put away, [said he] , etc.] Which last words are rightly supplied, for they are the words of Joshua: the strange gods which [are] among you ; not their private notions and secret sentiments that some of them had imbibed in favour of idols, and the worship of them, as Ben Gersom thinks; but, as the Targum expresses it, “the idols of the Gentiles;” either such as they had brought out of Egypt, or had found among the plunder of the Canaanites, and had secretly retained; or, as others think, their “penates”, or household gods, they had privately kept and worshipped, such as those that were in Jacob’s family, which he caused to be delivered to him, and which he hid under an oak in this place where Israel were now assembled, ( Genesis 35:2,4); and which Joshua by a prophetic discerning spirit perceived were now among them: and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel ; to love, fear, and serve him; that is, pray that your hearts may be inclined thereunto, and make use of all means that may tend to direct your hearts to him, and his service; so the Targum, “to the worship of the Lord God of Israel.”
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-28 - It is essential that the service of God's people be performed with willing mind. For LOVE is the only genuine principle whence all acceptable service of God can spring. The Father seeks only such to worship him, as worship him in spirit and in truth. The carnal mind of man is enmity against God, therefore, is not capable of such spiritual worship. Hence the necessity of being born again. But numbers rest in mere forms, as tasks imposed upon them. Joshua puts them to their choice; but not as if it were indifferent whether they served God of not. Choose you whom ye will serve, now the matter is laid plainl before you. He resolves to do this, whatever others did. Those that ar bound for heaven, must be willing to swim against the stream. They mus not do as the most do, but as the best do. And no one can behav himself as he ought in any station, who does not deeply consider his religious duties in family relations. The Israelites agree with Joshua being influenced by the example of a man who had been so great blessing to them; We also will serve the Lord. See how much good grea men do, by their influence, if zealous in religion. Joshua brings the to express full purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord. They must com off from all confidence in their own sufficiency, else their purpose would be in vain. The service of God being made their deliberat choice, Joshua binds them to it by a solemn covenant. He set up monument of it. In this affecting manner Joshua took his last leave of them; if they perished, their blood would be upon their own heads Though the house of God, the Lord's table, and even the walls and tree before which we have uttered our solemn purposes of serving him, woul bear witness against us if we deny him, yet we may trust in him, tha he will put his fear into our hearts, that we shall not depart from him. God alone can give grace, yet he blesses our endeavours to engag men to his service.
Original Hebrew
ועתה 6258 הסירו 5493 את 853 אלהי 430 הנכר 5236 אשׁר 834 בקרבכם 7130 והטו 5186 את 853 לבבכם 3824 אל 413 יהוה 3068 אלהי 430 ישׂראל׃ 3478
