Josué - Caput 24

Josué 24.1 congregavitque Iosue omnes tribus Israhel in Sychem et vocavit maiores natu ac principes et iudices et magistros steteruntque in conspectu Domini Josué 24.2 et ad populum sic locutus est haec dicit Dominus Deus Israhel trans fluvium habitaverunt patres vestri ab initio Thare pater Abraham et Nahor servieruntque diis alienis Josué 24.3 tuli ergo patrem vestrum Abraham de Mesopotamiae finibus et adduxi eum in terram Chanaan multiplicavique semen eius Josué 24.4 et dedi ei Isaac illique rursum dedi Iacob et Esau e quibus Esau dedi montem Seir ad possidendum Iacob vero et filii eius descenderunt in Aegyptum Josué 24.5 misique Mosen et Aaron et percussi Aegyptum multis signis atque portentis Josué 24.6 eduxique vos et patres vestros de Aegypto et venistis ad mare persecutique sunt Aegyptii patres vestros cum curribus et equitatu usque ad mare Rubrum Josué 24.7 clamaverunt autem ad Dominum filii Israhel qui posuit tenebras inter vos et Aegyptios et adduxit super eos mare et operuit illos viderunt oculi vestri cuncta quae in Aegypto fecerim et habitastis in solitudine multo tempore Josué 24.8 et introduxi vos ad terram Amorrei qui habitabat trans Iordanem cumque pugnarent contra vos tradidi eos in manus vestras et possedistis terram eorum atque interfecistis illos Josué 24.9 surrexit autem Balac filius Sepphor rex Moab et pugnavit contra Israhelem misitque et vocavit Balaam filium Beor ut malediceret vobis Josué 24.10 et ego nolui audire eum sed e contrario per illum benedixi vobis et liberavi vos de manu eius Josué 24.11 transistisque Iordanem et venistis ad Hiericho pugnaveruntque contra vos viri civitatis eius Amorreus et Ferezeus et Chananeus et Hettheus et Gergeseus et Eveus et Iebuseus et tradidi illos in manus vestras Josué 24.12 misique ante vos crabrones et eieci eos de locis suis duos reges Amorreorum non in gladio et arcu tuo Josué 24.13 dedique vobis terram in qua non laborastis et urbes quas non aedificastis ut habitaretis in eis vineas et oliveta quae non plantastis Josué 24.14 nunc ergo timete Dominum et servite ei perfecto corde atque verissimo et auferte deos quibus servierunt patres vestri in Mesopotamia et in Aegypto ac servite Domino Josué 24.15 sin autem malum vobis videtur ut Domino serviatis optio vobis datur eligite hodie quod placet cui potissimum servire debeatis utrum diis quibus servierunt patres vestri in Mesopotamia an diis Amorreorum in quorum terra habitatis ego autem et domus mea serviemus Domino Josué 24.16 responditque populus et ait absit a nobis ut relinquamus Dominum et serviamus diis alienis Josué 24.17 Dominus Deus noster ipse eduxit nos et patres nostros de terra Aegypti de domo servitutis fecitque videntibus nobis signa ingentia et custodivit nos in omni via per quam ambulavimus et in cunctis populis per quos transivimus Josué 24.18 et eiecit universas gentes Amorreum habitatorem terrae quam nos intravimus serviemus igitur Domino quia ipse est Deus noster Josué 24.19 dixitque Iosue ad populum non poteritis servire Domino Deus enim sanctus et fortis aemulator est nec ignoscet sceleribus vestris atque peccatis Josué 24.20 si dimiseritis Dominum et servieritis diis alienis convertet se et adfliget vos atque subvertet postquam vobis praestiterit bona Josué 24.21 dixitque populus ad Iosue nequaquam ita ut loqueris erit sed Domino serviemus Josué 24.22 et Iosue ad populum testes inquit vos estis quia ipsi elegeritis vobis Dominum ut serviatis ei responderuntque testes Josué 24.23 nunc ergo ait auferte deos alienos de medio vestrum et inclinate corda vestra ad Dominum Deum Israhel Josué 24.24 dixitque populus ad Iosue Domino Deo nostro serviemus oboedientes praeceptis eius Josué 24.25 percussit igitur Iosue in die illo foedus et proposuit populo praecepta atque iudicia in Sychem Josué 24.26 scripsitque omnia verba haec in volumine legis Dei et tulit lapidem pergrandem posuitque eum subter quercum quae erat in sanctuario Domini Josué 24.27 et dixit ad omnem populum en lapis iste erit vobis in testimonium quod audierit omnia verba Domini quae locutus est vobis ne forte postea negare velitis et mentiri Domino Deo vestro Josué 24.28 dimisitque populum singulos in possessionem suam Josué 24.29 et post haec mortuus est Iosue filius Nun servus Domini centum decem annorum Josué 24.30 sepelieruntque eum in finibus possessionis suae in Thamnathsare quae sita est in monte Ephraim a septentrionali parte montis Gaas Josué 24.31 servivitque Israhel Domino cunctis diebus Iosue et seniorum qui longo vixerunt tempore post Iosue et qui noverant omnia opera Domini quae fecerat in Israhel Josué 24.32 ossa quoque Ioseph quae tulerant filii Israhel de Aegypto sepelierunt in Sychem in parte agri quem emerat Iacob a filiis Emmor patris Sychem centum novellis ovibus et fuit in possessione filiorum Ioseph Josué 24.33 Eleazar quoque filius Aaron mortuus est et sepelierunt eum in Gaab Finees filii eius quae data est ei in monte Ephraim

Josué : Caput 24

The Conclusion of Joshua's Leadership

Joshua chapter 24 marks the end of a significant era in Israel's history. Through this crucial text, we witness Joshua's final speech, a moment when he reiterates God's faithfulness and calls the people to renew their covenant with Him. This chapter highlights essential themes such as choice, commitment, and loyalty to God.

Joshua's Declaration

Joshua fervently declares: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." This affirmation resonates as a call to every member of the people of Israel to personally commit to their relationship with God. It is crucial to recognize the significance of this statement in the context of faith and community life.

The Death of Joshua and Eleazar

The text also informs us of the death and burial of Joshua and Eleazar, two pivotal figures in the Israelite faith. Their departure underscores the need for a legacy of faith that must endure among God's people.

Five Enlightening Bible Passages

To deepen our understanding of the principles conveyed by this foundational chapter, let's consider five significant biblical passages.

Genesis 12:1

"The Lord said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you.'" This verse is part of the story of Abraham that Joshua evokes in his final speech, thus recalling God's call to commitment and faith.

Exodus 14:21-22

"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea away with a strong east wind that blew all night and turned the sea into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites walked through the middle of the sea on dry land, with a wall of water on their right and a wall on their left." This crucial event of the Exodus is mentioned by Joshua as a reminder of God's power in delivering His people.

Deuteronomy 30:19

"Today I call to witness Heaven and earth are against you, I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live." This verse resonates with Joshua's challenge to the people to choose whom they will serve, emphasizing the importance of conscious choice in faith.

1 Samuel 7:3

"Then Samuel said to the whole community of Israel, 'If you will turn to the Lord with all your heart, then put away foreign gods and sacred poles, and devote yourselves to the Lord and serve Him alone; then He will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines.' This verse reflects the theme of exclusive devotion to God, a principle Joshua emphasizes with strength.

Acts 7:2-4

"Brothers and relatives, listen to me! The glorious God appeared to Abraham, our father, while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. "Leave your country and your relatives," God said to him, "and go to the land I will show you." Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After your father's death, God brought him to this land where you live today." This excerpt from Stephen's speech in Acts recalls the story of Abraham, just as Joshua does in his final speech, testifying to the continuity of faith across generations.

Meditating on these passages, we are called to renew our own commitment to God, to choose life and serve the Lord with faith and devotion.