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Joshua’s Farewell to the Leaders
23:1 And it came to pass a long time after that the
LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round
about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.
23:2 And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their
elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for
their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in
age:
23:3 And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done
unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God
is he that hath fought for you.
23:4 Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations
that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from
Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto
the great sea westward.
23:5 And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before
you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall
possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto
you.
23:6 Be ye therefore 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;
23:7 That ye come not 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 yourselves unto them:
23:8 But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done
unto this day.
23:9 For the LORD hath driven out from before you great
nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to
stand before you unto this day.
23:10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD
your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath
promised you.
23:11 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye
love the LORD your God.
23:12 Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto
the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among
you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto
them, and they to you:
23:13 Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no
more drive out any of these nations from before you; but
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 the LORD your God hath given you.
23:14 And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the
earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls,
that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which
the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass
unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.
23:15 Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good
things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised
you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until
he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD
your God hath given you.
23:16 When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD
your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served
other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the
anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall
perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given
unto you. |
Cults 
Why Did God Permit Sin?
