Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.
Now then, get rid of the foreign gods that are among you, and turn your hearts completely to the LORD, the God of Israel.
Joshua is telling the people to throw away their idols and commit their hearts fully to God alone.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Joshua, the Israelites had recently completed their conquest of the Promised Land under Joshua's leadership and were now settling in. At Shechem, Joshua gathered the people for a covenant renewal ceremony, where he recounted God's faithfulness throughout their history and warned them against the dangers of idolatry, as they had often strayed toward foreign gods in the past. He urged them to make a definitive choice to serve the Lord alone by removing these idols from their midst.
Explore Similar Verses
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.