Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
So now, respect and honor the LORD, and serve him with complete honesty and truth. Get rid of the false gods that your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the river and in Egypt, and serve the LORD alone.
Joshua is calling the people to wholeheartedly commit to serving God alone, leaving behind all the false gods their families once followed.
📚 Historical Context
Joshua is giving his final speech to the Israelites at Shechem, challenging them to choose between serving God or the pagan gods their ancestors had worshiped. This comes after the Israelites had conquered the Promised Land, and Joshua wanted to ensure their continued faithfulness to God. The 'other side of the flood' refers to Mesopotamia where Abraham's family originally lived, and many Israelites still kept household idols from their past.
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