Joshua 24:16

“And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;”

King James Version (KJV)

Other Translations for Joshua 24:16

And the people answered and said, God forbid that wee should forsake the Lord, to serue other gods.
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan

The people answered and said, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;
- New American Standard Version (1995)

And the people answered and said, Far be it from us that we should forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods;
- American Standard Version (1901)

Then the people in answer said, Never will we give up the Lord to be the servants of other gods;
- Basic English Bible

And the people answered and said, Far be it from us that we should forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods;
- Darby Bible

And the people answered, and said, Be it far from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
- Webster's Bible

The people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake Yahweh, to serve other gods;
- World English Bible

And the people answer and say, `Far be it from us to forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods;
- Youngs Literal Bible

And the people answered and said: 'Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
- Jewish Publication Society Bible

Bible Commentary for Joshua 24:16

Wesley's Notes for Joshua 24:16


24:14 The gods - Whereby it appears, that although Joshua had doubtless prevented and purged out all public idolatry, yet there were some of them who practised it in their private houses and retirements. Your fathers - Terah, and Nahor, and Abraham, as ver.#2|, and other of your ancestors. In Egypt - See #Ezek 23:3|,8,19,21,27. Under these particulars, no doubt he comprehends all other false gods, which were served by the nations amongst whom they were, but only mentions these, as the idols which they were in more danger of worshipping than those in Canaan; partly because those of Canaan had been now lately and palpably disgraced by their inability to preserve their worshippers from total ruin; and partly, because the other idols came recommended to them by the venerable name of antiquity, and the custom of their forefathers.

24:15 Seem evil - Unjust, unreasonable or inconvenient. Choose ye - Not that he leaves them to their liberty, whether they would serve God or idols; for Joshua had no such power himself, nor could give it to any other; and both he and they were obliged by the law of Moses, to give their worship to God only, and to forbear all idolatry in themselves, and severely to punish it in others; but it is a powerful insinuation, whereby he both implies, that the worship of God is so highly reasonable, necessary and beneficial; and the service of idols so absurd, and vain, and pernicious, that if it were left free for all men to take their choice, every man in his right wits must needs chuse the service of God, before that of idols; and provokes them to bind themselves faster to God by their own choice. He will - But know this, if you should all be so base and brutish, as to prefer senseless and impotent idols, before the true and living God, it is my firm purpose, that I will, and my children, and servants (as far as I can influence them) shall be constant and faithful to the Lord. And that, whatever others do. They that resolve to serve God, must not start at being singular in it. They that are bound for heaven must be willing to swim against the stream, and must do, not as most do, but as the best do.


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