Stay faithful to the LORD, or lose the blessings He has graciously provided.
“know with certainty that the LORD your God will not continue to drive these nations out from before you; but they will be a snare and a trap to you, and a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes until you perish from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you.” (v.13)
In this verse, Joshua warns the Israelites of what will happen if they abandon their covenant with the LORD and mingle with the Canaanite nations dwelling among them. The land of Canaan was a divine gift, given through a covenant promise that commenced in the days of Abraham and continued under the leadership of Moses. Here, at the latter part of Joshua’s life (around 1400 BC), he urges Israel to remain faithful so that the same God who conquered their enemies would continue to keep the land for them. However, if they turn to other gods or adopt the idolatrous practices of the peoples around them, those same nations would become “a snare and a trap,” eventually driving Israel out of its inheritance (see also how a new generation arose and forgot the LORD, leading to calamity in Judges 2:6-10).
Joshua, who served as Moses’ successor, speaks from a position of firsthand experience. He witnessed the miraculous crossing of the Jordan and the fall of Jericho, seeing how obedient trust in the LORD brought triumph (Joshua 6:21). Yet he also knew that unfaithfulness would reverse this victory and cause the people to perish “from off this good land.” The graphic language—“whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes”—vividly portrays the suffering that would come upon Israel. It underscores the seriousness of covenant loyalty, echoing a consistent theme from Deuteronomy through the historical books: salvation and blessing come to those who love and obey the Suzerain (Ruler) God, while disobedience leads to painful consequences.
Historically, this admonition sets the stage for Israel’s cyclical pattern of fidelity and rebellion in the generations after Joshua. When they forget the LORD and turn to other gods, Israel experiences oppression and hardship at the hands of foreign nations. The land they once inherited can become a place of struggle rather than peace, ultimately showing that the gift of the Promised Land includes the ongoing responsibility of worshiping God alone. Joshua died at about 110 years old—but his final words in this passage foreshadow the spiritual challenges that would afflict Israel if they failed to remember the LORD and His commandments.
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Joshua 23:13 meaning
“know with certainty that the LORD your God will not continue to drive these nations out from before you; but they will be a snare and a trap to you, and a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes until you perish from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you.” (v.13)
In this verse, Joshua warns the Israelites of what will happen if they abandon their covenant with the LORD and mingle with the Canaanite nations dwelling among them. The land of Canaan was a divine gift, given through a covenant promise that commenced in the days of Abraham and continued under the leadership of Moses. Here, at the latter part of Joshua’s life (around 1400 BC), he urges Israel to remain faithful so that the same God who conquered their enemies would continue to keep the land for them. However, if they turn to other gods or adopt the idolatrous practices of the peoples around them, those same nations would become “a snare and a trap,” eventually driving Israel out of its inheritance (see also how a new generation arose and forgot the LORD, leading to calamity in Judges 2:6-10).
Joshua, who served as Moses’ successor, speaks from a position of firsthand experience. He witnessed the miraculous crossing of the Jordan and the fall of Jericho, seeing how obedient trust in the LORD brought triumph (Joshua 6:21). Yet he also knew that unfaithfulness would reverse this victory and cause the people to perish “from off this good land.” The graphic language—“whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes”—vividly portrays the suffering that would come upon Israel. It underscores the seriousness of covenant loyalty, echoing a consistent theme from Deuteronomy through the historical books: salvation and blessing come to those who love and obey the Suzerain (Ruler) God, while disobedience leads to painful consequences.
Historically, this admonition sets the stage for Israel’s cyclical pattern of fidelity and rebellion in the generations after Joshua. When they forget the LORD and turn to other gods, Israel experiences oppression and hardship at the hands of foreign nations. The land they once inherited can become a place of struggle rather than peace, ultimately showing that the gift of the Promised Land includes the ongoing responsibility of worshiping God alone. Joshua died at about 110 years old—but his final words in this passage foreshadow the spiritual challenges that would afflict Israel if they failed to remember the LORD and His commandments.