God delivered Israel from slavery, performing mighty works in their presence and guiding them to a land of freedom.
“For the LORD our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did these great signs in our sight and preserved us through all the way in which we went and among all the peoples through whose midst we passed.” (v.17) In this verse, the people of Israel acknowledge the mighty deliverance God provided by freeing them from slavery in Egypt. Historically, this event occurred in approximately 1446 BC, when God led the Israelites out of Egyptian captivity through the leadership of Moses. By the time Joshua, who lived around 1400 BC and became Moses’ successor, recounts these words, he reminds the nation that it was not their own strength but the miraculous power of the LORD that sustained them. Egypt, located in the northeastern corner of Africa, was a major kingdom with advanced culture and technology at that time, yet God decisively demonstrated His sovereignty by rescuing His people from its grasp.
When the verse refers to “the house of bondage” (v.17), it underscores how intense Israel’s captivity was under Egyptian control. This expression suggests not merely physical slavery, but also a deep spiritual oppression that required God’s direct intervention. Joshua speaking these words at Shechem—a historic city in the hill country of Ephraim, roughly forty-eight miles north of Jerusalem—was significant because Shechem served as a central location where covenants were renewed. The people’s acknowledgment of God’s preservation “through all the way in which we went” (v.17) highlights the long journey they took through the wilderness, encountering hostile nations but ultimately being kept safe by the Lord. In the broader storyline, this mirrors how God continues to protect and guide believers in all of life’s challenges, a theme echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus offers deliverance from spiritual bondage (John 8:36).
The “great signs” (v.17) mentioned could include the plagues on Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, and the provision of manna in the desert—supernatural occurrences that confirmed God’s power and love for His covenant people. The timeline of these events stretches from the exodus (around 1446 BC) up to Joshua’s leadership period (approximately 1400-1390 BC). In the overall biblical narrative, these acts of God foreshadow the ultimate deliverance through Jesus Christ, who rescues His followers not from physical captivity, but from the spiritual slavery of sin (Romans 6:6). Joshua, as a leader raised up after Moses’ death (~1406 BC), anchors this verse in Israel’s shared memory, ensuring they never forget the wonders they witnessed or the divine covenant binding them to the Lord.
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Joshua 24:17 meaning
“For the LORD our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did these great signs in our sight and preserved us through all the way in which we went and among all the peoples through whose midst we passed.” (v.17) In this verse, the people of Israel acknowledge the mighty deliverance God provided by freeing them from slavery in Egypt. Historically, this event occurred in approximately 1446 BC, when God led the Israelites out of Egyptian captivity through the leadership of Moses. By the time Joshua, who lived around 1400 BC and became Moses’ successor, recounts these words, he reminds the nation that it was not their own strength but the miraculous power of the LORD that sustained them. Egypt, located in the northeastern corner of Africa, was a major kingdom with advanced culture and technology at that time, yet God decisively demonstrated His sovereignty by rescuing His people from its grasp.
When the verse refers to “the house of bondage” (v.17), it underscores how intense Israel’s captivity was under Egyptian control. This expression suggests not merely physical slavery, but also a deep spiritual oppression that required God’s direct intervention. Joshua speaking these words at Shechem—a historic city in the hill country of Ephraim, roughly forty-eight miles north of Jerusalem—was significant because Shechem served as a central location where covenants were renewed. The people’s acknowledgment of God’s preservation “through all the way in which we went” (v.17) highlights the long journey they took through the wilderness, encountering hostile nations but ultimately being kept safe by the Lord. In the broader storyline, this mirrors how God continues to protect and guide believers in all of life’s challenges, a theme echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus offers deliverance from spiritual bondage (John 8:36).
The “great signs” (v.17) mentioned could include the plagues on Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, and the provision of manna in the desert—supernatural occurrences that confirmed God’s power and love for His covenant people. The timeline of these events stretches from the exodus (around 1446 BC) up to Joshua’s leadership period (approximately 1400-1390 BC). In the overall biblical narrative, these acts of God foreshadow the ultimate deliverance through Jesus Christ, who rescues His followers not from physical captivity, but from the spiritual slavery of sin (Romans 6:6). Joshua, as a leader raised up after Moses’ death (~1406 BC), anchors this verse in Israel’s shared memory, ensuring they never forget the wonders they witnessed or the divine covenant binding them to the Lord.