Charles Ellicott Commentary Joshua 23:7

"that ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear [by them], neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves unto them;" — Joshua 23:7 (ASV)

Do not come among these nations —that is, do not mix with them; literally, do not go in to them. (See Joshua 13:2-7 for the rules to be observed in dealing with the nations.)

It must always be remembered that, in proposing the extermination of the seven nations, Jehovah reserved to Himself the ordering of the details of the conquest and extermination. When the Lord your God shall deliver them before you, you shall smite them and utterly destroy them.

He did not propose to deliver them all to Israel at once, for reasons set forth in Judges 2:3. Meanwhile, it was a trial of Israel’s faith and obedience to live among idolaters without making any peace with them, or showing any approval of their idolatry.