Charles Ellicott Commentary Joshua 24:1-2

"And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt of old time beyond the River, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor: and they served other gods." — Joshua 24:1-2 (ASV)

(b) JOSHUA’S LAST CHARGE TO THE PEOPLE.

Joshua gathered all the tribes ... —At the former address the rulers alone appear to have been present; on this occasion all Israel was gathered. And what was spoken is addressed to the people in the hearing of the rulers. In the speech that now follows, Joshua briefly recapitulates the national history; he had not thought this necessary for the rulers.

To them he had said, “You know;” but “the people” included many individuals with little thought and education, who needed to be informed, reminded, and instructed, even about the leading events of their national history.

The simple lesson Joshua’s words are intended to enforce is the duty of serving Jehovah, and serving Him alone. This is the first great lesson of the old covenant: I am Jehovah, your God; you shall have no other gods beside Me. The ark of this covenant had brought them over Jordan into the promised land.

Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood.—The flood, that is, the river—probably the Euphrates, though it may be the Jordan, or both. The word Flood in our English Bible has been used for river in several places. For example:

• In Job 22:16: whose foundation was overflown with a flood, that is, a river.
• In Psalm 66:6: He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot (the flood here meaning the river, that is, Jordan).
• In Matthew 7:25, 27: The rain descended, and the floods came (the floods here meaning the rivers).

They served other gods.—They, that is, Terah, Abraham, and Nachor.