John Calvin 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)

That you come not among these nations, etc. He distinctly admonishes them that it will be impossible rightly to discharge their duty if they are not carefully on their guard against all sources of corruption. This was very necessary to enforce upon them, for they were surrounded on all sides by the snares of Satan, and we know how great their proneness to superstition was, or rather how headlong their eagerness for it.

First, then, he warns them that intimate association with the nations may involve them in fellowship in sin; for the term mingling used in this passage is equivalent to what is termed by St. Paul, being yoked. (2 Corinthians 6:14). In short, he first removes the incitements or allurements to idolatry, and then declares his detestation of idolatry itself.

It is to be observed, however, that he does not expressly mention either bending of the knee, or sacrifices, or other rites, but designates all perverse modes of worship by the terms naming them and swearing by them. From this we infer that God is defrauded of his honor whenever any particle, however small, of all the things which he claims for himself is transferred to idols. He accordingly concludes that they are to adhere to God alone; in other words, they are to be bound to him completely.