Matthew Henry Commentary Joshua 23:1-10

"And it came to pass after many days, when Jehovah had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua was old and well stricken in years; that Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders and for their heads, and for their judges and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and well stricken in years: and ye have seen all that Jehovah your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for Jehovah your God, he it is that hath fought for you. Behold, I have allotted unto you these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun. And Jehovah your God, he will thrust them out from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as Jehovah your God spake unto you. Therefore be ye very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left; 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; but cleave unto Jehovah your God, as ye have done unto this day. For Jehovah hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath stood before you unto this day. One man of you shall chase a thousand; for Jehovah your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he spake unto you." — Joshua 23:1-10 (ASV)

Joshua was old and dying, and he urged them to pay close attention to what he then said. He reminded them of the great things God had done for them during his lifetime. He exhorted them to be very courageous.

They were to keep with care, act with diligence, and regard with sincerity what is written. They were also to strive very cautiously so that heathen idolatry would be forgotten and never revived.

It is sad that among Christians the names of heathen gods are so commonly used and made so familiar as they are.

Joshua exhorted them to be very constant. There might have been many things wrong among them, but they had not forsaken the Lord their God. The way to make people better is to make the best of them.