But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord

 Joshua 24:1-15

Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.

Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac, and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. 

Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out.

I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land.

So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.

Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua assembles the peoples at Shechem to renew the covenant sworn thereafter their first victories in the land. Here, as in Deuteronomy, the covenant pattern follows that of contemporary treaties is followed by a rehearsal of his past favors. The stipulations are made in 14-15, with a warning about the consequences of disobedience.

Why?

Joshua was worried people of Isreal will forsake the Lord and go to worship the gods in Canaanite.

The Lord is faithful to his people, Israelites, their ancestors were chosen by the Lord, now the promise to Abraham comes true, so remember the grace and promised to them.

At last, no matter Israelites what the have chosen, Joshua declared for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

Expresses his faith and desires.

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23章從以色列人過約旦河以後的事，帶領以色列人繼續爭戰。對象是眾長老、首領。

24章從亞伯拉罕說起，要以色列人放下一切惡習，不要被先祖所影響。對象是所有支派。

亞伯拉罕的父親是敬拜別神的。神揀選雅各，沒有不愛以掃。只是對雅各有使命。

告訴以色列人不要假裝，如果想選別的神，就去選，不必等到約書亞死後。勸以色列人不要受影響。要離棄先祖所拜的神，神帶領亞伯拉罕脫離，從父輩中脫離出來。我們要選擇，不要看別人。別人就是周圍的人。看風俗習慣，潮流。迦南人當時文化是比較高的，在耕種等方面，卻連宗教也受影響。

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How?

So am I, as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!