Joshua 23:16

When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.

When ye have transgressed {H5674} the covenant {H1285} of the LORD {H3068} your God {H430}, which he commanded {H6680} you, and have gone {H1980} and served {H5647} other {H312} gods {H430}, and bowed {H7812} yourselves to them; then shall the anger {H639} of the LORD {H3068} be kindled {H2734} against you, and ye shall perish {H6} quickly {H4120} from off the good {H2896} land {H776} which he hath given {H5414} unto you.

When you violate the covenant of ADONAI your God, which he ordered you to obey, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then the anger of ADONAI will blaze up against you; and you will perish quickly from the good land which he has given you!"

If you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from this good land He has given you.โ€

When ye transgress the covenant of Jehovah your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and bow down yourselves to them; then will the anger of Jehovah be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.

Commentary

Joshua 23:16 delivers a solemn warning from Joshua to the Israelites, encapsulating the severe consequences of disobedience to God's covenant. This verse emphasizes the conditional nature of their continued dwelling in the Promised Land, highlighting the dangers of spiritual infidelity.

Context

This verse is part of Joshua's farewell address to the leaders and people of Israel, found in Joshua chapters 23 and 24. Having successfully led them into the Promised Land and overseen the distribution of inheritances, Joshua, now old and near death, gathers the nation to remind them of God's faithfulness and their covenant obligations. He exhorts them to remain loyal to the LORD and warns them against the temptations of the pagan nations still residing among them. Verse 16 serves as a stark contrast to the blessings promised for obedience (see Joshua 23:15), presenting the dire outcome of breaking faith with God and turning to idolatry.

Key Themes

  • Covenant Fidelity and Transgression: The core of the warning centers on "transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God." This refers to the Mosaic Covenant established at Mount Sinai, which outlined God's laws and the reciprocal relationship between God and Israel. Transgression means breaking this sacred agreement, with profound spiritual and practical implications.
  • The Sin of Idolatry: Serving "other gods" and bowing to them is explicitly named as the primary act of transgression. This directly violates the first two commandments (Exodus 20:3-5), which demand exclusive worship of the one true God. Idolatry was a constant spiritual danger for Israel, leading to spiritual decay and moral corruption.
  • Divine Anger and Judgment: The consequence of such rebellion is that "the anger of the LORD be kindled against you." This is not capricious rage but righteous indignation against profound disloyalty and spiritual adultery. God's anger is a just response to sin and a necessary aspect of His holy character.
  • Loss of Inheritance: The ultimate earthly punishment is to "perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you." The Promised Land was a gift from God, conditional on their faithfulness. This warning foreshadows the eventual exiles, where Israel and Judah were removed from the land due to their persistent idolatry and disobedience (e.g., 2 Kings 17:18, Jeremiah 25:11).

Linguistic Insights

  • The word "transgressed" (Hebrew: ืขึธื‘ึทืจ - 'avar) implies crossing a boundary or going beyond a limit set by God. It signifies a deliberate act of disobedience against an established command or agreement.
  • "Kindled" (Hebrew: ื—ึธืจึธื” - charah) describes a burning or blazing anger, emphasizing the intensity and certainty of God's righteous judgment against sin.

Practical Application

While specifically addressed to ancient Israel, the principles in Joshua 23:16 remain timeless. For believers today, this verse serves as a powerful reminder of:

  • The Seriousness of Our Covenant with God: Whether through the Old Covenant for Israel or the New Covenant in Christ for believers, our relationship with God is founded on His grace and our responsive obedience. Disregarding His commands or turning away from Him has spiritual consequences.
  • The Dangers of Modern Idolatry: While we may not bow to physical statues, anything that takes precedence over God in our livesโ€”money, power, possessions, relationships, career, or even selfโ€”can become an idol. This verse calls us to examine our loyalties and ensure God remains supreme.
  • God's Justice and Holiness: This verse underscores that God is not indifferent to sin. His holiness demands a response to rebellion, and His warnings are given out of love, to draw us back to Himself and prevent further spiritual harm.

Joshua's final exhortation challenges us to remain faithful to God, acknowledging that true prosperity and blessing come from wholehearted devotion to Him alone.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 24:20

    For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

  • Deuteronomy 4:25

    When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt [yourselves], and make a graven image, [or] the likeness of any [thing], and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger:

  • Deuteronomy 4:26

    I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong [your] days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.