Joshua 24:2

KJV

And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, [even] Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Joshua {H3091} said {H559} unto all the people {H5971}, Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} God {H430} of Israel {H3478}, Your fathers {H1} dwelt {H3427} on the other side {H5676} of the flood {H5104} in old time {H5769}, even Terah {H8646}, the father {H1} of Abraham {H85}, and the father {H1} of Nachor {H5152}: and they served {H5647} other {H312} gods {H430}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Y'hoshua said to all the people, "This is what ADONAI the God of Isra'el says: 'In antiquity your ancestors lived on the other side of the [Euphrates] River-Terach the father of Avraham and Nachor-and they served other gods.

Berean Standard Bible

And Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your fathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates and worshiped other gods.

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 24:2 initiates Joshua’s profound farewell address to the assembled tribes of Israel at Shechem, serving as a critical historical prologue to a covenant renewal ceremony. This verse starkly reminds the people of their ancestral origins, revealing that even their patriarchs, including Terah, Abraham's father, were steeped in paganism and "served other gods" before God's sovereign call. It powerfully establishes the foundational truth of God's unmerited grace and initiative in electing Israel, not based on their inherent righteousness, but on His redemptive purpose, thereby setting the stage for Joshua's urgent call to exclusive allegiance to the LORD.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Joshua's farewell address in [Joshua 24](/joshua/24 "Joshua's Farewell Address and Covenant Renewal") marks the culmination of his leadership and the book of Joshua itself. Following the conquest and distribution of the land, Joshua gathers all the tribes at Shechem, a place of profound historical and covenantal significance, where Abraham first built an altar to the LORD ([Genesis 12:6-7](/genesis/12-6 "Abraham's Altar at Shechem")). This address serves as a final exhortation, a call to renew their covenant with God before Joshua's impending death. Verses 2-13 provide a sweeping historical review, recounting God's faithful acts from Abraham's call to the present day. By beginning with the idolatrous past of their ancestors, Joshua establishes a dramatic contrast, highlighting God's sovereign grace and setting the stage for the climactic challenge in [Joshua 24:15](/joshua/24-15 "Joshua's Call to Choose Whom You Will Serve") to "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve."
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The phrase "the other side of the flood" refers to the Euphrates River, denoting Mesopotamia, specifically Ur of the Chaldees, the ancestral home of Abraham's family ([Genesis 11:28](/genesis/11-28 "Terah's Family in Ur of the Chaldees")). In the ancient Near East, polytheism was the dominant religious landscape, with each city-state and family often having its own pantheon of deities. The mention of Terah and Nachor serving "other gods" underscores the pervasive nature of idolatry even within Abraham's immediate family. God's call to Abraham to leave this pagan environment and follow the one true God was a radical departure from the prevailing cultural norms, inaugurating a new covenantal relationship founded on exclusive worship of Yahweh. Shechem itself was a significant cultic site, reinforcing the solemnity of this covenant renewal ceremony.
* **Key Themes:** This verse introduces several crucial themes that resonate throughout Joshua's address and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully highlights **God's Initiative and Grace**, demonstrating that Israel's relationship with the LORD began not with their merit or spiritual purity, but with His sovereign, unmerited choice to call Abraham out of a pagan background. Secondly, it confronts the reality of **The Idolatrous Past**, serving as a stark reminder that Israel's origins were not pristine but deeply rooted in the worship of false gods, emphasizing the radical nature of God's redemptive work. This historical recounting also underscores the theme of **Historical Remembrance** as a pedagogical tool, urging the people to recall God's consistent intervention and deliverance despite their ancestors' spiritual failings, thereby cementing their obligation to covenant fidelity in the present ([Deuteronomy 6:10-12](/deuteronomy/6-10 "Warning Against Forgetting God's Provisions")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **"other side of the flood" (Hebrew, _‘ēver han-nāhār_):** This idiomatic phrase literally translates to "across the river," specifically referring to the Euphrates River. It geographically locates Abraham's ancestral home in Mesopotamia, a region known for its highly developed polytheistic cultures (e.g., Sumerian, Akkadian deities). The mention serves to underscore the deep paganism from which God sovereignly called Abraham, emphasizing the radical nature of his divine election and the monotheistic covenant established with him.
* **"served" (Hebrew, _‘āḇaḏ_):** This verb signifies more than casual acknowledgement; it implies active devotion, worship, and even servitude. When applied to "other gods," it denotes a full commitment of allegiance and worship to deities other than the LORD God of Israel. Joshua's use of this word highlights the complete spiritual separation of Abraham's family from the true God before His intervention, making God's subsequent call and covenant all the more remarkable.
* **"other gods" (Hebrew, _’ĕlōhîm ’ăḥērîm_):** This common Old Testament phrase refers to deities worshipped by surrounding nations or by apostate Israelites, distinct from Yahweh, the one true God. The plural form emphasizes the multitude of false gods prevalent in the ancient world. Joshua's explicit declaration that Abraham's family served these "other gods" establishes a foundational contrast between the idolatry of humanity and the singular, exclusive worship demanded by the LORD God of Israel, setting the stage for the covenant renewal.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel":** This opening clause establishes the divine authority of Joshua's message. He is not speaking his own words but delivering a direct oracle from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. This imbues the historical recounting with prophetic weight and underscores the seriousness of the impending covenant renewal.
* **"Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, [even] Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor":** Joshua immediately grounds his address in the deep past, identifying the geographical origin of the Israelite patriarchs (Mesopotamia, beyond the Euphrates). By naming Terah, Abraham, and Nachor, he traces their lineage back to its very roots, emphasizing that their history with God did not begin with their own merit but with God's initiative in calling their ancestors from a distant, pagan land.
* **"and they served other gods":** This is the stark, pivotal declaration of the verse. It reveals the pre-covenantal spiritual state of Israel's progenitors: they were idolaters. This statement functions as a powerful theological anchor, highlighting that God's choice of Abraham and his descendants was an act of pure, unmerited grace, calling a people who were not inherently righteous but were, in fact, devoted to false deities.

#### Literary Devices
Joshua 24:2 employs several potent literary devices. The primary device is **Historical Recounting**, where Joshua provides a concise yet impactful summary of Israel's origins. This serves as a pedagogical and rhetorical tool, reminding the people of God's past faithfulness and their own humble, even idolatrous, beginnings. This historical review creates a powerful **Contrast** between the pervasive polytheism of their ancestors and the singular, exclusive worship demanded by the LORD. By explicitly stating that Terah and his sons "served other gods," Joshua employs **Emphasis** to highlight the radical nature of God's call to Abraham and the subsequent covenant with Israel. This stark declaration also functions as a **Rhetorical Strategy**, setting the stage for the urgent choice Joshua will present later in the chapter, compelling the people to consider their own allegiance in light of God's consistent grace despite human unfaithfulness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 24:2 profoundly underscores the doctrine of God's sovereign grace and election. By revealing Israel's foundational origins in idolatry, it dismantles any notion of their inherent worthiness or spiritual superiority as the basis for their covenant relationship with Yahweh. Instead, it highlights that God's choice of Abraham and his descendants was an act of pure, unmerited favor, demonstrating His redemptive initiative toward a people who were spiritually lost. This historical truth serves as a perpetual reminder that salvation and relationship with God are always initiated by Him, not by human effort or merit, and that His faithfulness endures even when His people emerge from backgrounds of spiritual darkness. It sets the stage for the ongoing biblical narrative of God's pursuit of a people for Himself, calling them out of the worship of false gods into exclusive devotion to Him.

* [Genesis 12:1-3](/genesis/12-1 "The Call of Abraham")
* [Deuteronomy 6:10-12](/deuteronomy/6-10 "Warning Against Forgetting God's Provisions")
* [Ezekiel 20:5-8](/ezekiel/20-5 "God's Faithfulness Despite Israel's Idolatry")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua 24:2 offers a profound mirror for self-reflection, reminding us that God's grace often begins where we are least deserving. Just as He called Abraham's family out of a deeply idolatrous past, God continues to call individuals from all backgrounds, regardless of their spiritual heritage or past failings. This verse encourages us to acknowledge the radical nature of God's grace in our own stories, recognizing that His faithfulness often initiates when we are far from Him. It challenges us to honestly assess what "gods" might subtly or overtly compete for our ultimate allegiance today—be it career, security, comfort, relationships, or self-image. Like the Israelites at Shechem, we are continually presented with a choice: to serve the LORD who has faithfully delivered us, or to drift back into the service of idols. This passage calls us to a conscious, daily commitment to exclusive worship of the one true God, remembering His past mercies as a catalyst for present devotion.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's grace in calling Abraham's idolatrous family shape your view of His grace in your own life or the lives of others?**
* **What "other gods" (e.g., success, security, comfort, self) might subtly compete for your ultimate allegiance today, and how can you actively choose to serve the LORD alone?**
* **In what ways can remembering God's past faithfulness, both corporately and personally, strengthen your commitment to Him and enable you to overcome present challenges?**

### FAQ
**Why does Joshua begin his farewell address by mentioning the idolatry of Abraham's family?**

Answer: Joshua begins his address by highlighting the idolatrous past of Abraham's family to underscore God's sovereign grace and initiative. It emphasizes that Israel's relationship with God was not based on their inherent merit or spiritual purity, but on God's unmerited call and election. This stark contrast between their pagan origins and God's faithful covenant-making sets a powerful theological foundation for the entire address. It serves to magnify God's grace and to impress upon the people the radical nature of His covenant, preparing them for the solemn choice presented in [Joshua 24:15](/joshua/24-15 "Joshua's Call to Choose Whom You Will Serve") to serve the LORD exclusively.

**What is meant by "the other side of the flood"?**

Answer: The phrase "the other side of the flood" translates the Hebrew `‘ēver han-nāhār`, which literally means "across the river." This refers specifically to the Euphrates River. Geographically, it designates the region of Mesopotamia, particularly Ur of the Chaldees, from which Abraham's family originated before migrating to Haran and then Canaan (see [Genesis 11:28](/genesis/11-28 "Terah's Family in Ur of the Chaldees") and [Genesis 12:1](/genesis/12-1 "The Call of Abraham")). The detail emphasizes that Abraham's family came from a deeply pagan and polytheistic culture, making God's call to him to follow the one true God a truly revolutionary act.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joshua 24:2, by exposing the idolatrous origins of Israel's patriarchs, powerfully foreshadows the universal human condition and the ultimate redemptive work of Christ. Just as Abraham's family "served other gods," so too does all humanity, by nature, live in spiritual bondage, serving sin, self, or the idols of the world ([Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "All Have Sinned")). God's sovereign initiative in calling Abraham out of this paganism points to the greater divine initiative in the New Covenant, where God, in Christ, calls people from every nation, out of spiritual darkness and idolatry, into His marvelous light ([1 Peter 2:9](/1_peter/2-9 "A Chosen Race")). Jesus, the true and greater Joshua, leads His people not into a physical land, but into eternal rest and freedom from the dominion of sin and false gods ([Hebrews 4:8-10](/hebrews/4-8 "Rest in Christ")). He is the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") who takes away the sin of the world, enabling us to turn from idols to serve the living and true God ([1 Thessalonians 1:9-10](/1_thessalonians/1-9 "Turning from Idols to Serve God")). The grace extended to Abraham's idolatrous family finds its ultimate and most expansive fulfillment in the cross, where God, through Christ's sacrifice, makes a way for all who were "far off" to be brought near and reconciled to Him, transforming idolaters into worshippers of the one true God ([Ephesians 2:13](/ephesians/2-13 "Brought Near by the Blood of Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 31:30

And now, [though] thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, [yet] wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

Joshua 24:15

¶ And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Genesis 31:32

With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what [is] thine with me, and take [it] to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.

Genesis 31:53

The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.

Deuteronomy 26:5

And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish [was] my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous:

Ezekiel 16:3

And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity [is] of the land of Canaan; thy father [was] an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite.

Genesis 35:4

And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which [were] in their hand, and [all their] earrings which [were] in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which [was] by Shechem.