Joshua 24:22

KJV

And Joshua said unto the people, Ye [are] witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, [We are] witnesses.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Joshua {H3091} said {H559} unto the people {H5971}, Ye are witnesses {H5707} against yourselves that ye have chosen {H977} you the LORD {H3068}, to serve {H5647} him. And they said {H559}, We are witnesses {H5707}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Y'hoshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen ADONAI, to serve him." They answered, "We are witnesses."

Berean Standard Bible

Then Joshua told them, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.” “We are witnesses!” they said.

American Standard Version

And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you Jehovah, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 24:22 captures a pivotal moment in Israel's covenant renewal at Shechem, where the people, having emphatically declared their choice to serve the LORD, are held accountable by Joshua to their own words. This verse underscores the solemnity and binding nature of their self-declared vow, establishing their own testimony as undeniable proof of their commitment to exclusive devotion to Yahweh, the God who delivered them and brought them into the promised land.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Joshua 24 serves as the climactic conclusion to the book of Joshua, detailing Joshua's farewell address and the formal renewal of the covenant between God and Israel at Shechem. Following the successful conquest and division of the land, Joshua gathers all the tribes, recounting God's faithful acts from Abraham's call to their present inheritance in Canaan. This historical prologue ([Joshua 24:2-13](/joshua/24-2 "Joshua 24:2-13 - God's Faithfulness Recounted")) sets the stage for Joshua's challenge to "choose this day whom you will serve" ([Joshua 24:15](/joshua/24-15 "Joshua 24:15 - Choose Whom You Will Serve")). The people's initial enthusiastic response to serve the LORD ([Joshua 24:16-18](/joshua/24-16 "Joshua 24:16-18 - Israel's Vow to Serve the LORD")) is met with Joshua's sobering warning about God's holiness and jealousy, and the impossibility of serving Him while retaining idols ([Joshua 24:19-20](/joshua/24-19 "Joshua 24:19-20 - Joshua's Warning about God's Holiness")). Despite this, the people reaffirm their commitment in [Joshua 24:21](/joshua/24-21 "Joshua 24:21 - The People's Reaffirmation"), leading directly to Joshua's pronouncement in verse 22, which solidifies their self-imposed accountability before the covenant is formally enacted and recorded ([Joshua 24:25-27](/joshua/24-25 "Joshua 24:25-27 - The Covenant at Shechem")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The covenant renewal ceremony at Shechem reflects the structure of ancient Near Eastern suzerain-vassal treaties, where a powerful king (suzerain) would establish terms with a lesser king or people (vassal). These treaties typically included a historical prologue, stipulations, blessings/curses, and a call for witnesses. Shechem itself was a strategically and historically significant site, located between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, where the blessings and curses of the law were pronounced as commanded in [Deuteronomy 27](/deuteronomy/27 "Deuteronomy 27 - Curses from Mount Ebal"). The concept of "witnesses" (Hebrew: עֵדִים, _‘edim_) was crucial in ancient legal and covenantal contexts, making declarations legally binding and verifiable. For the Israelites, who had just entered the Promised Land amidst Canaanite idolatry, the choice to serve the LORD exclusively was a radical act of faith and cultural distinction, demanding a clear and public renunciation of all other gods.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within the book of Joshua and the broader Deuteronomic history. Foremost is the theme of **accountability and human responsibility** in the covenant relationship; Israel's own words serve as their undeniable testimony, emphasizing that their choice is volitional and carries serious consequences. It highlights the **solemnity and binding nature of the covenant**, portraying it not as a casual agreement but as a profound, self-affirmed commitment to serve the LORD exclusively. This underscores the **exclusivity of devotion** demanded by Yahweh, who is a holy and jealous God ([Exodus 20:5](/exodus/20-5 "Exodus 20:5 - God's Jealousy")). The passage also explores the interplay between **divine sovereignty and human choice**, as God has faithfully acted on Israel's behalf, but now they must actively choose to respond in faithfulness. The challenge to "choose this day whom you will serve" ([Joshua 24:15](/joshua/24-15 "Joshua 24:15 - Choose Whom You Will Serve")) is a central motif, echoing the call to choose between life and death found in [Deuteronomy 30:19](/deuteronomy/30-19 "Deuteronomy 30:19 - Choose Life or Death").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Witnesses (Hebrew, _‘edim'_):** This plural noun, derived from the root ‘_ud_ (to bear witness, to testify), carries significant legal and covenantal weight. In biblical contexts, a witness is not merely an observer but one who provides formal testimony, making a declaration verifiable and legally binding. When Joshua states, "Ye are witnesses against yourselves," he means their own verbal commitment to serve the LORD will stand as undeniable proof of their solemn oath, holding them accountable to their public declaration.
* **Chosen (Hebrew, _bachartem'_):** This verb, from the root _bachar_ (to choose, select, prefer), emphasizes the active, deliberate, and volitional nature of the people's decision. It highlights that their commitment to the LORD is not a passive inheritance or a coerced agreement, but a conscious, intentional act of their free will. They are not merely assenting; they are actively selecting Yahweh above all other deities.
* **Serve (Hebrew, _la‘avdo'_):** Derived from the root _‘avad_ (to work, serve, worship), this verb denotes active obedience, devotion, and labor. It implies more than intellectual assent; it demands practical allegiance, worship, and a life dedicated to the one chosen. For Israel, to "serve" the LORD meant to obey His commands, worship Him alone, and live according to His covenant stipulations, rejecting all forms of idolatry and syncretism.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Joshua said unto the people, Ye [are] witnesses against yourselves":** Joshua's opening statement is a powerful, almost forensic declaration. He turns their fervent affirmation back upon them, declaring that their own words will serve as the incontrovertible evidence of their choice. This is not an accusation in the sense of condemnation, but a solemn reminder of the binding and self-implicating nature of their public vow. It underscores that their commitment is not just to God, but also a self-declaration that they cannot later deny or retract.
* **"that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him":** This clause specifies the content of their self-witness: their deliberate, volitional act of choosing Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, and their commitment to serve Him exclusively. The phrase "chosen you the LORD" emphasizes their agency and the personal nature of this decision. To "serve him" encapsulates the full scope of covenantal obedience, worship, and allegiance demanded by God.
* **"And they said, [We are] witnesses":** The people's immediate and unequivocal response confirms their full understanding and acceptance of the implications of Joshua's statement. By affirming "We are witnesses," they acknowledge the gravity of their self-declared vow and willingly embrace the accountability that comes with it. This reciprocal affirmation solidifies the covenant as a mutual agreement, with Israel fully aware of the terms and consequences.

#### Literary Devices
Joshua 24:22 employs several potent literary devices to underscore the gravity of the covenant renewal. The most prominent is **Call and Response**, where Joshua's challenge is met by the people's immediate and emphatic affirmation, creating a dynamic and interactive scene that highlights the consensual nature of the covenant. The repeated use of the term "witnesses" and the phrase "against yourselves" utilizes **Legal Language** and **Forensic Imagery**, framing the covenant as a binding legal agreement where the people's own testimony serves as irrefutable evidence. This also functions as a form of **Repetition**, emphasizing the weight and undeniable nature of their declaration. Furthermore, Joshua's statement, while declarative, functions as a **Rhetorical Challenge**, prompting the people to fully grasp and confirm the profound implications of their choice, ensuring their commitment is not made lightly but with full awareness of its binding nature.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 24:22 profoundly articulates the theological principle of human accountability within the divine covenant. God, in His sovereignty, initiates the covenant and faithfully delivers His people, yet He also calls for a free, conscious, and exclusive response from humanity. This verse highlights that the covenant is not a passive inheritance but a chosen relationship demanding active participation and undivided loyalty. The people's self-witness underscores that their commitment is not merely external but internal, a matter of the heart that will be judged by their own words and subsequent actions. It emphasizes God's holiness, which demands exclusive worship, and the seriousness with which He views human vows and declarations of faith.

* [Deuteronomy 30:19](/deuteronomy/30-19 "Deuteronomy 30:19 - Choose Life or Death")
* [1 Kings 18:21](/1_kings/18-21 "1 Kings 18:21 - Elijah's Challenge at Mount Carmel")
* [Matthew 12:37](/matthew/12-37 "Matthew 12:37 - Justified or Condemned by Words")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua 24:22 serves as a timeless reminder of the profound seriousness of our commitments to God. Just as Israel made a public and self-incriminating vow, believers today are called to make conscious, intentional choices to serve the LORD. Our declarations of faith, whether in baptism, church membership, or personal prayer, are not mere formalities but carry immense spiritual weight. This verse challenges us to examine the integrity between our spoken commitments and our lived realities. Do our actions consistently reflect our choice to serve God exclusively, or are there "other gods"—idols of comfort, success, pleasure, or self—that subtly compete for our devotion? True commitment demands not just verbal assent but a life of consistent obedience and undivided loyalty. It calls us to live with the awareness that our own words, both spoken and unspoken through our choices, bear witness to the true object of our worship.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do your actions contradict your stated commitment to serve the LORD?**
* **How does understanding the "weight of your words" impact your prayers, vows, and declarations of faith?**
* **What practical steps can you take to ensure your devotion to God remains exclusive and undivided in a world full of distractions?**

### FAQ

**Why does Joshua seem to discourage the people from serving the LORD in previous verses (e.g., Joshua 24:19)?**

Answer: Joshua was not discouraging the people from serving the LORD, but rather testing their resolve and clarifying the true nature of the God they claimed to serve. By stating that the LORD "is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins" ([Joshua 24:19](/joshua/24-19 "Joshua 24:19 - God's Holiness and Jealousy")), Joshua aimed to prevent a superficial or uninformed commitment. He wanted them to understand that Yahweh demands exclusive devotion and cannot tolerate idolatry or unfaithfulness. His warnings underscored the immense commitment required to serve such a holy God, ensuring that their choice was made with full awareness of the implications and the high standards of the covenant, rather than out of fleeting emotion or ignorance. It was a call to sober, informed, and enduring commitment, not a dissuasion.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joshua 24:22, with its emphasis on a self-witnessed choice to serve the LORD exclusively, finds its ultimate fulfillment and transformation in Christ. While Israel repeatedly failed to uphold their self-incriminating vow under the Old Covenant, the New Covenant, established through the perfect obedience and atoning sacrifice of Jesus, provides the means for true and lasting service. Our confession of Jesus as Lord and belief in His resurrection ([Romans 10:9](/romans/10-9 "Romans 10:9 - Confess and Believe")) becomes our self-witness, not to our own ability to keep the law, but to our faith in His saving work. Jesus Himself calls for an even deeper, more radical exclusivity of devotion, declaring that "No one can serve two masters" ([Matthew 6:24](/matthew/6-24 "Matthew 6:24 - Serving Two Masters")). He is the ultimate "Lord" whom we are called to choose and serve, not by our own strength, but by the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells believers, enabling them to live lives of genuine obedience and worship. In Christ, the covenant is no longer dependent on our fickle vows but on His unwavering faithfulness, and He becomes the mediator of a "better covenant" ([Hebrews 8:6](/hebrews/8-6 "Hebrews 8:6 - Jesus, the Mediator of a Better Covenant")) that empowers us to truly serve God with undivided hearts.

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

Psalms 119:173

¶ Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.

Psalms 119:11

¶ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Job 15:6

Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.

Luke 10:42

But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Deuteronomy 26:17

Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:

Luke 19:22

And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, [thou] wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: