The people aren't just recalling facts; they're emphasizing God's active, personal involvement in their journey, "he it is that brought us up," showing that their faithfulness isn't a matter of obligation but of deep, remembered relationship. This wasn't just a historical event, but a continuous demonstration of God's power and protection "in all the way" and "among all the peoples."
for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Joshua has just challenged the Israelites to choose between serving the LORD or the gods their ancestors served, or the gods of the land they now inhabit, declaring his own commitment to serve the LORD. The people enthusiastically pledge to serve the LORD, and this verse explains their reasoning: they are responding to God's powerful deliverance from Egypt and His constant protection throughout their journey. This foundational act of salvation and ongoing guidance is the bedrock of their renewed covenant commitment.
Joshua is calling the Israelites to a profound decision. What's the foundation of their commitment? It's not just a vague feeling, but a remembrance of specific, powerful actions by God.
Joshua grounds his call to commitment in God's past actions. He reminds the people that it was 'the LORD our God' who initiated their redemption.
The Exodus:
Miracles and Preservation:
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Joshua isn't asking for blind faith. He's calling them to a faith informed by history – a history that serves as undeniable evidence of God's character and power.
The Israelites' response in Joshua 24:17 is powerful because it's rooted in their shared historical experience. They aren't just agreeing to a new rule; they are testifying to what they know to be true about God.
The People's Testimony:
This historical witness is crucial for the covenant renewal. It’s not just about what God can do, but what He has done, making His commands and promises reliable.
Understand the original words
oth · Hebrew Noun
Divine acts or wonders performed by God that demonstrate His power, sovereignty, and presence to humanity, often intended to provoke faith and awe.
ebed · Hebrew Noun
A state of bondage or oppression, frequently used to describe Israel's time in Egypt; spiritually, it represents the condition of humanity under the power of sin.
This verse is spoken by the Israelites as they respond to Joshua's challenge to recommit to God. Their declaration isn't just a memory; it's a powerful reminder of their historical identity, rooted in God's direct, miraculous intervention to rescue them from slavery and guide them through perilous journeys.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God powerfully delivers the Israelites from over 400 years of slavery in Egypt, marking the foundational event of their national identity.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Wilderness Wanderings
Following the Exodus, the Israelites journey through the Sinai Peninsula for 40 years, during which God performs numerous signs and preserves them from dangers.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites begin their military campaign to take possession of the Promised Land, defeating various nations.
c. 1390-1380 BC— this verse
Joshua's Farewell Address and Covenant Renewal
In his final address to the nation, Joshua recounts God's faithfulness and challenges the Israelites to commit to serving Him alone, renewing the covenant.
c. 1380 BC
Joshua's Death
After securing the land and establishing the covenant, Joshua dies, leaving a generation committed to God but with future challenges ahead.
This passage directly recounts the same foundational event of God's deliverance from Egypt that Joshua is reminding the Israelites of here, emphasizing God's mighty hand in their liberation.
Deuteronomy 6:20-23These verses show a similar pattern of remembering God's great deeds, like the Exodus, as the basis for future obedience and faithfulness, highlighting the importance of passing down these stories.
Psalm 78:11-12This psalm explicitly recalls how the people forgot God's mighty works and wonders, directly contrasting with Joshua's effort to ensure they *do* remember the great signs and preservation mentioned in Joshua 24:17.
Nehemiah 9:9-12This prayer mirrors Joshua's reminder by recounting God's intervention in Egypt and the wilderness, detailing His signs and provision as the foundation for their renewed commitment to Him.
Acts 7:34-36Stephen's speech in Acts echoes the Exodus narrative, framing God's deliverance of Israel from slavery and His guidance through the wilderness as powerful evidence of His ongoing faithfulness and authority.
calvinJoshua 24:15-24: "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."
- And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amori…
gillJoshua 24:17: "For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed:"
For the Lord our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers, out of the land of Egypt,.... When Pharaoh, the king of it, refused to let them go, yet he wrought such wonders in it and inflicted such plagues on it, a…
The people aren't just recalling facts; they're emphasizing God's active, personal involvement in their journey, "he it is that brought us up," showing that their faithfulness isn't a matter of obligation but of deep, remembered relationship. This wasn't just a historical event, but a continuous demonstration of God's power and protection "in all the way" and "among all the peoples."
Joshua has just challenged the Israelites to choose between serving the LORD or the gods their ancestors served, or the gods of the land they now inhabit, declaring his own commitment to serve the LORD. The people enthusiastically pledge to serve the LORD, and this verse explains their reasoning: they are responding to God's powerful deliverance from Egypt and His constant protection throughout their journey. This foundational act of salvation and ongoing guidance is the bedrock of their renewed covenant commitment.
Joshua has just challenged the Israelites to choose between serving the LORD or the gods their ancestors served, or the gods of the land they now inhabit, declaring his own commitment to serve the LORD. The people enthusiastically pledge to serve the LORD, and this verse explains their reasoning: they are responding to God's powerful deliverance from Egypt and His constant protection throughout their journey. This foundational act of salvation and ongoing guidance is the bedrock of their renewed covenant commitment.
"for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through wh…" — The people aren't just recalling facts; they're emphasizing God's active, personal involvement in their journey, "he it is that brought us up," showing that their faithfulness isn't a matter of oblig…
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Last reviewed October 2026
