Joshua 24:21-22
And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the LORD.” Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Their emphatic "Nay!" isn't just a rejection of idols; it's a powerful affirmation of their allegiance to God, especially after Joshua's stark warning that serving Him is a difficult, holy path, not an easy option. This response highlights their choice to embrace the challenge of devoted service, not just a casual preference.
After recounting all God has done for them, Joshua challenges the people to choose between serving the LORD or the foreign gods their ancestors and neighbors worship. The people emphatically reject the idea of forsaking God, affirming their commitment to serve Him alone. Joshua then presses them further, pointing out the serious implications of their choice and reminding them that their declaration makes them witnesses against themselves if they later turn away.
Joshua lays out the stark reality: serve the gods of the past or the gods of the land, OR serve the LORD. The people's response isn't a casual agreement, but a powerful declaration.
Joshua doesn't just ask if they'll serve the LORD; he presents a choice with significant consequences. He wants them to understand that serving God isn't a passive activity but an active, committed decision.
The Weight of Choice
Joshua asks them to choose 'this day.' This isn't about blindly following tradition or fitting in. It's about a personal commitment. He even contrasts serving the LORD with serving the gods of their fathers or the Amorites, making the choice crystal clear. Calvin notes that Joshua's approach, while seemingly offering an 'option,' was meant to spur a sincere commitment, not to allow casual sin.
Not Under Compulsion
Joshua's challenge, 'if it seems evil unto you to serve the LORD,' is designed to ensure their choice is voluntary. He wants them to bind themselves to God by their own free will, so they can't later claim they were forced. This sets the stage for their strong affirmation.
The people say they will serve the LORD. But is that enough? Joshua pushes them further, and their response reveals a deeper understanding of what service entails.
Joshua isn't satisfied with a simple 'yes.' He knows that a profession of faith needs to be backed by action. He wants their commitment to be a lasting covenant, not a fleeting emotion.
The Ground of Their Promise
Before they make their final declaration, the people remind themselves and Joshua why they choose the LORD. They recall His mighty acts: bringing them out of Egypt, performing great signs, and protecting them. This isn't just about feeling good; it's about recognizing God's faithfulness and power as the solid foundation for their service. Benson highlights that their promise is rooted in God's actions toward them.
Understand the original words
abad · Hebrew Verb
The act of rendering dedicated service, worship, or obedience to a superior, particularly to God as the Sovereign Master. It implies a total commitment of one's life and actions to the Lord.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God, revealed to Moses, emphasizing His self-existence, eternal nature, and faithful relationship with His people.
ed · Hebrew Noun
Individuals who provide formal testimony or bear public record to the truth of an event, agreement, or declaration, often serving to validate a covenant.
bachar · Hebrew Verb
The act of selecting or preferring one path, person, or course of action over others; in a spiritual sense, it represents the exercise of will to enter into or maintain a relationship with God.
This verse captures a pivotal moment of covenant renewal at the close of the Israelites' conquest of Canaan. Joshua's challenge forces a conscious decision, highlighting that true faithfulness isn't inherited but must be actively chosen and re-chosen generation after generation.
~1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God miraculously delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, establishing them as His people and initiating their covenant relationship with Him.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites begin the military campaigns to conquer the Promised Land, driving out its inhabitants.
c. 1400 BC
Division of Canaan
After the conquest, the land of Canaan is divided among the twelve tribes of Israel, settling them in their new homeland.
c. 1399 BC— this verse
Joshua's Farewell Address
As Joshua nears the end of his life, he gathers the people at Shechem to recount God's faithfulness and challenge them to commit to serving the LORD exclusively, presenting them with a clear choice between obedience and idolatry.
This passage shows the Israelites making a similar covenantal promise to serve the LORD, demonstrating a pattern of commitment to God's commands established early in their history.
Deuteronomy 30:19This verse echoes Joshua's call to choose life, highlighting the critical and recurring theme of human responsibility to actively select service to God over destruction.
1 Samuel 12:14-15Samuel reminds the people of their commitment to the LORD and warns of consequences if they turn away, underscoring the seriousness of their vows and God's faithfulness to uphold them.
Nehemiah 9:38This passage recounts a renewal of covenant where the people pledge to serve the LORD, showing that the commitment made under Joshua was a foundation for later rededications to God's service.
Matthew 6:24Jesus teaches that one cannot serve two masters, emphasizing the absolute and exclusive devotion required in serving God, which is directly relevant to the people's choice to serve only the LORD.
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…
bensonJoshua 24:21: "And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD."
Joshua 24:21-22 . Nay, but we will serve the Lord — Namely, him only, and not strange gods. Ye are witnesses against yourselves — This solemn profession will be a swift witness against you, if hereafter ye apostatize from God. They said, We are witnesses — Here they renew their choice of Jehovah for their God and king, which their forefathers made when they came out of Egypt, Exodus 19:7 ; Exodus 24:7 ; and acknow…
Their emphatic "Nay!" isn't just a rejection of idols; it's a powerful affirmation of their allegiance to God, especially after Joshua's stark warning that serving Him is a difficult, holy path, not an easy option. This response highlights their choice to embrace the challenge of devoted service, not just a casual preference.
After recounting all God has done for them, Joshua challenges the people to choose between serving the LORD or the foreign gods their ancestors and neighbors worship. The people emphatically reject the idea of forsaking God, affirming their commitment to serve Him alone. Joshua then presses them further, pointing out the serious implications of their choice and reminding them that their declaration makes them witnesses against themselves if they later turn away.
After recounting all God has done for them, Joshua challenges the people to choose between serving the LORD or the foreign gods their ancestors and neighbors worship. The people emphatically reject the idea of forsaking God, affirming their commitment to serve Him alone. Joshua then presses them further, pointing out the serious implications of their choice and reminding them that their declaration makes them witnesses against themselves if they later turn away.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Joshua 24:21-22 is available in the Sola app.
The Covenant Seal
Joshua then makes them 'witnesses against yourselves,' turning their verbal commitment into a solemn covenant. He instructs them to 'put away the strange gods' and 'incline your heart unto the LORD.' This is where the rubber meets the road – their commitment must lead to tangible obedience and a complete turning away from idolatry. Even though the text doesn't record their physical actions, their verbal promise becomes a profound declaration of allegiance.
Joshua warns the people that serving the LORD isn't easy. He reveals a truth about God's character that should both humble and motivate us.
Joshua doesn't paint a rosy picture of easy service. He issues a stark warning about the nature of God, which is crucial for understanding the gravity of their (and our) commitment.
A Holy and Jealous God
Joshua declares the LORD is 'a holy God; he is a jealous God' (v. 19). This isn't about insecurity; it's about God's absolute purity and His passionate desire for His people's exclusive devotion. He will not tolerate rivals. Calvin explains this isn't meant to deter them, but to impress upon them the seriousness of straying. This truth means that our worship must be genuine and wholehearted.
The Consequence of Neglect
Because God is holy and jealous, He 'will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins' in the context of abandoning Him for other gods. This isn't a contradiction to His grace; it's a warning against ultimate apostasy. If they choose to forsake Him after making such a clear commitment, He will turn and bring destruction. This underscores that our service isn't optional; it's essential for our well-being and continued relationship with Him.
c. 1399 BC
Covenant Renewal
The people, prompted by Joshua's challenge and their own remembrance of God's deliverance, publicly pledge to serve the LORD alone, renewing their covenant commitment.
c. 1399 BC
Joshua's Death
Joshua, the long-time leader, dies, leaving the nation to continue serving the LORD and upholding the covenant they had just renewed.
"And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the LORD.” Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.”" — Their emphatic "Nay!" isn't just a rejection of idols; it's a powerful affirmation of their allegiance to God, especially after Joshua's stark warning that serving Him is a difficult, holy path, not…
