Joshua 24:1-33, NLT
Joshua 24
The Lord’s Covenant Renewed
1Then Joshua summoned all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, including their elders, leaders, judges, and officers. So they came and presented themselves to God.
2Joshua said to the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Long ago your ancestors, including Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River,*24:2 Hebrew the river; also in 24:3, 14, 15. and they worshiped other gods.
5“Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I brought terrible plagues on Egypt; and afterward I brought you out as a free people.
8“Finally, I brought you into the land of the Amorites on the east side of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I destroyed them before you. I gave you victory over them, and you took possession of their land.
11“When you crossed the Jordan River and came to Jericho, the men of Jericho fought against you, as did the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. But I gave you victory over them.
14“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone.
16The people replied, “We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods.
19Then Joshua warned the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy and jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins.
21But the people answered Joshua, “No, we will serve the Lord!”
22“You are a witness to your own decision,” Joshua said. “You have chosen to serve the Lord.”
“Yes,” they replied, “we are witnesses to what we have said.”
23“All right then,” Joshua said, “destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”
24The people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God. We will obey him alone.”
25So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day at Shechem, committing them to follow the decrees and regulations of the Lord.
27Joshua said to all the people, “This stone has heard everything the Lord said to us. It will be a witness to testify against you if you go back on your word to God.”
28Then Joshua sent all the people away to their own homelands.
Leaders Buried in the Promised Land
29After this, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110.
31The people of Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him—those who had personally experienced all that the Lord had done for Israel.
32The bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought along with them when they left Egypt, were buried at Shechem, in the plot of land Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor for 100 pieces of silver.*24:32 Hebrew 100 kesitahs; the value or weight of the kesitah is no longer known. This land was located in the territory allotted to the descendants of Joseph.
33Eleazar son of Aaron also died. He was buried in the hill country of Ephraim, in the town of Gibeah, which had been given to his son Phinehas.