Joshua Chapter 24 — Covenant Renewal at Shechem
Joshua gathers Israel at Shechem to recount God's faithfulness and leads them in a formal covenant renewal. The chapter and book conclude with the deaths of Joshua and Eleazar.
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Notable Verses
Joshua 24:15
“If it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
This is one of the most well-known declarations of personal and family faith in the Bible.
Joshua 24:24
“The people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God, and we will listen to his voice.””
This verse marks the people's collective and formal acceptance of the covenant renewal.
Joshua 24:32
“They buried the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, in Shechem...”
This event fulfills a request made by Joseph centuries earlier before his death in Egypt.
Chapter Summary
Joshua gathers all the tribes of Israel at Shechem for a final assembly. Speaking for the Lord, he recounts Israel's history, starting from Abraham's call in Mesopotamia through the Exodus, the wilderness years, and the conquest of Canaan. Joshua emphasizes that their victory was God's doing, not achieved by their own swords or bows. He then challenges the people to put away foreign gods and choose to serve the Lord exclusively. The famous declaration, 'as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,' occurs here. The people twice affirm their commitment to God, prompting Joshua to set up a large stone as a witness to their promise. Joshua then records these words in the book of the law. The book ends with the death and burial of Joshua at 110 years old, the burial of Joseph's bones (which had been brought from Egypt), and the death of the high priest Eleazar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Shechem was a place of deep historical and spiritual significance for Israel. It was where Abraham first received God's promise of the land and where Jacob settled and built an altar after returning from Padan-aram.
Joshua challenged the Israelites to choose between serving the Lord or the gods their ancestors served in Mesopotamia and Egypt. He emphasized that serving the Lord required sincerity, truth, and the removal of foreign idols.
Joshua set up the stone as a witness against the people. He stated that the stone had 'heard' the words of the Lord and would serve as a reminder to prevent the people from denying their God in the future.
The chapter records the deaths of Joshua, the son of Nun, at age 110, and Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest. It also notes the burial of Joseph's bones in the land Jacob had purchased.
Study Note
The reference to 'the River' in verse 2 specifically refers to the Euphrates, which marked the boundary of the land of Abraham's ancestors.
Related Chapters
Genesis 12
Joshua references the call of Abraham which is recorded in this chapter of Genesis.
Exodus 13
This chapter records Israel taking Joseph's bones out of Egypt, a journey that ends in Joshua 24.
Judges 2
Judges 2 provides a parallel account of Joshua's death and the transition to the next generation.
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