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21 The people said to Joshua, “No! We really will[a] worship[b] the Lord.” 22 Joshua said to the people, “Do you agree to be witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to worship the Lord?”[c] They replied, “We are witnesses!”[d] 23 Joshua said,[e] “Now put aside the foreign gods that are among you and submit to[f] the Lord God of Israel.”

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Footnotes

  1. Joshua 24:21 tn The translation assumes that כִּי (ki) is emphatic. Another option is to take it as explanatory, “No, for we will….”
  2. Joshua 24:21 tn Or “will serve.”
  3. Joshua 24:22 tn Heb “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves the Lord to serve him.”
  4. Joshua 24:22 sn Like witnesses in a court of law, Israel’s solemn vow to worship the Lord will testify against them in the divine court if the nation ever violates its commitment.
  5. Joshua 24:23 tn The words “Joshua said” are supplied for clarification.
  6. Joshua 24:23 tn Heb “bend your heart toward.” The term לֵבָב (levav, “heart”) probably here refers to the people’s volition or will.