And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.
And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods. And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.
Joshua's covenant renewal begins with historical recitation, grounding present obligations in past grace. The phrase "Thus saith the LORD" (koh amar Yahweh, כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה) introduces prophetic oracle—Joshua speaks not his own words but God's. This establishes authority: covenant renewal must be based on divine revelation, not human tradition or preference. The historical review starts with Israel's ancestors dwelling "on the other side of the flood" (Hebrew nahar, נָהָר, the Euphrates River) in Mesopotamia, where "they served other gods."
This stunning admission—that Abraham's family were idolaters—grounds covenant relationship entirely in divine grace, not human merit. Israel didn't descend from naturally God-seeking ancestors; they came from pagans whom God graciously called. The Hebrew verb "served" (avad, עָבַד) is the same used for proper worship of Yahweh, emphasizing that Abraham's family gave to false gods the devotion belonging only to the true God. This reveals that all humanity stands on equal footing—every person, every family, every nation begins in spiritual darkness until God's gracious revelation and calling intervene.
The phrase "I took your father Abraham" (eqach et-avikhem et-Avraham, אֶקַּח אֶת־אֲבִיכֶם אֶת־אַבְרָהָם) emphasizes divine initiative—God took, called, led, multiplied, gave. Five divine actions establish the patriarchal narrative: God took Abraham from paganism, led him through Canaan, multiplied his descendants, gave Isaac, and (verse 4) gave Esau Mount Seir while leading Jacob to Egypt. Every step of redemptive history reflects divine sovereignty and grace. Reformed theology's doctrine of election finds clear expression here: God chooses, calls, and accomplishes His purposes through undeserving people for His own glory.
Historical Context
Archaeological evidence confirms ancient Mesopotamian religion. Excavations at Ur (Abraham's birthplace) and Haran reveal temples to the moon god Sin and other deities. The discovery of thousands of cuneiform tablets from these cities documents elaborate polytheistic worship systems. Joshua's reference to Abraham's family serving other gods aligns with this cultural context. Even Terah's name possibly derives from a moon deity, suggesting deep cultural immersion in paganism.
The phrase "other side of the flood" (הַנָּהָר, hanahar, "the River") specifically refers to the Euphrates, distinguishing Mesopotamia ("beyond the River") from Canaan ("this side of the River"). This geographical-theological boundary marked the division between paganism and covenant faith, between the land Abraham left and the land he entered by faith (Genesis 12:1-4; Hebrews 11:8-10). The crossing of the Euphrates represented more than geographical relocation—it symbolized spiritual transformation from idolatry to monotheism.
The recitation of redemptive history follows Deuteronomy's pattern (Deuteronomy 6:20-25; 26:5-10) where parents answer children's questions by recounting God's mighty acts. This catechetical approach grounds faith in historical events, not abstract philosophy. Christianity is fundamentally historical religion—based on what God did in space and time, particularly in Christ's incarnation, death, and resurrection. Joshua models how covenant renewal requires remembering and rehearsing these historical foundations, lest subsequent generations lose their moorings.
Questions for Reflection
How does the fact that Abraham's family served other gods demonstrate that salvation originates entirely from God's grace rather than human seeking?
What does Joshua's historical recitation teach about the importance of knowing redemptive history for maintaining covenant faithfulness?
How can we regularly rehearse God's mighty acts in our own lives and church history to strengthen faith in our generation?
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Analysis & Commentary
And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods. And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.
Joshua's covenant renewal begins with historical recitation, grounding present obligations in past grace. The phrase "Thus saith the LORD" (koh amar Yahweh, כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה) introduces prophetic oracle—Joshua speaks not his own words but God's. This establishes authority: covenant renewal must be based on divine revelation, not human tradition or preference. The historical review starts with Israel's ancestors dwelling "on the other side of the flood" (Hebrew nahar, נָהָר, the Euphrates River) in Mesopotamia, where "they served other gods."
This stunning admission—that Abraham's family were idolaters—grounds covenant relationship entirely in divine grace, not human merit. Israel didn't descend from naturally God-seeking ancestors; they came from pagans whom God graciously called. The Hebrew verb "served" (avad, עָבַד) is the same used for proper worship of Yahweh, emphasizing that Abraham's family gave to false gods the devotion belonging only to the true God. This reveals that all humanity stands on equal footing—every person, every family, every nation begins in spiritual darkness until God's gracious revelation and calling intervene.
The phrase "I took your father Abraham" (eqach et-avikhem et-Avraham, אֶקַּח אֶת־אֲבִיכֶם אֶת־אַבְרָהָם) emphasizes divine initiative—God took, called, led, multiplied, gave. Five divine actions establish the patriarchal narrative: God took Abraham from paganism, led him through Canaan, multiplied his descendants, gave Isaac, and (verse 4) gave Esau Mount Seir while leading Jacob to Egypt. Every step of redemptive history reflects divine sovereignty and grace. Reformed theology's doctrine of election finds clear expression here: God chooses, calls, and accomplishes His purposes through undeserving people for His own glory.