Joshua 24:5
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Joshua 24:5
5 I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out.
Chapter Context
Joshua 24 is a historical narrative chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of righteousness, prayer, grace. Written during the conquest of Canaan (c. 1406-1375 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Canaan was fragmented into city-states with various tribal alliances and religious practices.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-33: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it addresses timeless questions about faith, suffering, and divine purpose. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Joshua and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Joshua 24:5
5 I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out.
Analysis
I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out. This verse is part of Joshua's farewell address, rehearsing God's mighty acts in Israel's history. The Hebrew verb shalach (שָׁלַח, "I sent") emphasizes divine initiative and commissioning. God personally sent Moses and Aaron as His agents of deliverance. The phrase va'egoph (וָאֶגֹּף, "and I plagued") uses a verb meaning to strike or smite, referring to the ten plagues.
The emphatic first-person pronouns throughout this chapter ("I sent... I plagued... I brought you out") stress that deliverance was entirely God's work, not human achievement. The phrase ka'asher asiti bekirbo (כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי בְקִרְבּוֹ, "according to that which I did among them") recalls the specific plagues God inflicted on Egypt—water to blood, frogs, lice, flies, livestock disease, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and death of firstborn.
This recitation of redemptive history serves a covenant renewal purpose. Joshua reminds Israel that their existence as a nation results from God's sovereign grace and power, not their merit or strength. The exodus from Egypt is the foundational salvation event of the Old Testament, prefiguring Christ's greater exodus accomplished through His death and resurrection (Luke 9:31), delivering believers from slavery to sin and Satan.
Historical Context
Joshua's farewell address at Shechem (Joshua 24) occurred near the end of his life, approximately 1390-1380 BC by conservative dating. Shechem held deep historical significance—it was where Abraham first received God's promise of the land (Genesis 12:6-7), where Jacob buried foreign gods (Genesis 35:4), and where Joseph's bones were buried (Joshua 24:32). Choosing Shechem for this covenant renewal ceremony connected Israel's present commitment to their ancestral promises.
The exodus from Egypt, referenced here, occurred approximately 40 years earlier. Egyptian records from the 18th Dynasty (1550-1295 BC) document the presence of Semitic peoples (Asiatics) in Egypt, some in forced labor, confirming the biblical narrative's historical plausibility. The ten plagues systematically demonstrated Yahweh's supremacy over Egypt's gods: the Nile (Hapi), frogs (Heqet), the sun (Ra), livestock (Apis bull), etc.
Joshua's rehearsal of redemptive history follows the structure of ancient Near Eastern suzerain-vassal treaties, which began by recounting the suzerain's (overlord's) mighty acts on behalf of the vassal before stating treaty obligations. This covenant renewal thus follows established Ancient Near Eastern diplomatic patterns, but with Yahweh as the divine Suzerain who has redeemed Israel. The people's response (verse 16-18) affirms their commitment to serve Yahweh based on His proven faithfulness and power.
Reflection
- How does remembering God's past faithfulness and mighty acts strengthen our faith in present challenges?
- What does this verse teach about God's initiative in salvation versus human effort or merit?
- How should the pattern of rehearsing redemptive history shape our worship, teaching, and testimony?
- In what ways does the exodus from Egypt prefigure Christ's greater deliverance from sin and death?
- How can we cultivate regular remembrance of God's specific acts of deliverance and provision in our lives?
Cross-References
- References Egypt: Exodus 3:10