Discovery BoxJoshua 24:21-25 
Context24:21 The people said to Joshua, “No! We really will 1 worship 2 the Lord!” 24:22 Joshua said to the people, “Do you agree to be witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to worship the Lord?” 3 They replied, “We are witnesses!” 4 24:23 Joshua said, 5 “Now put aside the foreign gods that are among you and submit to 6 the Lord God of Israel.”
24:24 The people said to Joshua, “We will worship 7 the Lord our God and obey him.” 8
24:25 That day Joshua drew up an agreement 9 for the people, and he established rules and regulations 10 for them in Shechem.
1 tn The translation assumes that כִּי (ki) is emphatic. Another option is to take it as explanatory, “No, for we will….”
2 tn Or “will serve.”
3 tn Heb “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves the
4 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 tn The words “Joshua said” are supplied for clarification.
6 tn Heb “bend your heart toward.” The term לֵבָב (levav, “heart”) probably here refers to the people’s volition or will.
7 tn Or “will serve.”
8 tn Heb “and listen to his voice.”
9 tn Heb “cut a covenant.”
10 tn Heb “a statute and a judgment.”
