“That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:”
that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or invoke the names of their gods or serve them or bow down to yourselves to them — Joshua prohibits religious compromise with remaining Canaanites. The prohibitions escalate: 'mix' (sārēp̄), 'invoke names', 'serve', 'bow down' describe progressive levels of religious syncretism. The theological principle is covenantal exclusivity; YHWH tolerates no rival deities or practices. Joshua anticipates the idolatry problem that will dominate Judges and the divided monarchy.
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
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