Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Joshua, Chapter 24יהושע 24

Each verse opens with the running Hebrew, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case/state or parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Joshua 24 closes the book with covenant renewal at Shechem: YHWH's historical retrospective (vv. 2-13) grounds a forced choice — serve YHWH or the gods beyond the River — that Israel repeatedly, almost recklessly, vows to keep (vv. 14-24). Joshua writes the terms and sets a witness stone (vv. 25-28); three burials — Joshua, Joseph's bones, and Eleazar — then close the conquest generation (vv. 29-33).

Translation & textual notes

The chapter's Hebrew text, per the Leningrad Codex as represented in OSHB, is generally well preserved, though several points invite comment. V. 3 preserves a Ketiv-Qere pair (וארב / וָאַרְבֶּה) reflecting ordinary scribal transmission rather than a substantive variant. The Old Greek diverges from the MT more here than in most Joshua chapters: LXX v. 30 gives the burial site as Thamnathasachar, and the alternate Hebrew form תִּמְנַת חֶרֶס, 'Timnath-heres' (Judg 2:9), shows the place-name circulated in more than one consonantal form. Most notably, the major LXX witnesses (Vaticanus and kin) append substantial material after v. 33 absent from the MT: a notice that Israel served Astarte and the Baals and was given into the hand of Eglon king of Moab, and — appended to Eleazar's burial — that the flint knives with which Joshua had circumcised Israel at Gilgal (Josh 5:2-3) were buried with him. Many text-critics (following Auld and Rofé, among others) judge this Greek 'appendix' to preserve an older transitional bridge into Judges 2-3, later trimmed once Judges' own opening supplied the same function; others see it as secondary Greek expansion drawing on Judges. Either way, the MT's own version, ending cleanly at v. 33 with three burials, reads as the more restrained, later-standardized text.

1

וַיֶּאֶסֹ֧ף יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ אֶת כָּל שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שְׁכֶ֑מָה וַיִּקְרָא֩ לְזִקְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל וּלְרָאשָׁ֗יו וּלְשֹֽׁפְטָיו֙ וּלְשֹׁ֣טְרָ֔יו וַיִּֽתְיַצְּב֖וּ לִפְנֵ֥י הָאֱלֹהִֽים

Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and he called for the elders of Israel, for its heads, for its judges, and for its officers; and they presented themselves before God.

Narrative scene-openingasyndeton
Opens the chapter's covenant-renewal pericope: Joshua summons all Israel's leadership to Shechem, the patriarchal covenant site (Gen 12:6-7; 33:18-20; 35:4) already used for covenant ceremony in Josh 8:30-35. The people 'present themselves before God' (הִתְיַצֵּב), framing the scene as formal covenant liturgy, not a farewell speech.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
וַיֶּאֶסֹ֧ףand he gatheredQal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָסַף (H622)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main verb, opening)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the chapter's opening actאָסַף (H622) 'to gather, assemble'; Joshua convenes the whole nation at Shechem for the book's climactic covenant renewal.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַJoshuaN proper · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Subjectיְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091) 'YHWH is salvation'; Moses' successor, here presiding over Israel's final covenant renewal before his death (vv. 29-30).
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת/אֶת (H853), nota accusativi marking a definite direct object; untranslated in English.
כָּלallN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct governing שִׁבְטֵי (quantifier)כֹּל (H3605) 'all, every, whole'; construct governing the following noun, 'all the tribes of Israel.'
שִׁבְטֵ֥יthe tribes ofN m pl constr · שֵׁבֶט (H7626)Construct chain (genitival), direct object of וַיֶּאֱסֹףשֵׁבֶט (H7626) 'tribe, rod, staff'; the tribal unit — here the whole confederacy of Israel's tribes.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive (construct chain completion)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478), the covenant people, named for Jacob's wrestling with God (Gen 32:29).
שְׁכֶ֑מָהto ShechemN proper + directive ה · שְׁכֶם (H7927)Adverbial accusative of directionשְׁכֶם (H7927) 'Shechem', with directive-he ('-āh') = 'to/toward Shechem'; the patriarchal covenant site (Gen 12:6-7; 33:18-20; 35:4) and Deut 27/Josh 8's ceremony ground, deliberately chosen for this final assembly.
וַיִּקְרָא֩and he calledQal wayyiqtol 3ms · קָרָא (H7121)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceקָרָא (H7121) 'to call, summon'; Joshua formally convenes Israel's leadership alongside the tribes.
לְזִקְנֵ֨יfor the elders ofprep לְ + Adj m pl constr (substantival) · זָקֵן (H2205)Indirect object (first of the fourfold summoned leadership)זָקֵן (H2205) 'elder, old man'; senior lay leadership, first in the leadership list (elders, heads, judges, officers).
יִשְׂרָאֵ֜לof IsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitiveיִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478), the nation, again as genitive qualifying 'elders.'
וּלְרָאשָׁ֗יוand for its headsconj וְ + prep לְ + N m pl constr/3ms suff · רֹאשׁ (H7218)Indirect object (second summoned group)רֹאשׁ (H7218) 'head, chief'; tribal/clan heads, second in the leadership list; suffix refers back to Israel.
וּלְשֹֽׁפְטָיו֙and for its judgesconj וְ + prep לְ + Qal ptc m pl constr (substantival)/3ms suff · שָׁפַט (H8199)Indirect object (substantival participle, third summoned group)→ Substantival participle: characterizes an ongoing office, 'those who judge'שָׁפַט (H8199) 'to judge'; the Qal participle used substantivally, 'judges' — Israel's judicial officers.
וּלְשֹׁ֣טְרָ֔יוand for its officersconj וְ + prep לְ + Qal ptc m pl constr (substantival)/3ms suff · שָׁטַר (H7860)Indirect object (substantival participle, fourth summoned group)→ Substantival participle: characterizes an ongoing office, 'those who enroll/enforce'שָׁטַר (H7860) 'to write, enroll'; denotes scribal/administrative officers, completing the fourfold leadership list.
וַיִּֽתְיַצְּב֖וּand they presented themselvesHitpael wayyiqtol 3mp · יָצַב (H3320)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main clause, whole assembly as subject)→ Wayyiqtol (Hitpael, reflexive): foregrounded narrative advance — formal self-presentationיָצַב (H3320) Hitpael 'to station/present oneself'; הִתְיַצֵּב is technical covenant-formulary language for standing in solemn assembly before God or a suzerain.
לִפְנֵ֥יbeforeprep לִ + N c pl constr · פָּנִים (H6440)Prepositional phrase (locative, governing הָאֱלֹהִים)פָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; construct with לְ forms the common preposition 'before, in the presence of.'
הָאֱלֹהִֽיםGodart + N m pl abs · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Object of preposition לִפְנֵיאֱלֹהִים (H430) with article, 'the God' (Israel's God specifically); the cultic overtone anticipates v. 26's מִקְדַּשׁ יְהוָה, 'sanctuary of YHWH,' at this same site.
2

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ אֶל כָּל הָעָ֗ם כֹּֽה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָה֮ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ בְּעֵ֣בֶר הַנָּהָ֗ר יָשְׁב֤וּ אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ מֵֽעוֹלָ֔ם תֶּ֛רַח אֲבִ֥י אַבְרָהָ֖ם וַאֲבִ֣י נָח֑וֹר וַיַּעַבְד֖וּ אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִֽים

And Joshua said to all the people, 'Thus says YHWH, the God of Israel: Beyond the River your fathers dwelt of old — Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor — and they served other gods.'

Direct-speech introduction; historical prologue opensasyndeton
Joshua's summons (v. 1) yields to YHWH's own first-person retrospective (vv. 2-13), the 'historical prologue' of the covenant-treaty form. V. 2's demythologized admission — that even Abraham's ancestral house 'served other gods' beyond the Euphrates — is deliberately unflattering: Israel's election began in the midst of idolatry, not virtue.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
וַיֹּ֨אמֶרand he saidQal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (introduces direct speech)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; introduces Joshua's address, itself framed as YHWH's own first-person speech ('thus says YHWH').
יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַJoshuaN proper · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Subjectיְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091), the speaker, here functioning as covenant mediator relaying YHWH's own first-person words.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (indirect object, addressee)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; marks the addressee of the speech.
כָּלallN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct governing הָעָםכֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'; construct, 'all the people.'
הָעָ֗םthe peopleart + N m sg abs · עַם (H5971)Genitive completing כָּל; indirect object of וַיֹּאמֶרעַם (H5971) 'people, nation'; Israel collectively as covenant partner.
כֹּֽהthusadv · כֹּה (H3541)Adverbial (introduces the messenger-formula)כֹּה (H3541) 'thus, so'; with אָמַר forms the classic messenger formula 'thus says YHWH,' casting Joshua as mouthpiece for divine speech.
אָמַ֣רsaysQal perf 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (fixed messenger formula, main clause)→ Perfective (performative): the fixed prophetic formula 'thus says YHWH'אָמַר (H559) 'to say'; the perfect is used performatively in the set formula, not merely reporting a past utterance.
יְהוָה֮YHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of אָמַריְהוָה (H3068), Israel's covenant name for God; the entire historical prologue (vv. 2-13) is cast as YHWH's own first-person speech.
אֱלֹהֵ֣יthe God ofN m pl constr · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָה, constructאֱלֹהִים (H430) construct 'God of'; identifies YHWH specifically as Israel's covenant God.
יִשְׂרָאֵל֒IsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive completing constructיִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478), the nation as YHWH's covenant people.
בְּעֵ֣בֶרbeyondprep בְּ + N m sg constr · עֵבֶר (H5676)Temporal/locative prepositional phrase (fronted setting)עֵבֶר (H5676) 'region across, beyond'; with הַנָּהָר, 'beyond the [Euphrates] River' — Mesopotamia, the ancestral homeland.
הַנָּהָ֗רthe Riverart + N m sg abs · נָהָר (H5104)Object of preposition בְּעֵבֶרנָהָר (H5104) 'river'; with the article, the Euphrates par excellence. That the family's origin lies beyond it underscores that Abraham's house began outside the land and outside true worship.
יָשְׁב֤וּdweltQal perf 3cp · יָשַׁב (H3427)Predicate verb (main clause, fronted temporal phrase)→ Perfective: a settled, extended past stateיָשַׁב (H3427) 'to sit, dwell, settle'; the patriarchs' ancestral residence in Mesopotamia before Abraham's call.
אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙your fathersN m pl constr/2mp suff · אָב (H1)Subject of יָשְׁבוּאָב (H1) 'father'; plural 'fathers, ancestors' — here Terah's household, not yet Abraham as elect patriarch.
מֵֽעוֹלָ֔םof oldprep מִן + N m sg abs · עוֹלָם (H5769)Adverbial (temporal)עוֹלָם (H5769) 'long duration, antiquity'; with מִן, 'from ancient time, of old.'
תֶּ֛רַחTerahN proper · תֶּרַח (H8646)Apposition to אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם, naming the ancestorתֶּרַח (H8646), Abraham's father (Gen 11:24-32); named to specify whose idolatry is meant — the patriarchal line's own head of household.
אֲבִ֥יthe father ofN m sg constr · אָב (H1)Apposition/construct, further specifying תֶּרַחאָב (H1) construct 'father of'; identifies Terah's paternity of Abraham.
אַבְרָהָ֖םAbrahamN proper · אַבְרָהָם (H85)Genitive completing constructאַבְרָהָם (H85), father of Israel's faith — yet here named as the son of an idol-worshiper, the demythologized starting point of the nation's story.
וַאֲבִ֣יand the father ofconj וְ + N m sg constr · אָב (H1)Coordinated construct, continuing apposition to תֶּרַחאָב (H1) construct, coordinated; Terah is father of both Abraham and Nahor.
נָח֑וֹרNahorN proper · נָחוֹר (H5152)Genitive completing constructנָחוֹר (H5152), Abraham's brother (Gen 11:26-27), ancestor of Rebekah's family; his mention situates the whole clan, not Abraham alone, in the pre-election idolatry.
וַיַּעַבְד֖וּand they servedQal wayyiqtol 3mp · עָבַד (H5647)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (climactic verb of v. 2)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the verse's unflattering disclosureעָבַד (H5647) 'to serve, worship'; the chapter's key root (cf. vv. 14-24) — the ancestors 'served' other gods before Israel is called to 'serve' YHWH alone.
אֱלֹהִ֥יםgodsN m pl abs · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Direct object of וַיַּעַבְדוּאֱלֹהִים (H430) here indefinite plural, 'gods' (pagan deities) — contrast the definite, singular-referent אֱלֹהִים used of YHWH elsewhere in the chapter.
אֲחֵרִֽיםotherAdj m pl abs · אַחֵר (H312)Attributive adjective modifying אֱלֹהִיםאַחֵר (H312) 'other, foreign'; the fixed phrase אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, 'other gods,' the chapter's recurring foil to YHWH (vv. 2, 14, 15, 16, 20).
3

וָ֠אֶקַּח אֶת אֲבִיכֶ֤ם אֶת אַבְרָהָם֙ מֵעֵ֣בֶר הַנָּהָ֔ר וָאוֹלֵ֥ךְ אוֹת֖וֹ בְּכָל אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וארב וָאַרְבֶּה֙ אֶת זַרְע֔וֹ וָֽאֶתֶּן ל֖וֹ אֶת יִצְחָֽק

And I took your father Abraham from beyond the River, and I led him through all the land of Canaan, and I multiplied his seed, and I gave to him Isaac.

Continuation of YHWH's historical retrospectiveasyndeton
The verbs are all first-person divine actions — 'I took,' 'I led,' 'I multiplied,' 'I gave' — with the patriarchs as wholly passive recipients. Election, not merit, moves Abraham out of Mesopotamia into Canaan; the emphasis anticipates the gift-theology of v. 13.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
וָ֠אֶקַּחand I tookQal wayyiqtol 1cs · לָקַח (H3947)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (YHWH speaking)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — YHWH's initiating act of electionלָקַח (H3947) 'to take'; YHWH's sovereign initiative in calling Abraham out of Mesopotamia (Gen 12:1).
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
אֲבִיכֶ֤םyour fatherN m sg constr/2mp suff · אָב (H1)Direct object of וָאֶקַּחאָב (H1) 'father'; here Abraham specifically — the shift from plural 'fathers' (v. 2) to singular 'your father' marks Abraham as the elect individual.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (apposition to אֲבִיכֶם)אֵת (H853), nota accusativi introducing the appositive name 'Abraham.'
אַבְרָהָם֙AbrahamN proper · אַבְרָהָם (H85)Apposition, identifying אֲבִיכֶםאַבְרָהָם (H85), named explicitly as the object of YHWH's electing act.
מֵעֵ֣בֶרfrom beyondprep מִן + N m sg constr · עֵבֶר (H5676)Adverbial (source), governed by לָקַחעֵבֶר (H5676) 'region across'; 'from beyond the River' — Abraham's point of origin, Mesopotamia.
הַנָּהָ֔רthe Riverart + N m sg abs · נָהָר (H5104)Object of preposition מֵעֵבֶרנָהָר (H5104), the Euphrates; the boundary Abraham crossed at YHWH's summons.
וָאוֹלֵ֥ךְand I ledHiphil wayyiqtol 1cs · הָלַךְ (H3212)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol (Hiphil, causative): foregrounded narrative advance — YHWH actively conducts Abrahamהָלַךְ (H3212/H1980) Hiphil 'to cause to walk, lead'; YHWH personally conducts Abraham's journey through Canaan.
אוֹת֖וֹhimobj marker/3ms suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object of וָאוֹלֵךְאֵת (H853) with 3ms suffix, 'him' — Abraham.
בְּכָלthrough allprep בְּ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Adverbial (locative), construct governing אֶרֶץ כְּנָעַןכֹּל (H3605) 'all'; 'through all the land of Canaan' — the extent of the promised land already traversed.
אֶ֣רֶץthe land ofN c sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Construct chain (genitival)אֶרֶץ (H776) 'land, earth'; construct, 'the land of Canaan.'
כְּנָ֑עַןCanaanN proper · כְּנָעַן (H3667)Genitive completing constructכְּנָעַן (H3667), the land promised to Abraham's seed.
וארב[Ketiv, defective spelling]Ketiv (consonantal, unpointed) · אַרְבֶּה (H7235)Ketiv variant of the following Qere וָאַרְבֶּה→ Kethiv token — the written consonantal form; the reading tradition supplies the following Qere, whose force (first-person wayyiqtol in YHWH's retrospective) governs the clause.Ketiv-Qere pair: the bare consonants וארב are read per the Qere וָאַרְבֶּה, 'and I multiplied' (root רָבָה, H7235) — a scribal-transmission feature, not a separate translatable word.
וָאַרְבֶּה֙and I multipliedHiphil wayyiqtol 1cs (Qere) · רָבָה (H7235)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (Qere reading)→ Wayyiqtol (Hiphil, causative): foregrounded narrative advance — YHWH's active multiplying of Abraham's lineרָבָה (H7235) Hiphil 'to make many, multiply'; YHWH as sole cause of Abraham's numerous seed — the Qere reading of the preceding Ketiv וארב.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
זַרְע֔וֹhis seedN m sg constr/3ms suff · זֶרַע (H2233)Direct object of וָאַרְבֶּהזֶרַע (H2233) 'seed, offspring'; Abraham's promised, multiplying descendants (Gen 15:5; 22:17).
וָֽאֶתֶּןand I gaveQal wayyiqtol 1cs · נָתַן (H5414)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the recurring verb of divine gift (cf. v. 13)נָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; the chapter's other key verb (with עָבַד) — YHWH as the giver of every good thing Israel now possesses.
ל֖וֹto himprep לְ/3ms suff · לְIndirect object of וָאֶתֶּןלְ + 3ms suffix, 'to him' — Abraham, recipient of Isaac.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
יִצְחָֽקIsaacN proper · יִצְחָק (H3327)Direct object of וָאֶתֶּןיִצְחָק (H3327) 'he laughs'; the promised heir, given wholly as YHWH's gift, not human achievement.
4

וָאֶתֵּ֣ן לְיִצְחָ֔ק אֶֽת יַעֲקֹ֖ב וְאֶת עֵשָׂ֑ו וָאֶתֵּ֨ן לְעֵשָׂ֜ו אֶת הַ֤ר שֵׂעִיר֙ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת אוֹת֔וֹ וְיַעֲקֹ֥ב וּבָנָ֖יו יָרְד֥וּ מִצְרָֽיִם

And I gave to Isaac Jacob and Esau; and I gave to Esau Mount Seir to possess it, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.

Continuation of historical retrospective; genealogical bifurcationasyndeton
Esau receives Seir as an uncontested possession, while Jacob's line — bearer of the promise — paradoxically descends INTO Egypt rather than into Canaan; the tension sets up the exodus narrative of vv. 5-7.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
וָאֶתֵּ֣ןand I gaveQal wayyiqtol 1cs · נָתַן (H5414)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceנָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; YHWH gives Isaac his two sons — the gift-verb continued from v. 3.
לְיִצְחָ֔קto Isaacprep לְ + N proper · יִצְחָק (H3327)Indirect object of וָאֶתֵּןיִצְחָק (H3327), recipient of Jacob and Esau.
אֶֽת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
יַעֲקֹ֖בJacobN proper · יַעֲקֹב (H3290)Direct object of וָאֶתֵּןיַעֲקֹב (H3290), the promise-bearing son, later renamed Israel (Gen 32:29).
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Conjunction + direct-object marker (second object)וְ joins the second object; אֵת marks עֵשָׂו as the definite second object.
עֵשָׂ֑וEsauN proper · עֵשָׂו (H6215)Direct object (coordinate)עֵשָׂו (H6215), Jacob's twin, ancestor of Edom (Gen 25:25-26).
וָאֶתֵּ֨ןand I gaveQal wayyiqtol 1cs · נָתַן (H5414)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceנָתַן (H5414) repeated; a second, specific gift, this time to Esau.
לְעֵשָׂ֜וto Esauprep לְ + N proper · עֵשָׂו (H6215)Indirect objectעֵשָׂו (H6215), recipient of Mount Seir.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
הַ֤רMountN m sg constr · הַר (H2022)Direct object of וָאֶתֵּן, constructהַר (H2022) 'mountain, hill country'; construct, 'Mount Seir.'
שֵׂעִיר֙SeirN proper · שֵׂעִיר (H8165)Genitive completing constructשֵׂעִיר (H8165), the hill country south/east of the Dead Sea, given to Esau/Edom (Deut 2:5).
לָרֶ֣שֶׁתto possessprep לְ + Qal inf constr · יָרַשׁ (H3423)Purpose infinitive clause→ Infinitive construct: purpose — 'in order to possess it'יָרַשׁ (H3423) 'to possess, inherit, dispossess'; Esau's peaceful possession of Seir contrasts with Israel's later, contested possession of Canaan (vv. 8, 11-13).
אוֹת֔וֹitobj marker/3ms suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object of לָרֶשֶׁתאֵת + 3ms suffix, 'it' — Mount Seir.
וְיַעֲקֹ֥בbut Jacobconj וְ + N proper · יַעֲקֹב (H3290)Subject (contrastive, fronted)יַעֲקֹב (H3290); the וְ here carries adversative force, 'but Jacob' — contrasting Esau's settled possession with Jacob's descent into a foreign land.
וּבָנָ֖יוand his sonsconj וְ + N m pl constr/3ms suff · בֵּן (H1121)Coordinate subjectבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; Jacob's twelve sons, whose migration to Egypt (Gen 46) sets up the exodus account.
יָרְד֥וּwent downQal perf 3cp · יָרַד (H3381)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective: a completed, decisive movementיָרַד (H3381) 'to go down'; the standard idiom for travel from Canaan to Egypt's lower elevation.
מִצְרָֽיִםto EgyptN proper · מִצְרַיִם (H4714)Adverbial accusative of directionמִצְרַיִם (H4714) 'Egypt'; dual form referring to Upper and Lower Egypt.
5

וָאֶשְׁלַ֞ח אֶת מֹשֶׁ֤ה וְאֶֽת אַהֲרֹן֙ וָאֶגֹּ֣ף אֶת מִצְרַ֔יִם כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֖יתִי בְּקִרְבּ֑וֹ וְאַחַ֖ר הוֹצֵ֥אתִי אֶתְכֶֽם

And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt with what I did in its midst; and afterward I brought you out.

Continuation of historical retrospective; exodus compressedasyndeton
The plagues and deliverance are compressed into a single verse as YHWH's direct, unmediated action — Moses and Aaron are merely 'sent,' not credited as independent agents.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וָאֶשְׁלַ֞חand I sentQal wayyiqtol 1cs · שָׁלַח (H7971)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceשָׁלַח (H7971) 'to send'; YHWH commissions Moses and Aaron as his agents, not independent actors.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
מֹשֶׁ֤הMosesN proper · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Direct object of וָאֶשְׁלַחמֹשֶׁה (H4872), the deliverer, here reduced to an instrument sent by YHWH.
וְאֶֽתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Conjunction + direct-object marker (second object)וְ joins the second object; אֵת marks אַהֲרֹן as the definite second object.
אַהֲרֹן֙AaronN proper · אַהֲרֹן (H175)Direct object (coordinate)אַהֲרֹן (H175), Moses' brother and Israel's first high priest.
וָאֶגֹּ֣ףand I plaguedQal wayyiqtol 1cs · נָגַף (H5062)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceנָגַף (H5062) 'to strike, plague'; summarizes the ten plagues in a single verb, attributed directly to YHWH.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
מִצְרַ֔יִםEgyptN proper · מִצְרַיִם (H4714)Direct object of וָאֶגֹּףמִצְרַיִם (H4714) 'Egypt', object of the plagues.
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥רaccording to whatprep כְּ + relative · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Comparative/manner clause markerאֲשֶׁר (H834) with כְּ, 'according to what, just as'; introduces the relative clause describing the plagues' content.
עָשִׂ֖יתִיI didQal perf 1cs · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective: a completed act, recalledעָשָׂה (H6213) 'to do, make'; YHWH's own summary term for the plagues — 'what I did.'
בְּקִרְבּ֑וֹin its midstprep בְּ + N m sg constr/3ms suff · קֶרֶב (H7130)Adverbial (locative)קֶרֶב (H7130) 'midst, interior'; 'in its midst' — within Egypt.
וְאַחַ֖רand afterwardconj וְ + adv · אַחַר (H310)Adverbial (temporal, fronted)אַחַר (H310) 'after, afterward'; marks the sequel to the plagues — the exodus itself.
הוֹצֵ֥אתִיI brought outHiphil perf 1cs · יָצָא (H3318)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective (Hiphil, causative): a completed, decisive act of deliveranceיָצָא (H3318) Hiphil 'to bring out'; the exodus formula's characteristic verb — YHWH alone as agent of Israel's liberation.
אֶתְכֶֽםyouobj marker/2mp suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object of הוֹצֵאתִיאֵת + 2mp suffix, 'you' — a rhetorical shift into direct address of the assembled generation.
6

וָֽאוֹצִ֤יא אֶת אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם וַתָּבֹ֖אוּ הַיָּ֑מָּה וַיִּרְדְּפ֨וּ מִצְרַ֜יִם אַחֲרֵ֧י אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֛ם בְּרֶ֥כֶב וּבְפָרָשִׁ֖ים יַם סֽוּף

And I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea; and Egypt pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Sea of Reeds.

Continuation of historical retrospective; person-shiftasyndeton
The narrative shifts pronoun mid-verse — 'your fathers' (3rd person) then 'you came' (2nd person) — collapsing the exodus generation into the present audience, a rhetorical device that recurs through the prologue and makes the hearers co-participants in events centuries past.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וָֽאוֹצִ֤יאand I brought outHiphil wayyiqtol 1cs · יָצָא (H3318)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol (Hiphil, causative): foregrounded narrative advanceיָצָא (H3318) Hiphil 'to bring out'; repeats v. 5's exodus verb, reinforcing YHWH's sole agency.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙your fathersN m pl constr/2mp suff · אָב (H1)Direct object of וָאוֹצִיאאָב (H1) 'father'; the exodus generation, addressed as 'your fathers.'
מִמִּצְרַ֔יִםfrom Egyptprep מִן + N proper · מִצְרַיִם (H4714)Adverbial (source)מִצְרַיִם (H4714), the place of departure.
וַתָּבֹ֖אוּand you cameQal wayyiqtol 2mp · בּוֹא (H935)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (shift to 2mp, addressing hearers directly)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — a rhetorical shift merging past and present hearersבּוֹא (H935) 'to come, enter'; the 2mp form momentarily merges the present audience with the exodus generation, 'you came to the sea.'
הַיָּ֑מָּהto the seaart + N m sg abs + directive ה · יָם (H3220)Adverbial accusative of directionיָם (H3220) 'sea', with directive-he, 'to the sea' — the Sea of Reeds crossing (Exod 14).
וַיִּרְדְּפ֨וּand pursuedQal wayyiqtol 3mp · רָדַף (H7291)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceרָדַף (H7291) 'to pursue'; Pharaoh's army chasing Israel to the sea (Exod 14:8-9).
מִצְרַ֜יִםEgyptN proper · מִצְרַיִם (H4713)Subject of וַיִּרְדְּפוּמִצְרַיִם (H4713/H4714) here as national subject, 'Egypt' i.e. Pharaoh's forces.
אַחֲרֵ֧יafterprep · אַחֲרֵי (H310)Prepositional phrase (governing אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם)אַחַר/אַחֲרֵי (H310) 'after, behind'; marks the object of pursuit.
אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֛םyour fathersN m pl constr/2mp suff · אָב (H1)Object of preposition אַחֲרֵיאָב (H1) 'father'; again 'your fathers,' the pursued generation.
בְּרֶ֥כֶבwith chariotsprep בְּ + N m sg abs · רֶכֶב (H7393)Adverbial (instrumental)רֶכֶב (H7393) 'chariot(ry)'; the Egyptian war-chariots of Exod 14:7.
וּבְפָרָשִׁ֖יםand horsemenconj וְ + prep בְּ + N m pl abs · פָּרָשׁ (H6571)Adverbial (instrumental, coordinate)פָּרָשׁ (H6571) 'horseman'; paired with chariotry as Egypt's military might, overwhelmed at the sea.
יַםthe Sea ofN m sg constr · יָם (H3220)Adverbial accusative, construct (specifying the destination)יָם (H3220) construct, 'sea of'; specifies which sea, in apposition/restatement of הַיָּמָּה above.
סֽוּףof ReedsN m sg abs · סוּף (H5488)Genitive completing constructסוּף (H5488) 'reed(s), papyrus'; יַם סוּף, 'Sea of Reeds,' the traditional exodus crossing-point.
7

וַיִּצְעֲק֣וּ אֶל יְהוָ֗ה וַיָּ֨שֶׂם מַֽאֲפֵ֜ל בֵּינֵיכֶ֣ם וּבֵ֣ין הַמִּצְרִ֗ים וַיָּבֵ֨א עָלָ֤יו אֶת הַיָּם֙ וַיְכַסֵּ֔הוּ וַתִּרְאֶ֨ינָה֙ עֵינֵיכֶ֔ם אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר עָשִׂ֖יתִי בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם וַתֵּשְׁב֥וּ בַמִּדְבָּ֖ר יָמִ֥ים רַבִּֽים

And they cried out to YHWH, and he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and he brought the sea upon them and it covered them; and your own eyes saw what I did in Egypt; and you dwelt in the wilderness many days.

Continuation of historical retrospective; eyewitness appealasyndeton
The crisis-cry pattern (crying out to YHWH, then deliverance) recurs across the retrospective. The darkness (Exod 14:20) and the sea's covering of the pursuers (Exod 14:28) are cited as things 'your own eyes saw' — direct eyewitness appeal, reinforcing the rhetorical collapse of past and present hearers begun in v. 6.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
וַיִּצְעֲק֣וּand they cried outQal wayyiqtol 3mp · צָעַק (H6817)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceצָעַק (H6817) 'to cry out'; Israel's cry for help at the sea, echoing the crisis-cry pattern of Exod 14:10.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (indirect object)אֶל (H413) 'to'; marks the addressee of the cry.
יְהוָ֗הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Object of preposition אֶליְהוָה (H3068), recipient of Israel's cry for deliverance.
וַיָּ֨שֶׂםand he putQal wayyiqtol 3ms · שִׂים (H7760)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceשִׂים (H7760) 'to put, place'; YHWH sets darkness as a barrier between the camps (Exod 14:20).
מַֽאֲפֵ֜לdarknessN m sg abs · מַאְפֵל (H3990)Direct object of וַיָּשֶׂםמַאְפֵל (H3990) 'thick darkness'; the protective barrier YHWH interposes between Israel and Egypt at the sea.
בֵּינֵיכֶ֣םbetween youprep/2mp suff · בֵּין (H996)Adverbial (locative)בֵּין (H996) 'between'; with 2mp suffix, 'between you.'
וּבֵ֣יןand betweenconj וְ + prep · בֵּין (H996)Coordinating preposition (second term of 'between...and')בֵּין (H996) repeated for the second party, the standard Hebrew idiom 'between X and between Y.'
הַמִּצְרִ֗יםthe Egyptiansart + gentilic N m pl abs · מִצְרִי (H4713)Object of preposition וּבֵיןמִצְרִי (H4713) 'Egyptian'; gentilic plural, the pursuing army.
וַיָּבֵ֨אand he broughtHiphil wayyiqtol 3ms · בּוֹא (H935)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol (Hiphil, causative): foregrounded narrative advanceבּוֹא (H935) Hiphil 'to bring'; YHWH brings the sea back over the Egyptians (Exod 14:26-28).
עָלָ֤יוupon themprep/3ms suff · עַל (H5921)Adverbial (locative), referring collectively to הַמִּצְרִיםעַל (H5921) 'upon' + 3ms suffix; the singular suffix refers collectively to the Egyptian pursuing force.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
הַיָּם֙the seaart + N m sg abs · יָם (H3220)Direct object of וַיָּבֵאיָם (H3220) 'sea'; the Sea of Reeds returning to its place over the pursuers.
וַיְכַסֵּ֔הוּand it covered themPiel wayyiqtol 3ms/3ms suff · כָּסָה (H3680)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol (Piel): foregrounded narrative advance — the sea's covering of the pursuersכָּסָה (H3680) Piel 'to cover'; the sea covers the pursuing Egyptians (Exod 14:28).
וַתִּרְאֶ֨ינָה֙and sawQal wayyiqtol 3fp · רָאָה (H7200)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (subject עֵינֵיכֶם, fem. pl.)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — direct eyewitness appealרָאָה (H7200) 'to see'; feminine plural agreeing with עֵינַיִם ('eyes'), 'your eyes saw' — an emphatic eyewitness claim.
עֵינֵיכֶ֔םyour eyesN c dual constr/2mp suff · עַיִן (H5869)Subject of וַתִּרְאֶינָהעַיִן (H5869) 'eye'; dual, 'your eyes' — direct personal-testimony rhetoric.
אֵ֥ת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker, introducing the relative clause as object of רָאָהאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
אֲשֶׁרwhichrelative · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause marker (object clause)אֲשֶׁר (H834) 'which, that'; introduces what the eyes saw.
עָשִׂ֖יתִיI didQal perf 1cs · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective: a completed act, recalledעָשָׂה (H6213) 'to do'; YHWH's summary of the plagues/deliverance, 'what I did.'
בְּמִצְרָ֑יִםin Egyptprep בְּ + N proper · מִצְרַיִם (H4714)Adverbial (locative)מִצְרַיִם (H4714), the setting of the plagues.
וַתֵּשְׁב֥וּand you dweltQal wayyiqtol 2mp · יָשַׁב (H3427)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceיָשַׁב (H3427) 'to dwell'; the wilderness sojourn following the sea-crossing.
בַמִּדְבָּ֖רin the wildernessprep בְּ (with article) + N m sg abs · מִדְבָּר (H4057)Adverbial (locative)מִדְבָּר (H4057) 'wilderness, desert'; the sojourn setting, here compressed to 'many days.'
יָמִ֥יםdaysN m pl abs · יוֹם (H3117)Adverbial accusative of durationיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; plural, marking extended duration.
רַבִּֽיםmanyAdj m pl abs · רַב (H7227)Attributive adjective modifying יָמִיםרַב (H7227) 'much, many'; 'many days' — a euphemistic compression of the forty wilderness years.
8

ואבאה וָאָבִ֣יא אֶתְכֶ֗ם אֶל אֶ֤רֶץ הָאֱמֹרִי֙ הַיּוֹשֵׁב֙ בְּעֵ֣בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וַיִּֽלָּחֲמ֖וּ אִתְּכֶ֑ם וָאֶתֵּ֨ן אוֹתָ֤ם בְּיֶדְכֶם֙ וַתִּֽירְשׁ֣וּ אֶת אַרְצָ֔ם וָאַשְׁמִידֵ֖ם מִפְּנֵיכֶֽם

And I brought you to the land of the Amorites who dwelt beyond the Jordan, and they fought with you; and I gave them into your hand, and you possessed their land, and I destroyed them from before you.

Continuation of historical retrospective; conquest beginsasyndeton
The retrospective crosses the Jordan — the very river Israel crossed under Joshua (Josh 3) — and moves into the conquest proper. 'Amorite' functions as a blanket term for the Transjordanian/Canaanite peoples generally. YHWH again claims sole agency ('I gave... I destroyed'), with Israel's possessing (וַתִּירְשׁוּ) the one human verb amid divine gifts.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
ואבאה[Ketiv, defective/paragogic]Ketiv (consonantal, unpointed, with paragogic ה) · אָבִיא (H935)Ketiv variant of the following Qere וָאָבִיא→ Kethiv token — the written consonantal form; the reading tradition supplies the following Qere, whose force (first-person wayyiqtol in YHWH's retrospective) governs the clause.Ketiv-Qere pair: the consonantal ואבאה is read per the Qere וָאָבִיא, 'and I brought' (root בּוֹא, H935) — a scribal-transmission feature, not a separate translatable word.
וָאָבִ֣יאand I broughtHiphil wayyiqtol 1cs (Qere) · בּוֹא (H935)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (Qere reading)→ Wayyiqtol (Hiphil, causative): foregrounded narrative advanceבּוֹא (H935) Hiphil 'to bring'; YHWH conducts Israel across the Jordan into Amorite territory — the Qere reading of the preceding Ketiv ואבאה.
אֶתְכֶ֗םyouobj marker/2mp suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object of וָאָבִיאאֵת + 2mp suffix, 'you.'
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (destination)אֶל (H413) 'to, into'; marks the destination.
אֶ֤רֶץthe land ofN c sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Object of preposition אֶל, constructאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; construct, 'the land of the Amorite.'
הָאֱמֹרִי֙the Amoriteart + gentilic N m sg abs · אֱמֹרִי (H567)Genitive completing constructאֱמֹרִי (H567) 'Amorite'; used broadly (as often in Deuteronomistic literature) for Canaan's pre-Israelite population generally.
הַיּוֹשֵׁב֙who dweltart + Qal ptc m sg abs (attributive) · יָשַׁב (H3427)Attributive participle modifying הָאֱמֹרִי→ Attributive participle: an ongoing state, 'the one dwelling'יָשַׁב (H3427) 'to dwell'; describes the Amorite as inhabitant of Transjordan.
בְּעֵ֣בֶרbeyondprep בְּ + N m sg constr · עֵבֶר (H5676)Adverbial (locative), object of participle הַיּוֹשֵׁבעֵבֶר (H5676) 'region across'; here 'beyond the Jordan' (Transjordan), contrast v. 2's 'beyond the [Euphrates] River.'
הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ןthe Jordanart + N proper · יַרְדֵּן (H3383)Object of preposition בְּעֵבֶריַרְדֵּן (H3383), the river Israel crossed under Joshua (Josh 3) — now revisited in the retrospective.
וַיִּֽלָּחֲמ֖וּand they foughtNiphal wayyiqtol 3mp · לָחַם (H3898)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol (Niphal, reciprocal): foregrounded narrative advanceלָחַם (H3898) Niphal 'to fight, do battle'; the Transjordanian kings' (Sihon, Og) resistance to Israel (Num 21:21-35).
אִתְּכֶ֑םwith youprep/2mp suff · אֵת (H854)Adverbial (comitative), object of prepositionאֵת (H854) 'with' (distinct from the homographic object-marker H853); marks the opposing party in battle.
וָאֶתֵּ֨ןand I gaveQal wayyiqtol 1cs · נָתַן (H5414)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceנָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; YHWH delivers the Amorite kings into Israel's hand — the chapter's recurring gift-verb.
אוֹתָ֤םthemobj marker/3mp suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object of וָאֶתֵּןאֵת + 3mp suffix, referring to the Amorite kings/people.
בְּיֶדְכֶם֙into your handprep בְּ + N c sg constr/2mp suff · יָד (H3027)Adverbial (idiom of transfer/control)יָד (H3027) 'hand'; 'into your hand' is the standard idiom for military victory and possession.
וַתִּֽירְשׁ֣וּand you possessedQal wayyiqtol 2mp · יָרַשׁ (H3423)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (Israel's sole active verb in the sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the one human action amid divine giftsיָרַשׁ (H3423) 'to possess, dispossess'; Israel's response to YHWH's gift, echoing Esau's peaceful possession (v. 4) but here through conquest.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
אַרְצָ֔םtheir landN c sg constr/3mp suff · אֶרֶץ (H776)Direct object of וַתִּירְשׁוּאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; the Amorites' territory, now possessed by Israel.
וָאַשְׁמִידֵ֖םand I destroyed themHiphil wayyiqtol 1cs/3mp suff · שָׁמַד (H8045)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol (Hiphil, causative): foregrounded narrative advanceשָׁמַד (H8045) Hiphil 'to destroy, exterminate'; YHWH claims sole credit for the Amorites' destruction, not Israel's armies.
מִפְּנֵיכֶֽםfrom before youprep מִן + N c pl constr/2mp suff · פָּנִים (H6440)Adverbial (locative)פָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; מִפְּנֵי, 'from before, out of the presence of' — the standard idiom for driving out inhabitants.
9

וַיָּ֨קָם בָּלָ֤ק בֶּן צִפּוֹר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ מוֹאָ֔ב וַיִּלָּ֖חֶם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּשְׁלַ֗ח וַיִּקְרָ֛א לְבִלְעָ֥ם בֶּן בְּע֖וֹר לְקַלֵּ֥ל אֶתְכֶֽם

Then Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel; and he sent and called for Balaam son of Beor to curse you.

Continuation of historical retrospective; Balak-Balaam episode beginsasyndeton
Introduces the sole extended narrative digression in the retrospective (vv. 9-10); its relative length signals its rhetorical weight — Israel's survival depended on YHWH overturning a hired curse into blessing.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
וַיָּ֨קָםand he aroseQal wayyiqtol 3ms · קוּם (H6965)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceקוּם (H6965) 'to arise'; idiomatic for decisive action — Balak 'rose up' against Israel.
בָּלָ֤קBalakN proper · בָּלָק (H1111)Subjectבָּלָק (H1111), king of Moab who hired Balaam (Num 22:2-6).
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Apposition, constructבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; identifies Balak's father.
צִפּוֹר֙ZipporN proper · צִפּוֹר (H6834)Genitive completing constructצִפּוֹר (H6834), Balak's father (Num 22:2).
מֶ֣לֶךְking ofN m sg constr · מֶלֶךְ (H4428)Apposition, constructמֶלֶךְ (H4428) 'king'; construct, identifying Balak's office.
מוֹאָ֔בMoabN proper · מוֹאָב (H4124)Genitive completing constructמוֹאָב (H4124), the nation east of the Dead Sea whose king opposed Israel's passage.
וַיִּלָּ֖חֶםand he foughtNiphal wayyiqtol 3ms · לָחַם (H3898)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol (Niphal): foregrounded narrative advanceלָחַם (H3898) Niphal 'to fight'; here of Balak's hostile campaign against Israel, waged through a hired curse rather than open battle (Num 22:1-6).
בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לagainst Israelprep בְּ + N proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Adverbial (adversative)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); with בְּ indicating hostility, 'against Israel.'
וַיִּשְׁלַ֗חand he sentQal wayyiqtol 3ms · שָׁלַח (H7971)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceשָׁלַח (H7971) 'to send'; Balak dispatches messengers to hire Balaam (Num 22:5-7).
וַיִּקְרָ֛אand he calledQal wayyiqtol 3ms · קָרָא (H7121)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceקָרָא (H7121) 'to call, summon'; Balak's summons of Balaam to curse Israel.
לְבִלְעָ֥םfor Balaamprep לְ + N proper · בִּלְעָם (H1109)Indirect object of וַיִּקְרָאבִּלְעָם (H1109), the Mesopotamian seer hired to curse Israel, whose oracles YHWH turned to blessing (Num 22-24).
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Apposition, constructבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; identifies Balaam's father.
בְּע֖וֹרBeorN proper · בְּעוֹר (H1160)Genitive completing constructבְּעוֹר (H1160), Balaam's father (Num 22:5).
לְקַלֵּ֥לto curseprep לְ + Piel inf constr · קָלַל (H7043)Purpose infinitive clause→ Infinitive construct: purpose — 'in order to curse'קָלַל (H7043) Piel 'to curse, treat lightly'; Balak's intended purpose for Balaam, subverted into blessing in v. 10.
אֶתְכֶֽםyouobj marker/2mp suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object of לְקַלֵּלאֵת + 2mp suffix, 'you' — the direct-address rhetoric continues.
10

וְלֹ֥א אָבִ֖יתִי לִשְׁמֹ֣עַ לְבִלְעָ֑ם וַיְבָ֤רֶךְ בָּרוֹךְ֙ אֶתְכֶ֔ם וָאַצִּ֥ל אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִיָּדֽוֹ

But I was not willing to listen to Balaam, so he blessed you instead; and I delivered you from his hand.

Climax of the Balak-Balaam digression; reversalasyndeton
The chapter's most vivid single image of reversal: Balaam's intended curse becomes an infinitive-absolute-intensified blessing (וַיְבָרֶךְ בָּרוֹךְ, literally 'blessing he blessed' — emphatic certainty), entirely by YHWH's refusal to permit the curse (Num 23-24). Israel's deliverance from Moab required no battle, only YHWH's veto.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
וְלֹ֥אbut notconj וְ + neg · לֹא (H3808)Negation of the following verb, fronted for emphasisלֹא (H3808) 'not'; negates אָבִיתִי — YHWH's flat refusal to permit Balaam's curse.
אָבִ֖יתִיI was willingQal perf 1cs · אָבָה (H14)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective: a decisive, completed refusal ('I was not willing')אָבָה (H14) 'to be willing, consent'; YHWH's refusal to consent to Balaam's cursing, echoing Deut 23:5.
לִשְׁמֹ֣עַto listenprep לְ + Qal inf constr · שָׁמַע (H8085)Complementary infinitive (object of אָבִיתִי)→ Infinitive construct: complement — 'to listen'שָׁמַע (H8085) 'to hear, listen, heed'; here 'listen to' in the sense of heeding/granting Balaam's intended curse.
לְבִלְעָ֑םto Balaamprep לְ + N proper · בִּלְעָם (H1109)Object of infinitive לִשְׁמֹעַבִּלְעָם (H1109), whose curse-oracles YHWH refused to permit.
וַיְבָ֤רֶךְand he blessedPiel wayyiqtol 3ms · בָּרַךְ (H1288)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence, paired with infinitive absolute בָּרוֹךְ for emphasis→ Wayyiqtol intensified by infinitive absolute: emphatic certainty — 'he blessed you indeed'בָּרַךְ (H1288) Piel 'to bless'; paired with the infinitive absolute of the same root for maximal emphasis — the chapter's most vivid reversal image (Num 23-24).
בָּרוֹךְ֙blessingPiel inf abs · בָּרַךְ (H1288)Infinitive absolute intensifying וַיְבָרֶךְ→ Infinitive absolute: intensifies/confirms the finite verb — emphatic certainty of the blessingבָּרַךְ (H1288) infinitive absolute; a finite verb plus infinitive absolute of the same root is Hebrew's strongest way to underline an action's certainty — 'he surely blessed.'
אֶתְכֶ֔םyouobj marker/2mp suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object of וַיְבָרֶךְאֵת + 2mp suffix, 'you' — recipient of the reversed blessing.
וָאַצִּ֥לand I deliveredHiphil wayyiqtol 1cs · נָצַל (H5337)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol (Hiphil, causative): foregrounded narrative advanceנָצַל (H5337) Hiphil 'to deliver, rescue'; YHWH's rescue from the Moabite threat, requiring no battle.
אֶתְכֶ֖םyouobj marker/2mp suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object of וָאַצִּלאֵת + 2mp suffix, 'you.'
מִיָּדֽוֹfrom his handprep מִן + N c sg constr/3ms suff · יָד (H3027)Adverbial (source)יָד (H3027) 'hand'; 'from his hand' — from Balak's power and scheme.
11

וַתַּעַבְר֣וּ אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן֮ וַתָּבֹ֣אוּ אֶל יְרִיחוֹ֒ וַיִּלָּחֲמ֣וּ בָכֶ֣ם בַּעֲלֵֽי יְ֠רִיחוֹ הָֽאֱמֹרִ֨י וְהַפְּרִזִּ֜י וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֗י וְהַֽחִתִּי֙ וְהַגִּרְגָּשִׁ֔י הַֽחִוִּ֖י וְהַיְבוּסִ֑י וָאֶתֵּ֥ן אוֹתָ֖ם בְּיֶדְכֶֽם

And you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho; and the lords of Jericho fought against you — the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Girgashite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite — and I gave them into your hand.

Continuation of historical retrospective; sevenfold nation-listasyndeton
The sevenfold nation-list (cf. Deut 7:1) marks the conquest's totality; despite the massed opposition, YHWH's gift-verb (נָתַן) again frames the outcome as entirely his doing.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
וַתַּעַבְר֣וּand you crossedQal wayyiqtol 2mp · עָבַר (H5674)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceעָבַר (H5674) 'to cross over'; the Jordan crossing under Joshua (Josh 3-4), recalled to the same generation addressed.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
הַיַּרְדֵּן֮the Jordanart + N proper · יַרְדֵּן (H3383)Direct object of וַתַּעַבְרוּיַרְדֵּן (H3383), the boundary crossed into the promised land proper.
וַתָּבֹ֣אוּand you cameQal wayyiqtol 2mp · בּוֹא (H935)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceבּוֹא (H935) 'to come'; arrival at Jericho, the first Canaanite city encountered (Josh 6).
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (destination)אֶל (H413) 'to'; marks the destination.
יְרִיחוֹ֒JerichoN proper · יְרִיחוֹ (H3405)Object of preposition אֶליְרִיחוֹ (H3405), the first city conquered west of the Jordan (Josh 6).
וַיִּלָּחֲמ֣וּand they foughtNiphal wayyiqtol 3mp · לָחַם (H3898)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol (Niphal): foregrounded narrative advanceלָחַם (H3898) Niphal 'to fight'; the coalition of Canaanite peoples opposing Israel's entry.
בָכֶ֣םagainst youprep בְּ/2mp suff · בְּAdverbial (adversative), object of prepositionבְּ + 2mp suffix, 'against you'; the hostile sense of בְּ with לחם.
בַּעֲלֵֽיthe lords ofN m pl constr · בַּעַל (H1167)Subject of וַיִּלָּחֲמוּ, constructבַּעַל (H1167) 'lord, master, owner'; here 'citizens/lords of Jericho' — the ruling population, not the deity Baal.
יְ֠רִיחוֹJerichoN proper · יְרִיחוֹ (H3405)Genitive completing constructיְרִיחוֹ (H3405), repeated to name the city whose inhabitants opposed Israel.
הָֽאֱמֹרִ֨יthe Amoriteart + gentilic N m sg abs · אֱמֹרִי (H567)Apposition to בַּעֲלֵי יְרִיחוֹ, first of the sevenfold nation-listאֱמֹרִי (H567) 'Amorite'; first in the traditional list of Canaan's pre-Israelite peoples (cf. Deut 7:1).
וְהַפְּרִזִּ֜יand the Perizziteconj + art + gentilic N m sg abs · פְּרִזִּי (H6522)Coordinate apposition (second of the list)פְּרִזִּי (H6522) 'Perizzite'; a rural/unwalled-settlement people group, second in the list.
וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֗יand the Canaaniteconj + art + gentilic N m sg abs · כְּנַעֲנִי (H3669)Coordinate apposition (third of the list)כְּנַעֲנִי (H3669) 'Canaanite'; the land's namesake population, third in the list.
וְהַֽחִתִּי֙and the Hittiteconj + art + gentilic N m sg abs · חִתִּי (H2850)Coordinate apposition (fourth of the list)חִתִּי (H2850) 'Hittite'; fourth in the list, descended from Heth (Gen 10:15).
וְהַגִּרְגָּשִׁ֔יand the Girgashiteconj + art + gentilic N m sg abs · גִּרְגָּשִׁי (H1622)Coordinate apposition (fifth of the list)גִּרְגָּשִׁי (H1622) 'Girgashite'; the least-attested of the seven nations, fifth in the list.
הַֽחִוִּ֖יthe Hiviteart + gentilic N m sg abs · חִוִּי (H2340)Coordinate apposition (sixth of the list, asyndetic)חִוִּי (H2340) 'Hivite'; sixth in the list.
וְהַיְבוּסִ֑יand the Jebusiteconj + art + gentilic N m sg abs · יְבוּסִי (H2983)Coordinate apposition (seventh and final of the list)יְבוּסִי (H2983) 'Jebusite'; seventh and last, the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Jerusalem — completing the sevenfold nation-list (cf. Deut 7:1).
וָאֶתֵּ֥ןand I gaveQal wayyiqtol 1cs · נָתַן (H5414)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceנָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; despite the massed sevenfold opposition, YHWH again frames the victory as his gift.
אוֹתָ֖םthemobj marker/3mp suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object of וָאֶתֵּןאֵת + 3mp suffix, referring to the seven nations collectively.
בְּיֶדְכֶֽםinto your handprep בְּ + N c sg constr/2mp suff · יָד (H3027)Adverbial (idiom of transfer)יָד (H3027) 'hand'; the recurring idiom for military victory and possession.
12

וָאֶשְׁלַ֤ח לִפְנֵיכֶם֙ אֶת הַצִּרְעָ֔ה וַתְּגָ֤רֶשׁ אוֹתָם֙ מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔ם שְׁנֵ֖י מַלְכֵ֣י הָאֱמֹרִ֑י לֹ֥א בְחַרְבְּךָ֖ וְלֹ֥א בְקַשְׁתֶּֽךָ

And I sent the hornet before you, and it drove them out from before you — the two kings of the Amorites — not by your sword and not by your bow.

Continuation of historical retrospective; theological climax of the conquest sectionasyndeton
The 'hornet' (צִרְעָה) claims fulfillment of the promise of Exod 23:28 and Deut 7:20 — whether a literal insect-plague, a metaphor for panic, or a cipher for external pressure driving out Canaan's kings is debated. The verse's real point, sharpened by 'not by your sword and not by your bow,' is that the conquest was YHWH's doing, not Israel's martial skill.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וָאֶשְׁלַ֤חand I sentQal wayyiqtol 1cs · שָׁלַח (H7971)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceשָׁלַח (H7971) 'to send'; YHWH sends the hornet ahead of Israel.
לִפְנֵיכֶם֙before youprep לִ + N c pl constr/2mp suff · פָּנִים (H6440)Adverbial (locative)פָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; לִפְנֵי, 'before, ahead of' you.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
הַצִּרְעָ֔הthe hornetart + N f sg abs · צִרְעָה (H6880)Direct object of וָאֶשְׁלַחצִרְעָה (H6880) 'hornet'; claims fulfillment of the promise of Exod 23:28 and Deut 7:20 that YHWH would send the hornet ahead of Israel — read literally (insect plague), metaphorically (panic/terror), or as a cipher for external pressure driving out Canaan's kings; the interpretive crux is ancient and unresolved.
וַתְּגָ֤רֶשׁand it drove outPiel wayyiqtol 3fs · גָּרַשׁ (H1644)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (subject הַצִּרְעָה, fem.)→ Wayyiqtol (Piel): foregrounded narrative advanceגָּרַשׁ (H1644) Piel 'to drive out, expel'; agrees grammatically with the feminine subject צִרְעָה.
אוֹתָם֙themobj marker/3mp suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object of וַתְּגָרֶשׁאֵת + 3mp suffix, referring to the Amorite kings/peoples.
מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔םfrom before youprep מִן + N c pl constr/2mp suff · פָּנִים (H6440)Adverbial (locative)פָּנִים (H6440); מִפְּנֵי, 'from before you' — the standard idiom for dispossession.
שְׁנֵ֖יtwonumeral m dual constr · שְׁנַיִם (H8147)Apposition to the preceding object, constructשְׁנַיִם (H8147) 'two'; construct dual, specifying 'the two kings' — likely Sihon and Og (cf. v. 8; Num 21).
מַלְכֵ֣יkings ofN m pl constr · מֶלֶךְ (H4428)Genitive completing constructמֶלֶךְ (H4428) 'king'; construct plural, 'kings of the Amorite(s).'
הָאֱמֹרִ֑יthe Amoriteart + gentilic N m sg abs · אֱמֹרִי (H567)Genitive completing constructאֱמֹרִי (H567), here likely referring specifically to Sihon and Og of Transjordan (v. 8; Num 21:21-35).
לֹ֥אnotneg · לֹא (H3808)Negation of the implied instrumental meansלֹא (H3808) 'not'; denies human military instrumentality in the victory.
בְחַרְבְּךָ֖by your swordprep בְּ + N f sg constr/2ms suff · חֶרֶב (H2719)Adverbial (instrumental, negated)חֶרֶב (H2719) 'sword'; 'not by your sword' — denying Israel's own weaponry as the cause of victory.
וְלֹ֥אand notconj + neg · לֹא (H3808)Coordinate negationלֹא (H3808) 'not'; parallel denial completing the pair.
בְקַשְׁתֶּֽךָby your bowprep בְּ + N f sg constr/2ms suff · קֶשֶׁת (H7198)Adverbial (instrumental, negated, coordinate)קֶשֶׁת (H7198) 'bow'; paired with 'sword' as the totality of Israel's own military means, explicitly excluded as the cause of victory.
13

וָאֶתֵּ֨ן לָכֶ֜ם אֶ֣רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא יָגַ֣עְתָּ בָּ֗הּ וְעָרִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא בְנִיתֶ֔ם וַתֵּשְׁב֖וּ בָּהֶ֑ם כְּרָמִ֤ים וְזֵיתִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא נְטַעְתֶּ֔ם אַתֶּ֖ם אֹכְלִֽים

And I gave you a land you did not toil for, and cities you did not build, and you dwell in them; vineyards and olive groves you did not plant, you eat of them.

Climax of the historical prologue; grace-before-demand hingeasyndeton
The gift-summary — a land not toiled for, cities not built, vineyards and groves not planted — is the retrospective's rhetorical hinge: everything Israel now possesses and enjoys was given, not earned. This grace becomes the ground for the ensuing demand of vv. 14-15.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
וָאֶתֵּ֨ןand I gaveQal wayyiqtol 1cs · נָתַן (H5414)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceנָתַן (H5414) 'to give'; the summary gift-verb introducing the triad of unearned gifts (land, cities, vineyards/groves).
לָכֶ֜םto youprep לְ/2mp suff · לְIndirect object of וָאֶתֵּןלְ + 2mp suffix, 'to you.'
אֶ֣רֶץa landN c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Direct object of וָאֶתֵּןאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; indefinite, 'a land' — the promised land as unearned gift.
אֲשֶׁ֧רwhichrelative · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause markerאֲשֶׁר (H834) 'which'; introduces the qualifying relative clause.
לֹֽאnotneg · לֹא (H3808)Negation of יָגַעְתָּלֹא (H3808) 'not.'
יָגַ֣עְתָּyou laboredQal perf 2ms · יָגַע (H3021)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective: a completed (non-)action, negatedיָגַע (H3021) 'to labor, toil, grow weary'; the land required no toil from Israel to obtain.
בָּ֗הּin itprep בְּ/3fs suff · בְּAdverbial, object of preposition, referring to אֶרֶץבְּ + 3fs suffix, 'in it' — referring back to the (feminine) land.
וְעָרִים֙and citiesconj + N f pl abs · עִיר (H5892)Direct object of וָאֶתֵּן (coordinate)עִיר (H5892) 'city'; the second unearned gift — cities already built by others.
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhichrelative · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause markerאֲשֶׁר (H834) 'which'; introduces the second qualifying clause.
לֹאnotneg · לֹא (H3808)Negation of בְנִיתֶםלֹא (H3808) 'not.'
בְנִיתֶ֔םyou builtQal perf 2mp · בָּנָה (H1129)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective: a completed (non-)action, negatedבָּנָה (H1129) 'to build'; the cities were not Israel's own construction.
וַתֵּשְׁב֖וּand you dwellQal wayyiqtol 2mp · יָשַׁב (H3427)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceיָשַׁב (H3427) 'to dwell'; Israel's actual occupation of what it did not build.
בָּהֶ֑םin themprep בְּ/3mp suff · בְּAdverbial, object of preposition, referring to עָרִיםבְּ + 3mp suffix, 'in them' — referring back to the cities.
כְּרָמִ֤יםvineyardsN c pl abs · כֶּרֶם (H3754)Direct object (resuming וָאֶתֵּן's series)כֶּרֶם (H3754) 'vineyard'; the third unearned gift.
וְזֵיתִים֙and olive grovesconj + N m pl abs · זַיִת (H2132)Coordinate direct objectזַיִת (H2132) 'olive tree'; paired with vineyards as the land's staple agricultural produce.
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhichrelative · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause markerאֲשֶׁר (H834) 'which'; introduces the third qualifying clause.
לֹֽאnotneg · לֹא (H3808)Negation of נְטַעְתֶּםלֹא (H3808) 'not.'
נְטַעְתֶּ֔םyou plantedQal perf 2mp · נָטַע (H5193)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective: a completed (non-)action, negatedנָטַע (H5193) 'to plant'; the vineyards and olive groves were not Israel's own planting.
אַתֶּ֖םyouindependent pronoun 2mp · אַתֶּם (H859)Subject (emphatic, resumptive)אַתֶּם (H859) 'you'; the independent pronoun sharpens the contrast — they plant nothing, yet they eat.
אֹכְלִֽיםeatQal ptc m pl abs · אָכַל (H398)Predicate participle (main clause, present/ongoing sense)→ Participle: durative/ongoing present — 'you are eating'אָכַל (H398) 'to eat'; the participle frames Israel's present enjoyment as an ongoing state, wholly derivative of unearned gift.
14

וְעַתָּ֞ה יְר֧אוּ אֶת יְהוָ֛ה וְעִבְד֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ בְּתָמִ֣ים וּבֶֽאֱמֶ֑ת וְהָסִ֣ירוּ אֶת אֱלֹהִ֗ים אֲשֶׁר֩ עָבְד֨וּ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֜ם בְּעֵ֤בֶר הַנָּהָר֙ וּבְמִצְרַ֔יִם וְעִבְד֖וּ אֶת יְהוָֽה

Now therefore fear YHWH and serve him in completeness and in truth; and put away the gods your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve YHWH.

Stipulation begins — the covenant's 'now therefore' pivotוְעַתָּה
The historical prologue's completed verbs give way to imperatives: 'now therefore fear... serve... put away.' This is the treaty-form's structural hinge from grounds (what the suzerain has done) to stipulation (what the vassal must do) — the reason the retrospective of vv. 2-13 exists at all.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
וְעַתָּ֞הand nowconj + adv · עַתָּה (H6258)Adverbial (temporal/logical), marking the transition to stipulationעַתָּה (H6258) 'now'; with וְ, the classic 'now therefore' formula pivoting from historical grounds to covenant demand — the treaty-form's structural hinge.
יְר֧אוּfearQal impv 2mp · יָרֵא (H3372)Imperative (main clause, opening the stipulation)→ Volitional (imperative): a direct commandיָרֵא (H3372) 'to fear'; reverent awe/worship, not mere terror — the first of the stipulation's core demands.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
יְהוָ֛הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Direct object of יְראוּיְהוָה (H3068), the sole rightful object of Israel's fear and service.
וְעִבְד֥וּand serveconj + Qal impv 2mp · עָבַד (H5647)Imperative (coordinate)→ Volitional (imperative): a direct commandעָבַד (H5647) 'to serve, worship'; the chapter's central verb, now issued as command rather than merely reported.
אֹת֖וֹhimobj marker/3ms suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object of וְעִבְדוּאֵת + 3ms suffix, 'him' — YHWH.
בְּתָמִ֣יםin completenessprep בְּ + Adj m sg abs (adverbial) · תָּמִים (H8549)Adverbial (manner)תָּמִים (H8549) 'complete, whole, blameless'; paired with אֱמֶת, 'in completeness and truth' — undivided, whole-hearted covenant loyalty, the opposite of the syncretism just renounced.
וּבֶֽאֱמֶ֑תand in truthconj + prep בְּ + N f sg abs · אֱמֶת (H571)Adverbial (manner, coordinate)אֱמֶת (H571) 'truth, faithfulness, reliability'; paired with תָּמִים as the standard for exclusive covenant service — the phrase's full weight anticipates Joshua's challenge in v. 19.
וְהָסִ֣ירוּand removeconj + Hiphil impv 2mp · סוּר (H5493)Imperative (coordinate)→ Volitional (imperative, Hiphil causative): a direct command — 'remove, put away'סוּר (H5493) Hiphil 'to turn aside, remove'; the concrete demand of exclusive loyalty — physically discard the ancestral idols.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
אֱלֹהִ֗יםthe godsN m pl abs · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Direct object of וְהָסִירוּאֱלֹהִים (H430) indefinite, 'gods' — the foreign deities of v. 2, now named for removal.
אֲשֶׁר֩whichrelative · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause markerאֲשֶׁר (H834) 'which, whom'; introduces the qualifying clause identifying the gods.
עָבְד֨וּservedQal perf 3cp · עָבַד (H5647)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective: a completed past act, recalledעָבַד (H5647) 'to serve'; recalls v. 2's disclosure — the very idolatry named there is now to be discarded.
אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֜םyour fathersN m pl constr/2mp suff · אָב (H1)Subject of עָבְדוּאָב (H1) 'father'; the ancestors named in v. 2 as idol-worshipers.
בְּעֵ֤בֶרbeyondprep בְּ + N m sg constr · עֵבֶר (H5676)Adverbial (locative)עֵבֶר (H5676) 'region across'; 'beyond the River' — repeating v. 2's Mesopotamian setting.
הַנָּהָר֙the Riverart + N m sg abs · נָהָר (H5104)Object of prepositionנָהָר (H5104), the Euphrates, site of the ancestral idolatry.
וּבְמִצְרַ֔יִםand in Egyptconj + prep בְּ + N proper · מִצְרַיִם (H4714)Adverbial (locative, coordinate)מִצְרַיִם (H4714) 'Egypt'; a second site of ancestral idolatry, an expansion beyond v. 2's report.
וְעִבְד֖וּand serveconj + Qal impv 2mp · עָבַד (H5647)Imperative (concluding, resumptive)→ Volitional (imperative): a direct command, repeated for emphasisעָבַד (H5647) repeated a third time in this verse — the stipulation's insistent refrain: serve YHWH, and YHWH alone.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
יְהוָֽהYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Direct object of וְעִבְדוּיְהוָה (H3068); the verse's opening and closing word are both 'YHWH' — a rhetorical frame underscoring exclusivity.
15

וְאִם֩ רַ֨ע בְּֽעֵינֵיכֶ֜ם לַעֲבֹ֣ד אֶת יְהוָ֗ה בַּחֲר֨וּ לָכֶ֣ם הַיּוֹם֮ אֶת מִ֣י תַעֲבֹדוּן֒ אִ֣ם אֶת אֱלֹהִ֞ים אֲשֶׁר עָבְד֣וּ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁר֙ בעבר מֵעֵ֣בֶר הַנָּהָ֔ר וְאִם֙ אֶת אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָאֱמֹרִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתֶּ֖ם יֹשְׁבִ֣ים בְּאַרְצָ֑ם וְאָנֹכִ֣י וּבֵיתִ֔י נַעֲבֹ֖ד אֶת יְהוָֽה

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve YHWH, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve — whether the gods your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell — but as for me and my house, we will serve YHWH.

Climax of the stipulation; the forced choiceasyndeton
Joshua does not merely restate the demand but forces a genuine decision, laying out every alternative (ancestral gods beyond the River, or the gods of the land now occupied) before closing with his own household's resolve — 'but as for me and my house.' The chapter's most quoted line functions rhetorically to prompt the people's own declaration in vv. 16-18.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
וְאִם֩and ifconj + conditional particle · אִם (H518)Conditional clause marker (protasis)אִם (H518) 'if'; introduces the conditional challenge.
רַ֨עevilAdj m sg abs · רַע (H7451)Predicate adjective (of the conditional clause)רַע (H7451) 'evil, bad, displeasing'; 'evil in your eyes' is the standard Hebrew idiom for subjective disapproval.
בְּֽעֵינֵיכֶ֜םin your eyesprep בְּ + N c dual constr/2mp suff · עַיִן (H5869)Adverbial (idiom of perception)עַיִן (H5869) 'eye'; 'in your eyes' — the standard idiom for subjective judgment.
לַעֲבֹ֣דto serveprep לְ + Qal inf constr · עָבַד (H5647)Subject infinitive of the predicate adjective רַע→ Infinitive construct: the logical subject of the evaluative clause — 'to serve is evil...'עָבַד (H5647) 'to serve'; the infinitive as subject of רַע — 'if serving YHWH is evil in your eyes.'
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
יְהוָ֗הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Direct object of the infinitive לַעֲבֹדיְהוָה (H3068), object of the hypothetically-rejected service.
בַּחֲר֨וּchooseQal impv 2mp · בָּחַר (H977)Imperative (main clause, apodosis)→ Volitional (imperative): a direct command to decideבָּחַר (H977) 'to choose'; the pivotal verb of the exchange — Joshua forces an actual decision rather than assuming compliance.
לָכֶ֣םfor yourselvesprep לְ/2mp suff · לְAdverbial (ethical dative)לְ + 2mp suffix, 'for yourselves'; the ethical dative intensifies the personal stakes of the choice.
הַיּוֹם֮this dayart + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Adverbial accusative of timeיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; with article, 'today, this day' — emphasizing the immediacy and finality of the decision.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (marks the interrogative מִי as object of תַעֲבֹדוּן)אֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
מִ֣יwhominterrogative pronoun · מִי (H4310)Direct object of תַעֲבֹדוּן (interrogative, fronted)מִי (H4310) 'who, whom'; interrogative pronoun — 'whom will you serve.'
תַעֲבֹדוּן֒you will serveQal impf 2mp + paragogic ן · עָבַד (H5647)Predicate verb (embedded question)→ Yiqtol: imperfective/modal — deliberative future, 'will you serve'עָבַד (H5647); yiqtol with paragogic נ, an emphatic lengthened form of the imperfect.
אִ֣םwhetherdisjunctive particle · אִם (H518)Disjunctive marker introducing the first alternativeאִם (H518) here disjunctive, 'whether'; introduces the first of two named alternatives.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
אֱלֹהִ֞יםthe godsN m pl abs · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Direct object (resumptive, restating מִי)אֱלֹהִים (H430) indefinite, 'gods' — the first named alternative.
אֲשֶׁרwhomrelative · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause markerאֲשֶׁר (H834) 'whom'; introduces the qualifying clause.
עָבְד֣וּservedQal perf 3cp · עָבַד (H5647)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective: a completed past actעָבַד (H5647) 'served'; recalling vv. 2, 14 again.
אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֗םyour fathersN m pl constr/2mp suff · אָב (H1)Subject of עָבְדוּאָב (H1) 'father'; the ancestors, again.
אֲשֶׁר֙thatrelative · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause marker (locative, further specifying the gods' origin)אֲשֶׁר (H834); introduces the locative clause 'that were beyond the River.'
בעבר[Ketiv, defective spelling]Ketiv (consonantal, unpointed) · עֵבֶר (H5676)Ketiv variant of the following Qere מֵעֵבֶרKetiv-Qere pair: the bare consonants בעבר are read per the Qere מֵעֵבֶר, 'from beyond' — a scribal-transmission feature, not a separate translatable word.
מֵעֵ֣בֶרbeyondprep מִן + N m sg constr (Qere) · עֵבֶר (H5676)Adverbial (locative, Qere reading)עֵבֶר (H5676) 'region across'; 'from beyond the River' — the Qere reading of the preceding Ketiv בעבר.
הַנָּהָ֔רthe Riverart + N m sg abs · נָהָר (H5104)Object of prepositionנָהָר (H5104), the Euphrates — the ancestral setting, repeated a third time in the chapter.
וְאִם֙orconj + disjunctive particle · אִם (H518)Disjunctive marker introducing the second alternativeאִם (H518) 'or (if)'; introduces the second named alternative.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
אֱלֹהֵ֣יthe gods ofN m pl constr · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Direct object (resumptive), constructאֱלֹהִים (H430) construct, 'the gods of' — the second named alternative.
הָאֱמֹרִ֔יthe Amoriteart + gentilic N m sg abs · אֱמֹרִי (H567)Genitive completing constructאֱמֹרִי (H567); the land's present inhabitants' deities — the immediate, local temptation, as opposed to the distant ancestral one.
אֲשֶׁ֥רin whoserelative · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause marker (locative)אֲשֶׁר (H834); introduces the clause locating Israel in Amorite territory.
אַתֶּ֖םyouindependent pronoun 2mp · אַתֶּם (H859)Subject of יֹשְׁבִים (emphatic)אַתֶּם (H859) 'you'; emphasizes the present, lived reality of dwelling in what was once foreign territory.
יֹשְׁבִ֣יםdwellQal ptc m pl abs · יָשַׁב (H3427)Predicate participle (relative clause, present sense)→ Participle: durative present — 'you are (now) dwelling'יָשַׁב (H3427) 'to dwell'; present-tense participle underscores the immediacy of the temptation.
בְּאַרְצָ֑םin their landprep בְּ + N c sg constr/3mp suff · אֶרֶץ (H776)Adverbial (locative)אֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; 'in their land' — the Amorites' territory, now Israel's own.
וְאָנֹכִ֣יbut as for meconj + independent pronoun 1cs · אָנֹכִי (H595)Subject (emphatic, contrastive, fronted)אָנֹכִי (H595) 'I'; the emphatic first-person pronoun opens Joshua's own resolve — the chapter's most quoted line.
וּבֵיתִ֔יand my houseconj + N m sg constr/1cs suff · בַּיִת (H1004)Coordinate subjectבַּיִת (H1004) 'house'; Joshua's household, joined to his own resolve — leadership modeled at the family level.
נַעֲבֹ֖דwe will serveQal impf 1cp · עָבַד (H5647)Predicate verb (main clause, declarative)→ Yiqtol: volitional/future — a resolute declaration of intent, 'we will serve'עָבַד (H5647); the chapter's central verb closes Joshua's declaration with unwavering resolve.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
יְהוָֽהYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Direct object of נַעֲבֹדיְהוָה (H3068), the object of Joshua's household's resolve — the verse's final word.
16

וַיַּ֤עַן הָעָם֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר חָלִ֣ילָה לָּ֔נוּ מֵעֲזֹ֖ב אֶת יְהוָ֑ה לַעֲבֹ֖ד אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִֽים

And the people answered and said, 'Far be it from us to forsake YHWH to serve other gods!'

The people's confession beginsasyndeton
The people's first response (vv. 16-18) — an emphatic oath-like repudiation, חָלִילָה, elsewhere used of unthinkable sins (1 Sam 24:6) — opens the confession that will culminate, ironically, in Joshua's skeptical rejoinder (v. 19).
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
וַיַּ֤עַןand answeredQal wayyiqtol 3ms · עָנָה (H6030)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceעָנָה (H6030) 'to answer, respond'; introduces the people's collective reply.
הָעָם֙the peopleart + N m sg abs · עַם (H5971)Subjectעַם (H5971) 'people'; Israel as a body, replying with one voice.
וַיֹּ֔אמֶרand saidQal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; introduces the direct-speech content of the people's answer.
חָלִ֣ילָהfar be itinterjection + paragogic ה · חָלִילָה (H2486)Exclamatory predicate (main clause)חָלִילָה (H2486) 'far be it, God forbid'; a strong oath-like repudiation, elsewhere used of unthinkable moral violations (1 Sam 24:6).
לָּ֔נוּfrom usprep לְ/1cp suff · לְAdverbial (dative of the exclamation)לְ + 1cp suffix, completing the idiom חָלִילָה לָּנוּ, 'far be it from us.'
מֵעֲזֹ֖בto forsakeprep מִן + Qal inf constr · עָזַב (H5800)Complementary infinitive (object of the exclamation)→ Infinitive construct: the specific act repudiated — 'to forsake'עָזַב (H5800) 'to forsake, abandon'; the very thing the people declare unthinkable.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
יְהוָ֑הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Direct object of infinitive מֵעֲזֹביְהוָה (H3068), the one they vow not to forsake.
לַעֲבֹ֖דto serveprep לְ + Qal inf constr · עָבַד (H5647)Purpose infinitive (result of forsaking)→ Infinitive construct: purpose/result — 'in order to serve'עָבַד (H5647) 'to serve'; the purpose-clause spells out what forsaking YHWH would mean.
אֱלֹהִ֥יםgodsN m pl abs · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Direct object of infinitive לַעֲבֹדאֱלֹהִים (H430) indefinite, 'gods' — the rejected alternative.
אֲחֵרִֽיםotherAdj m pl abs · אַחֵר (H312)Attributive adjective modifying אֱלֹהִיםאַחֵר (H312) 'other'; the fixed phrase 'other gods,' completing the people's repudiation.
17

כִּ֚י יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ הוּא֩ הַמַּעֲלֶ֨ה אֹתָ֧נוּ וְאֶת אֲבוֹתֵ֛ינוּ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם מִבֵּ֣ית עֲבָדִ֑ים וַאֲשֶׁ֧ר עָשָׂ֣ה לְעֵינֵ֗ינוּ אֶת הָאֹת֤וֹת הַגְּדֹלוֹת֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַֽיִּשְׁמְרֵ֗נוּ בְּכָל הַדֶּ֨רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָלַ֣כְנוּ בָ֔הּ וּבְכֹל֙ הָֽעַמִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָבַ֖רְנוּ בְּקִרְבָּֽם

For YHWH our God is he who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, from the house of slaves, and who did these great signs before our eyes, and kept us in all the way that we walked, and among all the peoples through whose midst we passed.

Grounds of the people's refusal; confession continuesכִּי
The people's confession (vv. 17-18) answers the historical prologue's third-person YHWH-speech with their own first-person testimony — 'YHWH our God, HE brought us up' — echoing the exodus formula (Exod 20:2) and recapitulating vv. 5-13 in miniature, now voiced by the people themselves.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
כִּ֚יforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunction, introducing the grounds of the people's refusal (v. 16)כִּי (H3588) 'for, because'; grounds the people's vow in their own recollection of YHWH's acts.
יְהוָ֣הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject (casus pendens, resumed by הוּא)יְהוָה (H3068), the confession's opening and emphatic subject.
אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּour GodN m pl constr/1cp suff · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'our God'; the people's own confession of covenant belonging, echoing v. 2's formula in reverse.
הוּא֩heindependent pronoun 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Resumptive pronoun, subject of the participial predicateהוּא (H1931) 'he'; resumes and emphasizes יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ as subject — 'HE is the one who...'
הַמַּעֲלֶ֨הthe one who brought upart + Hiphil ptc m sg abs (substantival) · עָלָה (H5927)Predicate participle (substantival, 'the one who brought up')→ Substantival participle: characterizes YHWH's defining, identity-constituting actעָלָה (H5927) Hiphil 'to bring up'; echoes the exodus self-identification formula (cf. Exod 20:2), now voiced by the people.
אֹתָ֧נוּusobj marker/1cp suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object of הַמַּעֲלֶהאֵת + 1cp suffix, 'us.'
וְאֶתand [obj]conj + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Coordinate direct-object markerוְ joins the second object; אֵת marks אֲבוֹתֵינוּ as the definite second object.
אֲבוֹתֵ֛ינוּour fathersN m pl constr/1cp suff · אָב (H1)Coordinate direct objectאָב (H1) 'father'; the people claim the exodus generation as 'our fathers,' completing the rhetorical merger begun in vv. 6-7.
מֵאֶ֥רֶץfrom the land ofprep מִן + N c sg constr · אֶרֶץ (H776)Adverbial (source)אֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; construct, 'from the land of Egypt.'
מִצְרַ֖יִםEgyptN proper · מִצְרַיִם (H4714)Genitive completing constructמִצְרַיִם (H4714), the place of bondage.
מִבֵּ֣יתfrom the house ofprep מִן + N m sg constr · בַּיִת (H1004)Adverbial (source, appositional restatement)בַּיִת (H1004) 'house'; construct, 'from the house of slaves' — the exodus-formula epithet for Egypt (cf. Exod 20:2; Deut 5:6).
עֲבָדִ֑יםslavesN m pl abs · עֶבֶד (H5650)Genitive completing constructעֶבֶד (H5650) 'slave, servant'; 'house of slaves' — Egypt named for Israel's former bondage there.
וַאֲשֶׁ֧רand whoconj + relative · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause marker (coordinate with הַמַּעֲלֶה)אֲשֶׁר (H834) 'who'; introduces a second characterization of YHWH, parallel to the participle.
עָשָׂ֣הdidQal perf 3ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective: a completed, decisive actעָשָׂה (H6213) 'to do, make'; YHWH's performance of the exodus/wilderness signs.
לְעֵינֵ֗ינוּbefore our eyesprep לְ + N c dual constr/1cp suff · עַיִן (H5869)Adverbial (locative of perception)עַיִן (H5869) 'eye'; 'before our eyes' — the people's own eyewitness claim, echoing v. 7's 'your eyes saw.'
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
הָאֹת֤וֹתthe signsart + N c pl abs · אוֹת (H226)Direct object of עָשָׂהאוֹת (H226) 'sign, wonder'; the plagues and deliverance acts collectively named 'signs.'
הַגְּדֹלוֹת֙the greatart + Adj f pl abs · גָּדוֹל (H1419)Attributive adjective modifying הָאֹתוֹתגָּדוֹל (H1419) 'great'; intensifies the magnitude of YHWH's wonders.
הָאֵ֔לֶּהtheseart + demonstrative pronoun c pl · אֵלֶּה (H428)Attributive demonstrative modifying הָאֹתוֹתאֵלֶּה (H428) 'these'; deictic, pointing to the specific signs just recalled.
וַֽיִּשְׁמְרֵ֗נוּand he kept usQal wayyiqtol 3ms/1cp suff · שָׁמַר (H8104)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceשָׁמַר (H8104) 'to keep, guard, protect'; YHWH's providential care through the wilderness journey.
בְּכָלin allprep בְּ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Adverbial (locative)כֹּל (H3605) 'all'; 'in all the way' — the entirety of the wilderness journey.
הַדֶּ֨רֶךְ֙the wayart + N c sg abs · דֶּרֶךְ (H1870)Genitive completing constructדֶּרֶךְ (H1870) 'way, road, journey'; the wilderness route from Egypt to Canaan.
אֲשֶׁ֣רthatrelative · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause markerאֲשֶׁר (H834) 'that'; introduces the qualifying clause on הַדֶּרֶךְ.
הָלַ֣כְנוּwe walkedQal perf 1cp · הָלַךְ (H1980)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective: a completed journey, recalledהָלַךְ (H1980) 'to walk, go'; the people's own retrospective on their wilderness travel.
בָ֔הּin itprep בְּ/3fs suff · בְּAdverbial, object of preposition, referring to הַדֶּרֶךְבְּ + 3fs suffix, 'in it' — referring back to the (feminine) way.
וּבְכֹל֙and among allconj + prep בְּ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Adverbial (locative, coordinate)כֹּל (H3605) 'all'; 'and among all the peoples.'
הָֽעַמִּ֔יםthe peoplesart + N m pl abs · עַם (H5971)Genitive completing constructעַם (H5971) 'people'; the various nations encountered en route to Canaan.
אֲשֶׁ֥רthrough whomrelative · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause markerאֲשֶׁר (H834); introduces the qualifying clause on הָעַמִּים.
עָבַ֖רְנוּwe passedQal perf 1cp · עָבַר (H5674)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective: a completed act of passage, recalledעָבַר (H5674) 'to pass, cross over'; the people's own account of their journey through hostile territories.
בְּקִרְבָּֽםin their midstprep בְּ + N m sg constr/3mp suff · קֶרֶב (H7130)Adverbial (locative)קֶרֶב (H7130) 'midst, interior'; 'in their midst' — passing through, not around, these peoples' territory.
18

וַיְגָ֨רֶשׁ יְהוָ֜ה אֶת כָּל הָעַמִּ֗ים וְאֶת הָאֱמֹרִ֛י יֹשֵׁ֥ב הָאָ֖רֶץ מִפָּנֵ֑ינוּ גַּם אֲנַ֨חְנוּ֙ נַעֲבֹ֣ד אֶת יְהוָ֔ה כִּי ה֖וּא אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ

And YHWH drove out from before us all the peoples, and the Amorites who dwelt in the land; we also will serve YHWH, for he is our God.

Climax of the people's confessionasyndeton
The people's own resolve ('we also will serve YHWH') deliberately echoes Joshua's declaration in v. 15 ('as for me and my house'), closing the confession's circle before Joshua's startling, testing response in v. 19.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
וַיְגָ֨רֶשׁand drove outPiel wayyiqtol 3ms · גָּרַשׁ (H1644)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol (Piel): foregrounded narrative advanceגָּרַשׁ (H1644) 'to drive out'; the people recall the same verb used of the hornet in v. 12, now attributing the conquest directly to YHWH.
יְהוָ֜הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Subjectיְהוָה (H3068), the sole agent of the conquest, per the people's own confession.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
כָּלallN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct governing הָעַמִּיםכֹּל (H3605) 'all'; construct, 'all the peoples.'
הָעַמִּ֗יםthe peoplesart + N m pl abs · עַם (H5971)Genitive completing construct, direct object of וַיְגָרֶשׁעַם (H5971) 'people'; the nations of the land collectively.
וְאֶתand [obj]conj + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Conjunction + direct-object marker (second object)וְ joins the second object; אֵת marks הָאֱמֹרִי as the definite second object.
הָאֱמֹרִ֛יthe Amoriteart + gentilic N m sg abs · אֱמֹרִי (H567)Direct object (coordinate)אֱמֹרִי (H567) 'Amorite'; singled out again as representative of Canaan's population.
יֹשֵׁ֥בdwellingQal ptc m sg abs (attributive) · יָשַׁב (H3427)Attributive participle modifying הָאֱמֹרִי→ Attributive participle: an ongoing state, 'the one dwelling'יָשַׁב (H3427) 'to dwell'; describes the Amorite as inhabitant of the land, echoing v. 8.
הָאָ֖רֶץthe landart + N c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Direct object of participle יֹשֵׁבאֶרֶץ (H776) 'land'; the territory the Amorite inhabited.
מִפָּנֵ֑ינוּfrom before usprep מִן + N c pl constr/1cp suff · פָּנִים (H6440)Adverbial (locative)פָּנִים (H6440); מִפָּנֵינוּ, 'from before us' — the people's first-person version of the standard dispossession idiom.
גַּםalsoadv · גַּם (H1571)Adverbial (emphatic, 'also/indeed')גַּם (H1571) 'also, even, indeed'; emphasizes the people's resolve as matching Joshua's own (v. 15).
אֲנַ֨חְנוּ֙weindependent pronoun 1cp · אֲנַחְנוּ (H587)Subject (emphatic, fronted)אֲנַחְנוּ (H587) 'we'; the emphatic first-person plural echoes Joshua's own אָנֹכִי (v. 15).
נַעֲבֹ֣דwill serveQal impf 1cp · עָבַד (H5647)Predicate verb (main clause, declarative)→ Yiqtol: volitional/future — a resolute declaration matching Joshua's own (v. 15)עָבַד (H5647); the people's own resolve, deliberately echoing Joshua's declaration in v. 15.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
יְהוָ֔הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Direct object of נַעֲבֹדיְהוָה (H3068), object of the people's declared service.
כִּיforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunctionכִּי (H3588) 'for, because'; grounds the resolve in confession of YHWH's identity.
ה֖וּאheindependent pronoun 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject (resumptive/copular)הוּא (H1931) 'he'; copular pronoun, 'he is our God.'
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּour GodN m pl constr/1cp suff · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Predicate nominativeאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'our God'; the confession's closing affirmation, matching v. 17's opening.
19

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ אֶל הָעָ֗ם לֹ֤א תֽוּכְלוּ֙ לַעֲבֹ֣ד אֶת יְהוָ֔ה כִּֽי אֱלֹהִ֥ים קְדֹשִׁ֖ים ה֑וּא אֵֽל קַנּ֣וֹא ה֔וּא לֹֽא יִשָּׂ֥א לְפִשְׁעֲכֶ֖ם וּלְחַטֹּאותֵיכֶֽם

But Joshua said to the people, 'You are not able to serve YHWH, for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgression or your sins.'

Joshua's testing rejoinder — the book's hardest verseasyndeton
Joshua flatly denies what the people just vowed: 'you cannot serve YHWH.' The plural adjective אֱלֹהִים קְדֹשִׁים ('holy God,' grammatically plural though referring to the one God) and the rare form אֵל קַנּוֹא ('a jealous God') underline the impossibility not of the covenant itself but of casual, unreflective loyalty — Joshua tests the people's resolve rather than releasing them from it.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
וַיֹּ֨אמֶרand saidQal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; introduces Joshua's startling rejoinder.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַJoshuaN proper · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Subjectיְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091), testing the people's confession rather than simply accepting it.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (addressee)אֶל (H413) 'to'; marks the addressee.
הָעָ֗םthe peopleart + N m sg abs · עַם (H5971)Object of prepositionעַם (H5971) 'people', the addressee of Joshua's challenge.
לֹ֤אnotneg · לֹא (H3808)Negation of תוּכְלוּלֹא (H3808) 'not'; the verse's shocking opening negation.
תֽוּכְלוּ֙you are ableQal impf 2mp · יָכֹל (H3201)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Yiqtol: modal — capability, negated ('you are not able')יָכֹל (H3201) 'to be able'; Joshua denies not the people's willingness but their capacity for the exclusive holiness YHWH's service demands.
לַעֲבֹ֣דto serveprep לְ + Qal inf constr · עָבַד (H5647)Complementary infinitive (object of תוּכְלוּ)→ Infinitive construct: complement — 'to serve'עָבַד (H5647); the very verb the people have just used of themselves three times (vv. 15, 16, 18), now questioned.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
יְהוָ֔הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Direct object of infinitive לַעֲבֹדיְהוָה (H3068), the God whose service the people have just claimed to be capable of.
כִּֽיforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunctionכִּי (H3588) 'for'; grounds the denial in YHWH's own nature.
אֱלֹהִ֥יםGodN m pl abs · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Predicate nominative (plural form, singular referent)אֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'; here modified by the plural adjective קְדֹשִׁים — a striking plural-plural construction for the one God, intensifying rather than pluralizing his holiness.
קְדֹשִׁ֖יםholyAdj m pl abs · קָדוֹשׁ (H6918)Predicate adjective, plural agreeing with אֱלֹהִיםקָדוֹשׁ (H6918) 'holy'; the plural form (rare for a divine attribute) intensifies YHWH's utter set-apartness and moral purity — the ground of the impossibility just stated.
ה֑וּאheindependent pronoun 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Copular subject pronounהוּא (H1931) 'he'; copula, 'he is a holy God.'
אֵֽלa GodN m sg abs · אֵל (H410)Predicate nominativeאֵל (H410) 'God, deity'; the shorter divine-name form, paired here with the rare adjective קַנּוֹא.
קַנּ֣וֹאjealousAdj m sg abs · קַנּוֹא (H7072)Attributive adjective modifying אֵלקַנּוֹא (H7072) 'jealous'; a rare intensive form (only here and Nah 1:2) of the more common קַנָּא — YHWH's jealousy tolerates no rival worship (cf. Exod 20:5; 34:14).
ה֔וּאheindependent pronoun 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Copular subject pronounהוּא (H1931) 'he'; copula, repeated for emphasis, 'he is a jealous God.'
לֹֽאnotneg · לֹא (H3808)Negation of יִשָּׂאלֹא (H3808) 'not.'
יִשָּׂ֥אhe will forgiveQal impf 3ms · נָשָׂא (H5375)Predicate verb (main clause), negated→ Yiqtol: future/modal — a firm negative prediction, 'he will not forgive'נָשָׂא (H5375) 'to lift, carry, bear'; idiomatically 'to forgive/bear away guilt' — negated here, warning that willful apostasy after this vow will not be casually pardoned.
לְפִשְׁעֲכֶ֖םyour transgressionprep לְ + N m sg constr/2mp suff · פֶּשַׁע (H6588)Direct object (marked with לְ) of יִשָּׂאפֶּשַׁע (H6588) 'transgression, rebellion'; willful, rebellious sin — a stronger term than mere error.
וּלְחַטֹּאותֵיכֶֽםand your sinsconj + prep לְ + N f pl constr/2mp suff · חַטָּאת (H2403)Coordinate direct objectחַטָּאת (H2403) 'sin'; paired with פֶּשַׁע as the totality of covenant-breaking guilt.
20

כִּ֤י תַֽעַזְבוּ֙ אֶת יְהוָ֔ה וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֖ם אֱלֹהֵ֣י נֵכָ֑ר וְשָׁ֨ב וְהֵרַ֤ע לָכֶם֙ וְכִלָּ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֔ם אַחֲרֵ֖י אֲשֶׁר הֵיטִ֥יב לָכֶֽם

If you forsake YHWH and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good.

Joshua's warning; consequence specifiedכִּי
Joshua specifies the consequence of the very apostasy the retrospective has already shown the ancestors committing (v. 2): YHWH's 'turning' (שׁוּב) from blessing to judgment is not arbitrary but proportionate — the God who did good will, upon betrayal, undo that good.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
כִּ֤יifconj · כִּי (H3588)Conditional/temporal conjunction ('if, when')כִּי (H3588) here conditional, 'if'; introduces the hypothetical apostasy.
תַֽעַזְבוּ֙you forsakeQal impf 2mp · עָזַב (H5800)Predicate verb (protasis)→ Yiqtol: conditional/future — 'if you forsake'עָזַב (H5800) 'to forsake'; the same verb the people vowed never to do (v. 16).
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
יְהוָ֔הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Direct object of תַעַזְבוּיְהוָה (H3068), the object of the hypothetical, feared forsaking.
וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֖םand serveconj + Qal weqatal 2mp · עָבַד (H5647)Predicate verb (protasis, continued)→ Weqatal: continuing the conditional sequence, 'and [if you] serve'עָבַד (H5647); the same central verb, now describing apostate service to foreign gods.
אֱלֹהֵ֣יgods ofN m pl constr · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Direct object of וַעֲבַדְתֶּם, constructאֱלֹהִים (H430) construct, 'gods of.'
נֵכָ֑רa foreign landN m sg abs · נֵכָר (H5236)Genitive completing constructנֵכָר (H5236) 'foreign, alien'; 'gods of a foreign land' — the same category as v. 2's ancestral idols and v. 15's Amorite deities.
וְשָׁ֨בthen he will turnconj + Qal weqatal 3ms · שׁוּב (H7725)Predicate verb (apodosis begins)→ Weqatal: consequential future, 'then he will turn'שׁוּב (H7725) 'to turn, return'; YHWH's reversal from blessing to judgment — the pivotal verb of the warning.
וְהֵרַ֤עand do harmconj + Hiphil weqatal 3ms · רָעַע (H7489)Predicate verb (apodosis, coordinate)→ Weqatal (Hiphil, causative): consequential future, 'and will do harm'רָעַע (H7489) Hiphil 'to do evil, harm'; the direct reversal of the good YHWH has done.
לָכֶם֙to youprep לְ/2mp suff · לְAdverbial (dative)לְ + 2mp suffix, 'to you.'
וְכִלָּ֣הand consumeconj + Piel weqatal 3ms · כָּלָה (H3615)Predicate verb (apodosis, coordinate)→ Weqatal (Piel, intensive): consequential future, 'and will consume/destroy'כָּלָה (H3615) Piel 'to finish, consume, destroy'; the warning's most severe term — total consumption, not mere setback.
אֶתְכֶ֔םyouobj marker/2mp suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object of וְכִלָּהאֵת + 2mp suffix, 'you.'
אַחֲרֵ֖יafterprep · אַחֲרֵי (H310)Prepositional phrase (temporal, governing the relative clause)אַחֲרֵי (H310) 'after'; introduces the temporal clause contrasting past good with future harm.
אֲשֶׁרthatrelative · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause markerאֲשֶׁר (H834); completes אַחֲרֵי אֲשֶׁר, 'after that.'
הֵיטִ֥יבhe did goodHiphil perf 3ms · יָטַב (H3190)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective (Hiphil, causative): a completed past act — 'he did good'יָטַב (H3190) Hiphil 'to do good, benefit'; the tragic irony — judgment follows precisely the good YHWH has already shown, sharpening the warning.
לָכֶֽםto youprep לְ/2mp suff · לְAdverbial (dative)לְ + 2mp suffix, 'to you' — closing the verse on the note of undeserved past blessing.
21

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הָעָ֖ם אֶל יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ לֹ֕א כִּ֥י אֶת יְהוָ֖ה נַעֲבֹֽד

And the people said to Joshua, 'No, but we will serve YHWH.'

The people's renewed insistenceasyndeton
The terse, emphatic reply — 'no, but' (לֹא כִּי, an idiom of firm correction) — refuses Joshua's warning as grounds for retreat; the people's resolve deepens rather than wavers.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
וַיֹּ֥אמֶרand saidQal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; introduces the people's terse reply.
הָעָ֖םthe peopleart + N m sg abs · עַם (H5971)Subjectעַם (H5971) 'people', again speaking collectively.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (addressee)אֶל (H413) 'to'; marks Joshua as addressee.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַJoshuaN proper · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Object of prepositionיְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091), the tester now answered.
לֹ֕אnoneg · לֹא (H3808)Emphatic negation (idiomatic correction, 'no')לֹא (H3808) 'no'; standalone, rejecting the implication that they might waver.
כִּ֥יbutconj · כִּי (H3588)Adversative conjunction ('but'), completing the idiom לֹא כִּיכִּי (H3588) here adversative after לֹא, 'but'; לֹא כִּי is a firm corrective insistence, 'no, rather...'
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
יְהוָ֖הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Direct object of נַעֲבֹדיְהוָה (H3068), object of the people's renewed resolve.
נַעֲבֹֽדwe will serveQal impf 1cp · עָבַד (H5647)Predicate verb (main clause, declarative)→ Yiqtol: volitional/future — a resolute reaffirmation, 'we will serve'עָבַד (H5647); the people reaffirm their vow a fourth time in the chapter, undeterred by Joshua's warning.
22

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ אֶל הָעָ֗ם עֵדִ֤ים אַתֶּם֙ בָּכֶ֔ם כִּֽי אַתֶּ֞ם בְּחַרְתֶּ֥ם לָכֶ֛ם אֶת יְהוָ֖ה לַעֲבֹ֣ד אוֹת֑וֹ וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ עֵדִֽים

And Joshua said to the people, 'You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen YHWH for yourselves, to serve him.' And they said, 'We are witnesses.'

Formal witness declaration; document section beginsasyndeton
Joshua formalizes the exchange into legal witness-language — 'you are witnesses against yourselves' — turning the people's own words into binding self-testimony; their one-word reply, 'witnesses,' seals the exchange with the terseness of a legal oath.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
וַיֹּ֨אמֶרand saidQal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; introduces Joshua's formal declaration.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַJoshuaN proper · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Subjectיְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091), now formalizing the exchange as binding testimony.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (addressee)אֶל (H413) 'to.'
הָעָ֗םthe peopleart + N m sg abs · עַם (H5971)Object of prepositionעַם (H5971) 'people.'
עֵדִ֤יםwitnessesN m pl abs · עֵד (H5707)Predicate nominativeעֵד (H5707) 'witness'; legal-forensic term — the people become witnesses to their own binding vow, a device used elsewhere in covenant ceremonies (cf. Deut 31:19).
אַתֶּם֙youindependent pronoun 2mp · אַתֶּם (H859)Subjectאַתֶּם (H859) 'you'; subject of the nominal clause 'you are witnesses.'
בָּכֶ֔םagainst yourselvesprep בְּ/2mp suff · בְּAdverbial ('against yourselves')בְּ + 2mp suffix; 'against yourselves' — the testimony is self-incriminating if the vow is broken.
כִּֽיthatconj · כִּי (H3588)Complementizer ('that'), introducing the content of the testimonyכִּי (H3588) here 'that'; introduces what the people are witnesses to.
אַתֶּ֞םyouindependent pronoun 2mp · אַתֶּם (H859)Subject (emphatic, repeated)אַתֶּם (H859) 'you'; repeated for emphasis within the כִּי-clause.
בְּחַרְתֶּ֥םhave chosenQal perf 2mp · בָּחַר (H977)Predicate verb (כִּי-clause)→ Perfective: a completed, decisive act — 'you have chosen'בָּחַר (H977) 'to choose'; recalls Joshua's own imperative in v. 15 — the people's choice is now formally on record.
לָכֶ֛םfor yourselvesprep לְ/2mp suff · לְAdverbial (ethical dative)לְ + 2mp suffix, 'for yourselves' — echoing v. 15's identical phrase.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
יְהוָ֖הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Direct object of בְּחַרְתֶּםיְהוָה (H3068), the object of the people's formalized choice.
לַעֲבֹ֣דto serveprep לְ + Qal inf constr · עָבַד (H5647)Purpose infinitive (result of the choosing)→ Infinitive construct: purpose — 'to serve him'עָבַד (H5647); the purpose of the choice, restated once more.
אוֹת֑וֹhimobj marker/3ms suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object of infinitive לַעֲבֹדאֵת + 3ms suffix, 'him' — YHWH.
וַיֹּאמְר֖וּand they saidQal wayyiqtol 3mp · אָמַר (H559)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; the people's terse, formal reply.
עֵדִֽיםwitnessesN m pl abs · עֵד (H5707)Predicate nominative (one-word reply)עֵד (H5707) 'witness'; the single-word response 'witnesses' seals the exchange with the terseness of a legal oath.
23

וְעַתָּ֕ה הָסִ֛ירוּ אֶת אֱלֹהֵ֥י הַנֵּכָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֑ם וְהַטּוּ֙ אֶת לְבַבְכֶ֔ם אֶל יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

Now therefore put away the foreign gods that are in your midst, and incline your heart to YHWH, the God of Israel.

Joshua's closing directiveוְעַתָּה
Joshua's closing directive translates the vow into concrete action: 'put away' echoes v. 14's demand almost verbatim — a startling admission that idols were STILL present among the people even after their vow — moving from confession to command once more before the covenant is actually cut (v. 25).
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וְעַתָּ֕הnow thereforeconj + adv · עַתָּה (H6258)Adverbial (temporal/logical), marking a final transition to commandעַתָּה (H6258) 'now'; the 'now therefore' formula recurs (cf. v. 14), closing the dialogue with a final imperative.
הָסִ֛ירוּput awayHiphil impv 2mp · סוּר (H5493)Imperative (main clause)→ Volitional (imperative, Hiphil causative): a direct command — 'put away'סוּר (H5493) Hiphil 'to remove'; repeats v. 14's demand almost verbatim, now as Joshua's closing word to the newly self-testified people.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
אֱלֹהֵ֥יthe gods ofN m pl constr · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Direct object of הָסִירוּ, constructאֱלֹהִים (H430) construct, 'gods of.'
הַנֵּכָ֖רthe foreignart + N m sg abs · נֵכָר (H5236)Genitive completing constructנֵכָר (H5236) 'foreign'; 'the foreign gods' — synonymous with v. 20's phrase, now demanding concrete removal.
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhichrelative · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause markerאֲשֶׁר (H834) 'which'; introduces the locative clause.
בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֑םin your midstprep בְּ + N m sg constr/2mp suff · קֶרֶב (H7130)Adverbial (locative, predicate of relative clause)קֶרֶב (H7130) 'midst'; a startling admission that idols were STILL present among the people even after their vow, sharpening the demand's urgency.
וְהַטּוּ֙and inclineconj + Hiphil impv 2mp · נָטָה (H5186)Imperative (coordinate)→ Volitional (imperative, Hiphil causative): a direct command — 'incline'נָטָה (H5186) Hiphil 'to stretch out, incline'; a positive counterpart to removal — redirecting the heart's orientation entirely, not just discarding idols.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
לְבַבְכֶ֔םyour heartN m sg constr/2mp suff · לֵבָב (H3824)Direct object of וְהַטּוּלֵבָב (H3824) 'heart, mind'; the seat of will and loyalty — the demand moves from outward act to inward disposition.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (directional, goal of הַטּוּ)אֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; marks the direction of the heart's reorientation.
יְהוָ֖הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Object of preposition אֶליְהוָה (H3068), the goal of undivided heart-loyalty.
אֱלֹהֵ֥יthe God ofN m pl constr · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָה, constructאֱלֹהִים (H430) construct, 'God of' — apposition identifying YHWH as Israel's covenant God, closing the demand as it began (v. 2).
יִשְׂרָאֵֽלIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive completing constructיִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478), the covenant people — 'YHWH, God of Israel' bookends the chapter's language (v. 2).
24

וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ הָעָ֖ם אֶל יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ אֶת יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֨ינוּ֙ נַעֲבֹ֔ד וּבְקוֹל֖וֹ נִשְׁמָֽע

And the people said to Joshua, 'YHWH our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.'

Final ratification of the vow; dialogue closesasyndeton
The people's final, formal ratification — fronting both objects ('YHWH'... 'his voice') for emphasis — closes the dialogue proper and clears the way for the covenant document itself (vv. 25-27).
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
וַיֹּאמְר֥וּand saidQal wayyiqtol 3mp · אָמַר (H559)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; introduces the people's final, formal ratification.
הָעָ֖םthe peopleart + N m sg abs · עַם (H5971)Subjectעַם (H5971) 'people.'
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (addressee)אֶל (H413) 'to.'
יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַJoshuaN proper · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Object of prepositionיְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091), addressee of the people's final answer.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object marker (marks the fronted object יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ)אֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
יְהוָ֤הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Direct object of נַעֲבֹד (fronted for emphasis)יְהוָה (H3068), fronted as the emphatic object — 'YHWH our God we will serve.'
אֱלֹהֵ֨ינוּ֙our GodN m pl constr/1cp suff · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Apposition to יְהוָהאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'our God'; apposition, the people's confession repeated once more.
נַעֲבֹ֔דwe will serveQal impf 1cp · עָבַד (H5647)Predicate verb (main clause, declarative)→ Yiqtol: volitional/future — the vow's fifth restatement in the chapterעָבַד (H5647); the people's vow, now formally sealed for the last time in the dialogue.
וּבְקוֹל֖וֹand his voiceconj + prep בְּ + N m sg constr/3ms suff · קוֹל (H6963)Direct object (marked with בְּ) of נִשְׁמָע, fronted for emphasisקוֹל (H6963) 'voice'; 'his voice' — obedience to YHWH's spoken word, paired with service as the vow's second half.
נִשְׁמָֽעwe will obeyQal impf 1cp · שָׁמַע (H8085)Predicate verb (coordinate main clause)→ Yiqtol: volitional/future — a resolute declaration, 'we will obey'שָׁמַע (H8085) 'to hear, obey'; completes the pair 'serve...obey' — the totality of covenant loyalty in word and deed.
25

וַיִּכְרֹ֨ת יְהוֹשֻׁ֧עַ בְּרִ֛ית לָעָ֖ם בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וַיָּ֥שֶׂם ל֛וֹ חֹ֥ק וּמִשְׁפָּ֖ט בִּשְׁכֶֽם

So Joshua cut a covenant for the people that day, and set for them a statute and an ordinance at Shechem.

The covenant document section beginsasyndeton
The technical verb כָּרַת בְּרִית ('cut a covenant') marks the formal, ratified establishment of what has just been vowed — the standard biblical idiom for covenant-making, deriving from the practice of cutting sacrificial animals (cf. Gen 15).
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
וַיִּכְרֹ֨תand cutQal wayyiqtol 3ms · כָּרַת (H3772)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceכָּרַת (H3772) 'to cut'; with בְּרִית the standard idiom for covenant-making — the moment the vow becomes formal covenant.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֧עַJoshuaN proper · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Subjectיְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091), acting as covenant mediator, formalizing what has just been vowed.
בְּרִ֛יתa covenantN f sg abs · בְּרִית (H1285)Direct object of וַיִּכְרֹתבְּרִית (H1285) 'covenant'; the technical term for the binding agreement now formally established.
לָעָ֖םfor the peopleprep לְ (with article) + N m sg abs · עַם (H5971)Indirect object of וַיִּכְרֹתעַם (H5971) 'people'; the party bound by the covenant.
בַּיּ֣וֹםon the dayprep בְּ (with article) + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Adverbial accusative of timeיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; with הַהוּא, 'that day' — a formal notation marking the covenant's historical occurrence.
הַה֑וּאthatart + independent pronoun 3ms (demonstrative use) · הוּא (H1931)Attributive demonstrative modifying הַיּוֹםהוּא (H1931) with article functions demonstratively, 'that (day)' — the standard idiom for 'on that particular day.'
וַיָּ֥שֶׂםand he setQal wayyiqtol 3ms · שִׂים (H7760)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceשִׂים (H7760) 'to set, establish'; Joshua institutes binding legal norms alongside the covenant.
ל֛וֹfor themprep לְ/3ms suff · לְAdverbial (dative), referring to the people collectivelyלְ + 3ms suffix, 'for it/them' — the people as a collective singular.
חֹ֥קa statuteN m sg abs · חֹק (H2706)Direct object of וַיָּשֶׂםחֹק (H2706) 'statute, decree'; a fixed, prescribed regulation.
וּמִשְׁפָּ֖טand an ordinanceconj + N m sg abs · מִשְׁפָּט (H4941)Coordinate direct objectמִשְׁפָּט (H4941) 'judgment, ordinance'; paired with חֹק as the standard Hebrew hendiadys for binding legal norms.
בִּשְׁכֶֽםat Shechemprep בְּ + N proper · שְׁכֶם (H7927)Adverbial (locative)שְׁכֶם (H7927) 'Shechem'; the covenant site named explicitly, closing the frame opened in v. 1.
26

וַיִּכְתֹּ֤ב יְהוֹשֻׁ֨עַ֙ אֶת הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה בְּסֵ֖פֶר תּוֹרַ֣ת אֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיִּקַּח֙ אֶ֣בֶן גְּדוֹלָ֔ה וַיְקִימֶ֣הָ שָּׁ֔ם תַּ֚חַת הָֽאַלָּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּמִקְדַּ֥שׁ יְהוָֽה

And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a great stone and set it up there, under the oak that was in the sanctuary of YHWH.

The covenant textualized and memorializedasyndeton
The covenant is committed to writing — Joshua's words join (or supplement) 'the book of the law of God,' probably the Torah scroll kept beside the ark, though the precise referent is debated — while a great memorial stone is set under the sacred tree in what the text calls YHWH's sanctuary at Shechem, a striking notice given the Jerusalem-centralization expected later in the biblical narrative.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
וַיִּכְתֹּ֤בand wroteQal wayyiqtol 3ms · כָּתַב (H3789)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceכָּתַב (H3789) 'to write'; the covenant is committed to a permanent written record, following the pattern of ancient Near Eastern treaty documents.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֨עַ֙JoshuaN proper · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Subjectיְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091), the covenant's human scribe.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
הַדְּבָרִ֣יםthe wordsart + N m pl abs · דָּבָר (H1697)Direct object of וַיִּכְתֹּבדָּבָר (H1697) 'word, thing, matter'; 'these words' — the covenant terms just enacted.
הָאֵ֔לֶּהtheseart + demonstrative pronoun c pl · אֵלֶּה (H428)Attributive demonstrative modifying הַדְּבָרִיםאֵלֶּה (H428) 'these'; deictic, pointing to the covenant just concluded.
בְּסֵ֖פֶרin the book ofprep בְּ + N m sg constr · סֵפֶר (H5612)Adverbial (locative)סֵפֶר (H5612) 'book, scroll'; construct, 'in the book of.'
תּוֹרַ֣תthe law ofN f sg constr · תּוֹרָה (H8451)Genitive completing constructתּוֹרָה (H8451) 'law, instruction'; construct. The phrase סֵפֶר תּוֹרַת אֱלֹהִים, 'the book of the law of God,' is weighty — Joshua's writing joins (or supplements) an authoritative Torah document, likely deposited beside the ark.
אֱלֹהִ֑יםGodN m pl abs · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Genitive completing constructאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'; 'the law of God' — the covenant text is given divine, not merely civic, authority.
וַיִּקַּח֙and he tookQal wayyiqtol 3ms · לָקַח (H3947)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceלָקַח (H3947) 'to take'; Joshua procures a physical memorial to accompany the written record.
אֶ֣בֶןa stoneN f sg abs · אֶבֶן (H68)Direct object of וַיִּקַּחאֶבֶן (H68) 'stone'; the memorial witness-stone, cf. Gen 31:45-52 (Jacob and Laban's covenant stone).
גְּדוֹלָ֔הgreatAdj f sg abs · גָּדוֹל (H1419)Attributive adjective modifying אֶבֶןגָּדוֹל (H1419) 'great'; emphasizes the stone's monumental, publicly visible character.
וַיְקִימֶ֣הָand set it upHiphil wayyiqtol 3ms/3fs suff · קוּם (H6965)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol (Hiphil, causative): foregrounded narrative advanceקוּם (H6965) Hiphil 'to raise up, set up'; erecting the stone as a standing memorial.
שָּׁ֔םthereadv · שָׁם (H8033)Adverbial (locative)שָׁם (H8033) 'there'; anaphoric, referring to the Shechem site.
תַּ֚חַתunderprep · תַּחַת (H8478)Prepositional phrase (locative)תַּחַת (H8478) 'under, beneath'; locates the stone precisely.
הָֽאַלָּ֔הthe oakart + N f sg abs · אַלָּה (H427)Object of prepositionאַלָּה (H427) 'oak, terebinth'; a sacred tree associated elsewhere with Shechem theophanies (Gen 35:4; Judg 9:6) — possibly the tree under which Jacob buried foreign gods (Gen 35:4).
אֲשֶׁ֖רthatrelative · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause markerאֲשֶׁר (H834) 'that'; introduces the qualifying clause locating the oak.
בְּמִקְדַּ֥שׁin the sanctuary ofprep בְּ + N m sg constr · מִקְדָּשׁ (H4720)Adverbial (locative, predicate of relative clause)מִקְדָּשׁ (H4720) 'sanctuary, holy place'; construct — a striking notice of a recognized cultic site at Shechem, textually significant given the later Jerusalem-centralization tradition; the crux has drawn much scholarly comment.
יְהוָֽהYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive completing constructיְהוָה (H3068), to whom the Shechem sanctuary is dedicated — closing the covenant-document section on a note of sacred place.
27

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַ אֶל כָּל הָעָ֗ם הִנֵּ֨ה הָאֶ֤בֶן הַזֹּאת֙ תִּֽהְיֶה בָּ֣נוּ לְעֵדָ֔ה כִּֽי הִ֣יא שָׁמְעָ֗ה אֵ֚ת כָּל אִמְרֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֖ר עִמָּ֑נוּ וְהָיְתָ֤ה בָכֶם֙ לְעֵדָ֔ה פֶּֽן תְּכַחֲשׁ֖וּן בֵּאלֹהֵיכֶֽם

And Joshua said to all the people, 'Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of YHWH that he spoke with us; it shall be a witness against you, lest you deny your God.'

The stone-theology climaxasyndeton
The memorial stone is personified as a hearer of the covenant words, testifying against present and future generations should they deny (כִּחֵשׁ) their God — a vivid rhetorical device that gives the inanimate witness startling moral weight, and a sober note on which the ceremony's speeches close.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
וַיֹּ֨אמֶרand saidQal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; introduces Joshua's final explanatory word on the stone's significance.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֜עַJoshuaN proper · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Subjectיְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091), explaining the memorial's theological function.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase (addressee)אֶל (H413) 'to.'
כָּלallN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct governing הָעָםכֹּל (H3605) 'all'; construct, 'all the people.'
הָעָ֗םthe peopleart + N m sg abs · עַם (H5971)Genitive completing construct, object of prepositionעַם (H5971) 'people.'
הִנֵּ֨הbeholdpresentative particle · הִנֵּה (H2009)Presentative particle (introduces the following clause with vividness)הִנֵּה (H2009) 'behold'; draws attention emphatically to the stone.
הָאֶ֤בֶןthe stoneart + N f sg abs · אֶבֶן (H68)Subject (with הִנֵּה, presented emphatically)אֶבֶן (H68) 'stone'; the memorial just erected (v. 26).
הַזֹּאת֙thisart + demonstrative pronoun f sg · זֹאת (H2063)Attributive demonstrative modifying הָאֶבֶןזֹאת (H2063) 'this'; deictic, pointing to the specific stone.
תִּֽהְיֶהwill beQal impf 3fs · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Yiqtol: future, 'will be'הָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become'; predicts the stone's ongoing testimonial function.
בָּ֣נוּagainst usprep בְּ/1cp suff · בְּAdverbial ('against us')בְּ + 1cp suffix; 'against us' — the stone testifies even against Joshua and the present generation, not only future ones.
לְעֵדָ֔הas a witnessprep לְ + N f sg abs · עֵדָה (H5713)Predicate complement ('as a witness')עֵדָה (H5713) 'witness, testimony'; predicate noun with לְ, 'for/as a witness.'
כִּֽיforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal conjunctionכִּי (H3588) 'for'; grounds the stone's witness-function in what follows.
הִ֣יאitindependent pronoun 3fs · הִיא (H1931)Subject (emphatic, resumptive)הִיא (H1931) 'it' (fem., referring to הָאֶבֶן); emphatic subject of the personifying claim.
שָׁמְעָ֗הhas heardQal perf 3fs · שָׁמַע (H8085)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective: a completed act — 'it has heard'שָׁמַע (H8085) 'to hear'; the startling personification — the stone is said to have literally heard the covenant words, giving it standing as a legal witness.
אֵ֚ת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
כָּלallN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct governing אִמְרֵיכֹּל (H3605) 'all'; construct, 'all the words.'
אִמְרֵ֣יthe words ofN m pl constr · אֵמֶר (H561)Genitive completing construct, direct object of שָׁמְעָהאֵמֶר (H561) 'word, speech'; construct, 'the words of YHWH.'
יְהוָ֔הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive completing constructיְהוָה (H3068), whose words the stone has heard.
אֲשֶׁ֥רthatrelative · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative clause markerאֲשֶׁר (H834) 'that'; introduces the qualifying clause.
דִּבֶּ֖רhe spokePiel perf 3ms · דָּבַר (H1696)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective (Piel): a completed act of speechדָּבַר (H1696) Piel 'to speak'; YHWH's own words spoken in the covenant proceedings.
עִמָּ֑נוּwith usprep עִם/1cp suff · עִם (H5973)Adverbial (comitative)עִם (H5973) 'with' + 1cp suffix, 'with us' — the immediacy of YHWH's speech to this generation.
וְהָיְתָ֤הand it will beconj + Qal weqatal 3fs · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (coordinate main clause)→ Weqatal: continuing future, 'and it will be'הָיָה (H1961) 'to be'; repeats the stone's witness-function, now directed at the people.
בָכֶם֙against youprep בְּ/2mp suff · בְּAdverbial ('against you')בְּ + 2mp suffix; 'against you' — shifting from 'us' to 'you,' broadening the witness's scope to future generations.
לְעֵדָ֔הas a witnessprep לְ + N f sg abs · עֵדָה (H5713)Predicate complement ('as a witness'), repeatedעֵדָה (H5713) 'witness'; repeated for emphasis.
פֶּֽןlestconj · פֶּן (H6435)Negative purpose clause marker ('lest')פֶּן (H6435) 'lest'; introduces the feared contingency the witness guards against.
תְּכַחֲשׁ֖וּןyou denyPiel impf 2mp + paragogic ן · כָּחַשׁ (H3584)Predicate verb (negative purpose clause)→ Yiqtol: modal/purposive — 'lest you deny'כָּחַשׁ (H3584) Piel 'to deny, deceive, be false to'; the feared future apostasy the stone stands to prevent or expose.
בֵּאלֹהֵיכֶֽםyour Godprep בְּ + N m pl constr/2mp suff · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Direct object (marked with בְּ) of תְּכַחֲשׁוּןאֱלֹהִים (H430) 'your God'; the closing warning against future denial of the very God just chosen — a fitting, sober conclusion to the covenant ceremony.
28

וַיְשַׁלַּ֤ח יְהוֹשֻׁ֨עַ֙ אֶת הָעָ֔ם אִ֖ישׁ לְנַחֲלָתֽוֹ

So Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance.

The assembly dispersesasyndeton
The covenant concluded, the assembly disperses — a quiet transition marking the ceremony's formal end and anticipating the narrative's own approaching conclusion (Joshua's death, vv. 29-30).
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
וַיְשַׁלַּ֤חand he sent awayPiel wayyiqtol 3ms · שָׁלַח (H7971)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol (Piel, intensive): foregrounded narrative advanceשָׁלַח (H7971) Piel 'to send away, dismiss'; formally concludes the assembly.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֨עַ֙JoshuaN proper · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Subjectיְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091), dismissing the people after the covenant's ratification.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
הָעָ֔םthe peopleart + N m sg abs · עַם (H5971)Direct object of וַיְשַׁלַּחעַם (H5971) 'people', now dismissed from the assembly.
אִ֖ישׁeach manN m sg abs · אִישׁ (H376)Adverbial accusative (distributive, 'each man')אִישׁ (H376) 'man'; distributive use, 'each one' — every individual dispersing to his own allotted territory.
לְנַחֲלָתֽוֹto his inheritanceprep לְ + N f sg constr/3ms suff · נַחֲלָה (H5159)Adverbial (directional)נַחֲלָה (H5159) 'inheritance, possession'; the tribal/family land allotment received earlier in the book (chs. 13-21).
29

וַיְהִ֗י אַֽחֲרֵי֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַיָּ֛מָת יְהוֹשֻׁ֥עַ בִּן נ֖וּן עֶ֣בֶד יְהוָ֑ה בֶּן מֵאָ֥ה וָעֶ֖שֶׂר שָׁנִֽים

And it came to pass after these things that Joshua son of Nun, the servant of YHWH, died, being a hundred and ten years old.

New pericope-opening — Joshua's death notice beginsasyndeton
The formula 'and it came to pass after these things' closes the covenant-ceremony scene and opens the book's final unit: three burial notices (vv. 29-33) answering Deuteronomy 34's report of Moses' death. Joshua's title 'servant of YHWH' (עֶבֶד יְהוָה), previously reserved for Moses (Deut 34:5; Josh 1:1-2), is conferred on him at the moment of death, marking him as Moses' true successor to the last.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וַיְהִ֗יand it came to passconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (formulaic transition)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the formulaic transition into a new pericopeהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, happen'; the formula וַיְהִי אַחֲרֵי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, 'and it came to pass after these things,' closes the covenant scene and opens the book's final unit.
אַֽחֲרֵי֙afterprep · אַחֲרֵי (H310)Temporal prepositional phraseאַחַר/אַחֲרֵי (H310) 'after'; introduces the temporal clause governing הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה.
הַדְּבָרִ֣יםthe thingsart + N m pl abs · דָּבָר (H1697)Object of preposition אַחֲרֵידָּבָר (H1697) 'word, thing, matter'; here 'these things' = the whole covenant-ceremony scene just narrated (vv. 1-28).
הָאֵ֔לֶּהtheseart + demonstrative pron c pl · אֵלֶּה (H428)Attributive demonstrative modifying הַדְּבָרִיםאֵלֶּה (H428) 'these'; points back to the covenant events just narrated.
וַיָּ֛מָתand he diedconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · מוּת (H4191)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main verb of the death notice)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the book's climactic death noticeמוּת (H4191) 'to die'; the same verb used of Moses' death (Deut 34:5) and later of the generation of Judg 2:8-10, marking the end of the conquest generation.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֥עַJoshuaN proper · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Subject of וַיָּמָתיְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091) 'YHWH is salvation'; Moses' successor, dying here as the book bearing his name closes.
בִּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Apposition to יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, construct (patronymic)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct opening the patronymic 'son of Nun.'
נ֖וּןNunN proper · נוּן (H5126)Genitive completing constructנוּן (H5126), Joshua's father (cf. Num 13:8, 16); the patronymic anchors Joshua's ordinary lineage even as this death notice honors him.
עֶ֣בֶדthe servant ofN m sg constr · עֶבֶד (H5650)Apposition to יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, construct (honorific title)עֶבֶד (H5650) 'servant, slave'; construct 'servant of.' This title — עֶבֶד יְהוָה — was Moses' own (Deut 34:5; Josh 1:1-2) and is here conferred on Joshua at his death, marking him Moses' true heir.
יְהוָ֑הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive completing constructיְהוָה (H3068); genitive completing the honorific title 'servant of YHWH.'
בֶּןa son ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct opening the age-formula (predicate complement)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; idiomatic age-formula, 'son of X years' = 'X years old.'
מֵאָ֥הa hundredcardinal number · מֵאָה (H3967)Numeral, construct chain (age formula)מֵאָה (H3967) 'hundred'; first element of Joshua's age, 110 years.
וָעֶ֖שֶׂרand tenconj וְ + cardinal number f · עֶשֶׂר (H6235)Coordinated numeralעֶשֶׂר (H6235) 'ten'; completing 'a hundred and ten years' — shorter than Moses' 120 (Deut 34:7), yet a full, blessed lifespan.
שָׁנִֽיםyearsN f pl abs · שָׁנָה (H8141)Genitive/adverbial accusative completing the age formulaשָׁנָה (H8141) 'year'; plural completing the age notice.
30

וַיִּקְבְּר֤וּ אֹתוֹ֙ בִּגְב֣וּל נַחֲלָת֔וֹ בְּתִמְנַת סֶ֖רַח אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּהַר אֶפְרָ֑יִם מִצְּפ֖וֹן לְהַר גָּֽעַשׁ

And they buried him in the territory of his inheritance, in Timnath-serah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.

Joshua's burial noticeasyndeton
Joshua is buried within his own tribal allotment, precisely located by mountain and compass point — the same care given Aaron's grave in v. 33. Judg 2:9 repeats this notice nearly verbatim but spells the town תִּמְנַת חֶרֶס, 'Timnath-heres,' a transposed form of the same consonants, showing the site-name circulated in more than one written tradition.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
וַיִּקְבְּר֤וּand they buriedconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · קָבַר (H6912)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main verb)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceקָבַר (H6912) 'to bury'; the community's final act of honor for Joshua.
אֹתוֹ֙himobj marker/3ms suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object of וַיִּקְבְּרוּאֵת (H853) + 3ms suffix, 'him' — Joshua.
בִּגְב֣וּלin the territory ofprep בְּ + N m sg constr · גְּבוּל (H1366)Adverbial (locative), constructגְּבוּל (H1366) 'territory, border'; construct, 'in the territory of.'
נַחֲלָת֔וֹhis inheritanceN f sg constr/3ms suff · נַחֲלָה (H5159)Genitive completing constructנַחֲלָה (H5159) 'inheritance, possession'; Joshua's own tribal allotment (cf. Josh 19:49-50), where he is fittingly buried.
בְּתִמְנַתin Timnath-prep בְּ + N proper (first element) · תִּמְנַת סֶרַח (H8556)Adverbial (locative), first element of the place nameתִּמְנַת סֶרַח (H8556), Joshua's town in Ephraim's hill country; first element of the two-word place name (cf. Judg 2:9's Timnath-heres).
סֶ֖רַח-serahN proper (second element) · סֶרַח (H8556)Apposition, completing the place nameSecond element of תִּמְנַת סֶרַח, 'Timnath-serah'; the same site appears as תִּמְנַת חֶרֶס, 'Timnath-heres,' in Judg 2:9 — a well-known consonantal variation (perhaps deliberate: 'portion of leftovers' vs. 'portion of the sun').
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhichrelative pron · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing locating clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834) 'which, that'; introduces the clause locating Timnath-serah.
בְּהַרin the hill country ofprep בְּ + N m sg constr · הַר (H2022)Adverbial (locative), constructהַר (H2022) 'mountain, hill country'; construct, 'in the hill country of.'
אֶפְרָ֑יִםEphraimN proper · אֶפְרַיִם (H669)Genitive completing constructאֶפְרַיִם (H669), Joseph's son and the central hill-country tribe; Joshua, an Ephraimite (Num 13:8), is buried within his own tribal territory.
מִצְּפ֖וֹןnorth ofprep מִן + N f sg constr · צָפוֹן (H6828)Adverbial (locative)צָפוֹן (H6828) 'north'; with מִן, 'on the north side of,' fixing the grave's position relative to Mount Gaash.
לְהַרof Mountprep לְ + N m sg constr · הַר (H2022)Adverbial (locative), construct completing the directional phraseהַר (H2022) construct, 'to/of the mountain of' — completing 'north of Mount Gaash.'
גָּֽעַשׁGaashN proper · גַּעַשׁ (H1608)Genitive completing constructגַּעַשׁ (H1608), an otherwise unknown hill near Timnath-serah (cf. 2 Sam 23:30; Judg 2:9), cited only to fix the grave's exact location.
31

וַיַּעֲבֹ֤ד יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶת יְהוָ֔ה כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֣י יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ וְכֹ֣ל יְמֵ֣י הַזְּקֵנִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֶאֱרִ֤יכוּ יָמִים֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר יָדְע֗וּ אֵ֚ת כָּל מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֖ה לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל

And Israel served YHWH all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and who had known all the work of YHWH that he had done for Israel.

One-generation faithfulness noticeasyndeton
The verse reuses the confession's own vocabulary — מַעֲשֶׂה יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה, 'the work of YHWH that he did' — echoing v. 17, and states plainly that the covenant held only as long as eyewitnesses to that work remained alive. Judg 2:7 and 2:10 repeat this notice almost verbatim, then report the next generation's failure precisely because it 'did not know' YHWH's work — Judges 2 looms directly behind this verse's careful, double temporal qualification.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
וַיַּעֲבֹ֤דand servedconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · עָבַד (H5647)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (main verb)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the chapter's key verb (vv. 14-24) now fulfilledעָבַד (H5647) 'to serve'; the very verb the people vowed in vv. 16-24, now reported as historically kept — at least for this generation.
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙IsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Subject of וַיַּעֲבֹדיִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478), the covenant people as a collective subject.
אֶת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
יְהוָ֔הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Direct object of וַיַּעֲבֹדיְהוָה (H3068), object of Israel's service — the covenant fulfilled, at least for a generation.
כֹּ֖לallN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct governing יְמֵי (temporal extent)כֹּל (H3605) 'all'; construct opening 'all the days of.'
יְמֵ֣יthe days ofN m pl constr · יוֹם (H3117)Construct chain (genitival), adverbial (temporal)יוֹם (H3117) 'day'; construct, marking the temporal extent of Israel's faithfulness.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַJoshuaN proper · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Genitive completing constructיְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091); the first temporal boundary of Israel's fidelity — his lifetime.
וְכֹ֣לand allconj וְ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Coordinated construct, extending the temporal clauseכֹּל (H3605) 'all'; coordinated, extending faithfulness beyond Joshua's own death.
יְמֵ֣יthe days ofN m pl constr · יוֹם (H3117)Construct chain (genitival)יוֹם (H3117) construct, 'the days of' — again marking temporal extent.
הַזְּקֵנִ֗יםthe eldersart + adj m pl abs (substantival) · זָקֵן (H2205)Genitive completing constructזָקֵן (H2205) 'elder, old man'; here the generation of leaders who outlived Joshua (cf. Judg 2:7).
אֲשֶׁ֨רwhorelative pron · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing the elders' descriptionאֲשֶׁר (H834) 'who'; introduces the qualifying relative clause about the elders.
הֶאֱרִ֤יכוּoutlivedHiphil perf 3cp · אָרַךְ (H748)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective (Hiphil, causative): a completed state — days extendedאָרַךְ (H748) Hiphil 'to make long, prolong'; idiom 'prolong days' = 'live long, outlive.'
יָמִים֙daysN m pl abs · יוֹם (H3117)Direct object of הֶאֱרִיכוּ (cognate object of the idiom)יוֹם (H3117) 'day'; object of the idiom 'to prolong days,' i.e. to live on.
אַחֲרֵ֣יafterprep · אַחֲרֵי (H310)Adverbial (temporal)אַחֲרֵי (H310) 'after'; marks the elders' survival beyond Joshua's lifetime.
יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַJoshuaN proper · יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091)Object of preposition אַחֲרֵייְהוֹשֻׁעַ (H3091); the temporal reference point the elders outlived.
וַאֲשֶׁ֣רand whoconj וְ + relative pron · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Coordinated relative pronoun, second qualifying clause on הַזְּקֵנִיםאֲשֶׁר (H834) coordinated, introducing the elders' second qualifying trait — their firsthand knowledge.
יָדְע֗וּhad knownQal perf 3cp · יָדַע (H3045)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective: a settled, experiential knowledgeיָדַע (H3045) 'to know'; experiential knowledge — this generation had personally witnessed YHWH's acts, unlike the generation of Judg 2:10 who 'did not know.'
אֵ֚ת[obj]obj marker · אֵת (H853)Direct-object markerאֵת (H853), nota accusativi; untranslated.
כָּלallN m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Construct governing מַעֲשֵׂהכֹּל (H3605) 'all'; construct, 'all the work of.'
מַעֲשֵׂ֣הthe work ofN m sg constr · מַעֲשֶׂה (H4639)Construct chain (genitival), direct object of יָדְעוּמַעֲשֶׂה (H4639) 'work, deed'; construct, YHWH's historical acts on Israel's behalf (the whole retrospective of vv. 2-13).
יְהוָ֔הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive completing constructיְהוָה (H3068), the doer of the works this generation witnessed and knew.
אֲשֶׁ֥רthatrelative pron · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing further qualifying clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834) 'that'; introduces the clause specifying the content of the 'work.'
עָשָׂ֖הhe didQal perf 3ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective: a completed act, summarizedעָשָׂה (H6213) 'to do, make'; YHWH's summarizing action-verb, echoing v. 17's confession.
לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽלfor Israelprep לְ + N proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Indirect object of עָשָׂהיִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478); Israel as beneficiary of YHWH's acts — the notice's one-generation-faithfulness close anticipates Judges 2's account of decline once this generation, too, passes.
32

וְאֶת עַצְמ֣וֹת י֠וֹסֵף אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱל֨וּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל מִמִּצְרַיִם֮ קָבְר֣וּ בִשְׁכֶם֒ בְּחֶלְקַ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר קָנָ֧ה יַעֲקֹ֛ב מֵאֵ֛ת בְּנֵֽי חֲמ֥וֹר אֲבִֽי שְׁכֶ֖ם בְּמֵאָ֣ה קְשִׂיטָ֑ה וַיִּֽהְי֥וּ לִבְנֵֽי יוֹסֵ֖ף לְנַחֲלָֽה

And the bones of Joseph, which the sons of Israel had brought up from Egypt, they buried at Shechem, in the portion of the field that Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for a hundred qesitahs; and they became an inheritance for the sons of Joseph.

Joseph's bones interred — the book's oldest promise fulfilledasyndeton
The verse fronts its object (עַצְמוֹת יוֹסֵף) and defers its main verb (קָבְרוּ) through a long relative clause, mimicking narratively the long delay the bones themselves endured — from Joseph's dying oath (Gen 50:25) through the exodus (Exod 13:19) to burial only now, at the conquest's completion. The burial site is the very field Jacob purchased outright (Gen 33:19), giving Israel one parcel of the promised land held by unimpeachable legal title rather than conquest — and the very site of this chapter's covenant renewal (v. 1), binding start and close together.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Coordinating conjunction + direct-object marker (fronted object)וְ opens a new topic/object; אֵת marks עַצְמוֹת יוֹסֵף as the definite object, fronted for emphasis before its verb קָבְרוּ.
עַצְמ֣וֹתthe bones ofN f pl constr · עֶצֶם (H6106)Construct chain (genitival), fronted direct objectעֶצֶם (H6106) 'bone'; construct, 'the bones of' — Joseph's remains, carried from Egypt per his own oath (Gen 50:25; Exod 13:19).
י֠וֹסֵףJosephN proper · יוֹסֵף (H3130)Genitive completing constructיוֹסֵף (H3130); his dying request (Gen 50:25) finally fulfilled here — the oldest promise in the book, kept.
אֲשֶׁרwhichrelative pron · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing the bones' back-storyאֲשֶׁר (H834) 'which'; introduces the clause recalling how the bones came to Canaan.
הֶעֱל֨וּhad brought upHiphil perf 3cp · עָלָה (H5927)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective (Hiphil, causative): a completed act, recalledעָלָה (H5927) Hiphil 'to bring up'; the sons of Israel carried Joseph's bones up out of Egypt at the exodus (Exod 13:19), fulfilling his oath.
בְנֵיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Subject of הֶעֱלוּ, constructבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; construct, 'the sons of Israel' as the collective subject who carried the bones.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֥לIsraelN proper · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive completing constructיִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478), the nation as subject of הֶעֱלוּ.
מִמִּצְרַיִם֮from Egyptprep מִן + N proper · מִצְרַיִם (H4714)Adverbial (source)מִצְרַיִם (H4714), the place from which the bones were carried at the exodus.
קָבְר֣וּthey buriedQal perf 3cp · קָבַר (H6912)Predicate verb (main clause, resuming after the fronted object and relative clause)→ Perfective: a completed, decisive act — the promise's fulfillmentקָבַר (H6912) 'to bury'; the main verb, delayed by the fronted object and relative clause for emphasis — after generations, Joseph is finally interred in the promised land.
בִשְׁכֶם֒at Shechemprep בְּ + N proper · שְׁכֶם (H7927)Adverbial (locative)שְׁכֶם (H7927) 'Shechem'; the very site of this covenant renewal (v. 1) and of Jacob's original purchase (Gen 33:19) — narrative and geographic closure.
בְּחֶלְקַ֣תin the portion ofprep בְּ + N f sg constr · חֶלְקָה (H2513)Adverbial (locative), constructחֶלְקָה (H2513) 'portion, tract (of land)'; construct, 'in the portion of the field.'
הַשָּׂדֶ֗הthe fieldart + N m sg abs · שָׂדֶה (H7704)Genitive completing constructשָׂדֶה (H7704) 'field'; the specific plot Jacob purchased (Gen 33:19).
אֲשֶׁ֨רthatrelative pron · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing the field's purchase-historyאֲשֶׁר (H834) 'that'; introduces the clause recounting Jacob's original purchase.
קָנָ֧הhad boughtQal perf 3ms · קָנָה (H7069)Predicate verb (relative clause)→ Perfective: a completed, prior actקָנָה (H7069) 'to buy, acquire'; Jacob's legal purchase of the plot (Gen 33:19), predating the conquest — Israel's one land title never disputed by right of war.
יַעֲקֹ֛בJacobN proper · יַעֲקֹב (H3290)Subject of קָנָהיַעֲקֹב (H3290), whose peaceful purchase at Shechem generations earlier is now vindicated by his great-grandsons' possession of it.
מֵאֵ֛תfromprep מִן + prep אֵת · אֵת (H854)Adverbial (source), prepositional phraseאֵת (H854) 'with, from'; with מִן, 'from' — marking the sellers.
בְּנֵֽיthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Object of preposition מֵאֵת, constructבֵּן (H1121) construct, 'the sons of' — the family from whom Jacob purchased the field.
חֲמ֥וֹרHamorN proper · חֲמוֹר (H2544)Genitive completing constructחֲמוֹר (H2544), the Shechemite chieftain of Gen 33:19 and 34, from whose sons Jacob bought the land.
אֲבִֽיthe father ofN m sg constr · אָב (H1)Apposition to חֲמוֹר, constructאָב (H1) construct, 'father of' — identifying Hamor as Shechem's founding/eponymous father.
שְׁכֶ֖םShechemN proper · שְׁכֶם (H7927)Genitive completing constructשְׁכֶם (H7927); here the eponymous ancestor/city-founder, distinct from the place-name used earlier in the verse.
בְּמֵאָ֣הfor a hundredprep בְּ + cardinal number · מֵאָה (H3967)Adverbial (price)מֵאָה (H3967) 'hundred'; with בְּ, marking the price paid.
קְשִׂיטָ֑הqesitahsN f sg abs · קְשִׂיטָה (H7192)Genitive/appositive completing the price phraseקְשִׂיטָה (H7192), a pre-monetary unit of value of uncertain precise worth; the same rare term as Gen 33:19 and Job 42:11 — its scarcity (only these three occurrences) marks an archaic legal formula deliberately preserved.
וַיִּֽהְי֥וּand they becameconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · הָיָה (H1961)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence (concluding clause)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the verse's summarizing conclusionהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become'; the field's final legal status, closing the notice.
לִבְנֵֽיfor the sons ofprep לְ + N m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Predicate complement (possession), constructבֵּן (H1121) construct with לְ, 'for/belonging to the sons of' — marking possession.
יוֹסֵ֖ףJosephN proper · יוֹסֵף (H3130)Genitive completing constructיוֹסֵף (H3130); his descendants (Ephraim and Manasseh) inherit the very field purchased generations earlier — promise and provision converge.
לְנַחֲלָֽהas an inheritanceprep לְ + N f sg abs · נַחֲלָה (H5159)Predicate complement (adverbial accusative of state)נַחֲלָה (H5159) 'inheritance, possession'; the field's final legal designation — permanent tribal land.
33

וְאֶלְעָזָ֥ר בֶּֽן אַהֲרֹ֖ן מֵ֑ת וַיִּקְבְּר֣וּ אֹת֗וֹ בְּגִבְעַת֙ פִּֽינְחָ֣ס בְּנ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִתַּן ל֖וֹ בְּהַ֥ר אֶפְרָֽיִם

And Eleazar son of Aaron died; and they buried him at Gibeah of Phinehas his son, which had been given to him in the hill country of Ephraim.

Eleazar's death and burial — the chapter's and book's closing noticeasyndeton
The book ends not with a rhetorical flourish but with plain burial notices — Joshua (vv. 29-30), Joseph (vv. 32), and now the priest Eleazar (v. 33) — framing the conquest generation's end within Ephraim's hill country. That Eleazar rests on land held by his own son Phinehas quietly marks priestly succession alongside Joshua's own (Josh 1); Israel enters the land of promise and buries its founding leadership within it, the double sign that the promise proclaimed to the patriarchs (vv. 2-13) has been kept.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וְאֶלְעָזָ֥רand Eleazarconj וְ + N proper · אֶלְעָזָר (H499)Subject (coordinate, new topic), frontedאֶלְעָזָר (H499) 'God has helped'; Aaron's son and Israel's second high priest (Num 20:25-28), who served alongside Joshua throughout the conquest (Josh 14:1; 19:51; 21:1).
בֶּֽןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Apposition to אֶלְעָזָר, construct (patronymic)בֵּן (H1121) construct, 'son of' — opening the patronymic.
אַהֲרֹ֖ןAaronN proper · אַהֲרֹן (H175)Genitive completing constructאַהֲרֹן (H175), Israel's first high priest; Eleazar's priestly pedigree.
מֵ֑תdiedQal perf 3ms · מוּת (H4191)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective: a completed, decisive act — the chapter's second death noticeמוּת (H4191) 'to die'; Eleazar's death closes the chapter's pair of death-and-burial notices (Joshua, then the priest), marking the end of the founding generation's leadership.
וַיִּקְבְּר֣וּand they buriedconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · קָבַר (H6912)Wayyiqtol of narrative sequence→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceקָבַר (H6912) 'to bury'; repeats the verb of vv. 30 and 32, the chapter's closing triad of burials.
אֹת֗וֹhimobj marker/3ms suff · אֵת (H853)Direct object of וַיִּקְבְּרוּאֵת (H853) + 3ms suffix, 'him' — Eleazar.
בְּגִבְעַת֙at Gibeah ofprep בְּ + N f sg constr · גִּבְעָה (H1389)Adverbial (locative), constructגִּבְעָה (H1389) 'hill'; construct, opening the place name 'Gibeah of Phinehas' — a town named for Eleazar's own son.
פִּֽינְחָ֣סPhinehasN proper · פִּינְחָס (H6372)Genitive completing constructפִּינְחָס (H6372), Eleazar's son, the zealous priest of Num 25:7-13; the town bearing his name (elsewhere unattested, likely his personal land-grant) receives his father's grave.
בְּנ֔וֹhis sonN m sg constr/3ms suff · בֵּן (H1121)Apposition to פִּינְחָסבֵּן (H1121) 'son' + 3ms suffix, 'his son'; identifies Phinehas as Eleazar's son.
אֲשֶׁ֥רwhichrelative pron · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative pronoun introducing the town's originאֲשֶׁר (H834) 'which'; introduces the clause explaining how Phinehas came to hold this hill-country town.
נִתַּןhad been givenNiphal perf 3ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb (relative clause, passive)→ Perfective (Niphal, passive): a completed act, agent unstatedנָתַן (H5414) Niphal 'to be given'; passive — the donor is left unnamed, presumably allotted through the same tribal-land process as Joshua's own city (v. 30) and the Levitical cities (cf. Josh 21).
ל֖וֹto himprep לְ/3ms suff · לְIndirect object of נִתַּןלְ + 3ms suffix, 'to him' — Phinehas, recipient of the town.
בְּהַ֥רin the hill country ofprep בְּ + N m sg constr · הַר (H2022)Adverbial (locative), constructהַר (H2022) construct, 'in the hill country of.'
אֶפְרָֽיִםEphraimN proper · אֶפְרַיִם (H669)Genitive completing constructאֶפְרַיִם (H669); the chapter's third and final burial, like Joshua's (v. 30), sited in Ephraim's hill country — framing the book's close within this central tribal territory.