Joshua had taken the Israelites as far as he could go. He confessed that he was “old, advanced in years” (Josh. 23:2) and “going the way of all the earth” (23:14). He had served his time and purpose, leading the conquest across the Jordan into Canaan. But he knew his end was near.
One of his last acts of service to Israel was to gather them at Shechem for a farewell address (24:1). This was the same site where God promised Abraham the land (Gen.…