1 A long time after the LORD had given Israel rest from all the enemies around them, when Joshua was old and well along in years,
2 he summoned all Israel, including its elders, leaders, judges, and officers. “I am old and well along in years,” he said,
3 “and you have seen everything that the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake, because it was the LORD your God who fought for you.
4 See, I have allotted as an inheritance to your tribes these remaining nations, including all the nations I have already cut off, from the Jordan westward to the Great Sea.
5 The LORD your God will push them out of your way and drive them out before you, so that you can take possession of their land, as the LORD your God promised you.
Note · Josué 23.1–5
Le chef qui s’en va rappelle une œuvre qui ne lui appartient pas seul
Le repos est proclamé, tandis que des nations demeurent encore. Josué présente sa tâche comme une étape reçue de Dieu et orientée vers les tribus. Son vieillissement ne devient ni un motif de déni ni une demande de domination perpétuelle ; il prépare une parole pour ceux qui devront vivre après lui.
6 Be very strong, then, so that you can keep and obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, not turning aside from it to the right or to the left.
7 So you are not to associate with these nations that remain among you. You must not call on the names of their gods or swear by them, and you must not serve them or bow down to them.
8 Instead, you shall hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day.
9 The LORD has driven out great and powerful nations before you, and to this day no one can stand against you.
10 One of you can put a thousand to flight, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as He promised.
11 Therefore watch yourselves carefully, that you love the LORD your God.
Note · Josué 23.6–11
La fidélité associe écoute de la loi et attachement du cœur
Le langage de force revient, mais il concerne maintenant explicitement la pratique de la loi et l’amour de Dieu. Ne pas servir les autres dieux vise la fidélité d’alliance. Le passage ne permet pas de traiter tout échange avec des voisins d’une autre religion comme une faute ni de dispenser les croyants du respect des personnes.
12 For if you turn away and cling to the rest of these nations that remain among you, and if you intermarry and associate with them,
13 know for sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become for you a snare and a trap, a scourge in your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you.
14 Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know with all your heart and soul that not one of the good promises the LORD your God made to you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you; not one promise has failed.
15 But just as every good thing the LORD your God promised you has come to pass, likewise the LORD will bring upon you the calamity He has threatened, until He has destroyed you from this good land He has given you.
16 If you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from this good land He has given you.”
Note · Josué 23.12–16
Le pays donné n’est pas présenté comme un droit sans aucune exigence
La menace de perte répond au rappel des promesses accomplies. Elle vise une rupture d’alliance, dans les catégories du discours ancien. Le lecteur ne peut s’en servir pour lire chaque catastrophe ultérieure comme un jugement dont il connaîtrait la cause, ni pour justifier la violence contre les Juifs ou contre une population jugée infidèle.