Ver. 12, 13. Else if ye do in any wise go back, &c.— "But if, on the contrary, ye are capable of starting aside from God, and of giving way in any manner to idolatry; if ye cleave unto these nations, and communicate with them in their errors; if ye enter into any alliances, or mix yourselves with them by the tie of marriage; know, most assuredly, that from thenceforward the Lord will cease to drive out these nations, and to give you their inheritance; nay, they shall be snares and traps in your way. They shall subsist for your punishment, to be to you an occasion of falling and of sin; and continually more and more to draw you into their abominations: they shall be as scourges in your sides, as a whip, as a rod in the hand of Providence, grievously to wound and oppress you; and as thorns in your eyes, to afflict you; while, losing the favour of God, you shall finally draw down upon your heads the utmost inflictions of misery."
Further Reflections.
In order to preserve them from that state of apostacy from God, which, with prophetic foresight, he justly apprehended,
1. Joshua exhorts them to take heed, and keep themselves in the love of God; carelessness about his service would quickly bring ruin on their souls, and nothing can preserve them from falling away, but a principle of love engaging their hearts to God. Note; (1.) When we are surrounded with Canaanites, temptations on every side, we need constantly watch and pray. (2.) The love of God is the great preservative from all evil.
2. He reminds them of God's faithfulness, as the most powerful motive to engage their love; nothing had failed of all his promises, therefore they were inexcusable if they forsook him. Note; God is faithful, and all who trust in him will find him so.
3. He speaks of his own departure as at hand, when his warning voice would no more be heard among them; therefore the more attentively should it be now heard and pondered. He was going the way of all the earth. Death is the journey that we all must take; the greatest of God's saints must tread this beaten road, in their removal from time into eternity. Happy they who, like Joshua, can speak of it with satisfaction, and are ready for their great change.
4. He warns them of the danger they were in, and the ruin which would ensue, if they joined the Canaanites in their abominations. The gradual steps of their departure from God he describes, in order that, avoiding the snare, they may keep from the danger: intercourse with the Canaanites would introduce more intimate connexions; profane marriages with these idolaters then would follow, and, as the necessary consequence of being yoked with unbelievers, they would serve their idols, and thus violate the sacred covenant established between God and them. The consequence of this must be, that God, in anger, would leave them to be ensnared in their own perverseness and folly; those neighbours whom they cherished would be snakes in their bosom to sting them to death, first leading them into sin, and then bringing wrath upon them; their tempters would turn their tormentors; and God, in just judgment, would give them up to their enemies, to the utter ruin of their church and nation; and the good land, wherein they dwelt so happily, should cast them out. Note; (1.) No snare so fatal as being unequally yoked with unbelievers. (2.) It is just in God, to make them instruments in our punishment, whom we have made instruments of our sin. (3.) The mercy which sinners have rejected will aggravate their misery, and the knowledge of the bliss they have lost increase the torment they feel.