And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, [even] Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.
Ver. 2. And Joshua said unto all the people.] Besides what he had said to them in the former chapter; so solicitous was he of the public welfare after his decease also. Cicero saith that this was his chiefest care: we are sure it was good Joshua's.
Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood,] i.e., Of the river Euphrates, that ancient river. And this was the ancient manner of speaking to the people, by giving them a historical narrative of what God had done for them and their forefathers, that mercy might enforce to duty; since divine blessings are binders, and men's offences are increased by their obligations. See the like method made use of by those admirable preachers, David, Psa 78:1-72 Stephen, Act 7:2-53 and Paul. Act 13:17-41
And they served other gods.] Even Abraham as well as the rest, a till God gave him a call out of his own country, till he had "called him to his foot," Isa 41:2 that is, to follow him and his direction, to obey him without solicitation.
a Some of the Rabbis say that Terah got his living by making and selling of images.