全新四年樂活讀經
默想: 約書亞去世之後，還有一些曾經親身經歷耶和華恩典的長老繼續帶領以色列人，事奉耶和華。但是，當這些長老相繼過世之後，以色列人又轉去敬拜偶像。在這裡，我看到信仰是須要有親身的經歷，才會堅持下去。另外，信仰的傳承是一件不容易的事。求主幫助我，常讓我親身經歷耶和華的恩典。求主幫助我，讓我知道如何將這個信仰傳承給我的子孫。更求主施恩憐憫，讓我的子孫個個都能夠親身經歷上帝的恩典，持守住這個寶貴的信仰，也可以把這個信仰，世世代代傳承下去。
題目: 約書亞對以色列民說：「…今天必須決定，你們要事奉的是誰？」他自己則是堅決地說：「至於我和我家，我們要事奉上主。」試想，你的決定是？(15節)
24:1 約書亞將以色列的眾支派聚集在示劍，召了以色列的長老、族長、審判官，並官長來，他們就站在 神面前。
Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God.
24:2 約書亞對眾民說：「耶和華─以色列的 神如此說：『古時你們的列祖，就是亞伯拉罕和拿鶴的父親他拉，住在大河那邊事奉別神，
And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, `Your fathers lived of old beyond the Euphra'tes, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods.
24:3 我將你們的祖宗亞伯拉罕從大河那邊帶來，領他走遍迦南全地，又使他的子孫眾多，把以撒賜給他；
Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac;
24:4 又把雅各和以掃賜給以撒，將西珥山賜給以掃為業；後來雅各和他的子孫下到埃及去了。
and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. And I gave Esau the hill country of Se'ir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.
24:5 我差遣摩西、亞倫，並照我在埃及中所行的降災與埃及，然後把你們領出來。
And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt with what I did in the midst of it; and afterwards I brought you out.
24:6 我領你們列祖出埃及，他們就到了紅海；埃及人帶領車輛馬兵追趕你們列祖到紅海。
Then I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea; and the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea.
24:7 你們列祖哀求耶和華，他就使你們和埃及人中間黑暗了，又使海水淹沒埃及人。我在埃及所行的事，你們親眼見過。你們在曠野也住了許多年日。
And when they cried to the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and made the sea come upon them and cover them; and your eyes saw what I did to Egypt; and you lived in the wilderness a long time.
24:8 我領你們到約旦河東亞摩利人所住之地。他們與你們爭戰，我將他們交在你們手中，你們便得了他們的地為業；我也在你們面前將他們滅絕。
Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan; they fought with you, and I gave them into your hand, and you took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you.
24:9 那時，摩押王西撥的兒子巴勒起來攻擊以色列人，打發人召了比珥的兒子巴蘭來咒詛你們。
Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel; and he sent and invited Balaam the son of Be'or to curse you,
24:10 我不肯聽巴蘭的話，所以他倒為你們連連祝福。這樣，我便救你們脫離巴勒的手。
but I would not listen to Balaam; therefore he blessed you; so I delivered you out of his hand.
24:11 你們過了約旦河，到了耶利哥；耶利哥人、亞摩利人、比利洗人、迦南人、赫人、革迦撒人、希未人、耶布斯人都與你們爭戰；我把他們交在你們手裡。
And you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho, and the men of Jericho fought against you, and also the Amorites, the Per'izzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Gir'gashites, the Hivites, and the Jeb'usites; and I gave them into your hand.
24:12 我打發黃蜂飛在你們前面，將亞摩利人的二王從你們面前攆出，並不是用你的刀，也不是用你的弓。
And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out before you, the two kings of the Amorites; it was not by your sword or by your bow.
24:13 我賜給你們地土，非你們所修治的；我賜給你們城邑，非你們所建造的。你們就住在其中，又得吃非你們所栽種的葡萄園、橄欖園的果子。』
I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and cities which you had not built, and you dwell therein; you eat the fruit of vineyards and oliveyards which you did not plant.'
24:14 現在你們要敬畏耶和華，誠心實意的事奉他，將你們列祖在大河那邊和在埃及所事奉的神除掉，去事奉耶和華。
"Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
24:15 若是你們以事奉耶和華為不好，今日就可以選擇所要事奉的：是你們列祖在大河那邊所事奉的神呢？是你們所住這地的亞摩利人的神呢？至於我和我家，我們必定事奉耶和華。」
And if you be unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
24:16 百姓回答說：「我們斷不敢離棄耶和華去事奉別神；
Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
24:17 因耶和華─我們的 神曾將我們和我們列祖從埃及地的為奴之家領出來，在我們眼前行了那些大神蹟，在我們所行的道上，所經過的諸國，都保護了我們。
for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed;
24:18 耶和華又把住此地的亞摩利人都從我們面前趕出去。所以，我們必事奉耶和華，因為他是我們的 神。」
and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land; therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."
24:19 約書亞對百姓說：「你們不能事奉耶和華；因為他是聖潔的 神，是忌邪的 神，必不赦免你們的過犯罪惡。
But Joshua said to the people, "You cannot serve the LORD; for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins.
24:20 你們若離棄耶和華去事奉外邦神，耶和華在降福之後，必轉而降禍與你們，把你們滅絕。」
If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good."
24:21 百姓回答約書亞說：「不然，我們定要事奉耶和華。」
And the people said to Joshua, "Nay; but we will serve the LORD."
24:22 約書亞對百姓說：「你們選定耶和華，要事奉他，你們自己作見證吧！」他們說：「我們願意作見證。」
Then Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him." And they said, "We are witnesses."
24:23 約書亞說：「你們現在要除掉你們中間的外邦神，專心歸向耶和華─以色列的 神。」
He said, "Then put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel."
24:24 百姓回答約書亞說：「我們必事奉耶和華─我們的 神，聽從他的話。」
And the people said to Joshua, "The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey."
24:25 當日，約書亞就與百姓立約，在示劍為他們立定律例典章。
So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem.
24:26 約書亞將這些話都寫在 神的律法書上，又將一塊大石頭立在橡樹下耶和華的聖所旁邊。
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 in the sanctuary of the LORD.
24:27 約書亞對百姓說：「看哪，這石頭可以向我們作見證；因為是聽見了耶和華所吩咐我們的一切話，倘或你們背棄你們的 神，這石頭就可以向你們作見證（倘或云云：或作所以要向你們作見證，免得你們背棄耶和華─你們的 神）。」
And Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us; for it has heard all the words of the LORD which he spoke to us; therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God."
24:28 於是約書亞打發百姓各歸自己的地業去了。
So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.
24:29 這些事以後，耶和華的僕人嫩的兒子約書亞，正一百一十歲，就死了。
After these things Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being a hundred and ten years old.
24:30 以色列人將他葬在他地業的境內，就是在以法蓮山地的亭拿•西拉，在迦實山的北邊。
And they buried him in his own inheritance at Tim'nath-se'rah, which is in the hill country of E'phraim, north of the mountain of Ga'ash.
24:31 約書亞在世和約書亞死後，那些知道耶和華為以色列人所行諸事的長老還在的時候，以色列人事奉耶和華。
And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work which the LORD did for Israel.
24:32 以色列人從埃及所帶來約瑟的骸骨，葬埋在示劍，就是在雅各從前用一百塊銀子向示劍的父親、哈抹的子孫所買的那塊地裡；這就作了約瑟子孫的產業。
The bones of Joseph which the people of Israel brought up from Egypt were buried at Shechem, in the portion of ground which Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money; it became an inheritance of the descendants of Joseph.
24:33 亞倫的兒子以利亞撒也死了，就把他葬在他兒子非尼哈所得、以法蓮山地的小山上。
And Elea'zar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him at Gib'e-ah, the town of Phin'ehas his son, which had been given him in the hill country of E'phraim.
Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God.
24:2 約書亞對眾民說：「耶和華─以色列的 神如此說：『古時你們的列祖，就是亞伯拉罕和拿鶴的父親他拉，住在大河那邊事奉別神，
And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, `Your fathers lived of old beyond the Euphra'tes, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods.
24:3 我將你們的祖宗亞伯拉罕從大河那邊帶來，領他走遍迦南全地，又使他的子孫眾多，把以撒賜給他；
Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac;
24:4 又把雅各和以掃賜給以撒，將西珥山賜給以掃為業；後來雅各和他的子孫下到埃及去了。
and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. And I gave Esau the hill country of Se'ir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.
24:5 我差遣摩西、亞倫，並照我在埃及中所行的降災與埃及，然後把你們領出來。
And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt with what I did in the midst of it; and afterwards I brought you out.
24:6 我領你們列祖出埃及，他們就到了紅海；埃及人帶領車輛馬兵追趕你們列祖到紅海。
Then I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea; and the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea.
24:7 你們列祖哀求耶和華，他就使你們和埃及人中間黑暗了，又使海水淹沒埃及人。我在埃及所行的事，你們親眼見過。你們在曠野也住了許多年日。
And when they cried to the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and made the sea come upon them and cover them; and your eyes saw what I did to Egypt; and you lived in the wilderness a long time.
24:8 我領你們到約旦河東亞摩利人所住之地。他們與你們爭戰，我將他們交在你們手中，你們便得了他們的地為業；我也在你們面前將他們滅絕。
Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan; they fought with you, and I gave them into your hand, and you took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you.
24:9 那時，摩押王西撥的兒子巴勒起來攻擊以色列人，打發人召了比珥的兒子巴蘭來咒詛你們。
Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel; and he sent and invited Balaam the son of Be'or to curse you,
24:10 我不肯聽巴蘭的話，所以他倒為你們連連祝福。這樣，我便救你們脫離巴勒的手。
but I would not listen to Balaam; therefore he blessed you; so I delivered you out of his hand.
24:11 你們過了約旦河，到了耶利哥；耶利哥人、亞摩利人、比利洗人、迦南人、赫人、革迦撒人、希未人、耶布斯人都與你們爭戰；我把他們交在你們手裡。
And you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho, and the men of Jericho fought against you, and also the Amorites, the Per'izzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Gir'gashites, the Hivites, and the Jeb'usites; and I gave them into your hand.
24:12 我打發黃蜂飛在你們前面，將亞摩利人的二王從你們面前攆出，並不是用你的刀，也不是用你的弓。
And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out before you, the two kings of the Amorites; it was not by your sword or by your bow.
24:13 我賜給你們地土，非你們所修治的；我賜給你們城邑，非你們所建造的。你們就住在其中，又得吃非你們所栽種的葡萄園、橄欖園的果子。』
I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and cities which you had not built, and you dwell therein; you eat the fruit of vineyards and oliveyards which you did not plant.'
24:14 現在你們要敬畏耶和華，誠心實意的事奉他，將你們列祖在大河那邊和在埃及所事奉的神除掉，去事奉耶和華。
"Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
24:15 若是你們以事奉耶和華為不好，今日就可以選擇所要事奉的：是你們列祖在大河那邊所事奉的神呢？是你們所住這地的亞摩利人的神呢？至於我和我家，我們必定事奉耶和華。」
And if you be unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
24:16 百姓回答說：「我們斷不敢離棄耶和華去事奉別神；
Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
24:17 因耶和華─我們的 神曾將我們和我們列祖從埃及地的為奴之家領出來，在我們眼前行了那些大神蹟，在我們所行的道上，所經過的諸國，都保護了我們。
for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed;
24:18 耶和華又把住此地的亞摩利人都從我們面前趕出去。所以，我們必事奉耶和華，因為他是我們的 神。」
and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land; therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."
24:19 約書亞對百姓說：「你們不能事奉耶和華；因為他是聖潔的 神，是忌邪的 神，必不赦免你們的過犯罪惡。
But Joshua said to the people, "You cannot serve the LORD; for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins.
24:20 你們若離棄耶和華去事奉外邦神，耶和華在降福之後，必轉而降禍與你們，把你們滅絕。」
If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good."
24:21 百姓回答約書亞說：「不然，我們定要事奉耶和華。」
And the people said to Joshua, "Nay; but we will serve the LORD."
24:22 約書亞對百姓說：「你們選定耶和華，要事奉他，你們自己作見證吧！」他們說：「我們願意作見證。」
Then Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him." And they said, "We are witnesses."
24:23 約書亞說：「你們現在要除掉你們中間的外邦神，專心歸向耶和華─以色列的 神。」
He said, "Then put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel."
24:24 百姓回答約書亞說：「我們必事奉耶和華─我們的 神，聽從他的話。」
And the people said to Joshua, "The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey."
24:25 當日，約書亞就與百姓立約，在示劍為他們立定律例典章。
So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem.
24:26 約書亞將這些話都寫在 神的律法書上，又將一塊大石頭立在橡樹下耶和華的聖所旁邊。
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 in the sanctuary of the LORD.
24:27 約書亞對百姓說：「看哪，這石頭可以向我們作見證；因為是聽見了耶和華所吩咐我們的一切話，倘或你們背棄你們的 神，這石頭就可以向你們作見證（倘或云云：或作所以要向你們作見證，免得你們背棄耶和華─你們的 神）。」
And Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us; for it has heard all the words of the LORD which he spoke to us; therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God."
24:28 於是約書亞打發百姓各歸自己的地業去了。
So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.
24:29 這些事以後，耶和華的僕人嫩的兒子約書亞，正一百一十歲，就死了。
After these things Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being a hundred and ten years old.
24:30 以色列人將他葬在他地業的境內，就是在以法蓮山地的亭拿•西拉，在迦實山的北邊。
And they buried him in his own inheritance at Tim'nath-se'rah, which is in the hill country of E'phraim, north of the mountain of Ga'ash.
24:31 約書亞在世和約書亞死後，那些知道耶和華為以色列人所行諸事的長老還在的時候，以色列人事奉耶和華。
And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work which the LORD did for Israel.
24:32 以色列人從埃及所帶來約瑟的骸骨，葬埋在示劍，就是在雅各從前用一百塊銀子向示劍的父親、哈抹的子孫所買的那塊地裡；這就作了約瑟子孫的產業。
The bones of Joseph which the people of Israel brought up from Egypt were buried at Shechem, in the portion of ground which Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money; it became an inheritance of the descendants of Joseph.
24:33 亞倫的兒子以利亞撒也死了，就把他葬在他兒子非尼哈所得、以法蓮山地的小山上。
And Elea'zar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him at Gib'e-ah, the town of Phin'ehas his son, which had been given him in the hill country of E'phraim.
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約書亞再一次召集以色列人的眾領袖到祂面前（1），要與他們立約。在重述耶和華在以色列人歷史中的作為以後，就向以色列人發出勸勉與挑戰：
回覆刪除1) 勸勉（14節）── 要敬畏神；要「誠心實意的事奉神」；要除去一切偶像。
2) 挑戰（15節）──約書亞要求以色列人在信仰上作出明確的選擇。他們必須在三者中間選其一：約旦河東之神、河西亞摩利人之神、或耶和華。若他們揀選後者，就要確確實實的在神面前『立約』。
3) 約書亞同時提出他自己的堅決立場，作為強而有力的見證：「至於我和我家，我們必定事奉耶和華！」（15節）。這一個多麽寶貴的見證！
4) 以色列人作了正面的、積極的的回應：「我們斷不敢離棄耶和華！」（17～18節）
5) 再挑戰──約書亞告訴以色列人若選擇事奉耶和華，就要過聖潔生活的責任，因神是聖潔的。不然，神的審判要臨到他們身上（19～20節）。
6) 再回應──以色列人在了解這選擇的全面意義之後，仍然作出了「事奉耶和華的決定』（21節）。
求主幫助我們，無論環境好壞，人生處富貴，處貧賤，願我可以，過聖潔生活，表裏一致地表明「我必定誠心實意地事奉耶和華」，「至於我和我家，我們必定事奉耶和華！」。