Joshua 23 (KJV)
A long time had passed while Israel was at rest from their enemies. Joshua, in his old age, called Israel together to bring their attention to all that the Lord had done for them. Joshua said to Israel, "Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left; That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: But cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day. For the Lord hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day" (vs. 6-9). "Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God" (v. 11).
The Children of Israel were not to have anything to do with the remaining remnant of people in the nations. For if Israel did mingle with the remnant, things would become burdensome for them. The Lord would no longer drive any nations from before Israel. The nations would "...be snares and traps...and scourges in [Israel's] side, and thorns in [their] eyes, until [they] perish from off [the] good land [which God had given them]" (v. 13).
Joshua assured Israel that as all good things had come upon them that God had promised "...so shall the Lord bring upon you all evil things..." (v. 15). This was if Israel transgressed the covenant of the Lord by serving and bowing to other gods. God would become angry with Israel and they would quickly perish from the land.
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