- Be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the law of Moses (Joshua 23:6).
- Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left.
- Do not mingle with the nations that remain among you (Joshua 23:7).
- Do not mention the name of their gods.
- Do not swear by them.
- Do not serve or bow down to them.
- Cleave to the Lord, as you are doing this day (Joshua 23:8).
- Take good heed to yourselves that you love the Lord your God (Joshua 23:11).
This is what God commanded Joshua some thirty years before this (Joshua 23:6; Joshua 1:6-9).
The book of the law of Moses, never the books, proving that the Pentateuch was originally one book in five parts.
Turning not to the right hand or the left is a familiar expression denoting complete compliance with the law in all things. It implies a literal standpoint, not a spiritual or figurative one. It expresses steadfastness of purpose and is used many times in Scripture (Joshua 23:6; Joshua 1:7; Numbers 20:17; Numbers 22:26; Deut. 2:27; Deut. 5:32; Deut. 17:11,20; Deut. 28:14; 2 Samuel 2:19,21; 2 Samuel 17:19).
Finis J. Dake, Dake Topical Index, WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: “Backsliding, Eight Commands against”.