Bible Strands
Joshua 24:1
Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joshua convenes the tribes of Israel, specifically the elders, leaders, judges, and officers, at Shechem. This assembly occurs at the close of his leadership, immediately preceding his formal recounting of Israel's history.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיֵּאֶסֹף (va-yēʾēṣōp̄) literally means "and he gathered," denoting the physical mustering of the nation. Its parallel וַיִּקְרָא (va-yiqqrāʾ) translates as "and he summoned," specifying the official call to the governing classes.
The thread — The text mirrors Joshua 23:2, where Joshua again gathers Israel's leadership before his final address. The location recalls Genesis 12:6, where Abram first receives a divine promise at Shechem.
Why it lands — The verse records a deliberate national assembly before God, establishing that covenant responsibility requires public gathering and historical reckoning. It asks the reader to identify the governing structures of their own community and to examine their collective allegiance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.
Cross-references
- Joshua 23:2 he summoned all Israel, including its elders, leaders, judges, and officers. “I am old and well along in years,” he said,
- 1 Samuel 10:19 But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions, and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”
- Genesis 12:6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the Oak of Moreh at Shechem. And at that time the Canaanites were in the land.
- Genesis 33:18 After Jacob had come from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, and he camped just outside the city.
- Exodus 18:25 So Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
- Judges 9:1 Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and said to them and to all the clan of his mother,
- 1 Kings 12:1 Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king.
- Acts 10:33 So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has instructed you to tell us.”
- Genesis 35:4 So they gave Jacob all their foreign gods and all their earrings, and Jacob buried them under the oak near Shechem.