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.

JOSHUA 24:2KJV
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Joshua 24:2 (KJV)

What does Joshua 24:2 mean?

Joshua 24:2 explains that long ago, the ancestors of the Israelites—including Abraham’s father Terah and his family—lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. Joshua is reminding the people that their roots were not always with the LORD, but with families who served different gods.

Joshua is speaking to all the Israelites, quoting what the LORD God of Israel says about their family history. The setting is a public gathering near the end of Joshua’s life, where he is urging the people to remember where they came from. This verse sets the stage for a choice: the Israelites must decide whom they will serve, knowing their past was shaped by idol worship before God called Abraham.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 24:2

  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name of Israel’s God, emphasizing that the message comes from the one true God, not just any deity.
  • "God" (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): This word can refer to gods in general, but here it is paired with "of Israel," making it clear that the LORD is the true God in contrast to the "other gods" their ancestors served.
  • "Flood" (נָהָר, nahar): This word means "river," and in this context, it refers to the Euphrates River, marking the geographical and spiritual distance from their old life.
  • "Served" (עָבַד, avad): This word means to work for or worship, highlighting that their ancestors were actively devoted to other gods, not just casually involved.

Why Joshua 24:2 matters

  • Joshua 24:2 clarifies that Abraham’s family was not always faithful to the LORD, but came from a background of idol worship, which makes God’s call to Abraham even more significant.
  • The verse emphasizes the contrast between Israel’s past and their present, setting up the importance of choosing to serve the LORD alone.
  • Understanding this background helps make sense of why Joshua later urges the people to "choose this day whom you will serve," since their history involved turning away from other gods to follow the LORD.

Where else these words appear

“Terah” Hebrew H8646 · used in 11 verses

  • Genesis 11:24 And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:
  • Genesis 11:27 Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.
  • Genesis 11:32 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

“Nachor” Hebrew H5152 · used in 17 verses

  • Genesis 11:22 And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:
  • Genesis 11:27 Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.
  • Genesis 24:15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

“side” Hebrew H5676 · used in 84 verses

  • Genesis 50:10 And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
  • Joshua 7:7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!
  • 2 Samuel 10:16 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.

“flood” Hebrew H5104 · used in 109 verses

  • Genesis 2:10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.
  • Ezra 8:36 And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.
  • Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.