Farewell Speech of Joshua: 23:1–5 Saying goodbye is difficult for everyone, leaders and followers. In Joshua 22 the time arrives for final farewells. The narrator does not tell readers when Joshua gave his farewell, but a long time had passed. Readers can know only that Israel had rest from their enemies and Joshua was well advanced in years (lit. days). Joshua summons the local leadership of the tribes—elders, leaders, judges, and officials—to hear his final words. He begins by calling them to reflect on what they had seen the Lord God do for them.

Joshua delivers this speech in first-person autobiographical style. He speaks of his audience of western tribal leaders as you (second person plural). The speech points out the value of life review for both elders and the generation left behind.…