16. Then the people answered, “We will never stop following the Lord to serve other gods!
17. It was the Lord our God who brought our ancestors out of Egypt. We were slaves in that land, but the Lord did great things for us there. He brought us out and protected us while we traveled through other lands.
18. Then he forced out all the people living in these lands, even the Amorites. So we will serve the Lord, because he is our God.”
19. Then Joshua said, “You are not able to serve the Lord, because he is a holy God and a jealous God. If you turn against him and sin, he will not forgive you.
20. If you leave the Lord and serve other gods, he will send you great trouble. The Lord may have been good to you, but if you turn against him, he will destroy you.”
21. But the people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the Lord.”
22. Then Joshua said, “You are your own witnesses that you have chosen to serve the Lord.”The people said, “Yes, we are.”
23. Then Joshua said, “Now throw away the gods that you have. Love the Lord, the God of Israel, with all your heart.”
24. Then the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God, and we will obey him.”
25. On that day at Shechem Joshua made an agreement for the people. He made rules and laws for them to follow.
26. Joshua wrote these things in the Book of the Teachings of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up under the oak tree near the Lord’s Holy Tent.