And the people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.”
Joshua compels them to choose not because serving God is optional, but because a reasoned, deliberate choice will bind their consciences far more securely than mere obligation. The will of man clings most firmly to what it has elected freely; thus he sets before them a genuine fork in the road and demands they take it knowingly.
AI summary
Commenting on Joshua 24:15-28
And the people said unto Joshua,.... A third time, that as by the mouth of two or three witnesses everything is confirmed, so by three testimonies of the same persons: the Lord our God will we serve; as they had before declared, and to which they add: and his voice will we obey; or his word, as the Targum, not only his word of command...
Jos 24:24-25 On the repeated and decided declaration of the people, “the Lord our God will we serve, and to His voice will we hearken,” Joshua completed the covenant with them that day. This conclusion of a covenant was really a solemn renewal of the covenant made at Sinai, like that which took place under Moses in the steppes of Moab (Deu 29:1).
Commenting on Joshua 24:24-25