The LORD has driven out great and powerful nations before youThis phrase highlights the divine intervention and sovereignty of God in the conquest of Canaan. The Israelites' victories over formidable nations such as the Amorites, Hittites, and Canaanites were not due to their own strength but were acts of God fulfilling His promises (
Deuteronomy 7:1-2). This reflects the covenantal faithfulness of God, as He had promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land (
Genesis 15:18-21). The phrase also underscores the theme of God as a warrior, a motif seen throughout the Old Testament (
Exodus 15:3). Archaeological evidence, such as the destruction layers found in cities like Jericho and Hazor, supports the biblical narrative of conquest during this period.
and to this day no one can stand against you
This statement emphasizes the ongoing protection and favor of God over Israel. Historically, this period marks the establishment of Israel as a dominant force in the region, with surrounding nations unable to defeat them. The phrase "to this day" suggests a continued state of divine favor and security, which is a recurring theme in the Deuteronomic history. It also serves as a reminder of the conditional nature of this protection, as later texts reveal that Israel's disobedience leads to their eventual downfall (Judges 2:11-15). This phrase can be seen as a type of Christ, who provides ultimate victory and security for believers, as no spiritual force can stand against those who are in Him (Romans 8:31-39).
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Joshua- The leader of Israel after Moses, who led the Israelites into the Promised Land and is delivering his farewell address in this chapter.
2.
The LORD (Yahweh)- The covenant God of Israel, who has been faithful in fulfilling His promises to the Israelites by driving out their enemies.
3.
Israelites- The chosen people of God, who have been given the land of Canaan as their inheritance.
4.
Canaan- The Promised Land, which the Israelites are in the process of fully possessing as God drives out the nations before them.
5.
Great and Powerful Nations- The various Canaanite tribes and peoples who occupied the land before the Israelites and were known for their strength and fortifications.
Teaching Points
God's FaithfulnessReflect on how God has been faithful in fulfilling His promises to Israel. Consider how this same faithfulness applies to His promises to us today.
Divine Power Over Human StrengthRecognize that it is God's power, not human ability, that secures victory. Trust in His strength rather than our own.
Covenant RelationshipUnderstand the importance of maintaining a covenant relationship with God, as Israel's success was tied to their obedience and faithfulness to Him.
Spiritual WarfareApply the concept of God driving out enemies to our spiritual battles, trusting that He will help us overcome sin and temptation.
Legacy of FaithConsider how Joshua's leadership and faithfulness set an example for future generations. Reflect on the legacy of faith we are building for those who come after us.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Joshua 23:9?
2.How does Joshua 23:9 demonstrate God's power in overcoming great and strong nations?
3.What role does faith play in experiencing God's victories as seen in Joshua 23:9?
4.How can we apply Joshua 23:9 to challenges faced in modern Christian life?
5.What other biblical examples show God driving out nations before His people?
6.How does Joshua 23:9 encourage trust in God's promises and protection today?
7.How does Joshua 23:9 demonstrate God's power over other nations?
8.What historical evidence supports the events described in Joshua 23:9?
9.How does Joshua 23:9 reflect God's faithfulness to Israel?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 23?
11.In Joshua 23:9, what archaeological evidence supports or contradicts the claim that large nations were driven out swiftly by the Israelites?
12.How do you cut Rahab into pieces?
13.Psalm 106:34-35 suggests Israel did not fully conquer or destroy surrounding nations--how does this align with biblical passages that claim they subdued the land completely?
14.How can we reconcile Nehemiah 13:1-3 banning Ammonites and Moabites from the assembly with earlier passages showing Ruth, a Moabite, fully accepted among God's people?What Does Joshua 23:9 Mean
The LORD has driven out• The emphasis sits squarely on the LORD as the decisive Warrior. Israel never attributes victory to strategy or numbers; Yahweh Himself “goes before” (Deuteronomy 1:30) and “throws their enemies into confusion” (Exodus 23:27).
• This wording recalls earlier pledges: “The LORD your God is the One who fights for you” (Joshua 23:3). The text underlines the reliability of promises first voiced to Abraham (Genesis 15:18–21) and reiterated to Moses (Deuteronomy 9:3).
• Because the LORD drove the nations out, Israel’s calling is to trust rather than tremble. Obedience becomes an act of confidence in proven divine power.
great and powerful nations• These peoples were superior in size, fortification, and military skill (Numbers 13:28). The Hittites, Amorites, and Canaanites fielded chariots and walled cities (Deuteronomy 7:1).
• By highlighting their strength, the verse magnifies God’s greatness. What looked humanly impossible fell easily when confronted by divine might—echoing Gideon’s later lesson that “the LORD will deliver Midian into your hand with the three hundred men” (Judges 7:7).
• Believers today meet “strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4), yet the same God remains unconstrained by earthly odds.
before you• God’s action is personal; He does not merely clear territory, He clears it “before you”—for the benefit of His covenant people.
• Earlier Moses declared, “The LORD your God will go before you; He will fight for you” (Deuteronomy 1:30). Joshua experienced that reality at Jericho when the ark circled the walls ahead of the army (Joshua 6:7–11).
• The phrase also signals purpose: land possession served the larger goal of showcasing God’s name among the nations (Joshua 4:24).
and to this day• Joshua speaks near the end of his life, four or five decades after the first conquest. The victories were not fleeting; the security remained current.
• This ongoing preservation fulfills the promise “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5). Solomon later testifies, “Not one word has failed of all His good promises” (1 Kings 8:56).
• The line invites Israel to look backward for confidence about tomorrow. Gratitude fuels future faithfulness.
no one can stand against you• The statement reiterates an earlier pledge: “No man will be able to stand against you all the days of your life” (Joshua 1:5). God’s presence neutralizes resistance.
• “Stand” pictures an enemy holding ground; the verse asserts that opposition crumbles when confronting God-backed obedience (Deuteronomy 11:25).
• For Christians, this principle finds ultimate expression inRomans 8:31—“If God is for us, who can be against us?” The battle posture moves from fear to settled assurance.
summaryJoshua 23:9 celebrates completed victories, highlights God’s unmatched power, and calls God’s people to ongoing trust. The LORD Himself expelled formidable nations for Israel’s sake, proving that divine promises outlast human strength or opposition. Remembering those acts equips believers to obey courageously, confident that the same faithful God still goes before His people and renders every foe powerless to stand.
(9)
No man hath been able to stand before you.--Comp.
Joshua 1:5.
Verse 9. -
For the Lord your God hath driven out. So the Masora and the LXX. The Vulgate and the margin of our version translate by the future. So Luther also. The next verse is undeniably future. An appeal to their experience, which did not fail (see
Joshua 24:31) to be effective as long as the memory of these things was fresh in their minds. So in the Prayer Book of the Church of England we find the appeal, "O God, we have heard with our ears, and our fathers have declared unto us, the noble works that thou didst in their days, and in the old time before them." And the passage (
Psalm 44:1-3), from which the idea of this petition is taken, is an allusion to this speech of Joshua. And we often, in times of faintheartedness or sloth, need to be thus reminded of the moral and spiritual victories of the true Israel, under the true Joshua the Saviour, over the enemies with whom we are forbidden to make a compromise.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
The LORDיְהוָה֙(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israelhas driven outוַיּ֤וֹרֶשׁ(way·yō·w·reš)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3423:To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruingreatגְּדֹלִ֣ים(gə·ḏō·lîm)Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 1419:Great, older, insolentand powerfulוַעֲצוּמִ֑ים(wa·‘ă·ṣū·mîm)Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 6099:Powerful, numerousnationsגּוֹיִ֖ם(gō·w·yim)Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1471:A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locustsbefore you,מִפְּנֵיכֶ֔ם(mip·pə·nê·ḵem)Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 6440:The faceand toעַ֖ד(‘aḏ)Preposition
Strong's 5704:As far as, even to, up to, until, whilethisהַזֶּֽה׃(haz·zeh)Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088:This, thatdayהַיּ֥וֹם(hay·yō·wm)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117:A daynoלֹא־(lō-)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, nooneאִישׁ֙(’îš)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376:A man as an individual, a male personcan standעָ֤מַד(‘ā·maḏ)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5975:To stand, in various relationsagainst you.בִּפְנֵיכֶ֔ם(bip̄·nê·ḵem)Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 6440:The face
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OT History: Joshua 23:9 For Yahweh has driven great and strong (Josh. Jos) 
