Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

Chapter 49
The Last Words of Joshua
This chapter is based on Joshua 23 and 24.
When the wars and conquest ended, Joshua had withdrawn to
the peaceful seclusion of his home at Timnath Serah. "Now it came
to pass, a long time after the Lord had given rest to Israel from all
their enemies round about, that Joshua ... called for all Israel, for
their elders, for their heads, and for their judges, and for their
officers."
As Joshua felt the effects of old age coming on him and
realized that his work must soon close, he was deeply concerned for
the future of his people. "You have seen," he said, "all that the Lord
your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the Lord
your God is He who has fought for you." Although the Canaanites
had been subdued, they still possessed quite a bit of the land
promised to Israel, and Joshua urged his people not to forget the
Lord's command to drive out these idolatrous nations.
The tribes had all gone to their homes, the army had disbanded,
and renewing the war looked like a difficult and doubtful plan. But
Joshua declared: "The Lord your God will expel them from before
you and drive them out of your sight. So you shall possess their
land, as the Lord your God promised you. Therefore be very
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