Joshua 24:2
Joshua 24 :2
And Joshua said to all the people, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors—Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor—lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods.'
— NRSV
Context
Joshua's farewell address to Israel at Shechem, recounting their history from Abraham's origins.
Joshua 24:2
This verse is significant as one of the few biblical references to Terah’s religious practices before Abraham’s call. It explicitly states that Abraham’s family, including his father Terah, worshipped “other gods” in Mesopotamia.
Significance
This passage serves as the preamble to Joshua’s covenant renewal ceremony at Shechem. By reminding the Israelites of their polytheistic origins, Joshua emphasizes the gracious nature of God’s choice of Abraham and the importance of remaining faithful to the God who called them out of idolatry.
Cross-tradition Note
Islamic tradition elaborates on this theme, depicting Terah (Azar) as an idol-maker whom the young Abraham challenged and eventually rejected.