Joshua 6:18

16 After the seventh time around, the priests blew the horns, and Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the city!

17 Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent.

But keep away from the things devoted to destruction, lest you yourself be set apart for destruction. If you take any of these, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster upon it.

19 For all the silver and gold and all the articles of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD; they must go into His treasury.”

20 So when the rams’ horns sounded, the people shouted. When they heard the blast of the horn, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. Then all the people charged straight into the city and captured it.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But keep away from the things devoted to destruction, lest you yourself be set apart for destruction. If you take any of these, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster upon it.
KJV
And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
WEB
But as for you, only keep yourselves from what is devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted it, you take of the devoted thing; so you would make the camp of Israel accursed and trouble it.
ASV
But as for you, only keep yourselves from the devoted thing, lest when ye have devoted it, ye take of the devoted thing; so would ye make the camp of Israel accursed, and trouble it.
DARBY
But in any wise keep from the accursed thing, lest ye make [yourselves] accursed in taking of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
BLB
And surely you⁺ keep away from a devoted thing, lest you⁺ become accursed, and you⁺ take from a devoted thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
ÅB
Men ta dere vel i vare for det som er bannlyst, at dere ikke først slår med bann og så tar av det som er bannlyst, og slik legger Israels leir under bann og fører den i ulykke.
OTB
Men hold dere unna de tingene som er viet til ødeleggelse, så dere ikke begjærer dem og tar noe av de viet tingene, og gjør Israels leir skyldig til ødeleggelse og bringer ulykke over den.
B1930
Men ta eder vel i vare for det som er bannlyst, at I ikke først slår med bann og så tar av det som er bannlyst, og således legger Israels leir under bann og fører den i ulykke.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 John 5:21

    Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

    Read in context
  • Ephesians 5:11

    Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

    Read in context
  • Joshua 7:11–12

    Israel has sinned; they have transgressed My covenant that I commanded them, and they have taken some of what was devoted to destruction. Indeed, they have stolen and lied, and they have put these things with their own possessions.

    Read in context
  • Joshua 7:1

    The Israelites, however, acted unfaithfully regarding the things devoted to destruction. Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart. So the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites.

    Read in context
  • Joshua 7:25

    “Why have you brought this trouble upon us?” said Joshua. “Today the LORD will bring trouble upon you!” And all Israel stoned him to death. Then they stoned the others and burned their bodies.

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 6:17

    “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

    Read in context
  • Romans 12:9

    Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.

    Read in context
  • James 1:27

    Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

    Read in context