יהושע, פרק כ״ג, פסוק ה׳

Nearing the end of his life, Joshua seeks to instill deep confidence within the Israelites, assuring them that their military campaign will not end with his passing. Although the land has already been divided into tribal inheritances, the practical work of conquering it remains unfinished. To ease their concerns, Joshua promises that God will continue to fight on their behalf in the future [מלבי״ם].

The divine assistance will take two distinct forms. First, God will actively push away and strike the nations that still linger in the region [מצודת ציון], [מצודת דוד]. This specific action targets the groups that were already defeated or those who chose to leave their territory voluntarily, such as the Girgashites. God promises to thrust them far away, ensuring they will never return to reclaim their former homes. Second, God will completely drive out the hostile nations that have not yet been conquered at all [מצודת ציון], [מלבי״ם].

Through these two actions by God, the Israelites will be able to fully inherit the land. They will successfully take control of all the remaining territories and isolated enclaves where the Canaanites still live [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Yet, this divine promise to finalize the conquest is not an automatic guarantee. It relies entirely on a clear condition that follows immediately: the people's strict adherence to the Torah [מלבי״ם].