It may be best to begin a new sentence with this verse. If you leave him to serve foreign gods may be translated, “If you quit worshiping the LORD and start worshiping other gods” or “… the gods which other people worship.” This “if” clause may also take the form of an imperative: “Do not quit worshiping him and begin to worship other gods.”

Even though he was good to you before, appearing as it does at the end of the verse, may be a slight stumbling block to the reader. It is possible to rearrange the entire verse so that this clause comes in its proper chronological place: “The LORD has always been good to you, but you must never quit worshiping him and start worshiping other gods. Then he will turn against you and punish you until he has completely destroyed you.” Or “… other gods. If you do, he will turn against you. He will punish you until you are completely destroyed.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Newman, Barclay M. A Handbook on Joshua. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .