Why is Joshua 24:2 considered absolute truth?
It is considered absolute truth because it is introduced with “Thus saith the Lord God of Israel,” meaning God Himself is speaking, not merely recording a genealogical family tree. The verse declares that the forefathers, including Terah, dwelt beyond the river and served other gods.
Les explains that Joshua 24:2 records Joshua speaking to all the people: “Thus saith the Lord God of Israel.” Because God is speaking, the statement is absolute truth, not just a quirk of a genealogical family tree. The verse says the forefathers dwelt on the other side of the river in old time—even Terah, Abraham’s father and Nahor’s father—and the whole family served other gods; they were idolaters. Les adds that this was only about 200 years after the Tower of Babel, and at that time there was not a single believer in the one true God left, though someone raised the question of Seth, who was evidently still living.
And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.