Matthew Poole and continuators on Joshua 23:7

7 That ye come not among these nations , these that remain amongst you, neither make mention of the name of their gods , nor cause to swear by them , neither serve them, nor bow your selves unto them .

i. e. Avoid all familiar converse and contracts, but especially Marriages with them, as it is explained, v. 12. and as the Hebrew Verb intimates; being oft used of coming or going in to a Woman.

To wit, unnecessarily and familiarly, lest the mention of them breed discourse about them, and so by degrees bring a man to the approbation and worship of them. Compare Exod. 23. 13. Deut. 12. 3. Psal. 16. 4. Eph. 5. 3.

Nor require or compel the Gentiles to swear by them, as they used to do, especially in Leagues and Contracts, which therefore the Israelites are here implicitely forbidden to make with them.

Neither give them any inward reverence, or outward adoration. Here is an observable gradation, whereby he shews what notable Progress Sin usually makes, and what need there is to look to the beginnings of it, forasmuch as a civil and common conversation with their persons was likely to bring them, and indeed did actually bring them, by insensible steps, to the Worship of their gods. So it is no wonder, if some things not simply and in themselves evil, be forbidden by God, as here the naming of their gods is, because they are occasions and introductions to evil.

Marginal references: Psal. 16. 4. Jer. 5. 7. Zeph. 1. 5.