Summary #13

Weekly Summary
Joshua 12 - Judges 7

Having conquered the southern and northern kings of Canaan, the Israelites divide up the the land between the tribes, with some on the east side of the Jordan, some on the west, and the Levites getting certain towns throughout the land. Judah and Manasseh end up not being able to drive out certain Canaanites from their land, making them slaves instead.

After the land is allotted, Ephraim and Manasseh plead for more land because they have a large population, and they are given additional hill country. After the first five tribes receive their allotment, Joshua sends out three men from each remaining tribe to portion out the rest of the land, and then they draw lots to see who gets which territory.

People start settling in to the newly divided territory, and Joshua sends home the men from the tribes that had been given territory on the east side of the Jordan. They gather their plunder and head back to their tribe, ut when they cross the Jordan, they erect a huge altar, which can be seen from the other side. The people of the West are indignant, thinking that this altar signifies a break from the rest of the people, and especially from the rest of the people, and especially from the worship of the one true God. They send a delegation, headed up up by Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, famous for his zealous and immediate killing of the Israelite defiling the meeting at Peor. The Eastern tribes, knowing full well what Phinehas is capable of, hasten to assure the delegation they they set up the altar as a witness, to remind the Eastern tribes that they serve the same God as the Western tribes, and both the delegation and the rest of Israel is satisfied that this is true.

Peace settles on the land, and Joshua gathers the people to remind them of all that God has done for them. He reminds them that that not one promise from God was untrue, and just as true are all of the things God told them would happen if they served other gods. The people renew their promise to follow only God, despite Joshua's warning that God is a jealous and holy God, and will not abide apostasy. After setting up a monument as a witness to the renewal of their covenant, Joshua dies at 110 and is buried on his land.

Yet another peaceful ending.... sort of. The book of Joshua ends with the people settled into the land that God promised them, but not the way they were supposed to have settled in. Instead of driving the Canaanites out completely, we see that the tribes have pockets of them living in the midst of them, often as slaves, but they are not gone, as God commanded.

Nearly all of the next battles are God-directed and the Israelites are victorious as Judah and Simeon take on Canaanites and the Perizzites, and many more after that. Only Jerusalem remains unconquered, while the rest of the area falls to the Israelites. God leads them on in taking over the land.

Except that what follows next is a long list of the people that the tribes DIDN'T drive out. God calls this to their attention and reminds them that they are breaking the covenant that he created with them. The people repent, and cry out -- for a while. Then as the elders die off, the next generation does not know the Lord, or remember what he has done for them. Then they do "what was evil in the sight of the Lord" (Remember that phrase; it's going to become quite familiar to you in the next weeks, I promise) and serve the Baals.

When God sees the people serving other gods, his anger is kindled against them and they start falling to the "plunderers", and are oppressed by the people around them. Remember the cycle in the wilderness, where the people would grumble, God would be angry with them and punish them, they would repent, and then start the whole process over again by grumbling? We've got a new cycle forming up. The people follow other gods, they get oppressed by other nations, they cry out to God, he saves them, and they repent... until they start following other gods again. Anyway, it starts here. The people call out in their distress, and God sends judges to save them.

Years into this cycle, we find Othniel, the first of the judges named in the story. He was Caleb's nephew, and he freed them from the oppression of a Mesopotamian king, and they had forty years of peace.

Ehud is the next one. He's a left-handed man who uses this unusual feature to hide a sword on his right thigh, where apparently the people protecting King Eglon (who was currently oppressing the Israelites) didn't think to look. So he gets King Eglon alone, under the pretense of paying tribute, and instead of paying tribute, he sinks his sword all the way into the king, burying even the hilt of the sword in his belly. Not a story for the weak of stomach. Anyway, without their king, the people of Moab cannot withstand the attack of the Israelites, and God frees the Israelites again, giving them peace for 80 years. Shamgar is the next judge, who led the Israelites against the Philistines.

And then comes the first female judge, Deborah, a prophetess. The Israelites have rebelled, and are under the oppression of Jabin, king of Canaan. Deborah summons Barak, the leader of the army and says that God will deliver Sisera, the commander of Jabin's armies, to him. He is a bit doubtful -- in fact, he says, he won't go unless Deborah goes, too. She does, but tells him that because of his hesitation, a woman will defeat Sisera instead of him. They go to battle, and as the battle progresses, Sisera runs to what he thinks is a sympathetic place to get a little rest. Jael is a sort of relative, and she invites him into her tent for a rest, giving him milk, a blanket, and the promise of vigilance. Instead, as soon as he is asleep, she drives a tent peg through his temple. Another sort of squeamish scene here in Judges. And the Isrealites are freed of oppression by God again.

Right on schedule, the people of Israel do "what was evil in the sight of the Lord" and they are again subject to the Midianites. They cry out to the Lord, and he sends an angel to Gideon, who is threshing wheat in a winepress, hiding from the Midianites. Not a brave move, and Gideon doesn't seem to be a very brave guy overall. He demands a sign, which the angel gives him by having fire consume the unleavened bread and meat. Convinced, Gideon follows the angel's instructions to destroy the altar of Baal and the Asherah beside it. But, because he is not very brave, he does it in the middle of the night. When the townspeople see the destruction, they are angry and are about to take down Gideon, but Gideon's father convinces them that Baal should be fighting his own battles, and they should leave Gideon to be revenged by Baal, if he was able.

So our reluctant judge sounds the trumpet and summons a great army to go up against the Midianites. He asks for another sign, laying out fleece and asking that it be wet and the ground dry. Sure enough, that's what happens. Just to be very, very sure, he then reverses the plan, asking that the fleece be dry, and the ground around it wet. Also not a problem for God, so, out of excuses, Gideon starts out. How will it turn out? Check back next week and we'll see if our new judge gets any braver....

Day #88

Sermon - Audio
Joshua 22-24 - Audio
Joshua 22-24 - Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

Joshua 22 – Eastern Tribes Move Home

Question – Why weren’t the tribes already home since they have entered the promised land?

In the background is a long standing agreement that two and a half tribes had worked out with Moses (Numbers 32) and confirmed with Joshua stipulating that they could settle east of the Jordan River after helping the other tribes conquer Canaan. The sequence that unfolds in Chapter 22 is as follows: Joshua gives the two and a half tribes permission to go home beyond the Jordan (v. 1-9); the returning tribes build an altar (v. 10); the western tribes are incensed by what they think the altar represents, and they prepare to wage war against the two and a half tribes (v. 11-12); in a highly formal and stylized speech, leaders of the two and a half tribes defend their actions to the offended Israelites (v. 21-29); the envoy is satisfied and returns with a positive report that is accepted (v. 30-34). Coming through the narrative excitement of the event is an obvious preoccupation among the Israelites with avoiding idolatry and worshipping God only, and also the importance of unity among the people of God. (The Literary Study Bible)

v. 13-20 – The sin at Peor (Num. 25) and the incident of Achan (Josh 7) show that all of Israel can suffer for the sins of few or even just one. The delegation fears that God may become angry with the whole nation of Israel because of the actions of the two and a half tribes.

Joshua 23 – Joshua’s Charge to Israel’s Leaders

v. 1ff – The book of Joshua began with the passing of the mantle of leadership to Joshua, after the death of Moses. Joshua, now “old and well advanced in years”, will soon die, and so the next generation of leaders is charged in terms reminiscent of Joshua’s own charge in Chapter 1.

v. 7-13 – One of Joshua’s key concerns was that the Israelites would become assimilated into Canaanite culture.

v. 15-16 – God is faithful to keep His promises and He is also faithful to keep His threats as well. The Israelites weren’t to suppose that being the recipients of God’s blessings made them immune to His judgment. The threat contained in these verses would eventually be fulfilled in the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles.

Joshua 24 – Joshua gathers the tribes of Israel to recount their past history and renew their covenant with God.

v. 1 – There are several reasons why Joshua could have chosen Shechem for this event: it was Abraham’s first place of rest (Gen 12); while in Shechem Jacob commanded all of his people to give up their foreign gods (Gen 35).

v. 14-15 - Joshua tells the Israelites that they must choose, that there is no middle of the road. If they were not going to commit themselves to TOTAL loyalty to God, eventually they would fall under the spell of the gods of their neighbors.

v. 19 – Joshua’s warning that “he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins” does not suggest that God is unforgiving, but that He cannot condone worship of anything other than God himself.

v. 26 – “A large stone” serves as a reminder of Israel’s duty to serve God, who fulfilled every promise of bringing them to the promised land.

v. 29 – This is the first instance where Joshua is named as a servant of the Lord, a title that Moses also received at the end of his life.

v. 32 – The burial of Joseph’s bones to the final resting place at Shechem brings the book of Joshua to a close. Joseph’s final wish as noted in Gen. 50:25 is granted.

Day #87

Sermon - Audio
Joshua 19-21 - Audio
Joshua 19-21 - Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

Joshua 19

The distribution of the land continues. In an excellent book called Old Testament Ethics and the People of God, Chris Wright makes the point that each tribe is not given the same amount of land, but each is given enough . Land is inextricably tied to Israel's economy (really: it still is for us today. EVERYTHING material we have has it's roots in the earth). The land (which is a divine gift) is the source of all Israel's food/wealth. People who don't have land (widows, orphans, aliens) are always provided for because without land they have no means to support themselves.

Vs 1-10: Simeon. This is a unique case for the 12 tribes. The tribe of Simeon is not given it's own boundaries. Instead they are scattered among towns within Judah. They do not form a contiguous whole (NICOT). The maps in the back of your Bible are misleading. The reason is for this is not clear, but it is hinted at already when Jacob “blesses” his sons in Genesis 49.7: “Cursed be their anger [Levi and Simeon], so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel.” The two censuses in Numbers show Simeon to be in decline. They dropped from 59,000 to less than half that amount: 22,000 by the end of Numbers. Remember they are absent from Moses blessing in. It seems they are now paying the price for Simeon's role in violence after the rape of Dinah in Genesis 34.

Note the reason they are portioned land within Judah. “”Judah's portion was more than they needed (vs 9).”

vs 10-16 Zebulun. Do not confuse this Bethlehem with the Bethlehem in Judah (vs 15). Although not mentioned here, Nazareth (Jesus home town) would have been within the borders of Zebulun.

Vs 17-23 Issachar. This tribe was granted the very fertile plane of Jezreel.

Vs24-31 Asher. This border touched the powerful pagan territories of Tyre and Sidon.

Vs 32-39 Naphtali.

40-48 Dan. This tribe was under constant pressure from the Amorites which forced them up into the hill country (Judges 1.34).

vs 49-51 Just as the allotment of land was began with an individual (Caleb), it also ends with an individual (Joshua): the two faithful spies and the only two who came all the way from Egypt. Their courage and faith are an important focus of the whole book. Joshua is given his choice of land within his own tribe: Ephriam.

End note: though not made obvious by these passages. A survey of the land reveals that what will become the northern 10 tribes who quickly fall away from God are given the more fertile land. The more faithful Judah is far from “farm land.” Very little could be grown there beyond hardy olive trees and grape vines. What will be the southern kingdom was more suited for wandering shepherds with their sheep and goats. The tribes who had more abundance forgot God, while the tribes who had less were more dependent on him. Material wealth is not always a blessing. Neither is poverty always a curse.

Joshua 20

This passage illustrates God's justice in God's land. We have already read about the cities of refuge in Numbers and Deuteronomy. They are meant to be safe havens for people who had unintentionally killed another. These cities are listed in the context of the allotment of the 12 tribes showing their importance to Israel's societal structure

Vs 1 Notice that the LORD speaks directly to Joshua as he did to Moses. This is the last time he does so. He started talking to Joshua (very significant) in Joshua 1.1.

Vs 4 This does not suspend justice, it looks to uphold it. The man who flees must present his case to the elders at the city gate before entrance and later face trial before the “assembly” (vs 6)

vs 9 Foreigners are given the same protection as Israelites.

Joshua 21

vs 1-42 The Levites are given cities spread throughout all of Israel. Most tribes receive 4 levitical towns in their territory. It is interesting to note that between Simeon and Judah, there are 9 (and are settled by the Aaronite branch of the tribe of Levi). Naptali revieves only three. The number of Levitical towns are not dependent on population or land area of the tribe.

vs41-45 READ THESE FEW VERSES OVER AGAIN! They are a treasure nuzzled up against some dense reading. This concludes the distribution of the land. ALL of God's promises are said to be fulfilled.

Vs 44 Especially significant is the phrase: “The LORD gave them rest on every side.” The word for rest is NUACH, which is first found in Genesis 2.15 (literally: “the LORD God took the man and caused him to rest in the garden of Eden.”) Joshua 21.44 reads literally “God caused them to have rest all around.” The language is similar; more importantly the source of rest is the same. In a small way God has restored his people to the way things ought to be. He will do the same for the whole world when Jesus returns. All his good promises will be fulfilled.

Day #86

Sermon - Audio
Joshua 16-18 - Audio
Joshua 16-18 - Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

Continued from Previous day...

16.4: Joseph receives a double portion of the land through his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.

16.10: We hear the refrain again--they did not drive out all the people.

Joshua 17

17.1: It is not clear why being a man of war brought about this inheritance.

17.4: The daughters of Zelophehad show up again. This movement of transfer of property to the daughters is being firmly rooted by its constant mention.

17.12-13: Still more failure to root the peoples out of the land.

17.14-15: The tribe of Joseph complains that they have not been given enough room. Joshua challenges them to take other land if they are in fact strong and powerful.

17.16 he Josephites plead their case further. They face a losing struggle. The hill country is too small, here seemingly to refer again to the restricted sense of Mount Ephraim. The valley is not available, because the Canaanites with their iron weapons protect it. Again the old narrative points out with 17:11 that the Israelites could not control the string of cities near the Jezreel Valley. The Josephites have not, however, answered Joshua’s challenge. Rather, they have avoided the issue. Word Biblical Commentary

17.18: Iron chariots against men on foot in battle called for divine intervention and wise military planning.

Chapter 18

18.1: The tent of meeting is the Tabernacle.

18.1: Shiloh will be the place of the Tabernacle from this point until the time of David.

18.3: The theme begins that it is Israel's responsibility to take the land. God will be with them, but they have to go up and do battle.

18.10: The lots are cast "before the LORD" because he is the one who determines the outcome.

Summary #12

Weekly Summary
Deut 24 to Joshua 11

Jumping into the middle of Moses' address to the Isrealites before they enter the promised land, we pick up where we left of last week -- with a reiteration and explanation of the law that God had given the Israelites in the wilderness. Moses recaps divorce and dowry laws, puts in an intriguing condemnation of "dirty" fighting, and recaps their responsibilities in regard to firstfruits offerings and tithes. He also tells the people that once they cross the Jordan, they must set up monuments to God, that include the law that he has given them, and God renews his covenant with the people of Israel.

Essentially, Moses prepares the people to enter the land by making sure that they understand what God expects from them - he even has them stand on opposing mountains and recite the blessings that they will reap from faithfulness to the covenant, and their horrible prospects should they turn away from God and not follow his laws. The blessings include fertile fields, wombs, flocks, victory in war and renown among the nations. The curses follow the same pattern, but then go on to more things than they can imagine; sickness, pestilence -- they will become "a horror, a proverb, and byword" for the surrounding lands. Ultimately, they will be scattered. Moses recounts how they had wandered - not only in the desert, but also away from God, and tells them that they are capable of following this law. It is not too hard for them, and they must ultimately choose either life or death.

Reminding the people that he will not cross the Jordan with them, Moses encourages the people to be strong and courageous. They should not fear, because God will defeat their enemies and give them the land. He writes down the law, and tells the people that in 70 years they should read to every person in Israel. God tells Moses that he already knows that the Israelites will turn away from him, and that Moses is to write down a song celebrating the goodness of God so that the Israelites will be confronted by their rebellion. Moses gives them the song, blesses the twelve tribes, and dies.

In the opening of the book of Joshua, God anoints Joshua, who has the Israelites parade before him, and assumes command. He then sets the nation up for the invasion of Canaan by sending spies into Jericho, where they bunk down with a prostitute. Secrets are apparently hard to keep in that section of town, because people report to the king that Rahab has Israelite men in her place. The king tells Rahab to turn them over, but she lies and says that they had slipped out just before the gates closed, and the king's men head out to find them. The Israelite men were in the roof, meanwhile, and when she came to them, she told them that the whole city feared them because of what God had done for the people at the Red Sea, and she begged for her family to be spared when the Israelites took the city. They agreed, and returned to Isreal, where the people where making preparations to cross into Canaan.

Careful to obey all the directions that God had given them, the people of Israel followed the priests, who were carrying the ark of the covenant. God desired to show them his power, to show them that he was stillw ith them as had been with Moses, so as soon as the priests' sandals touched the overflowing, rushing, flood-stage Jordan, the waters "piled up" way upstream, until the entire nation had crossed on dry land. The people set up the monuments as God had commanded, using men from each tribe. If the Red Sea had scared the folks in Jericho, this little invasion into the uncrossable Jordan must have nearly panicked them!

Heeding God's call to mark his people, Joshua pauses before taking Canaan territory to circumcise all of the men of Israel, since they had not performed that rite while wandering in the desert, and all of the men who had been circumcised in Egypt had since died. The people celebrate their first passover in the promised land, and on the day after that, they eat the first produce from there, and there was no more manna after that. Joshua then sees a commander with a drawn sword, and, not knowing if he was friend or foe, asks if he for them or against them. Niether, says the man. He commands the Lord's army. Guess it's up to Joshua and the people of Israel if that means he's for or against....

Outside the walls of Jericho, where the people must be beside themselves with fear, the people of Israel march. And march. And march. Six days, then they march around the city seven times, shout, and blow their horns. Probably not what the Jericho-ians were expecting, but the wall come a-tumblin' down. God says that everything is to be destroyed except for silver and gold, which are to be given to the lord, and they are also to spare Rahad and her family. The Israelites follow this directive. Or so we think.

Fast on the heals of the victory at Jericho, the Israelites take on Ai... and lose! Wondering what went wrong, the people pray. God tells them that someone didn't follow the plan at Jericho, and took things for themselves which should have been devoted to the Lord. They narrow it down by tribe, clan, and family until they come to Achan, who has stolen a shawl and silver and gold. Because of this, he and his family and belongings are stoned, burned, and buried under a pile of stones. The Israelites then take another shot at Ai, this time luring them out with a small group of men, and then taking the city from behind while the fighting men are pursuing the small group of Israelite men who had taunted them. This time everything was destroyed as God had commanded.

At this point, Joshua again has the Israelites renew their covenant with God, and they go over all the laws that God had given them. The Gibeonites, however, see the problem in front of them: they are going to fall to Israel if they don't do something, and quick. So they gird themselves up with worn-out donkeys, crumbly provisions, and burst wineskins, and show up at the Israelite camp, wanting to make a treaty with them. The Israelites know that they are not to make treaties with the people they were sent to conquer, but the Gibeonites convince them that they are from far, far away. Why else would they be in such rough shape? They say nice things about the Israelites and their God, and push for a treaty... which they get. Three days later, the Israelite find out they are locals, and make servants out of them. The Gibeonites go along, thinking better a servant than dead.

Livid at what the Gibeonites had done, the other kings attacked them. Based on the treaty that they had with the Gibeonites, the Israelites join in the war. They were doing okay, but then God sent down hail, which killed more of the enemy than the Israelites did. The kings of the Amorites all fled to a cave, where Joshua could handily set a guard while the Israelites finished off all of their enemies. He then put to death the five kings, and reminded the Israelites to be strong and courageous, because God continued to show his power in favor of the nation of Israel.

Like the Amorites before them, the rest of Southern Canaan falls to Joshua and the Israelites. The Israelites put every person to death, and take only the livestock as plunder. After Southern Canaan, Northern Canaan follows the same fate, so that by the end, only the Hivites of Gibeon survive (as servants), and every other city is destroyed.

So, Israel has established itself in the promised land. Would they, as God foretold, forget him? Would they realize all that God had done for them and devote themselves to his law? I think you know the answer, but you never know... tune in next week and find out!

Day #85

Sermon - Audio
Joshua 12-15 - Audio
Joshua 12-15 - Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

Chapter 12

12.1-5: The chapter begins with the work of Moses, it moves into the work of Joshua.

12.6: Moses is continually called God's servant. It is a title of honor.

12:7-8. geographical area. This list of conquered territory west of the Jordan River is a repetition of Joshua 11:16–17. Such repetition further strengthens the Israelite claim on the land, based on the covenant of Genesis 15:19–21, and provides the basis for its distribution to the tribes. IVP Old Testament Background Commentary

The Map below allows us to see the area captured from the different kings. God begins the conquest buy defeating the enemies of Israel, the conquest continues as Israel shows their faithfulness to God by taking on the people of the land.

Chapter 13

We hear of the lands yet to be conquered. But before they are conquered they are already given as an inheritance to the different tribes. God's promise is sure even if there are still enemies living in the land. The following chapter of allotting the land seem tedious to many of us. It helps to hear the allotment in two important ways. First, this is an inheritance from God himself, such is a moment of great excitement. Second, this is the land the people will use to uncover the riches of God's creation to bring glory to him. When we keep these things in mind it is easy to see why so much time is spent on the allotment of the land.

13.3: The Philistines are a rather advanced people who came to the area from Greece. They will be a constant enemy of Israel.

13.6: God's good promise to drive the people out of the land.

The division of the Land--notice where the tribe Dan is located, it was their task to drive out the Philistines. We see their encounter with the Philistines in the book of Judges (Samson), but they are not able to prevail. Eventually Dan moves to the northern part of Israel. It is a bad choice to leave behind God's given inheritance since their new place put them in the place where invading armies first came.

13.14,33: Again we hear that that the Levites have no inheritance. It in interesting to note that one of the reasons pastors were given parsonages by some denominations was, in part, this idea that religious leaders have no physical inheritance.

13.22: Balaam is mentioned again. His role in causing Israel pain and possible alienation from God is not readily forgotten.

13.27 The "Sea of Chinnereth" is another name for the Sea of Galilee. The Chinnereth was a harp like instrument and the sea was shaped like the instrument.

Chapters 13-19 belong to the genre of the historical chronicle. Although there is an underlying story line (as we picture Joshua parceling out plots of land day after day) and interspersed narrative sections, the bulk of the space is devoted to lists and data regarding real estate. A good way to relive these chapters is to imagine yourself present at the events as an interested party, wondering what land your tribe or family would be allotted and experiencing the excitement of surveying your piece of land for the first time. Things to note include these: (1) the heroic example of Caleb, still going strong at the age of eighty-five (14:6–15); (2) the picture of a well-ordered state, serving the interests of its citizens and deserving of respect from them; (3) the importance of a strong leader (Joshua) to preserve order in society; (4) evidences that the civil operations that we observe are at the same time religious events—outworkings of God’s covenant dealings with his people and means through which the people are beneficiaries of God’s generosity to them; (5) in keeping with that, hints that the principle of inheritance of the land within a family is of vital importance to the covenant people of God." ESV Literary Bible

14.2: The book of Proverbs reminds us that man throw the lot, but its outcome is in God's hand. Proverbs 16.33

14.5: This verse reflects an obedient people--a wonderful thing that will crumble in the Book of Judges.

14.14: We are reminded of the blessings of obedience.

15.17: We will find Othniel in the book of Judges as well. He is one who will rescue the people of Israel.

15.45-47: These are the areas of the Philistines.

15.62: En-Gedi is an area of beautiful springs by the Dead Sea. It is in this area that the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.

15.63: The inability to take Jerusalem foreshadows the struggles of the book of Judges and tells us that in the midst of a very positive picture, all is not well.

Day #84

Sermon - Audio
Joshua 9-11 - Audio
Joshua 9-11 - Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

9

v1-13 = Some of the other kings have conspired against Israel. They try to deceive Joshua by making a covenant with him. In Deut 7:1-2 it explicitly states that they shall not do this. The Gibeonites make sure that Joshua and others will think they are not from Canaan by looking rugged as if they has been on a long journey. They also make sure to praise Yahweh as well, so Joshua will not think them to be enemies...it works!

v3 = Archaeological Factoid: The identification of the city of Gibeon with el-Jib, a site 6 miles (9.7 km) northwest of Jerusalem, has been confirmed archaeologically by the discovery of numerous jar handles inscribed with the name Gibeon.

v14 = Look closely = "The did not ask counsel of the LORD." They trusted their own smarts.

Thought #1 = I wonder how many things I get myself into that are unneeded had I gone to the LORD first. We should always have an attitude of submission to His desires for our life. It's His story and we must seek how he wants to use us in His story.

Thought #2 = Discernment comes from God. We must ask Him for discernment in all areas of our life. "But be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12

v15 = God allowed the Israelites to make treaties with other nations, but not the Canaanites...they were to be destroyed from the earth.

v16-27 = They were found out, but they held to their oath that they made, even though deceived. As we discussed in past days, holding to an oath was a big deal. One to God, was unbreakable. In 2 Samuel 21 King Saul breaks the vow to the Gibeonites and famine comes upon all of Israel.

I'm not sure why Joshua had to ask them why they did it when he understands what God has asked him to do. Maybe he wondered if they had another reason....kind of weird if you ask me.

Joshua tells the people that they will be slaves to the people of Israel. The Gibeonites seem to have no problem with this. It almost seems as if they really do respect the God of Israel. This reminds us of Rahab and family.

10

The opening verse ties the conquest narratives together into a unit, referring back to Jericho (chap. 6), Ai. (chaps. 7–8), and Gibeon (chap. 9). The following verse introduces the holy war ideology which dominates the chapter. In so doing it harks back to the theme of 2:9, the fear of the inhabitants of the land before the mighty acts of Yahweh. This demonstrates that despite the covenant made with inhabitants of the land, Israel remains in proper relationship to Yahweh. (WBC)

A battle is now going to take place between the southern kings of Canaan and Gibeon. Israel does not need to join in this battle, but because of their oath Joshua remains loyal to the people of Gibeon.

v10 = “The LORD threw them into confusion before Israel.” This indicates that God was miraculously fighting on behalf of Israel. This was the only way a small nation of twelve tribes could defeat a coalition of well-established cities and their defenders. (ASB)

v13-14 = There are many thoughts on what the "sun stood still and the moon stopped" means. Either way it was aiding the Israelites in defeating the Canaanites. The day seemed to just keep on going until victory was accomplished.

v13 = "the Book of Jashar" is mentioned one other time in 2 Sam. 1:18. No longer extant, the book appears to have contained poetic accounts or songs of the deeds of heroes (ESVSB)

v24 = In the ancient Near East, victors would often put their feet on the necks of defeated foes, symbolizing supremacy. This action underlies the notion of making one’s enemies a footstool under one’s feet (Ps. 110:1). (ESVSB)

v26&27 = The kings are all executed.

v28-43 = Joshua's Rampage - Israel destroys lands and people in their conquest of Southern Canaan. In verse 42 we see how Israel was able to do this..."the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel." It's amazing what one can do with God on their side.

Thought - Jesus Christ has fought the great battle for us. He has conquered sin and death. Through Him we are now able to be called children of God. Jesus has already won the great battle, now it is up to us to live in response to that victory.

Q - Do we live as if we are victorious? Or do we live as if we are continually defeated? Q - What does living in victory look like?

11

After the Southern kings fail, the Northern kings of Canaan decide that they'll take a shot. As you can tell from the "sand that is on the seashore in multitude," there were a lot of people against Israel. I believe this is the first time Israel has ever faced anything like this. There is an emphasis on the number of people and their horses/chariots.

v6 = Joshua is told that he will conquer them. To "hamstring their horses" means to cut their Achilles tendon, disabling the horse from being useful in battle.

v9 = quick turnaround on a promise from God. Joshua defeats them just as the LORD says.

v10-15 = Joshua then goes after Hazor who is the head of the northern Canaanite lands. Joshua is overly successful there...killing everyone and destroying everything in sight.

16-22 = We see that all of Canaan is given into Israel's hand. We see that God once again hardened the hearts of the people in the Canaanite nations so they would come after Israel in battle...just so He could defeat them.

v23 = CONQUEST OF THE PROMISED LAND (Scofield)

Joshua and the Israelites captured the land of Canaan by capturing and destroying key cities of the region—first in the southern region and then in the northern region.

Region City Reference Notes

Southern Jericho Joshua 6 Angel of the Lord is commander (Joshua 5:13–15). Walls fall down.

Southern Ai Joshua 8 Clever ambush used.

Southern Beth Horon Joshua 10:1–15 Enemy confused. Sun stands still. Hailstorm sent by God.

Southern Makkedah Joshua 10:16–28 Five Amorite kings are killed and sealed into caves.

Southern Libnah Joshua 10:29–30 No survivors.
Southern Lachish Joshua 10:31–33 Captured on second day. No survivors.
Southern Eglon Joshua 10:34–35 Captured on first day. No survivors.
Southern Hebron Joshua 10:36–37 No survivors.
Southern Debir Joshua 10:38 No survivors.

Northern Waters of Merom Joshua 11:1–9 Fought against huge army and won. No survivors.

Northern Hazor Joshua 11:10–11 City burned.

Day #83

Sermon - Audio
Joshua 5-8 - Audio
Joshua 5-8 - Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

5

"If God is for us, who can be against us!"

v2-v9 = The sons that were born in the wilderness must not have been circumcised. Joshua is asked to make sure this happens now. He obeys God's command even though it could have meant death had an army came upon them at this time. Joshua restates why the past generation did not take the promised land and why they would. Joshua puts his trust in Yahweh.

v13-v15 = Joshua has a run-in with the commander of the LORD's army. He is asked to take off his sandals just as his successor Moses was asked at the Burning Bush. Many people believe this to have been God because Joshua falls down and worships which was not typical of people seeing angels. Also, the place being signified as holy would help support that this was God as well.

6

Overview = This plan is so crazy that it could have only been created by God. It required COMPLETE dependence upon God. The people must have thought Joshua was crazy. Sometimes I think that God does things in the weirdest ways just because we don't think he's able.

Q - Can you think of a weird way that God has worked in your life?

Jericho (Tell es-Sultan) is perhaps the oldest city on earth, and it is the lowest city on the surface of the planet (c. 750 feet/229 m below sea level). Jericho has undergone massive excavation work; major digs were led by Ernst Sellin and Carl Watzinger (1907–1909, 1911), John Garstang (1930–1936), and Kathleen Kenyon (1952–1958). Many important finds have been made at the site, one of the most notable being a city wall, some 4.5 feet (1.5 m) wide, attached to a monumental round stone tower. These are some of the earliest fortifications known to mankind. Thus, the outer city wall comes from the Late Middle Bronze Age (2000–1550 B.C.) whereas the inner city wall dates to the Early Bronze Age (3200–2200 B.C.). Jericho was the first city west of the Jordan captured by the Israelites under the command of Joshua (Joshua 6). Whether or not there exist extant archaeological remains from that destruction is a hotly debated issue among archaeologists. Following the Israelite destruction, Jericho was abandoned for centuries until a new settlement was established by Hiel the Bethelite in the ninth century B.C. (1 Kings 16:34). (ESVSB)

v6-7 = The ark was required to be with them in their marching. Just as it had been required in their crossing at the Jordan.

v8-21 = Joshua trusts in God's plans/ways and marches around the city for seven days. On the seventh day the walls of the city fell down. Only Rahab the spy and her family were to be spared. The Israelites did as Joshua had asked and killed everyone in the city and destroyed all that was in the city.

v22-25 = Joshua, by God's word, stays truthful to Rahab and family.

v26 = 1 Kings 16:34 this curse becomes fulfilled through Hiel of Bethel.

v27 = Joshua's fame is extended throughout the land because of his dependence upon God. Joshua did nothing except rely fully upon God's word.

Q - Are you willing to do what you are asked in God's Word? Even if it looks counter-cultural?

7

God required the items and people to be destroyed in their wars in Canaan. Some people did not pay attention to this and we see that the LORD's anger "burned against the children." This is the first time this has happened in awhile.

v1-5 = Because of this unfaithfulness, The men of Israel lose a battle against Ai. There is no reason why they should have lost this battle, because they were much stronger than Ai. Except, Israel had been unfaithful to God and God was not fighting for them. The entire community suffers for the sin of one.

v6-9 = Joshua is dumbfounded by the loss and cries out to God to hear him. Joshua is concerned that God has brought them there to be killed by their enemies.

v9 = "What will you do for your great name?" - Joshua is concerned for God's glory in the midst of tragedy. I hope this is my response as well.

v10-11 = God tells Joshua to "pick himself up!" God's heart toward Israel doesn't need to change, it's Israel that needs to be "fixed." God tells Joshua that Israel has sinned against him. One man's sin is a communal sin against God.

Paul discusses this idea of communal sin in 1 Cor 5:6 - "do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?" Also, we see a communal confession and prayer from Nehemiah in the first chapter of Neh.

Q - What does communal sin look like today?
Q - Why don't we think in communal terms anymore? Why do we think our sin only affects us?
Q - How would sin be approached differently if it was everyone's problem?
Q - What does this say about tolerance of sin in a communal setting?

What does 1 John 1:5-10 mean in light of all this?

v15 = the person who did this will be found and burned along with the items.

v21 = The allure of what Achan saw among the spoil was not insignificant; the six pounds of silver and a pound and a quarter of gold represent, according to some commentators, about what an average worker would have earned in a lifetime. (ESVSB)

v22-26 = Achan is stoned, burned, and stoned...The people must have been a little upset.

8

v1-29 = Now that the transgression has been taken care of, God tells Joshua to continue on to Ai. He will hand them over to them. This time there will be much different results. It's interesting to see that God leaves the execution up to Joshua, and assures him that he will be successful. This attack is a very good military strategy and is successful now and again in Judg 9/21. The king of Ai is executed and they are victorious!

Day #82

Sermon - Audio
Joshua 1-4 - Audio
Joshua 1-4 - Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

Daily Reading: Joshua 1-4

Chapter 1

This book begins with an interesting conversation in which God tells Joshua, "Moses my servant is dead." The purpose of this conversation is to clearly link Joshua's leadership as being a divine appointment similar to the leadership of Moses. At the beginning of Judges the death of Joshua is also reported. In chapter one the Lord also references his promises to Israel and calls for Joshua to lead with courage and faith. These important discussions during times of transition helps the people see that God's plan encompasses all of history and can be trusted.

We are also reminded that faith is to be active in verse 3 "Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses." Even though God had promised to win the battle for Canaan, Israel could not rest. They were called to an active, obedient faith. James tells us that faith without works in dead (2.14f)

The same is true in recovery and solving all of our problems. God is the answer, but He expects us to do the footwork. (See Philippians 2.12)

Chapter 2

God is full of surprises as this chapter demonstrates the joy of knowing all of Scripture increases our ability to marvel at God's grace. Joshua's feet are on the move as he sends out to spies to Shittim. We saw in Numbers 25 this was place in which Israel had participated in spiritual and literal adultery.

It would make sense to have military spies stay at a residence of prostitution that housed many travelers with lots of information about the people and city. After what happened in Numbers we witness a wonderful work of God in that He would create living faith in a person whose profession had tempted Israel to sin against the Lord. Rahab the prostitute would go on to be listed in the genealogy of Jesus, the "Hall of Fame" in Hebrews, and held up as an example of good works in James. Marvelous indeed are the works of our God.

I'm wondering what unforgivable sin you think you have committed. Remember Paul's words to Timothy in 1 Tim. 1.15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

Chapter 3

There are several themes the re-emerge to show God's power to a new generation as well as demonstrate again that Joshua is God's chosen servant to lead Israel.

The people were to consecrate themselves because they were going to be in presence of a Holy God. The Arch of the Covenant was not a magical tool, but a representation of God's holiness, and was to be treated with great respect.

The following note about the Jordan River drying up is fascinating:

Josh. 3:15 At the appropriate dramatic moment, the biblical narrator notifies the reader that the Jordan overflows all its banks-caused by spring rains and snowmelt from the Mount Hermon region and the Jordan's headwaters-throughout the time of harvest, the grain harvest of March-April. The Jordan's swollen waters would have been considerably more daunting than the river at its normal 3- to 10-foot (0.9- to 3.0-m) depth and 90- to 100-foot (27- to 31-m) width. Crossing such water would be no less miraculous than crossing the Red Sea. (ESV Study Bible)

Chapter 4

This must have been a great scene that paralleled the crossing of the Red Sea. God demonstrated his power over the gods of Canaan. He was putting the whole world on notice that the God who had powerfully delivered Israel from Egypt had now led them to Canaan to take this land. As Rahab earlier commented on the great fear that the peoples already felt because of Israel, this must have been even more terrifying for the nations of Canaan.

We should also note the great responsibility to teach children about the great things that God has done. Do you talk with your children about the great works of God? Do you talk with them about the great things God has done in your life? Why would your children want to serve your God?