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The Book of Joshua

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Rev. Crystal M. Newby-Reynolds

Minister of Liturgical Arts and Youth

Rev. Melvin E. Wilson Pastor/Teacher

"Almost" Everything You Need to Know About

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About of Joshua

Date of Writing: Around 1300 BC & 1050 BC

Author: Possibly Joshua and Samuel

Key Text: Joshua 21:44-45 "The Lord gave them rest on every side according to all He had sworn to their fathers.

None of their enemies were able to stand against them, for the Lord handed over all enemies to them. None of the good promises the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed. Everything was fulfilled."

One Sentence Summary: Under the leadership of Joshua, God fulfilled all His promises to Israel through the

conquest of Canaan and the allocation of the land among the tribes.

Audience: The first audience was the Israelite nation living in their owned land, and before the establishment kingship.

Occasion: There is not an indication of the specific event or what prompted the writing of this book. However, if Joshua was the author, scholars believe that he was following the tradition of Moses. Joshua would be writing down the mighty acts of God accomplished through his leadership. If the author were not Joshua and perhaps Samuel or another, the need would be to give Israel a permanent account for its early days of triumph in the land (before established kingship

Purpose: In Genesis 12.7, God made a covenant with Abraham and included a promise to his descendants. They would take possession of Canaan. For many years, the agreement was unfulfilled. The book shows how God, in Joshua's time, fulfills the promise. Book Structure: The 24chapter book documents the conquest and settlement of the land of Canaan. It divides itself into four main divisions.

1. Going Over - Chapters 1-52. Taking - Chapters 6-123. Dividing - Chapters 13-214. Worshiping - Chapter 21-24

How Joshua Fits Into God's Story: 1. Prologue: Creation, Fall and the Need for Redemption2. God Builds His Nation (2000-931 BC)3. God Educates His Nation (931-586 BC)4. God Keeps a Faithful Remnant (586-6 BC)5. God Purchases Redemption & Begins the Kingdom (6BC to 30AD)6. God Spreads the Kingdom Through the Church7. God Consummates Redemption & Confirms His Eternal Kingdom8. Epilogue: New Heaven and New Earth

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Christ in Joshua: The name Joshua is a variation of Jesus. Joshua means Yahweh is salvation. Joshua's leadership over God's people in taking over the Promised Land foreshadows Christ's leading God to an eternal inheritance. Joshua was one of the only Biblical heroes in the Old Testament that were presented as flawless and sinless. As the "commander of the Lord's army," he was doubtless the pre-incarnate form of Christ.

Christian Worldwide View - Teachings About God - Shows God's faithfulness to His people and God's ultimate judgment of

evil.- Teaching about Humanity - The book shows the optimism of humankind as able to "live in

victory" as they trust in God.- Teaching About Salvation - The teaching of Rahab profoundly demonstrates "grace through

faith." Thoroughly converted, her faithfulness resulted in consideration as an Israelite. Sheeven became a biological ancestor of Jesus. (Jos 6:25, Mt 1:5, Heb 11:31)

Book Outline The Going Over - 1-5

• 1:1-9◦ God prepares Joshua◦ Message from God to Joshua

• 1:10-11◦ Joshua prepares the people◦ Tells them to take provisions

• 1:12-18◦ Request and response from Eastern tribes◦ [You will recall that Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh opted to stay east

of the Promised Land. They were allowed to do that because they promisedto help other tribes fight for their portion of the land west of the Jordan, ifneeded.]

◦ Having been reminded of their agreement, Reuben, Gad, and Manassehpledged their lives with Joshua.

• 2:1-24◦ Spies in Jericho; saved by Rahab (a prostitute)

▪ 2:1-7▪ Joshua sends out two spies to "look over the land, especially

Jericho"▪ Meet Rahab, spend the evening there

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▪ 2:8-14▪ Rahab extracts a promise from the spies saying they will spare

her family▪ 2:15-24

▪ Rahab helps spies escape by letting them down through awindow

▪ Rahab is told to put a scarlet thread out her window, then herfamily will be saved.

▪ Spies return with a favorable report - land is ready to bepossessed

• 3:1-17◦ Crossing the Jordan

▪ 3:1-4▪ The people prepare to march across the Jordan; God

promises help▪ Instructions are given re: The Ark of the Covenant

▪ 3:5-13▪ Priests move forward with the Ark - a symbol of God's

presence and leadership.▪ 3:14-17

▪ The wonders of crossing the Jordan▪ When the feet of the priests hit the water, the water

staunched.▪ People crossed the dry riverbed passing by the Ark of the

Covenant• 4:1-24

◦ Memorials for crossing the Jordan◦ A representative from each tribe was to take a stone from the river to

memorialize this event◦ When all the people had passed through (including the armies of Reuben,

Gad, and Manasseh-roughly 40,000 warriors), the priests were called out ofthe river bed. As soon as their feet touched land, the waters flowed again.

◦ The name of the place was Gilgal.• 5:1-15

◦ Preparations for war▪ 5:1

▪ The kings of Canaan were totally disheartened when theyheard what had happened.

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▪ 5:2-9▪ While in camp at Gilgal,

the people arecircumcised.

▪ 5:10-15▪ Celebration of the

Passover▪ End of manna; people

can now eat from thefruit of the land.

▪ Appearance of the"commander of theLord."

▪ Tells Joshua to take off his shoes, for the place is holy▪ Echoes of Moses. Shoes are symbols of power and strength

Invasion of the Land- Taking Over 6-12

• 6:1-27

◦ Fall of Jericho▪ 6:1-11

▪ Details of the "battle"▪ People will march around the city every day for six days▪ People will march in silence; priests will blow trumpets daily.

▪ 6:12-19▪ Instructions re: conquest; only Rahab is to be spared▪ Nothing is to be taken under threat of Israel's destruction

▪ 6:20-25▪ Jericho is taken▪ On the seventh day, people shout and wall falls flat▪ Psychological maybe; gift from God definitely▪ Rahab and her family are saved; city is burned

▪ 6:26-27

▪ Pronounces a curse on anyone who tries to rebuild city▪ Joshua's reputation spreads

• 7:1-26◦ Failure at Ai

▪ 7:1-5

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▪ Achan of the tribe of Judah disobeyed orders, took forbidden booty

▪ Joshua sent spies whose report was a bit over-confident ▪ A few thousand men were sent and resoundingly defeated

Israel was devastated (Hearts melted and became as water) ▪ 7:6-25

▪ Achan's sin is discovered and punished ▪ Sinner was stoned; stones remain as visual warning

• 8:1-29 ◦ Capture and destruction of Ai

▪ 8:1-2 ▪ God promises to deliver Ai

▪ 8:3-17 ▪ Plan included an ambush

▪ 8:18-29 ▪ All goes exactly as expected

• 8:30-35 ◦ Joshua builds an altar at Mount Ebal Story changes from battle to worship

• 9:1-27 ◦ Treaty with the Gibeonites

▪ 9:1-2 ▪ Nations begin to band together against Israel

▪ 9:3-11 ▪ Gibeonites plan a ruse to convince Israel they are from far-

away lands and are not a threat ▪ 9:12-27

▪ Joshua makes a treaty with them, but does not consult the Lord

▪ Turns out they were neighbors all along ▪ Joshua tells them he will honor their treaty and will not

destroy them, but they would "serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the community"

▪ Gibeonites learned a lesson of humility and were not destroyed

• 10:1-28 ◦ Neighboring kings form coalition against Gibeon

▪ 10:1-5 ▪ Kings go to war against Gibeon

▪ 10:6-11 ▪ King of Gibeon runs to Joshua for help ▪ [Consequence of not consulting the Lord before entering into

treaties!]

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▪ Joshua now consults the Lord and is told to fight ▪ 10:12-28

▪ Poem from the book of Jashar ▪ Memories of divine action include hail and "the sun stood

still" ▪ The battle is won

• 10:29-43 ◦ Cleaning up in the South ◦ "Joshua took all these kings and their land at one time, because the Lord

God of Israel fought for Israel." (Josh 10:42) • 11:1-12:24

◦ Completion of the Conquest ▪ 11:1-15

▪ As goes the south, so goes the north ▪ 11:16-23

▪ Summary of the victories ▪ 12:1-24

▪ List of the defeated kings (31 in all) Listing of victories gives praise to God

Division of the Land - 13-21

• 13:1-6

◦ Further instructions about the land that remains to be conquered ◦ Joshua is getting along in years. ◦ Others must be prepared to complete the work ◦ Leadership will be passed to individual tribes and their designated leaders

• 13:7-33 ◦ Division of land east of the Jordan ◦ Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh are given land east of Jordan

• 14:1-5 ◦ Inheritance of the land would be by lot

• 14:6-15 ◦ Caleb is first, receives Hebron

• 15:1-63 ◦ Judah is next

▪ 15:1-12 ▪ Boundaries are very specific

▪ 15:13-19 ▪ Caleb has portion in Judah

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▪ Promises his daughter in marriage to the man who conquers Debir

▪ [Caleb is advanced in years, too] ▪ Othniel does so, and marries Caleb's daughter (see Judges 3:9)

▪ 15:20-62

▪ Listing of towns within this boundary ▪ 15:63

▪ Notation that Jebusites lived in the land ▪ Judah could not conquer them

• 16:1-17:18 ◦ Inheritance of Joseph's sons - Ephraim and Manasseh

▪ 16:1-8 ▪ Borders of Ephraim

▪ 16:9-10

▪ Inability to conquer Gezer ▪ 17:1-6

▪ Division of land to Manasseh ▪ 17:3-6

▪ Daughters of Zelophehad ask to preserve their inheritance ▪ 17:7-13

▪ Failure of Manasseh to take certain towns ▪ Did not drive out the people

▪ 17:14-18 ▪ Complain bitterly that they didn't receive enough land ▪ Joshua tells them to make do with what they have

• 18:1-19:51 ◦ Remaining tribes at Shiloh

▪ 18:1-10 ▪ Remaining land was surveyed Lots were cast at Shiloh

▪ 18:11-28 ▪ Lot of Benjamin

▪ 19:1-9 ▪ Lot of Simeon

▪ 19:10-16 ▪ Lot of Zebulon

▪ 19:17-23 ▪ Lot of Issachar

▪ 19:24-31 ▪ Lot of Asher

▪ 19:32-29

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▪ Lot of Naphtali ▪ 19:40-48

▪ Lot of Dan ▪ 19:49-51

▪ Conclusion to allotments • 20:1-9

◦ Cities of refuge ◦ God commanded Moses to set up cities of refuge ◦ Six cities were designated as regional centers of asylum ◦ People who commit murder could go to the city and await verdict of elders

of that city. Provided for a "fair trial"; prevented feudal killing • 21:1-40

◦ Levitical cities 21:1-7

◦ Levites have no land allotment ◦ Are given cities to live in and land for cattle to graze

• 21:8-42

◦ Cities chosen by lot

• 21:41-45 ◦ And there was "rest in the land” ◦ All of the Lord's promises came to pass

Worshiping -Commitment for Staying on the Land - 22-24

• 22:1-24:33

◦ Last days of Joshua ▪ 22:1-8

▪ Tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh are blessed and go back home across the Jordan

▪ 22:9-21 ▪ They build an altar at the Jordan ▪ Unity of tribes is threatened when remaining tribes determine

to war against them. See this new altar as competition for altar at Shiloh

▪ Send an envoy of priests and chiefs to dissuade them, present the charges

▪ 22:22-25 ▪ Leaders in the East react with humility

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▪ Did not intend any disrespect or rebellion ▪ 22:26-31

▪ Feared they would be shut out of worship in West and, hence,

from the Lord. Wanted an altar in the east to maintain integrity before God

▪ 22:32-34 ▪ Explanation is acceptable. Negotiated by Phinehas. War talk

ends. • 23:1-16

◦ Joshua's farewell speech ▪ 23:1-5

▪ Reminds them God gave them the land; he helped with allotment of it

▪ 23:6-11 ▪ They should remember God's deeds during future challenges ▪ Repeats words spoken in Joshua 1 ▪ God will fight and protect them; they must "love the Lord

your God"

▪ Cautions them against losing their need for God as crises subside

▪ 23:12-16 ▪

▪ Cautions against intermarrying, worshiping local gods, and

breaking the covenant ▪ Misbehavior will lead to the loss of their land

• 24:1-28 ◦ Renewing the covenant

▪ 24:1-13 ▪ Review of Israel's past, beginning with Abraham

▪ 24:14-28 ▪ Choose this day whom ye will serve! ▪ People pledge their loyalty to Yahweh ▪ Renewed the covenant at Shechem ▪ Wrote the words on a stone, which was a witness for all time

• 24:29-33 ◦ Burial of Joshua ◦ Death of elders. Burial of Joseph's bones, and death of Phinehas

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Principle to Live By:

From Joshua we learn, to follow God fully throughout our time on earth, we must keep our eye on God and our focus on Jesus Christ.

Map of the Land Divided by 12 Tribes Israel

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Bibliography

Easley, Kendell. “Ultimate Bible Guide.” Holman Reference. Nashville, Tenn: BH Publishing Group. 2018

Hamlin, E. John. "Joshua, Inheriting the Land." The International Theological Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm B

Eerdmans, 1983.

Auld, A. Graeme. "Joshua, Judges, and Ruth." The Daily Study Bible Series. Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, 1984.

Nelson, Richard. "Joshua." Old Testament Library. Louisville, KY: Westminster Press, 1997.

Harris, J. Gordon. "Joshua." New International Biblical Commentary. Peabody,MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2000.

Dummelow, J.R. A Commentary on the Holy Bible. New York: MacMillan Publishing, 1977.

Mills, Watson and Richard Wilson. Mercer Commentary on the Bible. Macon,GA: Mercer University Press, 1995.

Buttrick George, ed. Interpreter's Bible. New York, Abingdon-Cokesbury Press,1953.

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/map-of-the-twelve-tribes-of-israel-2

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/map-of-the-twelve-tribes-of-israel-2