Joshua: Archaeological, Historical, Theological, and Homiletical - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Joshua:

Archaeological, Historical, Theological, and Homiletical Observations

Dale W. Manor, Ph.D.

Professor of Archaeology and Hebrew Bible, Harding University Archaeological Field Director of Tel Beth-Shemesh Excavations, Israel

Brief Introduction

 Name: ovwhy, Yehoshua, ˙Ihsouß, Joshua  Author: Not identified

Joshua? Later composition?

 Date

Events: 15-14th or 13-12th centuries Composition: with above or later

 Purpose: to fulfill Yahweh’s land promise  Problem issues:

Problem of Jericho and Ai Theories of emergence of Israel

Population density in Canaan (in dunams)

500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 MB II 16th cent 15th cent 14th cent 13th cent

Series 1

Series 1 from Gonen, BASOR 253 (1984): 68

Population drop by almost 2/3 Fluctuation more evident in mountain areas Reasons for population decrease…

prisoners taken to Egypt? killed in Canaan? settled-to-pastoral lifestyle? environmental stresses? combination?

Israel IS in Canaan by ca. 1207 BC

The Merneptah Stele

(ca. 1213-1203 BC)

(sometimes called “the Israel Stele;” in the Cairo Museum)

1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 Middle Bronze Late Bronze Iron Age I

Settled Area (in dunams) per Period

from Gonen, BASOR 253 (1984): 68, and L. Stager, “Forging an Identity,” in Oxford History of the Biblical World, Ed. M. D. Coogan (NY: Oxford, 1998), 97-100.

100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 Late Bronze Iron Age I Iron Age II

Number of Settlements by Period

from L. Stager, “Forging an Identity,” in Oxford History of the Biblical World,

• Ed. M. D. Coogan (NY: Oxford, 1998), 97-100.

633 of these are NEW SETTLEMENTS!

Th Theo eories of ries of Israel’s Em Emer ergence gence

Theories to Explain Israel’s Emergence

Conquest

i.e., Joshua from outside Canaan i.e., from Egypt

Theories to Explain Israel’s Emergence

Conquest Peaceful Infiltration

A. Alt & M. Noth from outside Canaan settle between towns slowly intermarry

Theories to Explain Israel’s Emergence

Conquest Peaceful Infiltration Peasant Revolt

G. Mendenhall & N. Gottwald from inside Canaan liberate the oppressed reflects ‘Apiru of the Amarna period

Theories to Explain Israel’s Emergence

Conquest Peaceful Infiltration Peasant Revolt Symbiotic

I. Finkelstein Canaan-out-and-back more peaceful

Theories to Explain Israel’s Emergence

Conquest Peaceful Infiltration Peasant Revolt Symbiotic Auto-ethnogenesis

S. Bunimovitz Z. Lederman Canaanites becoming Israel to differentiate from arriving newcomers

Theories to Explain Israel’s Emergence

Conquest Peaceful Infiltration Peasant Revolt Symbiotic Auto-ethnogenesis Eclectic

D. Manor combination

Was there an Exodus? Was there a Conquest?

 Issues are intrinsically connected  Over 120 references to the exodus in the Hebrew Bible as an event apart from the narrative itself (Nahum Sarna, Exodus [Philadelphia: JPS,

1991]: xii).

 New Testament connections

Jesus was crucified at Passover/Lord’s supper Christ, our Passover lamb (1 Cor 5:8) All those references to Moses (throughout NT) Matthew (1) Stephen’s sermon (Acts 7) Paul (Acts 13; 1 Cor 10) James (2) Hebrew writer (3, 4, 11, 12)

Some Observations

Cf. John 20:30-31; Bible is not comprehensive record of everything that has occurred Bible’s purpose is to focus on what Yahweh has done Emphasis of Joshua: “Yahweh has given the land.” Israel, however, fails the covenant---Judges

• Josh. 1:1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of

Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

• Josh. 1:10 And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, 11 “Pass through the midst of the

camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass

• ver this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you to

possess.’”

• Josh. 1:12 And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said, 13

“Remember the word that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but all the men of valor among you shall pass over armed before your brothers and shall help them, 15 until the Lord gives rest to your brothers as he has to you, and they also take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and shall possess it, the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

• Josh. 1:1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of

Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

• Josh. 1:10 And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, 11 “Pass through the midst of the

camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass

• ver this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you to

possess.’”

• Josh. 1:12 And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said, 13

“Remember the word that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but all the men of valor among you shall pass over armed before your brothers and shall help them, 15 until the Lord gives rest to your brothers as he has to you, and they also take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and shall possess it, the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

Issues in Joshua

Summaries Cross Jordan Jericho Ai South & North covenant renewals inheritances

Land division

Summaries

Crossing Jordan

Jericho Ai Southern and Northern Campaigns

Covenant Renewals

Tribal Divisions

“…the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim…”

1 Samuel 4:4

“There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in the commandment for the people of Israel.”

Exodus 25:22

ESV Study Bible (2008): 184

“And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him.” Numbers 7:89

The Ark of the Covenant of the LORD

Ivory spatula from Megiddo—Late Bronze Age (14th BC)

Sarcophagus from Tyre,

• ca. 10th century BC

Ivory inset from Samaria,

• ca. 9th century BC

Crossing the Jordan (a Red Sea Redux)

• Josh. 3:1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out tfrom Shittim. And they came to the

Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2 uAt the end of three days the officers went through the camp 3 and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by vthe Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. 4 wYet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits1 in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” 5 Then Joshua said to the people, x“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” 6 And Joshua said to the priests, y“Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.

• Josh. 3:7 The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to zexalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may

know that, aas I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 8 And as for you, command bthe priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, cyou shall stand still in the Jordan.’” 9 And Joshua said to the people of Israel, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God.” 10 And Joshua said, “Here is how you shall know that dthe living God is among you and that he will without fail edrive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of fthe Lord of all the earth2 gis passing

• ver before you into the Jordan. 12 Now therefore htake twelve men from the tribes of Israel, ifrom each

tribe a man. 13 And jwhen the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, fthe Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall kstand in one heap.”

• Josh. 3:14 So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing lthe

ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and mthe feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now nthe Jordan

• verflows all its banks othroughout the time of harvest), 16 the waters coming down from above stood and

rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside pZarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of qthe Arabah, rthe Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over

• pposite Jericho. 17 Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground

in the midst of the Jordan, sand all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing

• ver the Jordan.

• Josh. 3:1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out tfrom Shittim. And they came to the

Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2 uAt the end of three days the officers went through the camp 3 and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by vthe Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. 4 wYet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits1 in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” 5 Then Joshua said to the people, x“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” 6 And Joshua said to the priests, y“Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.

• Josh. 3:7 The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to zexalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may

know that, aas I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 8 And as for you, command bthe priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, cyou shall stand still in the Jordan.’” 9 And Joshua said to the people of Israel, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God.” 10 And Joshua said, “Here is how you shall know that dthe living God is among you and that he will without fail edrive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of fthe Lord of all the earth2 gis passing

• ver before you into the Jordan. 12 Now therefore htake twelve men from the tribes of Israel, ifrom each

tribe a man. 13 And jwhen the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, fthe Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall kstand in one heap.”

• Josh. 3:14 So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing lthe

ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and mthe feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now nthe Jordan

• verflows all its banks othroughout the time of harvest), 16 the waters coming down from above stood and

rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside pZarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of qthe Arabah, rthe Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over

• pposite Jericho. 17 Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground

in the midst of the Jordan, sand all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing

• ver the Jordan.

• Josh. 4:1 When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2“Take twelve men

from the people, from each tribe a man, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”

• Josh. 4:8 And the people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the

Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, just as the Lord told Joshua. And they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there. 9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day. 10 For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people passed over in haste. 11 And when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the Lord and the priests passed over before the people. 12 The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the people of Israel, as Moses had told them. 13 About 40,000 ready for war passed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho. 14 On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.

• Josh. 4:15 And the Lord said to Joshua, 16 “Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony to come up out
• f the Jordan.” 17 So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.” 18 And when the priests bearing

the ark of the covenant of the Lord came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.

• Josh. 4:19 The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at

Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. 20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at

• Gilgal. 21 And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these

stones mean?’ 22 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”

• Josh. 4:1 When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2“Take twelve men

from the people, from each tribe a man, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”

• Josh. 4:8 And the people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the

Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, just as the Lord told Joshua. And they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there. 9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day. 10 For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people passed over in haste. 11 And when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the Lord and the priests passed over before the people. 12 The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the people of Israel, as Moses had told them. 13 About 40,000 ready for war passed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho. 14 On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.

• Josh. 4:15 And the Lord said to Joshua, 16 “Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony to come up out
• f the Jordan.” 17 So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.” 18 And when the priests bearing

the ark of the covenant of the Lord came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.

• Josh. 4:19 The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at

Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. 20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at

• Gilgal. 21 And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these

stones mean?’ 22 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”

Courtesy of Todd Bolen

”’The Place’ (Mwqmh

hamaqom) where you are

standing is holy”

Balage, Gitin and Tel Miqne

• Josh. 6:1 Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went
• ut, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand,

with its king and mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. 4 Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.” 6 So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord.” 7 And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord.”

• Josh. 6:8 And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven

trumpets of rams’ horns before the Lord went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the Lord following them. 9 The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew

• continually. 10 But Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout or make your voice heard,

neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.”

11 So he caused the ark of the Lord to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the

camp and spent the night in the camp.

• Josh. 6:12 Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 And

the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets blew continually. 14 And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days.

• Josh. 6:1 Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went
• ut, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand,

with its king and mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. 4 Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.” 6 So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord.” 7 And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord.”

• Josh. 6:8 And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven

trumpets of rams’ horns before the Lord went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the Lord following them. 9 The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew

• continually. 10 But Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout or make your voice heard,

neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.”

11 So he caused the ark of the Lord to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the

camp and spent the night in the camp.

• Josh. 6:12 Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 And

the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets blew continually. 14 And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days.

…blowing the shofar…

Jericho: A Holy City

“…the city …devoted to the LORD for destruction” (Mrj, herem; 6:17)

silver, gold, bronze, iron “holy to the LORD” (hwhyl vdq, qodesh le’adonai; 6:19) men, women, oxen, sheep, donkeys “devoted all in the city to destruction”(Mrj, herem; 6:21)

not to rebuild (6:29)

cost of firstborn—foundation cost of youngest—gate cf. Hiel in days of Ahab (1 Kgs16:34)

Foundation deposits at Tel Beth-Shemesh

Jericho: A Holy City

An offering of first fruits…

of children (Exo 13:13) of animals (Exo 13:12-15) of bread (Num 15:18-21) of harvest (Exo 23:19; 34:26a; Deut 26:2-10)

Jericho was first conquest in God’s gifted land!!! To take anything privately from Jericho was to bring destruction on Israel (Josh 6:18) Jericho was essentially a whole burnt offering

(cf. Josh 6:24), always belonging to the LORD

Plunder of all other sites was open (Josh 8:2)

…by faith the walls of Jericho fell down (Heb. 11:30)

New Faith

No Faith

Old Faith Bold Faith

New Faith, No Faith Old Faith, Bold Faith New faith—Rahab

Yahweh “has given” (Josh 2:9) “we have heard” (Josh 2:10, 11)

“No” faith—Israel (Num 14:11) Old faith, bold faith—Caleb

“…he will…give it to us…” (Num 14:8) “…I shall drive them out just as the LORD said” (Josh 14:12)

How determine where to establish a town?

water supply defensible arable land trade/transportation

How determine where to establish a town?

water supply defensible arable land trade/transportation

1 2 3 4

How determine where to establish a town?

water supply defensible arable land trade/transportation

Megiddo Beth-shean

Tel Beth- Shemesh Lachish

Israelites had seen nothing like tells

…plus: some really tall people!

…discussing Canaan: “The face of the pass is dangerous with Shasu, hidden under the

• bushes. Some of them are 4 or 5 cubits,50 nose

to foot, with wild faces.” “50 Approximately 6.8-8.6 feet.”

In James P. Allen, “New Kingdom Model Letters; The Craft of the Scribe (3.2); (Papyrus Anastasi I)”

• Pp. 9-14 in Context of Scripture, vol. 3 (Leiden:

Brill, 2002), 13. “(Probably composed during the early reign

• f Rameses II [Dyn. 19, ca. 1279-1213 BCE])”

The Gibeonite Ruse

(Josh 9) They had “heard…” (9:3, 9-10) Not everything is as it appears

(9:4, 12-13)

Communication with Yahweh is important (9:14) Curses (yet Blessings) (9:21, 23, 27)

Cut wood, draw water Near Shiloh, Gibeah, Jerusalem

Prescribed sacrifices per year (Num 28-29)

• f
• ffer

erin ing/oc /occa casion ion bul ulls/p /per er bul ulls tot

• tal

al rams/p /per er rams tot

• tal

al lambs/p /per er lambs tot

• tal

goa

• ats/p

/per er goa

• ats tot
• tal

al dail ily 2 x 365 730 sabbat ath 2 x 52 104 1st of

• f mon
• nth

2 x 12 24 1 x 12 12 7 x 12 84 1 x 12 12 passov

• ver

er/b /brea ead 2 x 7 14 1 x 7 7 7 x 7 49 1 x 7 7 fea east of

• f week

eeks 2 2 1 1 7 7 1 1 fea east of

• f trum

umpet ets 1 1 1 1 7 7 1 1 day of

• f atone
• nement

ent 1 1 1 1 7 7 1 1 boot

• oths day 1

13 13 2 2 14 14 1 1 boot

• oths day 2

12 12 2 2 14 14 1 1 boot

• oths day 3

11 11 2 2 14 14 1 1 boot

• oths day 4

10 10 2 2 14 14 1 1 boot

• oths day 5

9 9 2 2 14 14 1 1 boot

• oths day 6

8 8 2 2 14 14 1 1 boot

• oths day 7

7 7 2 2 14 14 1 1 boot

• oths day 8

1 1 1 1 7 7 1 1 tot

• tal

als 113 37 1093 30 tot

• tal

al of

• f all anim

imals 1273

Destruction of Towns?

 Joshua 12:9-24 lists 31 kings who were “defeated” (v. 7)

“destruction levels” ??? conquest only describes 5 towns physically destroyed

Jericho (Josh 6:24) Ai (Josh 8:24-28) Hazor (Josh 11:10-13) Jerusalem (Jdg 1:8) Dan (Jdg 18:27)

 Live in (Deut 6:10-11; Josh 24:13)

cities you did not build houses you did not fill drink from cisterns you did not dig eat from vineyards and trees you did not plant

Work still to do!!!

(Josh 23) “I have allotted to you as an inheritance …those nations that remain…” (23:4) Do not “…mix with these nations remaining among you…” (23:7) Do not “…turn back and cling to the remnant

• f these nations remaining among you…”

(23:12) The LORD “…will no longer drive out these nations before you,…” (23:13)

“…if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you

• dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Josh 24:15

The Power of a Personality and Life

“Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the

elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work that the LORD did for Israel.” Josh 24:31