December 9, 2007
Joshua is divided into Four Main Sections – chapters 1-5 (Preparations for Entering the Land),
6-12 (Process of Taking the Land), 13-21 (Distribution of the Land), 22-24 (Epilogue and
Conclusion).
Chapters 9, 10, and 11 all begin in a similar way – with kings “hearing” what the Israelites had
done. The news of the Jordan crossing, Jericho and Ai spread quickly, as had their previous
reputation for the events in Egypt and with Sihon / Og. The responses were different though.
If You Can’t Beat ‘Em …Trick ‘Em (The Gibeonite Deception in Chapter 9)
I.
There were three responses to the Israelite incursion into Canaan
i. Faith (Rahab in Chapter 2)
ii. Deception (Gibeonites in Chapter 9)
iii. Battle (everybody else; see 11:19-20)
II.
Gibeon seemed to be familiar with Israelite law enough to know that Israel would make
a treaty with a land far away, but would not make a treaty with local residents (Exo
20:34:11-12; Deut 20:10-18). Both parties knew the importance of Oaths, and the
seriousness with which treaties were made.
III.
While Israel was contemplating making a treaty with the Gibeonites, the narrator adds an
editorial comment that was not previously mentioned – these people were Hivvites (9:7)
– a people-group that Israel was specifically commanded to destroy.
IV.
Like the Achan incident, the treaty with Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim
is a black mark upon the nation in the Conquest narrative. There is no immediate
judgment upon the nation or the individuals involved in making the mistake, but Gibeon
will cause Israel to enter in additional battles (chapter 10.)
i. The Israelites were angry (v. 18) and desirous of destroying Gibeon even
after the treaty, but Joshua stopped them (v. 26).
ii. The treaty with Gibeon remained in effect for a long time – in 2 Sam 21, it is
stated that there is “bloodguilt” upon the house of Saul because he tried to
eliminate the Gibeonites. David turned over seven members of Saul’s
household to the Gibeonites for punishment.
iii. In Nehemiah, after the Exile, Gibeonites are included as part of the repair
crew working on the wall in 3:7 and 7:25. Apparently, they became
assimilated into the life and worship of Israel.
V.
What was the guilt of the Israelites? The problem isn’t that they were deceived, the
problem is that they didn’t consult the Lord.
a. Joshua 9:14 So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from
the LORD
b. Numbers 27:21 describes how the priest was to use the Urim to consult the Lord, and
Israel was encouraged to do this.
c. The Lord is ignored at your own peril
i. 1 Chronicles 28:9 If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you
forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
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ii. 2 Chronicles 15:2 If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you
forsake him, he will forsake you.
iii. 2 Chronicles 18:4 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Inquire first
for the word of the LORD."
iv. 2 Chronicles 20:4 And Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from
all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
The South Will Not Rise Again (The Southern Campaign in Chapter 10)
a. No longer will Israel simply fight individual cities, but now they face coalitions
assembled by powerful kings. A southern coalition is formed in chapter 10, and a
broader northern coalition is formed in chapter 11.
b. Gibeon was close to Jerusalem, and when the Gibeonites made a coalition with Israel,
their neighbors got surly. Adoni-Zedek, the king of Jerusalem, assembled a group of
other kings and attacked the Gibeonite league (10:5).
c. In adherence to their treaty, Israel marches to defend Gibeon and attack the coalition, but
(again) it is God who is doing the fighting for Israel (10:8-11; 10:42).
d. The Sun and Moon –
i. Different opinions and understandings (figurative/poetic, cosmic event, sunlight
was diffused, sunlight was blocked, etc.) from scholars who all hold to a high view
of Scripture.
ii. Regardless of interpretations, the text is clear what made the day remarkable: The
Lord listened (obeyed) to a single man and fought for Israel as a result (10:14).
e. The Israelites routed the Southern Coalition, chasing them as far as Makkedah, and
Debir (10:38).
Neither Will the North (The Northern Campaign in Chapter 11)
a. Chapter 11 begins identically to chapter 10 – with a king hearing about Israel. In this
case, it is Jabin of Hazor. The northern coalition is much more impressive – drawing
kings/cities from all the geographical regions – “northern kings in the
mountains…western foothills…hill country…”. It also included the Jebusites, who
lived near Jerusalem.
i. Hazor, the lead city in the coalition, was large and important city. The
archaeological site is 200 acres, about 8 miles north of Sea of Galilee.
Evidence shows that the city was destroyed around 1400, 1300, and 1230 BC
– and it shows evidence of being burned. It was one of only three cities
burned (Jericho and Ai are the others.)
ii. This coalition was especially large and powerful (11:4)
b. Similar to other battles, this one belonged to the Lord (11:6) and Israel defeated the
Northern Coalition by suddenly attacking them at Merom.
The Tally Sheet (The King List in Chapter 12) – this provides a cataloging of cities/kings that
the Israelites defeated, beginning with Sihon and Og, who were defeated under Moses’
leadership (Numbers 21)
Summary of Chapters 6-12
a. So did Joshua conquer everything or didn’t he?
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i. Some texts like 10:40-42 and 11:16-17, 23 seem to indicate the campaign
was simple, short, and quick, with Israel accomplishing everything and
occupied all the land quickly and easily, resulting in immediate rest.
ii. Other texts like 11:18 and 13:1-7 indicate that the battles continued a long
time and Israel did not occupy the whole of the land.
1. 11:22, 13:2-6, 14:12, 15:63, 16:10, 17:12-23, 18:2-3, 19:47, 23:4-5, 7,
12-13, and Judges 1 indicate people remaining in areas supposedly
conquered and destroyed by the Israelites.
iii. The former texts are summary in nature and indicate the general sweeping
victory that the Lord had given Israel
1. “From one perspective – a broader, more general perspective – there was indeed a
sweeping victory over the Canaanites… The author was being hyperbolic here in
order to reiterate the theological point made many times in the book that God was
indeed giving Israel the entire land.” David Howard, 259.
iv. The latter texts indicate in detail the work that remained to be done.
1. Sometimes land was unconquered because of disobedience or
inability (which was a lack of faith):
a. Judah couldn’t kick the Jebusites out of Jerusalem (15:63)
b. Ephraim didn’t kick out the inhabitants of Gezer (16:10)
c. Manasseh in 17:12
2. Sometimes the conquering was just incomplete and required more
time. (13:1-6).
b. Special Emphases
i. God’s Presence
1. This is what brought victory to the nation of Israel – God was doing
the fighting for them. “Not once did the Israelites win a victory due to their
superior military force” Howard 287.
2. God acted in different ways appropriate to the situation – with a
different strategy in Jericho, Ai, Gibeon, Merom, etc.
ii. Need for Holiness
1. The purity of the Israelites’ religion is emphasized, not only in the
preparations preceding entry into the land, but also seen
d. Jericho was very much a religious ceremony
e. (negatively) Achan and the first battle of Ai
f. Covenant renewal ceremony at Ebal / Gerizim.
2. Necessity for purging the land of the Canaanites
3. The battles were the Lord’s – it was very much a religious, not a
military conquest.
iii. Leadership of Joshua
1. The rightful and proper heir to Moses’ mantle of leadership – Joshua
is continually presented as the man who Israel follows, and whom
even God listens to (10:14)
2. Joshua and the people carry out Moses’ instructions to the letter
(8:30-35 and 11:12-15).
3. The effectiveness of Joshua’s leadership is not in his military ability
or his personality, but in his faithful adherence to God’s law.
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Chapters 13-21 detail the division of the Land that the Lord had promised Israel’s ancestors hundreds
of years earlier. God is supreme not only the conquest, but over the distribution of the Land:
A. Structure of this portion of land division:
a. Areas not yet conquered
b. The Tran Jordan Tribes (east of the Jordan River – Reuben, Gad, and ½
Manasseh)
c. Caleb
d. The Major Tribes (Judah, Manasseh, Ephraim) are portioned their land
e. Zelophehad’s Daughters
f. The Remaining Tribes (Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali,
and Dan)
g. Joshua
h. Cities of Refuge
i. Cities for the Levites
B. Note the pattern that fluctuates between broad areas, the tribes, and individuals.
C. Special (theological) emphases of 13-21:
a. A Promise-Keeping God: Consider how many promises God fulfilled to the
nation:
Promise
Fulfilled
Land to the Trans Jordan Tribes (Num 32)
Joshua 13
Cities for Refuge and Levites (Exo 21:12-14, Num 35)
Joshua 20-21
Caleb’s Inheritance (Num 14:24, Deut 1:36)
Joshua 14:6-15; 15:13-19
Zelophehad’s Daughters (Num 27:1-11)
Joshua 17:3-6
Rest in the Land (Deut 12:10; 25:19)
Joshua 14:15; 21:44
None could withstand them (Josh 1:5)
Joshua 21:44
“Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled”
Joshua 21:45
The Lord is presented as the one is the ultimate distributor of the Land
He gave Israel the Land (18:3 and 21:43)
He controlled the lots that were cast (14:2, 18:6, 8, 10; 19:51)
Joshua and Eleazar only acted on His behalf (14:1, 19:51)
b. Unity of the Nation
i. Both the large tribes and the small tribes received their portion – and
each portion was described in detail. Every tribe was part of the nation.
ii. A picture of unity, harmony and obedience is presented. The nation is
sanctified together, worships together, fights together.
c. Justice of God
i. Yahweh shows concern for large tribes (Judah, Manasseh, Ephraim),
small tribes (Benjamin, Simeon, etc.), the Levites (they are allotted
cities), and even individuals (Caleb, Zelophehad’s daughters, and
Joshua)
ii. Cities of Refuge are provided to prevent blood feuds
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