The Lord told Moses to take Joshua, a man in whom the Spirit is, and lay his hand on him. Moses would have him to stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and Moses would commission him in their sight. Moses should give him a portion of his power, so that the whole congregation of the people of Israel may obey. And Joshua would stand before Eleazar, who would inquire him before the Lord through the judgment of Urim. At his word they would go out, and at his word they would come in, both he and all the people of Israel with him, the whole congregation. And Moses did as the Lord commanded him.
(Num 27:18–23, Deu 3:28, 34:9).
Joshua (Num 13:16b (17b in some translations)) (meaning "Yahweh is salvation"), who led the Israelites into the Promised Land, is a foreshadow of Jesus, who takes
us into God's victory. The Promised Land is a picture of our inheritance in Christ.
For more information on this, see Typology.
When Moses was 120 years old, he could no longer lead them. The Lord had told him not to cross the Jordan, see 2. Provision of Water in Moses; Part 9: Provision from God. The Lord himself would pass before them. He would destroy these nations before them, and they would possess their land. The Lord would do to the people of Canaan what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land, see 3.4 Defeat of Sihon and Og in Moses; Part 9: Provision from God. The Lord would hand them over to the Israelites, who must do to them all that God had commanded them. The Israelites should be strong and courageous and not be afraid or terrified of them, for the Lord went with them; he would never leave them or forsake them. Then Moses said to Joshua in the presence of all Israel that he should be strong and courageous, for he must go with this people into the land which the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and Joshua must divide the land among them as their inheritance. The Lord himself would go before him and would be with him; he would never leave him or forsake him. Joshua shouldn't be afraid or discouraged. (Deu 31:1–8, 23, Jos 1:5–9).
God has said the same thing to us Christians that he will never leave us or forsake us (Heb 13:5–6, Psalm 118:6).
When they crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan, they would drive away all the inhabitants of the land from before them and destroy all their carved stones and metal images and demolish all their high places. They were to possess the land and settle in it, for the Lord had given them the land to possess it. They should inherit the land by lot according to their clans. To a large tribe they should give a large inheritance, and to a small tribe a small inheritance. Wherever anyone's lot falls, it shall be his, according to the tribes of their fathers which they shall inherit. But if they didn't drive out the inhabitants of the land before them, then those of them whom they left behind would be as barbs in their eyes and thorns in their sides and trouble them in the land where they dwelt. And God would then do to the Israelites as he intended to do to them. (Num 33:50–56).
The Promised Land is a picture of our inheritance in Christ, living as a Christian, and the rest that he gives. We take that inheritance by faith. The Promised Land is a type of the promise of an abundant victorious life that Jesus wants us to walk in (John 10:10b). The Christian life can be many battles and challenges. It requires obedience and faith. Not every Christian enters into such a life as God intended for us. It's possible to be a true and genuine believer and still walk in the wilderness, see Psalm 63: Living in the Wilderness. See also
Jesus is compared with Moses in The Book of Hebrews.
Jesus is compared with Moses in The Book of Hebrews.
defined by its borders. (Num 34:1–13, Deu 11:24, Jos 1:1–4).
The tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh had already received their inheritance east of the Jordan. (Num 32, 34:14–15,
Deu 3:12–22, 29:7–8, Jos 1:12–15, 4:12, 12:6, 13:8–13, 15–32, 18:7b, 22:1–9). This grey area was in a region that wasn't part of the Promised Land. These tribes compromised, with the result that they quickly fell away from the Lord into paganism (1 Chron 5:25–26).
Deu 3:12–22, 29:7–8, Jos 1:12–15, 4:12, 12:6, 13:8–13, 15–32, 18:7b, 22:1–9). This grey area was in a region that wasn't part of the Promised Land. These tribes compromised, with the result that they quickly fell away from the Lord into paganism (1 Chron 5:25–26).
The Israelites wouldn't conquer all of this land in Joshua's time. It was only for a short time under king Solomon (1 Kings 4:21a) that the children of Israel ruled over the entire land promised to Abraham (Greater Israel). But this promise will be fulfilled during the Millennial Kingdom.
Joshua sent two spies to look over the land west of the Jordan, especially Jericho. They went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
The king of Jericho heard this and sent a message to Rahab to bring out the men who came to her because they had come to spy out the whole land. But Rahab
had taken the two men up to the roof and hid them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof. She told the men who asked for them that the men had come to her but had left. See this lie explained at time 9:12–13:47 in
DAVID GUZIK SERMON ON JOSHUA 2 THE RESCUE OF RAHAB. Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and told them that she knew that the Lord had given them this land, that there was a great fear of them, and that the Lord their God is God in Heaven above and on the Earth below. The reason for the fear was that they had heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for them when they came out of Egypt, and what they did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom they completely destroyed, see 3.4 Defeat of Sihon and Og in Moses; Part 9: Provision from God. She wanted the Israelites with an oath by the Lord (Jos 2:12–14) to spare the lives of her father and mother, her brothers and sisters, and all who belonged to them. The men replied that if she told no one what they were doing, they would treat her kindly and faithfully when the Lord gave them the land. So she let them down with a rope through the window, because the house she lived in was part of the city wall. The men had told her to tie a scarlet cord in the window through which she let them down, and bring her father and mother, her brothers and all her family into her house. If any of them would go outside her house, their blood would be on their own heads; the spies wouldn't be responsible. When the spies returned to Joshua they told him everything that had happened to them. They told Joshua that he, the Lord, had given the whole land into their hands; all the people melted in fear because of them. (Jos 2). See also Fear of Man.
The king of Jericho heard this and sent a message to Rahab to bring out the men who came to her because they had come to spy out the whole land. But Rahab
had taken the two men up to the roof and hid them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof. She told the men who asked for them that the men had come to her but had left. See this lie explained at time 9:12–13:47 in
DAVID GUZIK SERMON ON JOSHUA 2 THE RESCUE OF RAHAB. Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and told them that she knew that the Lord had given them this land, that there was a great fear of them, and that the Lord their God is God in Heaven above and on the Earth below. The reason for the fear was that they had heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for them when they came out of Egypt, and what they did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom they completely destroyed, see 3.4 Defeat of Sihon and Og in Moses; Part 9: Provision from God. She wanted the Israelites with an oath by the Lord (Jos 2:12–14) to spare the lives of her father and mother, her brothers and sisters, and all who belonged to them. The men replied that if she told no one what they were doing, they would treat her kindly and faithfully when the Lord gave them the land. So she let them down with a rope through the window, because the house she lived in was part of the city wall. The men had told her to tie a scarlet cord in the window through which she let them down, and bring her father and mother, her brothers and all her family into her house. If any of them would go outside her house, their blood would be on their own heads; the spies wouldn't be responsible. When the spies returned to Joshua they told him everything that had happened to them. They told Joshua that he, the Lord, had given the whole land into their hands; all the people melted in fear because of them. (Jos 2). See also Fear of Man.
The people of Canaan were under judgement, see 3.1 The Israelites are a Chosen People in Moses; Part 9: Provision from God. God put all judgement on hold until he could secure the safety of Rahab and her family (Joshua 6:17–19). Mercy triumphs over rules and regulations, see the end part of The Book of Ruth.
Rahab was a woman of faith (Heb 11:31) which made her help the spies. She was justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out in another way (James 2:14, 25). Rahab became part of Jesus' genealogy (Mat 1:5, Luk 3:32). It appeared that the purpose of sending the spies was to arrange and assure the salvation of Rahab and her family. God would later show how to conquer Jericho.
Rahab was a woman of faith (Heb 11:31) which made her help the spies. She was justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out in another way (James 2:14, 25). Rahab became part of Jesus' genealogy (Mat 1:5, Luk 3:32). It appeared that the purpose of sending the spies was to arrange and assure the salvation of Rahab and her family. God would later show how to conquer Jericho.
Joshua told the priests to take up the Ark of the Covenant and go on before the people. The Lord told Joshua that he would begin to exalt him in the sight of all Israel, so they might know that the Lord was with him as he was with Moses. He would tell the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant that when they reached the edge of the waters of the Jordan, that they should go and stand in the river. Joshua then told the Israelites that this was how they would know that the living God was among them and that he would drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites before them. The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of all the Earth was to enter the Jordan before them. They were to select twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. And as soon as the priests who carried the ark of the Lord set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream would be cut off and stand up in a heap. (Jos 3:6–13).
When the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark went before them. The Jordan was in flood stage throughout the harvest. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at the City of Adam near Zarethan, while the waters that flowed down to the Arabah Sea (Dead Sea) were completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark stopped in the middle of the Jordan
and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the entire nation had completed the crossing on dry ground. (Jos 3:14–17, Psalm 66:6b, 114:3b, 5b).
and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the entire nation had completed the crossing on dry ground. (Jos 3:14–17, Psalm 66:6b, 114:3b, 5b).
By faith the priests stepped out into the Jordan. The priests took care of their faith and obeyed. This is a picture for us of what it's like to walk by faith. Many times we need to take this first step by faith. Stepping out in faith is a biblical idea of responding to the word of the Lord in obedience.
However, we shouldn't exaggerate this by testing God (Mat 4:5–7, Luk 4:9–12,
Deu 6:16, Exo 17:7, Psalm 95:8–9). Joshua heard from God what he was going to do and told it to the priests. Faith is responding to God's promises without exaggerating them, see False Teaching on Healing in the Word of Faith Movement in the U.S.
Deu 6:16, Exo 17:7, Psalm 95:8–9). Joshua heard from God what he was going to do and told it to the priests. Faith is responding to God's promises without exaggerating them, see False Teaching on Healing in the Word of Faith Movement in the U.S.
The people hurried across, and as soon as they had all crossed over, the priests came to the other side carrying the Ark of the Covenant. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and flowed in the flood stage as before. The Lord did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before them until they had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the Earth would know that the Lord's hand is powerful and that we would always fear the Lord our God. (Jos 4:10–11, 15–18, 23–24).
When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted with fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites (Jos 5:1).
All the people that came out of Egypt had been circumcised, but all the people who were born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt hadn't. The Lord therefore told Joshua to make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites who were born in the wilderness. Joshua did it in Gilgal. After the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed. On the evening of the 14th day of the month, while encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. The day after Passover they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. The manna ceased the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, that year they ate the fruit of Canaan. (Jos 5:2–12).
From a military perspective, it would have been wiser to attack immediately after crossing the Jordan, since the people there were very afraid of the Israelites.
By circumcising the people on the west side of the Jordan, they opened themselves up to a counterattack before they were healed. It seemed wiser to do so before crossing the river. Celebrating Passover caused a further delay. But this was God's will. God trained them in the area of trust, faith, and obedience. Although it seemed that they were in a dangerous situation, the Lord had promised to take care of them.
By circumcising the people on the west side of the Jordan, they opened themselves up to a counterattack before they were healed. It seemed wiser to do so before crossing the river. Celebrating Passover caused a further delay. But this was God's will. God trained them in the area of trust, faith, and obedience. Although it seemed that they were in a dangerous situation, the Lord had promised to take care of them.
Circumcision is a sign of the Abrahamic covenant and part of the Mosaic Laws, but also a symbol. It's a physical operation of the body, it's a symbol of the spiritual operation by which the flesh is cut away. It points to what God wants to do in the human heart (Deu 10:16, 30:6, Jer 4:4). It's a symbol of a spiritual reality, what the Holy Spirit wants to do in us. The recognition of the areas that need to be cut away. The New Testament speaks of this as putting off the old self (Eph 4:22–24), and taking up the cross and following Jesus (Mark 8:34, Mat 10:38, 16:24, Luk 9:23,
Gal 2:20, 5:24), see The Apostle Peter and Circumcision in Typology. There must be a time of restoration before entering into spiritual warfare, in order to be victorious because sin can lead to defeat. We can't just live our lives the way we want.
Gal 2:20, 5:24), see The Apostle Peter and Circumcision in Typology. There must be a time of restoration before entering into spiritual warfare, in order to be victorious because sin can lead to defeat. We can't just live our lives the way we want.
The Passover lamb without blemish or defect is an image of Christ
(1 Cor 5:7b, John 1:29, 1 Pet 1:19), see The Book of Malachi.
When Joshua was near Jericho, he saw a man standing before him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua asked him if he was for them or for their enemies. He replied that he was neither. He had come as the commander of the Lord's army. Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence and asked him what message the Lord had for his servant. The commander told Joshua to take off his sandals, because the place where he was standing was holy. And Joshua did so.
(Jos 5:13–15).
(Jos 5:13–15).
The commander was worshiped by Joshua, which means he can't be an angel.
Only God is allowed to receive worship, see The Trinity. This is a theophany,
Only God is allowed to receive worship, see The Trinity. This is a theophany,
see God Shows Moses his Glory in Moses; Part 13: Rebellion and Paganism.
God doesn't take sides. It's we who must go to his side (Mat 12:30). We need to take time to learn God's heart, plans, and what he wants to accomplish in our lives. We need to order our lives according to his instructions, which means putting down our preconceived notions and beliefs if they are found to be in conflict with any of God's word. Joshua asked the wrong question. All things are under Jesus' feet
(Eph 1:20–23). Jesus has all authority. It was Jesus who appeared to Joshua in a similar way as he appeared to Moses, see Moses; Part 4: God Calling Moses. See time 41:37–54:48 in DAVID GUZIK SERMON ON JOSHUA 5 CIRCUMCISION . . ..
(Eph 1:20–23). Jesus has all authority. It was Jesus who appeared to Joshua in a similar way as he appeared to Moses, see Moses; Part 4: God Calling Moses. See time 41:37–54:48 in DAVID GUZIK SERMON ON JOSHUA 5 CIRCUMCISION . . ..
The gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. Then the Lord told Joshua, that he had given Jericho into his hands, along with its king and its warriors. They were to march around the city once a day with all the armed men for six days, with seven priests carrying horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day they would march around the city seven times, while the priests blow their horns. When they heard them sound a long blast on the horns, the whole army should give a loud shout; then the city wall would collapse and the army would go up, all straight in. Joshua did so. Only the harlot Rahab and all who were with her in her house was to be spared, because she hid the spies they sent. They should keep away from the devoted things, lest they bring about their own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise, they would make Israel's camp vulnerable to destruction and cause trouble over it. All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron were sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.
(Jos 6:1–19).
(Jos 6:1–19).
At the sound of the horns, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; all rushed straight in and they took the city. They dedicated the city to the Lord and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it, men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep, and donkeys. Joshua told the two men who had spied out the land to go into the prostitute’s house and bring her out and all who belonged to her, in accordance to their oath to her. The young men who had spied went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters, and all who belonged to her. They brought her whole family out and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel. Then they burned the whole city and all that was in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the house of the Lord. Joshua spared the harlot Rahab, her family, and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men whom Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho. At that time Joshua uttered an oath who cursed before the Lord the one who undertook to rebuild Jericho: At the expense of his first-born son he would lay its foundations; at the expense of his youngest he would set up its gates. The Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land. (Jos 6:20–27).
The curse was fulfilled several hundred years later (1 Kings 16:34),
see Ahab of Israel in Elijah the Prophet and the beginning of Elisha the Prophet.
see Ahab of Israel in Elijah the Prophet and the beginning of Elisha the Prophet.
The rules for making a vow are part of the Mosaic Laws.
We shouldn't take an oath at all in the New Covenant according to Jesus
(Mat 5:33–37, James 5:12). Jephthah made a devastating vow to the Lord
(Proverbs 20:25, Num 30:2 (3 in some translations)), see Jephthah the Judge.
(Mat 5:33–37, James 5:12). Jephthah made a devastating vow to the Lord
(Proverbs 20:25, Num 30:2 (3 in some translations)), see Jephthah the Judge.
See also the faith in Heb 11:30–31 explained at time 2:25–9:08 in
DAVID GUZIK SERMON ON Hebrews 11:30-40 – Jesus’ People of Faith 4.
DAVID GUZIK SERMON ON Hebrews 11:30-40 – Jesus’ People of Faith 4.
There are several scientific and archaeological findings in the city of Jericho that match the Bible description. See the following by Dr. Bryant Wood:
- Jericho was fortified. The town was protected by a brilliant defense system with high walls. These walls fell down and built a ramp for the Israelites that allowed them to go straight into the city. (Jos 6:5, 20).
- Excavations have found that the city was set on fire, and that it was done after the walls had fallen (Jos 6:24).
- Many jars full of grain have been found in the houses of Jericho. This suggests that the harvest had just been gathered when the city was taken.
The harvest was taken in the spring in this area. The Israelites celebrated Passover when they had crossed the Jordan, and Passover is in spring. This also suggests that the siege of Jericho was very short. According to the Bible it was only seven days. The Israelites were also not allowed to take the grain, which is why it was left behind. (Jos 3:15, 5:10–11, 6:17–19). - Houses have been found on a short stretch at the northern part of the city wall between the lower city wall and the upper city wall. Some of these houses were built right up against the lower city wall. The city wall fell, except for this area with the houses that didn't fall. Rahab lived in a house within the city wall and was promised protection along with her family. The Israelites kept this promise. (Jos 2:12–15, 6:17, 22–23).
- The city was abandoned for centuries. Joshua uttered an oath cursing before the Lord whoever undertook to rebuild Jericho (Jos 6:26).
See also the new timeline according to the English Egyptologist David Rohl in
New Egyptian Chronology.
New Egyptian Chronology.
But the Israelites were unfaithful about the dedicated things (everything that was in the city of Jericho): Achan of the tribe of Judah took some of them. Therefore the anger of the Lord burned against Israel. Now Joshua sent men from Jericho
to Ai and told them to go up and spy out the area. When they returned to Joshua, they said that there were only a few people living there. So about 3000 Israelites went up; but they were repulsed by the men of Ai, who killed about 36 of them. The hearts of the people melted with fear and became like water. Joshua tore his clothes and fell on his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord and remained there until evening. The elders of Israel did the same and sprinkled dust on their heads. The Lord told Joshua to stand up. Israel had sinned; they had violated the covenant of the Lord, which he commanded them to keep. They had taken some of the devoted things; they had stolen and lied. That's the reason why the Israelites couldn't stand against their enemies. God wouldn't be with them anymore unless they destroyed everything among them that was devoted to destruction. (Jos 7:1–12).
to Ai and told them to go up and spy out the area. When they returned to Joshua, they said that there were only a few people living there. So about 3000 Israelites went up; but they were repulsed by the men of Ai, who killed about 36 of them. The hearts of the people melted with fear and became like water. Joshua tore his clothes and fell on his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord and remained there until evening. The elders of Israel did the same and sprinkled dust on their heads. The Lord told Joshua to stand up. Israel had sinned; they had violated the covenant of the Lord, which he commanded them to keep. They had taken some of the devoted things; they had stolen and lied. That's the reason why the Israelites couldn't stand against their enemies. God wouldn't be with them anymore unless they destroyed everything among them that was devoted to destruction. (Jos 7:1–12).
The Israelites were allowed to take whatever they found when they conquered the cities in Canaan, with the exception of the first city Jericho. Everything they found in Jericho belonged to God, dedicated to the Lord. There was sin in the camp. They wouldn't be able to stand up to their enemies until this was removed. This statement is true even for us as Christians in the New Covenant. Sin always separates in some way (Rom 6:23). We need to repent of our sin and ask Jesus to forgive us our sin. Even a born again Christian who has been forgiven by Jesus, needs to do this if he gives in to any area of sin.
They should introduce themselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the Lord chose would come forth clan by clan, the clan that the Lord chose would come forth family by family, and the family the Lord chose would come forth man by man. Whoever was caught with the devoted things would be destroyed by fire, along with everything
that belonged to him. He had violated the Lord's covenant and had done an outrageous thing in Israel. When they did that, Achan was chosen. Then Joshua asked him what he had done. Achan replied that he had sinned against the Lord.
He took a beautiful robe, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels. They were hidden in the ground inside his tent. They took the things from the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the Lord. Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the valley of Achor. Then all Israel stoned him; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones. Over Achan they piled a great heap of stones. Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger. (Jos 7:13–26).
that belonged to him. He had violated the Lord's covenant and had done an outrageous thing in Israel. When they did that, Achan was chosen. Then Joshua asked him what he had done. Achan replied that he had sinned against the Lord.
He took a beautiful robe, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels. They were hidden in the ground inside his tent. They took the things from the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the Lord. Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the valley of Achor. Then all Israel stoned him; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones. Over Achan they piled a great heap of stones. Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger. (Jos 7:13–26).
It's likely that Achan's children weren't stoned to death, see time 50:23–53:48 in DAVID GUZIK SERMON ON JOSHUA 7 DEFEAT AT AI & ACHAN’S SIN.
We can see the following reasons for defeat:
- Self-confidence:
The whole attitude of conquering Ai was based on the false idea that they had something to do with the victory of Jericho in the first place. They thought they were strong because they had taken Jericho. To compare with the great failure in king David's life, which came when he was at the peak of his career. When we as Christians have just come from a place of victory, that's the time when we are most exposed to danger of
self-confidence. When God gives us victory over sin, temptation, or anything like that, it doesn't mean that we have become strong
(Rom 7:18). It's in my weakness that I am strong in the Lord
(2 Cor 12:8–10). Self-confidence can be deadly, see
1) Blessed are the poor in spirit in The Sermon on the Mount. - Prayerlessness:
God gave Joshua a battle plan before the conquer of Jericho. That wasn't the case when attacking Ai. Joshua didn't go to the Lord before the attack.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5–6). Failure to turn to the Lord in prayer desensitizes us to sin or causes us to make wrong decisions. - Disobedience:
Achan stole some of the goods from Jericho. His sin resulted in defeat. God's answer was that Israel had sinned (Jos 7:11). One man's sin affected his family and the whole community. How we live affects other people. The good news is that there is forgiveness because of what Jesus did on the cross if we repent and turn to him (Rom 5:17), see Salvation.
Then the Lord encouraged Joshua not to be afraid or discouraged and told him that he had given the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land into his hands.
He told Joshua that he would take the whole army with him and go up and attack Ai. He would do to Ai and its king as he did to Jericho and its king, except that he would carry off their plunder and livestock for themselves. He should lay an ambush behind the city. Joshua did it. They captured the city and set it on fire. Israel cut them down and left them neither survivors nor fugitives. But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua. He impaled the body of the king of Ai on a pole and left it there until evening. At sunset, Joshua ordered them to take the body from the pole and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And they raised a great heap of stones over it. Israel took the livestock and plunder of this city, as the Lord had instructed Joshua. (Joshua 8:1–29).
He told Joshua that he would take the whole army with him and go up and attack Ai. He would do to Ai and its king as he did to Jericho and its king, except that he would carry off their plunder and livestock for themselves. He should lay an ambush behind the city. Joshua did it. They captured the city and set it on fire. Israel cut them down and left them neither survivors nor fugitives. But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua. He impaled the body of the king of Ai on a pole and left it there until evening. At sunset, Joshua ordered them to take the body from the pole and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And they raised a great heap of stones over it. Israel took the livestock and plunder of this city, as the Lord had instructed Joshua. (Joshua 8:1–29).
The Lord encouraged Joshua to keep him from being paralyzed by the first defeat at Ai. The answer to defeating discouragement is to hear God's word and believe it. To walk it out and respond to it. We have to move on when we make mistakes. It's such a danger to create doctrines based on experience.
God gave them instructions on how to defeat Ai. They were completely different compared to how they defeated Jericho. They shouldn't be marching the city this time. We can't "put God in a box". That expression means expecting God to act in a specific way because he did it that way last time. We must be open to the fact that God acts differently from time to time (Eph 3:20). We can't live in the past.
Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard this, the kings of the Hittites,
Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites gathered to wage war against Joshua and Israel. But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and told him and the Israelites that they had come from a distant land and wanted to make a treaty with the Israelites and that they were their servants. The Israelites didn't inquire the Lord about it. Then Joshua made a peace treaty with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly approved it with an oath. Three days after they had made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors and lived near them. And the Israelites departed and came on the third day to their cities. But the Israelites didn't attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn to them an oath by the Lord. They let them live, so that God’s wrath wouldn't fall upon them for breaking the
Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites gathered to wage war against Joshua and Israel. But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and told him and the Israelites that they had come from a distant land and wanted to make a treaty with the Israelites and that they were their servants. The Israelites didn't inquire the Lord about it. Then Joshua made a peace treaty with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly approved it with an oath. Three days after they had made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors and lived near them. And the Israelites departed and came on the third day to their cities. But the Israelites didn't attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn to them an oath by the Lord. They let them live, so that God’s wrath wouldn't fall upon them for breaking the
oath they swore to them. Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and asked them why they had lied to them. They answered Joshua that they were told how the Lord had commanded his servant Moses to give the Israelites the whole land and destroy all its inhabitants. So they feared for their lives because of them, and that's why they did this. The Israelites could do whatever seemed good and right to them. Joshua didn't kill them, but made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly, to supply the Lord's altar in the place that the Lord would choose. (Jos 9).
We should be careful when making promises. If we accidentally make a promise and later regret it, our first choice should still be to keep the promise. Many years later, king Saul who was very disobedient to the Lord, attacked many of the Gibeonites
and killed them. After the death of king Saul, a famine came over the land because of this (2 Sam 21:1–14), see the end part of King David. The Lord will hold us to our word. God can take the mistakes we make and fix them, even when we make false promises. He can sometimes turn it into something good.
and killed them. After the death of king Saul, a famine came over the land because of this (2 Sam 21:1–14), see the end part of King David. The Lord will hold us to our word. God can take the mistakes we make and fix them, even when we make false promises. He can sometimes turn it into something good.
The great mistake the Israelites made was to believe the voice of the enemy. The enemy comes to deceive. They didn't pray or ask the Lord about it. We shouldn't just rush off and do what we think is best.
Adonizedek, the king of Jerusalem, appealed to the kings Hoham, Piram, Japhia,
and Debir to come up and help him attack Gibeon because it had made peace with Joshua and the Israelites. These five kings of the Amorites joined their forces, marched up with all their troops, and took positions against Gibeon and attacked it. The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua asking for help, who marched with their entire army, including all the best fighting men, to help them. The Lord told Joshua that he shouldn't be afraid for these five kings; he had given them into their hand. None of them could stand against him. After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua surprised them. The Lord confused them before Israel, so Joshua and the Israelites completely defeated them at Gibeon.
As they fled before Israel, the Lord hurled great hailstones upon them, and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the sword of the Israelites. Joshua asked the Lord to let the sun stand still over Gibeon and the moon over the Valley of Aijalon. The sun stood still and the moon stood still until the nation took revenge on its enemies. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed setting for about a full day. The five kings fled into the cave at Makkedah. Joshua ordered large stones to be rolled up to the mouth of the cave and placed some men there to guard it. Joshua and the Israelites completely defeated them, but a few survivors managed to reach their fortified cities. Joshua then opened the mouth of the cave and brought these five kings out to him. He told the army commanders to put their feet on the necks of these kings and not be afraid. This was what the Lord would do to all the enemies that they would fight. Then Joshua killed the kings and exposed their bodies on five poles, and they were left to hang on the poles until evening. At sunset Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the poles and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large stones. (Jos 10:1–27).
and Debir to come up and help him attack Gibeon because it had made peace with Joshua and the Israelites. These five kings of the Amorites joined their forces, marched up with all their troops, and took positions against Gibeon and attacked it. The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua asking for help, who marched with their entire army, including all the best fighting men, to help them. The Lord told Joshua that he shouldn't be afraid for these five kings; he had given them into their hand. None of them could stand against him. After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua surprised them. The Lord confused them before Israel, so Joshua and the Israelites completely defeated them at Gibeon.
As they fled before Israel, the Lord hurled great hailstones upon them, and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the sword of the Israelites. Joshua asked the Lord to let the sun stand still over Gibeon and the moon over the Valley of Aijalon. The sun stood still and the moon stood still until the nation took revenge on its enemies. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed setting for about a full day. The five kings fled into the cave at Makkedah. Joshua ordered large stones to be rolled up to the mouth of the cave and placed some men there to guard it. Joshua and the Israelites completely defeated them, but a few survivors managed to reach their fortified cities. Joshua then opened the mouth of the cave and brought these five kings out to him. He told the army commanders to put their feet on the necks of these kings and not be afraid. This was what the Lord would do to all the enemies that they would fight. Then Joshua killed the kings and exposed their bodies on five poles, and they were left to hang on the poles until evening. At sunset Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the poles and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large stones. (Jos 10:1–27).
God used miracles to defeat these five kings. God can show great blessings after a serious mistake has been made (making a peace treaty with the Gibeonites). This is God exalting his grace and mercy. No mistake is final for a believer in Jesus Christ if he repents and turns to God for forgiveness (Rom 8:28), see Sanctification.
The Hebrew text speaks of a retardation or slowing down of the sun, not an immediately stop of the Earth's rotation. God can do what he wants that is according to his nature, see God is sovereign in God's Attributes.
Joshua subdued the entire region, including the hill country, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, along with all their kings. He left no survivors. He utterly
destroyed all that breathed, just as the Lord had commanded. All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the Lord fought for Israel. (Jos 10:28–43).
destroyed all that breathed, just as the Lord had commanded. All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the Lord fought for Israel. (Jos 10:28–43).
Joshua then defeated the kings of the land. The Lord told Joshua not to be afraid of them. He should hamstring their horses and burn their chariots. Joshua did to them as the Lord had commanded. He took all their royal cities and their kings and put them to the sword. He utterly destroyed them, as Moses had commanded. As the Lord commanded Moses, so Moses had commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses. He captured all their kings and killed them. Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time. Joshua took the whole land, just as the Lord had commanded Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land got a rest from war. The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies stood against them; The Lord gave all their enemies into their hands. Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; all were fulfilled. (Jos 11, 21:44–45,
Psalm 78:54–55, 80:8–11 (9–12 in some translations), 105:44–45).
Psalm 78:54–55, 80:8–11 (9–12 in some translations), 105:44–45).
Hamstring their horses and burning their chariots was an act of faith. They turned an army into a superpower. Joshua got rid of something that in those days was a key to power. It took faith and obedience to do so. It was a way of rejecting how the world defined strength. Joshua rejected what the world defined as a key to power, strength, and wealth. They are in the Lord. (Isaiah 31:1, Rom 8:37–39). Patience and obedience are the keys to spiritual victory. Disobedience led to defeat when they attacked Ai (see above).
That the Israelites were given rest from war means that this was the end of the major battles. They defeated a total of 31 kings on the west side of the Jordan
(Jos 12:7–24). There were still battles to be fought for the various tribes of Israel
to conquer their territories.
(Jos 12:7–24). There were still battles to be fought for the various tribes of Israel
to conquer their territories.
The tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh had already received their inheritance east of the Jordan
(see above), see also time 25:46–26:56 in
Bible Q&A With Pastor Paul │March 2024.
(see above), see also time 25:46–26:56 in
Bible Q&A With Pastor Paul │March 2024.
The tribe of Levi received no inheritance, the God of Israel was their inheritance, see
Tithes to the Levites in
Tithes to the Levites in
However, what the Israelites actually took was much less than the map shows, due to unbelief in God's promises. They didn't take full control of:
- The territory of the Philistines (Jos 13:2–3).
- They captured Jerusalem for a while but they didn't keep it. Jerusalem belonged to the Jebusites when it later was conquered at the time of king David who called it the City of David and made it his capital.
(Jos 15:63, Judges 1:8, 21, 2 Sam 5:6–9, 1 Chron 11:4–8). - Canaanites lived in Gezer, but they had to do forced labor (Jos 16:10).
- The Manassites couldn't occupy cities in their territory, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. But as the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanite to forced labor but didn't drive them out completely. (Jos 17:12–13).
- The tribes of Israel couldn't conquer the territories they had been given,
they compromised when they tried to do so
(Judges 1:1–7, 16–19, 22–36).
The key of taken the inheritance that we as Christians have in Christ is faith (along with patience and obedience) (Phil 3:7–12). Cleansing the land in the Promised Land is a picture of getting rid of the world's lifestyle, resisting Satan, and getting rid of sin in our lives. If we don't, it will come back to bite us. If there are areas of sin in our lives that we are unwilling to deal with, or we neglect to deal with them for some other reason, it will become a problem. The areas that weren't cleared by the Israelites became a problem for them.
Eleazar (the priest), Joshua, and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel allotted the land to the tribes. Their inheritance west of the Jordan was assigned by lot to 9.5 tribes, as the Lord had commanded through Moses. Moses had given
2.5 tribes their inheritance east of the Jordan, and hadn't given the Levites an inheritance among the rest. Joseph’s descendants had become two tribes:
Manasseh and Ephraim.
2.5 tribes their inheritance east of the Jordan, and hadn't given the Levites an inheritance among the rest. Joseph’s descendants had become two tribes:
Manasseh and Ephraim.
See the following explanation: Twelve tribes of Israel (Gen 49:3–28)
= 12 - 1 (Levi) - 1 (Joseph) + 2 (Manasseh and Ephraim) = 9.5 + 2.5
= the twelve landowners (Jos 14:1–5, 15:1–12, 20–63, 16:1–19:51).
= 12 - 1 (Levi) - 1 (Joseph) + 2 (Manasseh and Ephraim) = 9.5 + 2.5
= the twelve landowners (Jos 14:1–5, 15:1–12, 20–63, 16:1–19:51).
Caleb was 40 years old when Moses sent him to explore the land, see
5. Twelve Spies Exploring Canaan in Moses; Part 13: Rebellion and Paganism.
That day Moses swore to him that the land on which he had walked would be his inheritance, because he had followed the Lord with all his heart. Now he was 85 years old, still as strong as the day Moses sent him out. Caleb wanted the hill country that the Lord promised him that day. He would then drive out the Anakites and take their large fortified cities. Then Joshua blessed Caleb and gave
him Hebron as his inheritance. (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.)
(Jos 14:6–15, 15:13–19, Judges 1:11–15, 20).
5. Twelve Spies Exploring Canaan in Moses; Part 13: Rebellion and Paganism.
That day Moses swore to him that the land on which he had walked would be his inheritance, because he had followed the Lord with all his heart. Now he was 85 years old, still as strong as the day Moses sent him out. Caleb wanted the hill country that the Lord promised him that day. He would then drive out the Anakites and take their large fortified cities. Then Joshua blessed Caleb and gave
him Hebron as his inheritance. (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.)
(Jos 14:6–15, 15:13–19, Judges 1:11–15, 20).
The whole assembly moved from Gilgal and gathered at Shiloh, which is in the center of Israel, and there they erected the Tent of Meeting (the tabernacle)
(Joshua 18:1). Shiloh became the center of their worship for about 300 years.
This is a great principle of victory in Jesus Christ. Keeping God's presence at the center of our lives.
(Joshua 18:1). Shiloh became the center of their worship for about 300 years.
This is a great principle of victory in Jesus Christ. Keeping God's presence at the center of our lives.
When the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan on the Israelite side, they built an impressive altar there. When the Israelites heard this, the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them. The Israelites sent Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the priest, to them. With him they sent ten of the chief men, one from each of the tribes of Israel, each a head of a family division among the Israelite clans.
When they met them, they asked them how they could build themselves an altar in rebellion against the Lord. If they rebelled against the Lord, he would be angry with the whole community of Israel. They replied that they built the altar for fear that their descendants would one day tell them that the Lord had made the Jordan a boundary between them and that they had no part in the Lord. It wasn't built for burnt offerings or sacrifices. On the contrary, it would be a witness between them that they would worship the Lord in his sanctuary with their burnt offerings, sacrifices, and fellowship offerings. They could then look upon the replica of the Lord’s altar, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but as a witness between them.
Far be it from them to rebel against the Lord and turn away from Him by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, and sacrifices, other than the Lord's altar that was standing before his tabernacle. When Phinehas and the leaders of the community heard this, they were pleased. Phinehas told them that they hadn't been unfaithful to the Lord in this matter. Now they had rescued the Israelites from the Lord’s hand. Then Phinehas and the leaders returned to Canaan. They were glad to hear the report and praised God. And they spoke no more of going to war against them. The Reubenites and the Gadites called the altar "Witness", for it was a witness between them that the Lord is God. (Jos 22:10–34).
When they met them, they asked them how they could build themselves an altar in rebellion against the Lord. If they rebelled against the Lord, he would be angry with the whole community of Israel. They replied that they built the altar for fear that their descendants would one day tell them that the Lord had made the Jordan a boundary between them and that they had no part in the Lord. It wasn't built for burnt offerings or sacrifices. On the contrary, it would be a witness between them that they would worship the Lord in his sanctuary with their burnt offerings, sacrifices, and fellowship offerings. They could then look upon the replica of the Lord’s altar, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but as a witness between them.
Far be it from them to rebel against the Lord and turn away from Him by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, and sacrifices, other than the Lord's altar that was standing before his tabernacle. When Phinehas and the leaders of the community heard this, they were pleased. Phinehas told them that they hadn't been unfaithful to the Lord in this matter. Now they had rescued the Israelites from the Lord’s hand. Then Phinehas and the leaders returned to Canaan. They were glad to hear the report and praised God. And they spoke no more of going to war against them. The Reubenites and the Gadites called the altar "Witness", for it was a witness between them that the Lord is God. (Jos 22:10–34).
Perils to avoid in the Promised Land were as follows:
- To show no mercy:
The tribes west of the Jordan easily ruled the tribes east of the Jordan
(Jos 22:11–12). They wanted to start a war with them because of this.
See examples of showing mercy at the end part of The Book of Ruth. - Decisions or lack of decisions based on fear:
The tribes east of the Jordan built their altar because they were afraid that
the Jordan would be a boundary between them and that they would be accused to have no part in the Lord (Jos 22:24–25). See Fear of Man. - Assume the worst about others:
Building an altar was reckless and shouldn't have been done. They invited a potential disaster by doing so. They could have created a remembering in some other way. Beyond that, the tribes west of the Jordan didn't have to jump to conclusions and prepare for war, which was a reckless and dangerous reaction. See Do not judge others in The Sermon on the Mount.
After a long time had passed and the Lord had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them, Joshua summoned all Israel to him and said to them: They should remember how Joshua had allotted the land between the Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea as an inheritance to their tribes. The Lord had fought for them, and he would drive out the people who lived there before them, and they would take possession of their land, as the Lord had promised them. They should be strong and careful to obey all what is written in the Mosaic Laws. They shouldn't associate with the nations that remain among them, not invoke the names of their gods, swear by them, serve them, or bow down to them. They must hold fast to the Lord their God, who had driven out great and mighty nations before them, who would fight for them, just as he promised. They must be careful to love the Lord their God. If they turn away and ally themselves with the survivors of these nations who are left among them, and if they intermarry with them and associate with them, then the Lord would no longer drive out these nations before them. Instead, these nations would become snares and traps for them, until they perish from this good land that the Lord had given them. Not one of all the promises the Lord made to them had failed. If they violated the covenant of the Lord and went and served other gods and bow down to them, the anger of the Lord would burn against them, and they would quickly perish from the good land that he had given them. (Jos 23).
It was the Lord who had fought for the Israelites in the Promised Land (Jos 23:3).
When we as Christians start to take hold of the promises of God in our lives, that is, promises to overcome sin, to overcome the lifestyle of the world, even to resist the works of Satan to overcome the things he puts in our way, then it's God the Holy Spirit in us who fights the battle. He fights it in us and through us. God gives us the strength to go into battle.
The principles to follow were:
- Obedience:
They should obey everything that was written in the Mosaic Laws (Jos 23:6). - Separation:
They weren't to associate with the nations that remained among them, not invoke the names of their gods, swear by them, serve them, bow down to them, or intermarry with them (Jos 23:7, 12–13). - Love of God:
They must be careful to continue to love the Lord their God (Jos 23:11).
Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel and said to them: The Lord had given them a land on which they didn't toil and cities they hadn't build; and they lived in them and ate of vineyards and olive groves which they hadn't plant. They should fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. The people replied that they wouldn't forsake the Lord to serve other gods. Joshua told the people that they weren't able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He wouldn't forgive their rebellion and their sins. If they forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, he would turn and bring disaster upon them and make an end of them. But the people told Joshua that they would serve the Lord. Then Joshua told them that they were witnesses against themselves that they had chosen to serve the Lord. The people agreed. They were to serve the Lord and obey him. On that day Joshua made a covenant with the people and reaffirmed to them decrees and laws. Joshua died at the age of 110 years old. Israel served the Lord throughout the life of Joshua and the elders who outlived him and who had experienced all that the Lord had done for Israel. (Jos 24, Judges 2:6–9).
Our God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:29). We need the power of the Holy Spirit, see The Trinity, and the grace of God to be able to serve him. We must be strong
in the Lord and in his mighty power (Eph 6:10). (Phil 2:12–13).
in the Lord and in his mighty power (Eph 6:10). (Phil 2:12–13).
