the book of joshua

PART 2

Assignment # 6 - Joshua 9 thru 12

Step 1 Read Joshua 9 thru 12, study course slides and materials in your commentaries, exc.

Step 2 Complete the assigned study questions below for assignment #6. – make sure your

answers are typed and numbered with your name and lesson number identified. Then email

them to Pastor Ed at: [email protected]

Step 3. At the end of your typed answers, type one paragraph on your application of truths

learned from this lesson for your life and ministry.

• “And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their beasts, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy.” (9:3-5)

• The residents of the town of Gibeon decided that if they could not defeat the Israelites they would join them. This has been a strategy that enemies of believers have employed for centuries.(cf. Num. 25:1-2).

• Joshua and the leaders of Israel fell prey to the deception of the Gibeonites because they failed to seek the counsel of the Lord.

• So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.

• God had not forbidden the Israelites from making peace treaties with non-Canaanite peoples (Deut. 20:11), but He had expressly commanded them not to make treaties with the native Canaanite tribes (Exod. 23:32; 34:12; Num. 33:55; Deut. 7:2).

• Joshua and the leaders of Israel discover they have been deceived, yet they abide by their sworn oath to the Gibeonites. (9:16-20). The Israelites considered their oath to the Gibeonites as binding, especially since it was a promise given in the name of Yahweh (v. 19).

• Later in Israel's history King Saul put some of the Gibeonites to death in his misguided zeal. God sent a famine on Israel as punishment (2 Sam. 21:1-2).

• As punishment for the Gibeonites, Joshua makes them slaves to the LORD by serving in menial ways such as cutting wood for the sacrificial fires of the tabernacle and carrying water used in its service.

• Next, the southern kings of Canaan assemble for an attack on Gibeon.

• “And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.” (10:8)

• This was the first time Israel had gone into battle against an alliance of city-states. God reassured Joshua that he would be victorious.

• The leader of this group, the king of Jerusalem, is an interesting figure. His name, Adoni-Zedek means Lord of Righteousness, though we see him as really the opposite of the Lord of Righteousness.

• Some scholars believe he is symbolic of the Anti-Christ, set against Joshua's representation of Jesus Christ.

• If Adoni-Zedek (the false Lord of Righteousness) represents the Antichrist, we are even more interested to find that he leads many nations against Joshua and the children of Israel.

• God's strategy included an early morning surprise attack that caught the Amorites off guard (10:9 cf. Exod. 23:27). Israel was able to gain the advantage and pursued the fleeing Amorites for several miles.

• God also sent a hailstorm that killed many of the enemy but none of God's people. In fact, there were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword. (10:11)

• But God is still not through yet…

• “Then spoke Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel” (10:12-14)

• The Canaanites regarded the sun and moon as deities. Their control by Yahweh probably deeply impressed Israel's enemies

• The explanation of this miracle held by most evangelical scholars is that God slowed or stopped the earth's rotation, or He tilted its axis thereby lengthening the period of daylight.

• Most of those who hold this view believe God counteracted the worldwide effects of this miracle by His supernatural power.

• Various writers have suggested many other views and variations of these views. One of the most intriguing is by the conservative Hebrew scholar Robert Dick Wilson, who argues that the Hebrew words translated "stand still" and "stood still" can be translated "be eclipsed" and "was eclipsed.“ Thus, he believes that both the sun and the moon experienced an eclipse by other heavenly bodies. (Source: Robert Dick Wilson, "Understanding 'The Sun Stood Still,'" in Classical Evangelical Essays in Old Testament Interpretation, pp. 61-65.)

• After finding the kings hiding in caves, “Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening” (10:26)

• We have another striking similarity with the Book of Revelation. Not only does a false "Lord of Righteousness" (Adoni-Zedek) lead a group of nations against Joshua, who has come to possess the land; but also, in the midst of their defeat, the kings hide in caves in fear of the conquering Joshua (Revelation 6:15-16).

• To this point Israel's victories had taken place in central Canaan. God's strategy was to give His people a base of operation in the middle part of the land first. From there they could then advance to the South and then to the North.

• After the battle of Gibeon the conquest of the south was soon accomplished. The cities were taken one by one and the inhabitants slaughtered in obedience to the command of God to eliminate the cities of the Canaanites in their entirety.

• Then the kings in the northern part of Canaan banded together under the leadership of King Jabin of the fortified city of Hazor. (11:1-5)

• Joshua met them in battle at the waters of Merom and another great victory was accomplished, including the taking of Hazor.

• On the defeat of the northern kings, much of land lay under the control of Israel.

• Chapter 12 primarily consists of a listing 31 kings in the order they were subdued under Joshua's first attack, in the first seven years after Israel had entered the land

• “As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.” (11:15)

• The secret of Joshua's remarkable success from the human viewpoint was his consistent obedience to the Lord.

• We too will experience victory over our spiritual enemies—the world, the flesh, and the devil—to the extent that we do God's will as He has revealed that in His Word.

• “So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.” (11:23)

• The taking of the whole land does not imply that all the towns and villages to the very last had been conquered, or that all the Canaanites were rooted out from every corner of the land, but simply that the conquest was of such a character that the power of the Canaanites was broken, their dominion overthrown, and their whole land so thoroughly given into the hands of the Israelites, that those who still remained here and there were crushed into powerless fugitives, who could neither offer any further opposition to the Israelites, nor dispute the possession of the land with them.


1. List the six ethnic groups which banned together to fight Israel?

2. Which group of people disguised themselves as travelers from a distant place and wanted to

make a treaty

with Israel? Read Deut 20:13-17.

3. What did the men (elders) of Israel fail to do before making a treaty with these travelers?

4. What miracle took place at Gideon?

5. List the kings and cities which were defeated during Israel's first campaign.

6. How many cities were conquered west of the Jordan River?

7. Write a paragraph on your application of truths learned in this lesson for your life & ministry.

All work must be typed & emailed to Pastor Ed at:[email protected]

• Thus, though the major portion of the land promised to Abraham was now under Israel's control, still along the fringes there were unoccupied territories and within the land itself pockets of resistance remained.

• When Joshua allotted each tribe its own territory by casting lots, he reminded them that they were individually responsible to claim the territory which rightly belonged to them. There would be battles involved, but they were to be assured that the ultimate victory would be secure, for God had given His word.

• Over forty percent of the book of Joshua deals with the apportionment of the Promised Land to the Israelite tribes, comprising the largest section of the book.

• The apportionment gives great geographic detail as the boundary line for each tribe is exactly described.

• The apportionment was to be made by lot and according to the size of the tribe (Numbers 33:53-54), demonstrating one of the primary reasons for the second census in Numbers.

• In addition, to the tribal apportionment of land, the Levite cities are reserved as are the cities of refuge.

• Once the apportionment had been made, that land was to remain within the tribe. If the land was sold outside the original apportionment, it was to be returned to the original owner every 50 years in the land of Jubilee (Leviticus 25). Having detailed descriptions of the boundary markers was therefore extremely important. These boundaries were so important, that moving it was a violation of the law (Deut. 19:14) and put the offender under a curse (Deut 27:17).

• The importance of the apportionment is previewed in Number 33:50-56.

• Number 33:50-52 starts with the importance of driving out the current inhabitants of the land, and the destruction of their idols and places of worship.

• Before the apportionment can take place, the people must conquer the land and destroy all remnants of the idolatrous nations. The apportionment by God does not come because Israel is worthy of such land, but because of the wickedness of those currently in the land (Deut 9:5).

• In fact, Abraham's descendents had to wait four centuries for God to fulfill His covenant promise for the land because the current inhabitants had not reached the full measure of their potential wickedness (Gen. 15:16).

• Most significantly, though, the apportionment was not automatic. The tribes had to take the land and conquer it (Numbers 33:55-56).

• Thus, the apportionment is divided into two sections: 1) the apportionment for those tribes who obediently conquered the land, and 2) the apportionment for those tribes who failed to conquer the land.

• “Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed” (13:1)

• At the end of the seven-year period of conquest Israel actually occupied very little of the Promise Land. "Very much" of it remained for them to possess.

• As previously seen in Numbers, the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh were given their part on the east of the Jordan, but the rest of the land was divided between the nine and one-half tribes.

• Before the casting of lots began Caleb came to Joshua with his fellow tribesmen from Judah to request the inheritance that Moses had promised him (14:6-9; cf. Deut. 1:36; Num.14:26-38).

• Moses had promised Caleb land in Canaan but had not given a specific allotment. The reason for this special blessing was Caleb's faithfulness to God when he served as one of the 12 spies. Joshua also received a personal allotment later (19:49-50).

• The references to Caleb's age (14:10) enable us to determine the length of the conquest of Canaan.

• Caleb had received the promise of a portion in the land at Kadesh Barnea 38 years before the Israelites crossed the Jordan and entered Canaan (Num. 14:24).

• Caleb was 40 years old then (v. 7). He was now 85 (v. 10). Forty-five years had elapsed, and Caleb had spent 38 of them in the wilderness. Therefore the conquest must have taken the remaining seven years.

• Despite being 85, the portion Caleb requested was part of the hill country that the giants who had discouraged his fellow spies still inhabited.

• In making his request (14:12), Caleb referred to the very things that the unbelieving spies had pointed out to discourage the Israelites from entering the land: hill country, Anakim, and large fortified cities (cf. Num. 13:28-29).

• The tribe of Judah received their allotment first (on the west side of the Jordan)

• The tribe of Judah probably received first consideration in the text because it was the tribe that had received Jacob's special patriarchal blessing. It was also the largest tribe.

• Judah was the southernmost tribe west of the Jordan. Caleb's family and the Simeonites lived within Judah's territory. Simeon was the smallest tribe except Levi and lost its territorial identity within Judah shortly after the conquest (cf. Gen. 49:7). For this reason some maps of the tribal allotments do not include Simeon.


1. What is the main emphasis in chapter 13?

2. What did God tell Joshua in 13:1?

3. Whose allotments are described in chapter 14?

4. How many tribes received land west of the Jordan River?

5. List the names of the tribes which received land west of the Jordan River.

6. Which tribe did not receive land as an inheritance?

7. Which individual said that he was 85 years old and was still strong?

8. Who was given Hebron as his inheritance?

9. Name the three sons of Anak who were driven out of the land . Who drove them out of the

land?



• The tribe of Ephraim received their allotment in chapter 16. However, they failed to completely drive out the Canaanites (16:10). The Ephraimites complained to Joshua that their apportionment was too small for the size of their tribe (17:14). Joshua's response was that they had plenty of land, if only they would finish conquering the land (17:17-18).

• The Ephraimites, however, feared the people, for they had iron chariots (17:16). They did not believe in the promise of God, and they failed to act on the promise. Therefore, they did not receive their full inheritance.

• Most of the tribes, however, failed to take the land. So, in chapter 18, Joshua calls the whole nation together to Shiloh and he rebukes them for failing to complete the task. Only Judah and the sons of Joseph had conquered the land (of course, Gad and Reuben had already been given land on the East side of the Jordan), so they were able to keep what they had won.

• The rest of the land would be apportioned with the remaining 7 tribes who failed to obey. The description of this apportionment takes chapters 18-19.

• After this apportionment, Dan found their inheritance too small. So they moved north and conquered another unallocated territory, thus gaining additional land (19:47).


1. The Canaanites in which city were not driven out and dwelt among the Ephraimites?

2. Who was the firstborn son of Joseph?

3. Who were the Japhletites?

4. How is the description of the inheritance of Joseph's tribes different from all the other tribes?

5. Whose daughters received an inheritance in the land of Canaan? What were their names and

how many

were there?

6. In what town was the tabernacle located?

7. How many tribes had not received their inheritance?

8. What was used to divide the land between the remaining tribes?

9. Which tribe received no inheritance in the land?




Step 1 Read Joshua 19 thru 21, and materials in your commentaries, exc.






Commentary on Joshua 19:10-16 In the division to each tribe of Israel, the prophetic blessings of Jacob were fulfilled.

They chose for themselves, or it was divided to them by lot, in the manner and places that he foresaw. So sure a rule to go by is the word of prophecy: we see by it what to believe, and it proves beyond all dispute the things that are of God.

Commentary on Joshua 19:17-51 (Read Joshua 19:17-51) Joshua waited till all the tribes were settled, before he asked any provision for

himself. He was content to be unfixed, till he saw them all placed, and herein is an example to all in public places, to prefer the common welfare before private advantage. Those who labor most to do good to others, seek an inheritance in the Canaan above: but it will be soon enough to enter thereon, when they have done all the service to their brethren of which they are capable. Nor can any thing more effectually assure them of their title to it, than endeavoring to bring others to desire, to seek, and to obtain it. Our Lord Jesus came and dwelt on earth, not in pomp but poverty, providing rest for man, yet himself not having where to lay his head; for Christ pleased not himself. Nor would he enter upon his inheritance, till by his obedience to death he secured the eternal inheritance for all his people; nor will he account his own glory completed, till every ransomed sinner is put in possession of his heavenly rest.


1. Which tribes received the first, third, fifth and seventh lots of land for an inheritance?

2. Name the tribe which received 16 cities with their villages as their inheritance.

3. Which tribe had the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee as its eastern boundary?

4. Where did Joshua receive his inheritance?

5. Define a city of refuge and avenger of blood.

6. How many cities of refuge were appointed?

7. How many towns were given to the tribe of Levi?



Assignment # 10 - Joshua 22 - 23

Step 1 Read Joshua 22 - 23, and materials in your commentaries, exc.






• By the end of the book, Israel has mostly conquered the land and the tribes had all received their apportionment.

• Now that a good portion of the Promised Land had been conquered, the need for diligent obedience to the law would be less obvious. As they rested in the land, Joshua's biggest fear is that their complacency would tempt them to abandon Yahweh and chase after other gods. (23:7)

• If Israel associate and intermarry with the people whom they failed to destroy according to the Lord's command, they also will begin serving other gods, and then they will loose the land that they have just possessed (23:15-16).

• So, at the age of 110, as Joshua nears his death, he has an important farewell message to give to the nation. Thus, he calls for all of Israel to come and hear what he has to say.

• He begins by reminding the people that is was Yahweh, their God who had been fighting for them. He is the one who drove out the nations. He sent hornets before them, so they did not even need to use their sword or their bow (24:12).

• God hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots (11:5). Furthermore, God hardened their heart so that their enemies would not seek peace, but would fight, thus sealing their own fate (11:19-20).

• Yahweh had driven out the nations, and no one was able to stand before them (23:8-10).

• Thus, Joshua clearly states that it is God who gets the credit for everything: “And I have given you a land for which ye did not labor, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and olive yards which ye planted not do ye eat.” (24:13)

• Next, in one of the most quoted passages in the book, Joshua draws the proverbially line in the sand:

“Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (24:14-15)

• Israel must choose sides. There is no middle ground. Joshua knows on which side he and his family is going to be. But each family must also decide and state their commitment.

• The people respond: “far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord.” He is the one who gave us this land. Of course we will serve the Lord (24:16-18).

• But Joshua knows better. They will fail God (24:19-20). He has predicted as much in 23:15-16. And when that happens they will be destroyed.

• In fact, After Joshua, the history of Israel goes downhill [until David]. Joshua Ch.24 thus marks the high point of Israel's history, the full realization of her identity as people of God

• Still, Joshua accepts their commitment, but then states that their bold commitment will serve as a witness against them (24:22). When they fall back into idolatry, the commitment they make on this day will serve to condemn them.

Assignment # 10 - Joshua 22 - 23

1. What did Joshua do in 22:1-4?

2. What almost caused a civil war among the tribes?

3. How was this conflict resolved?

4. Why did the Eastern tribesmen build the altar?

5. Who did Joshua call together before his death?

6. What was the theme of Joshua's message?

7. What did Joshua instruct the people to do in 23:6-8?

8. What would happen to Israel if they intermarried and worshipped the gods of the Canaanites?



Assignment # 11 - Joshua 24

Step 1 Read Joshua 22 - 23, and materials in your commentaries, exc.






Commentary on Joshua 24:1-14(Read Joshua 24:1-14)

We must never think our work for God done, till our life is done. If he lengthen out our days beyond what we expected, like those of Joshua, it is because he has some further service for us to do. He who aims at the same mind which was in Christ Jesus, will glory in bearing the last testimony to his Savior's goodness, and in telling to all around, the obligations with which the unmerited goodness of God has bound him. The assembly came together in a solemn religious manner. Joshua spoke to them in God's name, and as from him. His sermon consists of doctrine and application. The doctrinal part is a history of the great things God had done for his people, and for their fathers before them. The application of this history of God's mercies to them, is an exhortation to fear and serve God, in gratitude for his favor, and that it might be continued.

Commentary on Joshua 24:15-28It is essential that the service of God's people be performed with a willing mind. For LOVE is the only genuine principle whence all acceptable service of God can spring. The Father seeks only such to worship him, as worship him in spirit and in truth. The carnal mind of man is enmity against God, therefore, is not capable of such spiritual worship. Hence the necessity of being born again. But numbers rest in mere forms, as tasks imposed upon them. Joshua puts them to their choice; but not as if it were indifferent whether they served God or not. Choose you whom ye will serve, now the matter is laid plainly before you. He resolves to do this, whatever others did. Those that are bound for heaven, must be willing to swim against the stream. They must not do as the most do, but as the best do. And no one can behave himself as he ought in any station, who does not deeply consider his religious duties in family relations. The Israelites agree with Joshua, being influenced by the example of a man who had been so great a blessing to them; We also will serve the Lord. See how much good great men do, by their influence, if zealous in religion. Joshua brings them to express full purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord. They must come off from all confidence in their own sufficiency, else their purposes would be in vain. The service of God being made their deliberate choice, Joshua binds them to it by a solemn covenant. He set up a monument of it. In this affecting manner Joshua took his last leave of them; if they perished, their blood would be upon their own heads. Though the house of God, the Lord's table, and even the walls and trees before which we have uttered our solemn purposes of serving him, would bear witness against us if we deny him, yet we may trust in him, that he will put his fear into our hearts, that we shall not depart from him. God alone can give grace, yet he blesses our endeavors to engage men to his service.

Assignment # 11 - Joshua 24

1. What does the phrase "beyond the river" refer too?

2. What is Shechem noted for?

3. List four parts in which God summarized Israel's history.

4. What does the word "hornet" mean in this lesson?

5. List four things God gave the Israelites for which they did not labor.

6. What is the most shocking statement in the Old Testament?

7. What was Joshua admonishing the people to throw away?

8. By what title is Joshua referred to in this chapter?

9. How old was Joshua when he died?

10. List three burials mentioned in this chapter.



• The Book of Joshua demonstrates that God is perpetually at war with sin. He hates it and will judge it not only because it is an offense to His character but because it destroys the people He created for fellowship with Himself.

• The choice remains for all of us. We must choose this day who are we going to serve. If we want to serve God, then it is not enough to just say that we will. We must give up our idols. We must quit holding onto those things which weigh us down.

the book of joshua

Documents

leaders of israel

children of israel

time israel

false lord of righteousness

old sacks

old garments

old shoes

peace treaties