Month: February 2020

This chapter describes the final part of Joshua’s Canaan campaign, where he leads Israel to defeat a large number of the remaining inhabitants in one giant conflict (for the nations all rallied together against Israel). After defeating the armies who were “a great horde, in number like the sand that is on the seashore”, there…

Five cities and five kings besiege Gibeon, Israel’s new servants. Israel comes to their defense, and God gives Israel victory. “And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them… and they died. There were more who died because of…

“But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, they on their part acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended, with worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes. And all their provisions were dry and…

With God’s direction, Israel overwhelms and defeats Ai, the people who defeated them in battle a couple of chapters ago (when Achan had sinned and kept the devoted things). Upon conclusion of the battle, Joshua builds an altar. “At that time Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal, just as Moses…

“But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel. Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the…

“On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, ‘Shout,…

There are two major events in this chapter that symbolize the old passing away and new beginnings for Israel. The first event is circumcising the new generation – the old generation from Egypt, who have all passed away, were circumcised, yet the new generation had not been. The second event is this: “While the people…

“And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. And he said to the people of Israel, ‘When your children ask their fathers in times to come, “What do these stones mean?” then you shall let your children know, “Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.” For…

“The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of…