part 1. assignment # 1--introduction and joshua 1 step 1 read joshua 1, study course slides and...

PART 1

Assignment # 1--Introduction and Joshua 1

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

Step 2 Complete the assigned study questions below for assignment one. – 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.

We are living in an age where all those professing Christ do not accept the Bible as being theinspired Word of God. This is true regarding the book of Joshua. Two commentaries, JOSHUA AnIntroduction & Commentary from the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries series [which is

yourprimary commentary] and JOSHUA Inheriting the Land from the International Theological

Commentaryseries [which is a supplemental commentary] were used for this course. The Tyndalecommentary reflects the conservative interpretation of the book of Joshua while the InternationalTheological Commentary reflects a more liberal interpretation of the book. CBCS holds to a conservativetheological position but books reflecting other views are used to expose you to what others teach

becausesooner or later you will be coming into contact with those who do not share your conservativeinterpretation of the scriptures. It is hoped that through the use of these two textbooks you will becomegrounded more firmly in your conservative interpretation of scripture and will have a better

understandingof liberal interpretation since we are living in a pluralistic society.

Articles from the NEW UNGER'S BIBLE DICTIONARY, NELSON'S ILLUSTRATED BIBLEDICTIONARY and the HOLMAN BIBLE DICTIONARY are provided to give you a deeper insight intothe conservative interpretation of the book of Joshua. May you enjoy your study on the book of Joshuaand may you rightly divide the Word of Truth.

Study questions for this course are taken from the book of Joshua and are based on the King JamesVersion and the New King James Version of the Bible. A few answers may be found in Bible dictionariesand commentary materials.

The New Ungers Talking Bible DictionaryUnger, Merrill F.Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois

According to 1 Corinthians 10:11 events of the Exodus, the wilderness wandering, and the conquest of Canaan

are highly typical. “Now these things happened to them as an example,” literally, “as types.” Accordingly, Joshua is

a type of Christ as our conquering commander. The redemption out of Egypt and the passage of the Red Sea typify

our being baptized by the Holy Spirit into union with Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:2): “And all were baptized into

Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” This redemptive experience prefigures the position the Christian has by virtue of

being in Christ by the Spirit’s baptizing work (1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 6:2-3; Colossians 2:9-12). The crossing

of Jordan is a type of our death with Christ experientially, as the crossing of the Red Sea is a type of our positional

death in Christ. Claiming by faith our experience based upon our position is set forth by the crossing of the Jordan

and the entering the land of conflict and victory (cf. Ephesians 6:10-20). Canaan is not a type of heaven but a type

of our meeting our spiritual enemies in victorious Christian living. It is considering ourselves “to be dead to sin, but

alive to God in Jesus Christ” (Romans 6:11). Every believer is positionally “dead to sin” and “alive to God.” The

difference is that when he reckons it true, it becomes experientially actual. The Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and

others like them may typify our spiritual enemies (Ephesians 6:12).

I.Conquest of the land (1:1-12:24)

Commission of Joshua (1:1-9)

Preparation to cross the Jordan (1:10–2:24)

The Jordan crossed (3:1-4:24)

Israel circumcised and Passover observed at Gilgal (5:1-15)

Capture of Jericho and Ai (6:1-8:29)

Altar on Mt. Ebal erected (8:30-35)

Deception of Gibeonites (9:1-27)

Conquest of southern Canaan (10:1-43)

Conquest of northern Canaan (11:1-15)

Summary of the conquest (11:16–12:24)

II.Division of the land (13:1-22:34)

Instruction of Joshua (13:1-7)

Eastern tribes assigned (13:8-33)

Western tribes assigned (14:1-19:51)

Cities of refuge provided (20:1-9)

Levitical towns chosen (21:1-45)

Eastern tribes sent away (22:1-34)

III.Joshua’s farewell address and death (23:1-24:33)

The book is anonymous. That the book, however, was composed in substance by Joshua himself or by an inspiredwriter soon after his death is supported by the following facts: (1) The account has the vividness of an eye-witness

(Joshua 5:1, 6). Such events as the sending out of the spies (Joshua 2), the crossing of Jordan (Joshua 3), the captureof Jericho and Ai (Joshua 6-8), and so forth, are described with great vividness of detail. (2) Parts of the book, at

least, are written by Joshua (cf. Joshua18:9; 24:26). (3) The narrative was written very early. Rahab, the harlot, wasstill alive (Joshua 6:25). That the Jebusites were living “with the sons of Judah at Jerusalem until this day” (Joshua

15:63) points to a pre-Davidic date (cf. 2 Samuel 5:5-9). References such as those mentioning the Canaanites’dwelling at Gezer (Joshua 16:10) are pre-Solomonic, because the pharaoh of Egypt killed the Canaanite inhabitants

and gave the cities as a present to his daughter, Solomon’s wife. Jerusalem was not yet an Israelite capital(Joshua18:16, 28). Archaic names of cities appear, such as Baalah, later Kiriath-jearim (Joshua 15:9). The Gibeoniteswere still “hewers of wood and drawers of water” (Joshua 9:27), whereas in Saul’s day they suffered massacre andtheir status had been changed (2 Samuel 21:1-9). (4) Although the book is early and doubtless written by Joshua

himself, minor details in the present form of the work cannot be assigned to Joshua’s original work, for example theaccount of his death (Joshua 24:29-31) and the strange use of the term “from all the hill country of Judah and fromall the hill country of Israel” (Joshua 11:21). The reference in Joshua to the book of Jashar (Joshua 10:13) is similar

to a reference to Jashar that occurs in 2 Samuel 1:18, and as a consequence some have argued that the book of Joshuawas written during David’s reign or later, but that is not a legitimate argument. Almost nothing is known of the book

of Jashar, which may have been an anthology of national heroes, expanded from century to century to includecontemporary celebrities.

Denying that the book of Joshua is a literary unit, the critics weave it into their theory of the Pentateuch and havecoined the unsound critical term “Hexateuch” to fit their hypothesis. The sources J (Jehovistic) and E (Elohistic) are

claimed to be the two primary sources of Joshua 1-12, revised later by Deuteronomic writers. Chapters 13-22 are saidto be from a priestly source (P) and were added to JED around 400 B.C. That the “Hexateuch” is purely a critical

invention is proved from the following reasons: (1) It is of a piece with the documentary hypothesis of the Pentateuchand is founded upon the same false literary, historical, and religious philosophical presuppositions. (2) Certain

pronounced linguistic peculiarities that appear in the Pentateuch are absent from the book of Joshua. (3) There is nohistorical evidence that Joshua was ever thought of as forming a unit with the Pentateuch. The Samaritans took onlythe Pentateuch, which would have been inconceivable had Joshua at that time formed a “Hexateuch,” and especially

so when the book apparently favors the Samaritans by its references to Shechem (Joshua 24:1, 32).

AUTHENTICITY AND CREDIBILITY OF THE BOOKTo the believing student the book of Joshua by its own internal evidence, the implicit and explicit references to

it in the NT (Hebrews 11:30-31), and the intimate fashion in which its typology is interwoven in the NT revelationof God’s redemption in Christ (Hebrews 3:7-4:11; cf. 4:8) stamp it as genuine. Moreover, a detailed geographicaland archaeological study of references and events recorded in the book lends credence to its historicity. M.F.U.BIBLIOGRAPHY: Y. Kaufmann, The Biblical Account of the Conquest of the Land (1953); G. E. Mendenhall, Law

and Covenant in Israel and the Ancient Near East (1955); J. Gray, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, New Century Bible(1967); J. A. Soggin, Joshua, a Commentary (1972); G. Bush, Notes on Joshua (1976); W. G. Blaikie, The Book

of Joshua (1978); J. Garstang, Joshua-Judges: The Foundations of Biblical History (1978); W. G. Scroggie,Joshua in the Light of the New Testament (1981); M. Woudstra, The Book of Joshua, New International

Commentary on the Old Testament (1981).Holman Bible Dictionary

Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, TN

JOSHUA (Jahsh ew uh) Personal name meaning, “Yahweh delivered.” 1. Leader of Israelites who first tookcontrol of Promised Land of Canaan. Joshua is one of the unsung heroes of the Old Testament. He, not Moses, led

the people into the Promised Land. He was a person of such stature that he could succeed the incomparable Mosesand compile a record of notable success (Josh. 24:31). The Hebrew variations of Joshua are Oshea (Num. 13:16);

Hosea (Hos. 1:1). English versions differ in their transliteration of the Hebrew names. Its New Testament equivalent is Jesus.

Joshua was born in Egypt during the period of slavery. He was a member of Ephraim, the important tribe thatlater formed the heart of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He first appeared during the battle with the Amalekites

during the desert travels. He was Moses’ general, who led the troops in the actual fighting while Aaron and Hur heldup Moses’ hands (Ex. 17:8-13).

Joshua was Moses’s servant (Ex. 24:13). He was on the mountain when Moses received the Law (Ex. 32:17).He was also one of the twelve spies Moses sent to investigate Canaan (Num. 13:8). He and Caleb returned with apositive, minority report. Of all the adults alive at that time, only the two of them were allowed to live to enter the

landof Canaan (Num. 14:28-30, 38).

The Lord selected Joshua to be Moses’ successor long before Moses’ death (Num. 27:15-23; Deut. 31:14-15, 23;34:9). Joshua was a military leader, a political leader, and a spiritual leader. He was quiet and unassuming, but hewas not buffaloed by his responsibilities or the task that lay before him. He was a battlefield genius, particularly inthe areas of careful planning, strategy, and execution. He was a capable administrator for the nation, effective in

maintaining harmony among people and groups. He was a spokesman to the people for the Lord. Though he did notreceive the Law as Moses had, he communicated the Lord’s will and the Lord’s message much like Moses.

Joshua was at the helm of the nation during the conquest and the distribution and settlement of Canaan. He ledin the covenant renewal at mount Ebal and Shechem (Josh. 8:30-35; 24:1-28). He was able to challenge his people

by both word and example. His pattern is a hard one to better. See Joshua, The Book of; Moses.

Dan Gentry Kent

Nature of the Covenant in the Book of Joshua The Lord’s covenant with His people was always more

universalistic and inclusive than we usually realize. We see this clearly in the Book of Joshua. Rahab, the Canaaniteprostitute, was accepted, along with her family, as a part of the covenant community (2:9-13; 6:22-23, 25). It maywell be that people related to the Hebrews who lived in the Shechem area voluntarily joined in their fellowship of

faith(8:30-35). The people of Gibeon and its four-city league of cities were accepted, and even became associated with

Temple service (9:3-27). The covenant was not limited by race or nation; it was open to anyone of faith.

Holy War in the Book of Joshua The Hebrews did not divide life up into sacred and secular spheres as we do.

To them all of life was holy, in the sense that it was lived under the direction of the Lord. They saw the Lord at workon behalf of His people in every area of life. Thus the soldiers were holy. They were under strict religious

regulations.Religious ceremonies prepared them for battle (5:2-11).

The Lord received the credit for all victories. All of the spoils of battle belonged to Him (6:18-19). None was tobe taken for personal use. This is related to the idea of cherem or ban. It might seem ruthless or even immoral by

ourmodern Western standards, but it was a part of the world of that day. A certain city, for instance Jericho in chapter

6, was placed under the ban. It was devoted to destruction in the name of the Lord. Everything in it was to either bedestroyed or else placed in the Lord’s service in the tabernacle.

The ban was a common practice in the Semitic world and was also known among the Greeks. Some suggest thatit served to control looting and that it offered an enemy encouragement to surrender without a struggle.

Moral Problems of the Book of Joshua

The Book of Joshua is filled with war, conquest, and destruction. Itsteaching is that the Lord allowed his people to conquer the land of Canaan, to take possession of the area He had

promised to the patriarchs.But why would the Lord allow one nation to attack and defeat another? Several factors need to be taken into

consideration in studying a book that has so little of loving your enemy or turning the other cheek.One must begin by admitting that Joshua lived centuries before Christ appeared to reveal the Father’s will fully

and completely. God is Holy and Pure and will and hates sin. Before forgiveness was offered through the shed blood of His son Jesus Christ, God judged sin harshly because of the harm it brings to His creation.

When Christ came and took the sins of the world on himself, God judged him harshly. We should not expect to find completed Christian truth in a book written so long before Christ came.

The Hebrew people saw paganism as a poison. Pagan religious views were a spiritual infection that was bothhighly contagious and deadly. It could be controlled only by strict quarantine and eradication. Holy war became God’smethod in that setting to achieve this purpose. Holy war was not set up as an eternal example (compare Deut. 20:16).

One element in the explanation for the holy wars of Joshua is judgment on sin. The iniquity of the Amorites(Canaanites) was at last full (Gen. 15:16). The catch to this arrangement is that if the other nations could be judged

for their sins, the Hebrew people could, too, and later were.

See Conquest; Joshua.

The Israelite conquest came at a time when Egyptian control of Canaan was weakened.

Historians have not been able to pinpoint the time when the conquest of Canaan occurred. The difficulty lies in the

fact that the date of the Exodus is uncertain. Scholars have proposed quite a number of dates

for this important event.

The most commonly accepted period for the Exodus is around 1280 B.C. Such a date would place the conquest at

about 1240-1190 B.C. Other scholars prefer to date the Exodus around 1445 B.C., which would suggest that the

conquest occurred about 1400-1350 B.C.

While it is not possible to be definitive about the date of the conquest, it is possible to draw some general

conclusions regarding the situation of Canaan in the approximate time frame of the conquest.

Shortly after 1500 B.C.,

Egypt subdued Canaan. Canaanite society operated according to a feudal system

whereby the kings of city states paid

tribute to their Egyptian overlords. The city states were numerous in the heavily-populated Palestinian coastal plain;

the mountainous regions were lightly populated. From about 1400 B.C. onward, Egyptian control of Canaan

weakened, opening the land up for possible invasion by an outside force.

Joshua led a three-campaign invasion of Canaan. At the close of the wilderness wanderingsthe Israelites arrived on the plains of Moab in the Transjordan (?beyond the Jordan”). There they subdued two localkings, Sihon and Og (Num. 21:21-35). Some of the Israelite tribes—Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh

chose to settle in this newly conquered territory (Num. 32).After Moses died, Joshua became the new leader of the Israelites. As God instructed him, Joshua led the people

across the Jordan River into Canaan. The crossing was made possible by a supernatural separation of the water of the Jordan (Josh. 3-4). After crossing the river the Israelites camped at Gilgal. From there Joshua led the first military campaign against the Canaanites in the sparsely-populated central highlands, northwest of the Dead

Sea. The initial object of the attack was the ancient stronghold of Jericho. The Israelite force marched around the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day they marched around it seven times, then blasted trumpets

and shouted. In response the walls of Jericho collapsed, allowing the invaders to destroy the city (Josh. 6). The Israelites then attempted to conquer the nearby city of Ai, where they met with their first defeat. The reason

for the failure was that Achan, one of the Israelite soldiers, had kept some booty from the invasion of Jericho—anaction which violated God’s orders to destroy everything in the city. After Achan was executed, the Israelites wereable to destroy Ai (Josh. 7-8). Not all of the Canaanites tried to resist Israel’s invasion. One group, the Gibeonites,

avoided destruction by deceiving the Israelites into making a covenant of peace with them (Josh. 9). Alarmed by the defection of the

Gibeonites to Israel, a group of southern Canaanite kings, led by Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem, formed a coalition against

the invading force. The kings threatened to attack the Gibeonites, causing Joshua to come to the defense of his newallies. Because of supernatural intervention, the Israelites were able to defeat the coalition. Joshua then launched a

southern campaign which resulted in the capture of numerous Canaanite cities (Josh. 10).Joshua’s third and last military campaign was in northern Canaan. In that region King Jabin of Hazor formed a

coalition of neighboring kings to battle with the Israelites. Joshua made a surprise attack upon them at the waters ofMerom, utterly defeating his foe (Josh. 11:1-15).

The invasion of Canaan met with phenomenal success; large portions of the land fell to the Israelites (Josh. 11:16-12:24). However, some areas still remained outside their control, such as the heavily-populated land along the coastand several major Canaanite cities like Jerusalem (Josh. 13:1-5; 15:63; Judg. 1). The Israelites struggled for centuries

to control these areas.

Israelite Settlement The Israelite tribes slowly settled Canaan without completely removing the native population.

Even though some sections of the land remained to be conquered, God instructed Joshua to apportion Canaan to thetribes which had not yet received territory (Josh. 13:7). Following the land allotments, Israel began to occupy itsterritory. Judges 1 describes the settlement as a slow process whereby individual tribes struggled to remove theCanaanites. In the final analysis the tribes had limited success in driving out the native population (Judg. 1). As a

result, Israel was plagued for centuries by the infiltration of Canaanite elements into its religion (Judg. 2:1-5).

Conquest Reconstructions Scholars have proposed varying models for understanding the conquest of Canaan.

The previous description of the nature of the conquest and settlement presents a traditional, harmonizing approachto the interpretation of the biblical material. Some scholars have proposed other interpretive models. One is the

immigration model, which assumes that there was no real conquest of Canaan but that peoples of diverse originsgradually immigrated into the area after 1300 B.C. They eventually took control of the city states and became thenation of Israel. The difficulty with this model is that it ignores the general biblical picture of God constituting the

nation of Israel in the desert and leading them to invade the Promised Land.Other scholars have put forth a revolt model for understanding the nature of the conquest. This approach suggeststhat there was no major invasion of Canaan from an outside force but simply the immigration of a small group of

people who inspired a revolt of the Canaanite peasants. The result was the overthrow of the feudal city-state kingsand the emergence of what became the Israelite nation. This interpretation of the conquest diverges from the

biblicalrecord in its claim that the bulk of the population of Israel was made up of former Canaanite peasants. It also reveals

a tendency to read back into Israelite history modern Marxist theory about the struggle between classes. The bestapproach to understanding the conquest of Canaan is one which is rooted in the biblical materials.

Bob R. Ellis

Assignment # 1--Introduction and Joshua 1

Step 1 Read the scripture and materials in your commentaries.

Step 2 Complete the assigned study questions for assignment one.

Step 3. Apply truths learned from this lesson to your life and ministry.

Assignment # 2--Joshua 2

Step 1 Read the scripture and the related commentary materials.

Step 2 Answer the assigned study questions.


Assignment # 3--Joshua 3 & 4

Step 1 Read the scriptures and the related commentary materials.

Step 2 Answer the assigned study questions.


• The book is named after the main character and traditional author

• Joshua’s original name was Hoshea (Num. 13:8; Deut. 32:44) which means “salvation.”

• But during the wilderness wanderings Moses changed his name to Yehoshua, meaning “Yahweh is salvation” or “Save, Yahweh” (Num. 13:16).

• The time had come for the people of Israel to enter into the land of promise. All those who left Egypt some 40 years before had perished in the wilderness, except for Caleb and Joshua.

• A new generation had grown up in the wilderness journey. Moses had fully instructed them in the laws and the sacrifices before he died, and Joshua had assumed the task of leading the people into the land.

• Thus, the book of Joshua deals with the Conquering, possessing, and dividing/allotment of the promised land.

• The book of Joshua is designed to show God’s faithfulness to His promises, doing for Israel exactly as He had promised (cf. Gen. 15:18 with Josh. 1:2-6 and 21:43-45).

• However, while ownership of the land depended on God's faithfulness, occupation of the land depended on Israel‘s faithfulness (cf. Deut. 30:20).

• Though there are no overt Messianic prophecies of Christ, there are a number of types which point to the Savior. Joshua is a type of Christ in two very important ways.

• First, his name, Yeshua, a contracted form of Yehoshua, meaning, “Yahweh is salvation,” is the Greek equivalent of the name Jesus. Joshua is actually called by the name Jesus (Iesous) in Acts 7:45 and Heb 4:8.

• Second, Joshua is seen as a type of Christ in his work of leading Israel triumphantly into the rest of their promised possession, the land of Canaan (cf. Josh 11:23 & Heb. 4:8). This is but a foretaste of the rest we enter by faith in Christ (Mat 11:28).

• Further, Joshua was met by the Commander of the Lord’s army in 5:13-15. This is undoubtedly a Christophany, a preincarnate appearance of Christ who was there to teach Joshua that He had come not to take sides, but to take over as commander.

• Finally, Rahab’s scarlet cord (2:21) portrays salvation through the blood and death of Christ (cf. Heb. 9:19-22). This Gentile prostitute heard of the mighty works of God, believed, hid the spies, was delivered when Jericho was destroyed, and is found in the genealogy of Christ (Matt. 1:5).

• INHERIT • "The word 'inherit' ["possession" in the

NASB] used to describe the future possession of the land has subsequently become a NT term for the enjoyment of the spiritual blessings of salvation (e.g., 1 Pet. 1:4).” Martin H. Woudstra, The Book of Joshua, p. 61

• Joshua is divided into three primary sections: Entering, conquering and allocating the promised land. Following the allocation, Joshua's farewell address and challenge finish the book, along with the description of his death.

• I. ENTERING THE LAND (CH 1-5)• II. CONQUERING THE LAND (CH 6-12)• III. ALLOCATING THE LAND (CH 13-22)• IV. EPILOGUE (CH 23-24)

• “Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.” (1:1-3)

• Moses (who exemplified the law of God) could not lead Israel into the land of promise and rest.

• This is surely an anticipation of the New Testament truth that the law cannot fulfill the promises of God, but they are all available to us through our heavenly Commander, Jesus.

• “Only be thou strong and very courageous,

that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.” (1:7)

• The task before Joshua was going to be difficult. He was leading this people into battle. The people affirmed their willingness to follow Joshua (1:16-18). But this was the same fickle people who grumbled against Moses in the wilderness. How well will they follow when faced with war?

• But God assures Joshua that he has nothing to worry about, for He would be there wherever he goes, and that God would fulfill his promise to give the land to His people.

Assignment # 1--Introduction & Joshua 1

1. What was Joshua's previous name?2. Who changed his name?3. What does the name Joshua mean in the Hebrew language?4. What did God promise Israel in Deuteronomy 6:10 and 11?5. What are two prominent themes in the book?6. Give one scripture each where God promised the land of Canaan to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob

and theirsucceeding generations. [You should have no less than four different scriptures.]7. Define "Holy War" as used in Joshua.8. How many times is Joshua mentioned in the Pentateuch?9. Whose son was Joshua?10. Define "minister" as it applies to Joshua.11. What did God promise Joshua in 1:5? Where is this promise first mentioned in scripture?12. List the boundaries of the land God promised Israel.13. On what did Joshua's success depend?14. Define "mediate" as used in 1:8.15. List the three tribes which were permitted by Moses to settle east of the Jordan River. Where

is this foundin the Bible?16. 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]

Assignment # 2 - Joshua 2

Step 1 Read Joshua 2, study course slides and materials in your commentaries, exc.

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





• After reminding the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh of their promise to assist their brethren in the conquest of the land, Joshua sent out his spies to view the situation.

• The spies entered into the city of Jericho and were hidden in the house of Rahab, the harlot, who informed them that the people had for 40 years been afraid of the Israelites, having heard of their miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea and their conquest of the two Amorite kings, Sihon and Og.

• The giants which Israel feared at Kadesh-Barnea had themselves been afraid of the people of Israel for the whole 40 years' wandering!

• “There came men unto me, but I knew not whence they were: And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I know not: pursue after them quickly for ye shall overtake them.” (2:4-5)

• Many Bible students struggle to understand why God seemingly “winks” at the lie told by Rahab to the king’s men.

• However, Rahab's lie is not justified. The Bible simply reports Rahab's lie; it does not praise it or excuse it.

• “And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land,” (2.8)

• We may be appalled at the fact that Rahab was a prostitute, or that she was a liar. But the fact is that she was not saved by her works, but by her faith (Heb 11:31).

• “Thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by:” (2:18)

• This was the signal to the army of Israel that the people in this home were to be spared. Despite Rahab's desire, despite her faith, despite the promises of these spies, she would have perished unless she put her trust in a blood red cord cast down from her window. Without the scarlet cord, she could not have been saved.

• Most scholars see this scarlet cord as a symbol of the blood of Jesus.

Assignment # 2--Introduction & Joshua 2

1. Who was Rahab?

2. Define "harlot."

3. Which New Testament scripture refers to the incident recorded in this chapter?

4. State one rason why the spies stayed at the house of Rahab.

5. Why did Rahab hide the spies?

6. Where did she hide the spies?

7. What lie did Rahab tell the king's officials?

8. What promise did the spies make to Rahab?

9. How did the spies escape from Jericho?

10. Why was the scarlet line [rope] bound in the window?

11. How long did the spies stay in the mountain after leaving the house of Rahab?

12. What report did the spies give Joshua?

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


Assignment # 3 - Joshua 3 & 4

Step 1 Read Joshua 3 & 4, study course slides and materials in your commentaries, exc.






• “they commanded the people, saying,

When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove

from your place, and go after it.” (3:3)• Joshua divided the waters of the Jordan

with the ark that had become the divinely appointed symbol of God's presence since God gave the Mosaic Covenant (3:8-10).

• “Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure:

come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore” (3:4)

• God required that the children of Israel keep some 1,000 yards behind the ark. This was for two reasons. First, to respect the holy nature of the ark of the covenant. But also, it was to make sure that everyone a clear view of the ark.

• The Israelites crossed the Jordan when the river was at its widest, deepest, and swiftest, in late April or early May. (3:15)

• The waters which came down from upstream stood still: In some miraculous manner, God stopped the flow of the Jordan River.

• This miracle obviously connects with the miracle the nation knew some 40 years earlier: the passing through the Red Sea. God brought them out of Egypt's bondage with a miracle, and He brought them in to the Promised Land with a miracle.

• In Christian experience, the crossing of the Jordan does not correspond to the believer's death and entrance into heaven, which some popular Christian songs suggest.

• Rather it parallels the believer's entrance into the enjoyment of his or her eternal life now through dedication to Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:13; 12:1-2) and through walking by means of the Spirit (Gal. 5:16).

• “It signifies his willingness to 'cross the Jordan’ and engage the enemy. In other words, it is a decision by a regenerate saint to submit to the lordship of Christ and trust God for victory in the spiritual battle.” Joseph C. Dillow, The Reign of the Servant Kings

• The wilderness wanderings resemble the experience of the redeemed believer who has not yet fully committed himself or herself to God and is walking in the flesh.

• When the Israelites crossed the Jordan they encountered enemies and had to contend with their spiritual adversaries just as a believer does when he dedicates himself to God and walks by the Spirit.

• The Christian's rest is not the absence of hostility. It is the beginning of the enjoyment of some blessings God has promised us (i.e., eternal life, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, victory over our spiritual enemies, etc.).

• The priests stood with the ark of the covenant for the entire time it took the nation to cross over. The visible token of the presence of God had to remain in the river through the entire crossing.

• After the nation crosses over, God commands Joshua to set up a memorial of the crossing.

• This memorial consists of 12 stones taken from the middle of the Jordan where the priests had stood with the Ark of the Covenant

• The purposes of the memorial stones were the same as the purpose of the miracle at the Red Sea. They manifested the power of Yahweh to all people (4:23-24; cf. Exod. 14:4, 18), and they caused God's people to fear Him (4:24; cf. Exod. 14:31).

• "Fear the Lord" is the most common expression calling for faith in God in the Old Testament

• “And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.” (4:19)

• The detail that the crossing took place on the tenth day of the first month is significant because it was exactly 40 years earlier to the day that God instructed Israel to prepare to depart from Egypt by setting apart the paschal lambs (Exod. 12:3).

• Gilgal will become their base of operations for the conquest of the entire Promised Land.

• Apparently, all during the forty years of waiting in the wilderness, none of the sons born during that time had been circumcised. Now God commanded that this be done. (5:2-5)

• God guaranteed Joshua's success only as he kept the Mosaic Law (1:7). It was necessary therefore that all the males who had been born in the wilderness and had not undergone circumcision should do so. Circumcision included the individual male in the blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 17). It was a prerequisite for partaking in the Passover that God required of all Israelites yearly (Exod. 12).

• Significantly, due to the act of circumcision, all the men of fighting age were made completely vulnerable and unable to fight for a period of several days, till they were healed. (5:8… also ref Gen 34:24-25)

• So, not only did Israel cross over the Jordan at a militarily undesirable place (right in front of Jericho [3:16], the strongest military outpost of the Canaanites), they also incapacitated their army for several days. Obviously, this was suicidal from a military standpoint.

• They were put in the place where they could trust in nothing but God alone, rather than in their own wisdom.


1. Where was Shittim?

2. What distance were the people to keep between them and the ark?

3. How many nations was God going to drive out of the land?

4. What miracle took place when the feet of the preist rested in the water?

5. How many miles north of Jericho was the city Adam?

6. What was erected in the Jordan River after the crossing of Israel and why?

7. How many memorials were erected? Where and why?

8. What did God do for Joshua as recorded in 4:14?

9. At what area did the children of Israel cross the Jordan River?



Next, the children of Israel celebrate their first Passover in the Promise Land.

Following Passover, they eat of the produce of the land for the first time.

The next day, the supply of manna ceases.

• “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand.” (5:13)

• As Joshua was reconnoitering near Jericho and planning his strategy, he met the Man who identified Himself as the Captain (Prince) of the Lord's host (angelic army; cf. 1 Kings 22:19; 2 Kings 6:8-17; Ps. 148:2; Matt. 26:53; Heb. 1:14).

• The command to remove his sandals (v. 15) probably convinced Joshua that this was the same God who appeared to Moses at the burning bush (Exod. 3:5).

• We know that this Being, standing before Joshua, was God. Though the title Commander of the army of the LORD could perhaps apply to an angel (such as Michael, based on a passage like Revelation 12:7), Joshua's falling down and worshipping is inconsistent with angels, who never receive worship (Revelation 22:8).

• “And Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?” (5:13)

• The Lord had told Joshua that He would be with him, and that He would drive out the people. But as He is about to enter His first battle, this encounter teaches Him that the battle truly belongs to the Lord. The Lord was not on His side, but rather, He needed to be on the Lord's side.

• Abraham Lincoln, in the midst of the American Civil War, said, "Let us pray not that God is on our side but that we are on God's side.” Israel would soon discover the truth of this, for whenever Israel battled on God's side, they found success. But whenever they did not follow God's lead, they failed.

• “Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.” (6:1)

• Jericho itself was on full alert; from a human perspective, this would be a hard, if not impossible, battle. Yet from God's perspective, the battle was already over.

• “And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram‘s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.” (6:3-5)

• In chapter 6, God instructs Joshua on how to take the city.

• Unlike Moses, who at the burning bush argued at length with the Lord about His plan (Exod. 3:11—4:17), Joshua obeyed without question

• On the seventh day, exactly as predicted, the mighty walls tumbled down at the shout of faith.

• Rahab and her family were spared according to the prearranged provision, but the city was sacked and the rest of the inhabitants were put to the sword with not a single casualty!

• A curse, involving the death of the firstborn and youngest son of any who would rebuild the city, was pronounced by Joshua. The fulfillment of this curse some two hundred years later is recorded in I Kings 16:34.

• Symbolically, the Canaanites represented sin.• Israel was at war with the Canaanites, but

behind these human soldiers God was waging war against sin. Earlier in Israel's history God was compared to a warrior (Ex. 14:14; 15:3; Deut. 1:30, 3:22; 20:4). But now Israel experienced His leadership in war as never before. God is constantly at war with sin because it is an affront to His holiness and because it destroys people whom He loves and desires to bless (cf. Rom. 6:23).


1. Why didn't the Canaanite kings fight Israel when they crossed the Jordan River?

2. From what were the knives made which were used to circumcise the males?

3. Why did a second circumcise have to take place?

4. What was rolled away at Gilgal?

5. What feast was kept four days after crossing the Jordan River?

6. When did the Israelites stop receiving manna?

7. Who did Joshua meet in 5:13-15?

8. What does the ark symbolize in the march around Jericho?

9. What does the phrase "the city shall be accursed" [herem] mean in 6:17-19, 21?

10. What happened when the priest blew the trumpet and the people shouted on the seventh

day? Describe

the walls of the city [height, width, etc.].

11. Who was brought out of the house of Rahab?

12. Give one scripture which records the fulfillment of Joshua's curse given in 6:26.



• “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: (7:1 …also ref Deut 18:9-14)

• Chapter 6 is a record of supernatural victory, but chapter 7 describes a great carnal defeat.

• In chapter 7, Israel sets out to take their next city, Ai. The Lord's help “would not be needed” (they did not take the Ark of the Covenant) with this battle, for Ai was a small city, and there would be no need to take the entire Israelite army. Only an army of about 3,000 would be needed to take this city. But Israel is soundly defeated.

• Interestingly, Joshua is utterly dismayed, for 36 Israelites had died in this engagement. This was little over a 1% casualty rate, which is amazingly low. But Joshua is devastated. But, as some scholars point out, no where else in the book of Joshua do we see any other battle casualties at all! (this silence about casualties could imply no significant losses rather that absolutely none killed)

• The fact that the people's hearts melted (7:5; cf. 2:11) expresses that Israel was trusting in her own strength rather than in the Lord.

• After seeking God’s guidance, Joshua went through the entire nation until he discovered the villian, Achan, apparently by the casting of lots.

• Israel resorted to the casting of lots when no eyewitness could testify against a criminal (cf. 1 Sam. 14:41-42; Jonah 1:7; Prov. 18:18) or the high priest could have used the Urim and Thummim (cf. Num. 27:21).

• Achan had not just taken some things that did not belong to him. This would have been bad in itself. He stole what was God's, and he robbed the whole nation of its purity before God.

• The Lord's blazing anger against Israel fell on Achan and literally consumed him (7:25; cf. Heb. 12:29).

• The burning of a criminal after his stoning was one way of emphasizing the wickedness of his crime (7:25…also ref Lev. 20:14; Deut. 13:15-16). It was an “accursed thing" (7:15) to steal something under the ban from God.

• Even though Achan was the individual who sinned, and even though his sin was private, God regarded what he did as the action of the whole nation. This was so because he was a member of the community of Israel.

• Israel's defeat at Ai graphically illustrates the far-reaching influence of sin. The private sin of one or a few individuals can affect the welfare of many other people who do not personally commit that sin.

• Paul speaks in similar terms concerning sin in the church; regarding sin among the Corinthian church, he says Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? (1 Corinthians 5:6) A small amount of sin accepted and tolerated among believers can infect the whole group.

• When the people had dealt with the sin of Achan as God had commanded, Israel was ready to engage the enemy again.

• In chapter 8, the Lord promises that He would deliver Ai into their hand. This time Joshua chooses ten times the number of men. Further, God directs the strategy and tells him to set up an ambush. (8:4-5)

• Thus, Ai is totally defeated and burnt to the ground (8:28) .


1. How did the children of Israel commit a trespass in the accursed thing?

2. Where was Ai located?

3. How many soldiers from Israel went to capture Ai? How many men from Ai smote the

Israelites?

4. What had Achan taken from the spoils?

5. Who was punished with Achan?

6. What is the meaning of Achor?

7. What was different between the destruction of Ai and Jericho?

8. What is the meaning of Ai?

9. What did the Lord tell Joshua to stretch toward Ai?

10. What did Joshua do after building an altar and offering sacrifices to God?



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