The Book of JoshuaThe Book of Joshua

The Lord will fight for The Lord will fight for you!you!

23:10: “One man of you puts to flight a 23:10: “One man of you puts to flight a thousand since it is the LORD your God thousand since it is the LORD your God who fights for you just as he promised who fights for you just as he promised

you” you”

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION1.1. The HISTORICAL SETTINGThe HISTORICAL SETTING

a.a. Historical Scope: Historical Scope: about 20 yearsabout 20 years

b.b. As the book of Joshua begins:As the book of Joshua begins:1.1. Where is the nation of Israel? Where is the nation of Israel? On the east side On the east side

of the Jordan riverof the Jordan river

2.2. What is the basic spiritual condition of the What is the basic spiritual condition of the nation? nation? Bold and courageous: they are a Bold and courageous: they are a newnew generation!generation!

c.c. The twofold responsibility God sets before The twofold responsibility God sets before JoshuaJoshua

1.1. To To destroydestroy the population of the land the population of the land

2.2. To To dividedivide and inhabit the land and inhabit the land

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

2. Outline of Joshua2. Outline of Joshua

I. Entering the Land of Canaan (1-5)I. Entering the Land of Canaan (1-5)

II. Conquering the Land of Canaan (6-12)II. Conquering the Land of Canaan (6-12)

  III. Dividing the Land of Canaan (13-22)III. Dividing the Land of Canaan (13-22)

IV. Joshua's Final Charge to Israel (23-24)IV. Joshua's Final Charge to Israel (23-24)

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

3. Purpose of Joshua3. Purpose of Joshua

To display God’s To display God’s powerpower by giving by giving Israel the promised land, thereby Israel the promised land, thereby dividingdividing it equally among the tribes, it equally among the tribes, and to reaffirm his and to reaffirm his covenantcovenant with with the new generation. the new generation.

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

4. The “Former Prophets” (or “Historical 4. The “Former Prophets” (or “Historical Books”)Books”)Hebrew Bible (Former

Prophets)English Bible (Historical Books)

JoshuaJudgesSamuel (both 1 and 2)Kings (both 1 and 2)

 Joshua JudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiah

A. Joshua is commissioned by A. Joshua is commissioned by YHWH (Josh 1)YHWH (Josh 1)

several themes laid out in 1several themes laid out in 1stst chapter chapter

1.1. Divine sovereignty (1:2-5; 24:1-13)Divine sovereignty (1:2-5; 24:1-13)

2.2. Human responsibility (1:6-9; 24:14-15)Human responsibility (1:6-9; 24:14-15)

3.3. Tribal Unity (1:10ff; cf. ch. 22)Tribal Unity (1:10ff; cf. ch. 22)

4.4. Leadership Leadership 1.1. Leaders in Judges?Leaders in Judges?

2.2. Prophecy of a leader in RuthProphecy of a leader in Ruth

3.3. Leaders in Samuel? Leaders in Samuel?

OverviewOverview

B. Jericho is spied out (2)B. Jericho is spied out (2)

a. Theological Significance of Rahab?a. Theological Significance of Rahab?

First significant First significant non-Israelite non-Israelite to express faith in to express faith in Israel’s GodIsrael’s God

Cf. Gen 12:3 “through you Cf. Gen 12:3 “through you all the all the nationsnations will be will be blessed”blessed”

God’s intention is to reach the nations God’s intention is to reach the nations through through IsraelIsrael (not reach Israel (not reach Israel instead ofinstead of the nations). the nations).

b. inclusion of “outsiders/nations” in Joshuab. inclusion of “outsiders/nations” in Joshua

OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

C. The nation of Israel crosses the C. The nation of Israel crosses the Jordan River (3-4)Jordan River (3-4)

Clearly, the ark and priests are the Clearly, the ark and priests are the focus. focus.

What’s the point? What’s the point? Power of God Power of God emphasized: 3:9-13; 4:5-7; emphasized: 3:9-13; 4:5-7;

4:21-24; 5:13-14:21-24; 5:13-1 The power of having The power of having a “God-with-ness”a “God-with-ness”

Evokes the ExodusEvokes the Exodus

The "Captain of the Host" appears The "Captain of the Host" appears to Joshua (5:13-15)to Joshua (5:13-15)

What is the What is the theological point theological point being established?being established?

God will fight God will fight forfor the the Israelites if they obey, Israelites if they obey, and and againstagainst the the Israelites if they don’t Israelites if they don’t obey (i.e. treat Him as obey (i.e. treat Him as holy)holy)

The Three Campaigns of The Three Campaigns of JoshuaJoshua

1.1. Central campaign Central campaign (Josh 6-8)(Josh 6-8)

1. Jericho2.2. AiAi

2.2. Southern campaign Southern campaign (Josh 9-10).(Josh 9-10). triggered triggered by the treaty with by the treaty with Gibeon. Gibeon.

3. Northern campaign (Josh 11). Jabin of Hazor assembleS a large army for war.

The conquest of Jericho (Josh 6)The conquest of Jericho (Josh 6)

1.1. Small citySmall city

2.2. God’s the one fightingGod’s the one fighting

3.3. The walls fell “flat” (lit. The walls fell “flat” (lit. “in its place”)“in its place”)

4. Test of obedience (Josh 6:18-19)

The conquest of Ai (7:1-The conquest of Ai (7:1-8:29)8:29)

  Achan contrasted with RahabAchan contrasted with Rahab Why the severe punishment of AchanWhy the severe punishment of Achan

KheremKherem regulation ( regulation (kherem kherem = “under the ban” = “under the ban” or “devoted to destruction”)or “devoted to destruction”)

Ma’al Ma’al (“break faith”)(“break faith”) Corporate solidarity (Achan)Corporate solidarity (Achan) The Battle (ch. 8)The Battle (ch. 8)

““God works through God works through miraclemiracle; God works ; God works through human through human planning planning and strategizing” and strategizing” (Hamilton, 44) (Hamilton, 44)

SOUTHERN campaign (9-SOUTHERN campaign (9-10)10)

Deut 20:10-12, 15-16, “When you approach a city to fight against it, you shall offer it terms of peace. And it shall come about, if it agrees to make peace with you and opens to you, then it shall be that all the people who are found in it shall become your forced labor and shall serve you…Thus you shall do to all the cities that are very far form you, which are not of the cities of these nations nearby. Only in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you shall not leave alive anything that breathes”

The NORTHERN The NORTHERN Campaign (11:1-15)Campaign (11:1-15)

a)a) Not much “ink” for the northern Not much “ink” for the northern conquestconquest

b)b) Did Joshua and the Israelites Did Joshua and the Israelites Conquer the Land or Not?Conquer the Land or Not? Comprehensive defeat? (i.e. “No one left Comprehensive defeat? (i.e. “No one left

standing”) (11:23; Josh 21:43-45; 23:14)standing”) (11:23; Josh 21:43-45; 23:14) No comprehensive? (Cf. 13:1-2; 16:10; 17:12-No comprehensive? (Cf. 13:1-2; 16:10; 17:12-

13; 18:2-4 [Judges 1-2])13; 18:2-4 [Judges 1-2]) Historical hyperbole. Historical hyperbole.

III. Dividing the land of Canaan (13-III. Dividing the land of Canaan (13-22)22)

Significance of the land division?Significance of the land division? The fulfillment of God’s Land Promise (Gen 12:1-3)The fulfillment of God’s Land Promise (Gen 12:1-3) Complete fulfillment?Complete fulfillment?

   Different views on Land fulfillmentDifferent views on Land fulfillmentn Literal Literal Fulfillment in Joshua. Fulfillment in Joshua. n Spiritual Spiritual Fulfillment in Jesus Fulfillment in Jesus n Literal fulfillment in Literal fulfillment in 19481948. . n Partial Partial Fulfillment in Joshua, complete fulfillment Fulfillment in Joshua, complete fulfillment

in all in all creation creation at the end of time. at the end of time.

Joshua's Final Charge to Joshua's Final Charge to Israel (23-24)Israel (23-24)

a)a) 24:1-28: God’s 24:1-28: God’s sovereignty sovereignty and and human human responsibilityresponsibility

a)a) 24:1-13 = past indicative of what God has 24:1-13 = past indicative of what God has done for themdone for them

a)a) cf. 23:10: cf. 23:10:

b)b) 24:14-15 = imperative flowing from God’s 24:14-15 = imperative flowing from God’s great actgreat act

a)a) Cf. 23:11-12Cf. 23:11-12

Excursus: The Ethics of “Holy War”Excursus: The Ethics of “Holy War”

1.1. Common graceCommon grace extended to the Canaanites extended to the Canaanites (Gen 15), and some (Gen 15), and some responded to this graceresponded to this grace (i.e. Rahab; cf. Gibeonites)(i.e. Rahab; cf. Gibeonites)

2.2. Divine Divine punishmentpunishment, not “ethnic cleansing”, not “ethnic cleansing”

1.1. ““There is a huge moral difference between There is a huge moral difference between arbitrary violence and violence inflicted arbitrary violence and violence inflicted within the moral framework of punishment” within the moral framework of punishment” (Wright, (Wright, OT EthicsOT Ethics, 476), 476)

2.2. Capital punishment vs. random murderCapital punishment vs. random murder

3.3. Fulfillment of a Fulfillment of a covenant promisecovenant promise, not , not arbitrary killingarbitrary killing

4.4. God’s people as a God’s people as a theocratictheocratic nation nation5.5. OT as an unfolding OT as an unfolding dramadrama

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (D. Rumsfeld, 3 April 2003 in reference to America's invasion of Iraq)