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The books of Joshua and Judges span the period of time between the end of the Pentateuch (Deuteronomy) and the time of the Kings (I Samuel). The first five books of the Bible are known as the “Law”. Joshua forms part of the Jewish Bible known as “Prophets”. In spite of the name, the word prophecy has little to do with foretelling the future. It is more like “forth-telling”, revealing God’s purposes behind the stories told.
It is history but not in the sense that we expect history to be recorded today. This is the history of God’s people and YHWH’s relationship with them. Whether or not this history is accurate is subject to many debates. Did the walls of Jericho come tumbling down before the children of Israel? Archeological digs have shown that the walls did in fact fall outwards around the city. The city of Ai apparently died long before Joshua could have got to it.
What’s important to remember about the Bible is that it is essentially a theological work, not a history book. Great sections of Israelite history receive scant attention in God’s word because, in the opinions of the compilers of these holy books, God did no great work among His people in those eras. Some of the history is exaggerated and expanded on to stress and underline what God has done. That is, after all, the point of the Bible.
The details of Joshua’s conquests may not be accurate. It is a historical fact; however, that a remnant of Israel did flee Egypt and eventually held dominion over what was formerly called Canaan. Later in time, they would be carried off to Babylon and Jerusalem would be leveled. It is a historical fact that they returned and rebuilt their nation. The details may have been stretched to show God’s provision and leading, but the evidence for divine providence is strong. These people did survive and sometimes thrive in the Promised Land.
So if the battle successes seem a bit far-fetched, they may be. The fact is that the battles were won and Canaan was conquered. The extravagant details are meant to expound upon YHWH’s aid and assistance in seeing the Israelites on to victory. There is no other way that this group of desert nomads could have done it otherwise.
Towards the end of the book of Deuteronomy, God tells Moses that he won’t get into the Promised Land. Moses appoints Joshua as his successor and instructs him in the law. “Crossing the Jordan” has long been a euphemism for a spiritual journey. The spiritual implications for Israel are enormous. They must cross the Jordan in order to occupy the land that God has prepared for them.
Entering the book of Joshua, Moses is dead and God speaks directly with Joshua. God instructs Joshua to have the priests, one from each tribe, carry the Covenant Box into the Jordan River before the people cross it. This is a symbol of God’s leading and protection. The river dries up before them and allows easy access. They are at a spiritual high point. God is their leader and has a priority in the national life. An altar is built to commemorate the occasion of the crossing. Once the river is crossed, all of the men must be circumcised. This act and sign of belonging represents unity and devotion to God.
The first campaign takes place at Jericho. Spies had been sent to scout out the city. Archeological digs have shown that Jericho probably existed for thousands of years before Joshua showed up. It was no small outpost, but a major center in Canaan. The spies are housed and protected by a prostitute/innkeeper named Rahab. The spies promise to return the favor by sparing Rahab and her family when the attack comes.
As Joshua leads the people towards Jericho, an angel of the Lord meets him. The scene is similar to Moses at the burning bush as the angel says, “Take your sandals off; you are standing on holy ground”. (Joshua 5: 15) The angel reveals God’s attack strategy to Joshua: March around the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times and after the seventh time, shout and blow the trumpet, the walls will collapse.
Every living thing there is killed with the exception of Rahab and her family. Rahab marries an Israelite and becomes an ancestor to Jesus, according to the genealogy of Matthew. (Mathew 1: 6) All of the gold and goods of the city are devoted to God as a “first fruits”. Achan, one of the Israelites, hides some of the loot for himself and this brings on problems in the next campaign.
The siege of Ai does not go so smoothly as did Jericho. Spies report that Ai will be a cinch and that only two or three thousand men need to be sent into battle. When the army attacks, they are turned back in a humiliating defeat. What went wrong? Joshua and his generals tear their garments in grief. The problem is that someone in the camp has sinned. The Lord has Joshua bring every tribe together and tribe by tribe, family by family, God whittles them down to Achan and he confesses. Achan and his family and all of his livestock are stoned and burned. Then God wasn’t angry any more and Ai was captured.
The capture of Ai was an example of great military cunning. A few thousand men attacked from one side of the city while the rest of Joshua’s army hid in the woods. The army of Ai stormed out of the city to attack the now fleeing Israelites, as they had done last time. While the Ai army was out chasing the decoys, Joshua and his men invaded defenseless city and burned it to the ground; no one survived.
The next victory took place as a result of deception. The people from the town of Gibeon went to visit Joshua and lied to him by telling him that they were from a distant land. In that way they were able to sign a peace treaty with Israel before Israel found them and destroyed them. Five Amorite Kings heard about the pact and planned to attack Gibeon. Joshua was called to protect the city from the Amorites and he defeated them. That was the famous day that the sun stood still for one whole day. Joshua and the combined Israelite armies continue to defeat cities and one by one they topple.
After the mission is accomplished, “So the people rested from war”. (Joshua 11: 23) All of the cities in the Promised Land are subdued and the land is divided between the twelve tribes. The tribes of Reuben and Gad and a half of Manasseh had been given land east of the Jordan before crossing it. Now the other nine tribes plus the other half of Manasseh split up the conquered land.
And so the campaigns of Joshua are over but God makes it clear to him that there are still more lands to be conquered. In his final address to the people before he dies, he reminds them that there are still nations to be driven out and that they must stay loyal to God and not intermarry with the Heathens. The book of Joshua comes to an end and the tribes each go to their own parcel of land. Joshua is the last great national leader until a king is chosen in I Samuel.
Sources:
Good News Bible, American Bible Society, 1992
William Neil’s One Volume Bible Commentary, Hodder & Stoughton, 1962
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