Outline
Introduction: The promises made to Abraham
Discussion:
- Joshua’s Commission
- The Entry into Canaan
- The Conquest of Canaan
- The Division of Canaan
- Joshua’s Last Days
Conclusion: The religious lessons of the book
Introduction
Joshua should be thought of as Jehovah’s captain. He is the man who in the Providence of God had the privilege of fulfilling one of the three great promises which God had made to Abraham when he called him out of Ur of the Chaldeans.
More than 400 years earlier, God had promised that there would come a great nation through Abraham, and that in him all the families of the earth would be blessed. Abraham left his own country, as God had directed, and journeyed into Canaan. There, the Lord appeared unto him saying, “To your seed will I give this land” (Genesis 12:7). The nation that God had promised formed in the womb of captivity, and was, when the time was full, delivered by Moses. For 40 years the nation wandered in the wilderness. It was to be Joshua’s task to lead the new nation across Jordan into the land God had promised Abraham.
Discussion
Joshua’s Commission
Joshua does not appear on the scene at the crossing of the Jordan ready-made, fully prepared. He had already come on the scene 40 years before that. His first appearance was at Rephidim, when the Amalekites came to fight against Israel. Under the command of Joshua the Israelites won a complete victory. Already Joshua was a military leader.
He is briefly named as the minister of Moses in Exodus 24:13. When Moses went up the mountain to receive the tables of stone, it would seem that Joshua had accompanied him part of the way. Upon Moses’ return Joshua called his attention to a great noise in the camp. Again, he is found in closest attendance to help his leader in Exodus 33:11.
Joshua’s faith and courage had been amply revealed in the minority report submitted by Caleb and himself in favor of an invasion of Canaan from the south. In the minority report, they called upon the congregation of Israel to act on faith, to believe that God would lead them into the land and give it to them. When the people rejected Joshua’s report, God said quite bluntly that not one of the Israelites would enter into the land except Caleb and Joshua. Only the children of those who had been in Egypt could enter.
Toward the close of their sojourn, by divine direction, Moses publicly ordained Joshua to be his successor. And just before his death Moses presented Joshua at the tabernacle, so that he might receive his commission from Jehovah.
Joshua, then, was a man highly qualified by nature, by training, and by experience to lead the Hebrews into Canaan. But his supreme qualification lay in the fact that all his gifts, training, and experience were fused into a dynamic force by the touch of God. It was at the call of God that all his potentialities were called forth. That call brought to the leadership of Israel a man assured of his divine commission. It summoned to the task a soldier who had put on the whole armor of God.
The Entry into Canaan
The first act of judgment was to send out spies from Shittim to ascertain the character of the country west of the Jordan. They were especially interested in the strength and position of Jericho, a fortified city which stood in the way of an invasion from the east.
Upon entering Jericho the spies took refuge in the house of Rahab, a harlot. But the arrival of two suspicious-looking strangers could not remain a secret. As soon as the gates were shut, and escape seemed impossible; the king sent messengers to take the spies captive. But Rehab had anticipated him. She had hidden them with the stalks of flax which she had laid in order up on the roof.
When the king’s messengers questioned her, she admitted that two men had indeed come to the house, and she added the false statement that they had left just before closing of the gates. Having no reason to doubt the story, the messengers pursued quickly in the supposed wake of the Jewish emissaries.
Rahab sent the spies away to the mountains to hide, but not until she had confessed her faith in God and asked that her family be safe. Such a request could not be refused, and the spies acceded to it on condition that she would prove true to the end. They instructed her that on the day of the trial she should gather into her house all her kindred. That house should be distinguished from all others by a scarlet cord tied from the window, the same cord which she let down the spies over the city wall upon which her house was built.
The falsehood by which Rehab sent the king’s messengers on the wrong scent is recorded simply without comment. The New Testament recommends Rehab, not for her falsehoods, but for her faith and work (Hebrews 11:31; James 2: 26). Her emphatic confession of Jehovah God; her faith in the truth and His promises; her separation from her countrymen; her conduct towards the spies at the risk of life — all reveal a faith “which is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. Here was not a “dead faith”, “without works”, but one which was “wrought with her works, and by works was made perfect”.
As soon as the spies returned, the camp at Shittim was broken up, and Israel moved to the brink of the Jordan River. There they waited three days before moving forward. It was early Spring, and the Jordan River was at its highest due to the melting snow of Herman.
First there went the ark of the covenant from the tabernacle, born by the priests, and at a reverent distance of about half a mile, followed the host. When the feet of those who carried the ark touched the waters, their flow was stopped. Far up beyond where they stood, at the city of Adam, the Divine Hand prohibited the waters of the Jordan, while the waters below that point were speedily drained into the Dead Sea. In the middle of the river bed the priest stopped until all of Israel had passed over. When the people had crossed, Joshua took 12, previously chosen men, and commanded them to go back to where the priests were standing, and to remove 12 stones from the river bed. These were afterwards set up as a memorial at Gilgal. Joshua then set up 12 other stones in the midst of the river where the feet of the priest had stood.
The object and meaning of the miracle are clearly indicated in the Bible texts. A miracle was necessary, for, at that season of the year it would have been impossible for a large host with women and children to cross the Jordan River. Also, it seems fitting that a miracle similar to that of the Exodus from Egypt should mark the entrance into the Land of Promise. It was fitting also, that the beginning of Joshua’s ministry should be divinely attested like that of Moses. Finally, it would be to Israel a pledge of future victory, while to their enemies it was a sure token of judgment.
The Conquest of Canaan
The story of Israel’s conquest of Canaan is largely secular, but the careful reader has no difficulty in seeing throughout the guiding hand of God. After crossing Jordan, Israel camped at Gilgal. There they ate for the first time from the produce of the land, and the manna ceased. There, too, the Israelites who had been born in the wilderness were circumcised, and the Passover was observed. These were bold deeds to perform on the very edge of the enemy’s territory, but they were religious acts.
The capture of Jericho and Ai mark the first stage in a long conflict. Jericho was a comparatively small city by modern standards, but it was strongly fortified. The inhabitants were fearful of Israel and shut themselves up against attack. But, the walls of the city could not protect them from the Lord’s judgment.
Joshua had received explicit instructions for the capture of the city, and these were carried out exactly as God had specified. Seven priests, bearing seven trumpets, and followed by the ark of the covenant, marched in a solemn procession around the city once each day for six days. They were preceded and followed by the silent army. Each night they returned to the camp at Gilgal. On the seventh day the city was encompassed seven times. Then, amid the blast of the trumpet and the great shout of the people, the wall fell flat.
The conquest of Jericho was more religious than military. The point is that the Lord gave Israel the city. They were not, however, to take the spoils of it since the possessions were “devoted” to Jehovah. To “devote” a city to the Lord meant to kill every man, woman, and child and all of the animals. Also they were to take the gold and silver, and vessels of brass and of iron and put them in the treasury of the Lord.
Do not look upon Joshua as a cruel man. He was a man under orders. The land of Canaan was in the very center of the Mediterranean world. God wanted this place to be a place of testimony to a holy God by a people who were holy. In the gross depravity of the Canaanites God saw a cancer at the heart of the world. He wanted it cut out no matter what the cost. It was preventive surgery. If allowed to continue, it would ultimately destroy the people who took over the land.
Three thousand of Israel’s fighting men were next dispatched to take Ai, a small city lying to the northwest. It should have been an overwhelming victory, but Israel was put to flight and smitten. The Bible text says that “the hearts of the people melted” – an expression used to describe their enemies in 2:11. It was not merely the defeat and the loss of fighting men, but a terrible misgiving that Jehovah’s help had been withdrawn from them. For a whole day Joshua and the elders of Israel lay in humiliation and prayer before the Ark of the Lord. Finally, the Lord told Joshua to get up – Israel had sinned and failed to obey the commandant to “devote” the whole spoil of Jericho. One man, named Achan, had stolen some of the treasure which rightfully belonged to Jehovah. The sin of one member of the community was held to be that of the whole people.
Achan’s sin was of no ordinary character. It was not only disobedience of God’s command, but daring sacrilege and profanation. Thirty-six men died, Israel was put to shame, and yet Achan was unmoved. Even though the camp of Israel was a curse, and troubled, Achan still persisted in his sin. The news, that the sin of one of their number had involved Israel in judgment, must have spread quickly through the camp. The people were commanded to sanctify themselves, so that the next day the Lord might designate the transgressor. But even this knowledge did not move Achan to repentance and confession.
The next day Joshua brought the tribes of Israel before the Lord, and the tribe of Judah was indicated. Next, the various clans or families of Judah presented themselves, and that of Zarbi was designated. The solemn trial went on, with increasing solemnity, as the circle narrowed to the household of Zabdi and finally to the man, Achan. All this time Achan had remained silent.
Achan’s execution took place in the arable Valley of Achor, up from the Jordan Valley. Most commentators read 7:24-25, as implying that the sons and daughters of Achan were stoned with him, but it is difficult to be certain. The Bible text says, “All Israel stoned him”, and “they raised over him a great heap of stones”. The plural “them” used in verse 25 may refer only to his possessions, and 22:20 is not conclusive on the question since it can refer to the men who died because of his sin. Perhaps no greater cruelty was practiced on the family of Achan than that of compelling them to be present at the execution.
With the sin of Israel removed, God once more assured Joshua of His presence and promised him success in the undertaking against Ai. The city was taken by a stratagem and destroyed by fire. Its king was hanged on a tree and then buried under a great heap of stones at the gate of the city. Ai, meaning “stoneheap” became like its name, and the standard of the conquerors was planted within two and a half miles of Bethel, the sacred sanctuary of the patriarchs.
In the victories over Jericho and Ai an important pass had now been secured, and the interior of the country became accessible. Like a great wedge, the Israelites had divided their enemies, north from south. The second stage of the conquest of Canaan was the campaign in the south. Great things can be spoken of Joshua, but this is not to overlook the fact that he made mistakes. One serious blunder was in allowing himself to be deceived through the guile of the Gibeonites. Yet the compact made with him led to one of the most important battles in the history of Israel.
Having heard of the traitorous conduct of the Gibeonites, five strong kings of the Canaanites, headed by Adonizedek, king of Jerusalem, leagued themselves together to go up and smite Gibeon. In terror the Gibeonites appealed to Joshua for help.
By a forced march Joshua and his army went up from Gilgal. They came up on the confederacy suddenly and chased them, slaying them with very great slaughter all the way from Gibeon, via Upper Beth-horon, to Makkedah. At Lower Beth-horon a great hailstorm fatally overtook those remaining. The victory was complete, with the capture and the slaughter of the five confederate kings, who had taken refuge in a cavern at Makkedah.
After taking several more strongholds by storm Joshua turned northward for the third phase of the conquest. Under Jabin, king of Hazor, a powerful coalition was formed of the northern rulers. A final struggle was made to hold the country against the Israelites to the west at the waters of Merom, in the northern Galilee.
Joshua made one of his characteristic forced marches up to Jordan Valley from Gilgal, attacked them suddenly, and utterly defeated and scattered them. He cut the sinews of their horses’ legs to make them useless, and he burned the many war chariots.
The battles of Beth-horon in the south end of Merom in the north were decisive, and the power of the Canaanites to resist the invaders was shattered. All organized resistance was broken, ‘’and the land rested from war” (11: 23). Israel was now in possession of Canaan, but all of the inhabitants were not exterminated, nor yet all the cities taken. Altogether the war in the south and in the north must have occupied at least seven years, the mopping-up operations and the consolidation of the country took much longer.
In one of the war colleges of the world the campaigns of Joshua are studied along with the campaigns of other great military leaders. They are recognized as sound military strategies. Joshua won the center of the land first, cutting the country into. Then he took each separated area. Everything about it was a beautiful military strategy. Joshua was a man great in his own right, and a man who was great because of his faith in the Lord.
The Division of Canaan
Joshua’s next task was to divide the land among the 12 tribes. The division and settlement of the land is described in chapters 13 to 22. The Levites had no land inheritance, but being the spiritual leaders of the people, they received 48 cities dispersed throughout the whole nation. Six “cities of refuge” were set up for those who were guilty of killing a fellow man unintentionally. A fugitive had to justify his claim to protection by convicting the elders of the city of refuge of his innocence of intentional murder. He then had to stand trial before the congregation. At the death of the high priest he was free to return to his own city without fear of the avenger of blood.
With the conclusion of the allotment of territory in cities, chapter 21 ends with a verse extolling the faithfulness of God: “Nothing at all of any good thing had failed which the Lord has spoken to the house of Israel; all came to pass” (verse 45).
Joshua’s Last Days
The Book of Joshua begins with his call to leadership and ends with his farewell address and the account of his death. In his first address Joshua reminded the leaders of the people of their own experience of God’s faithfulness. In view of this faithfulness Joshua called for faithfulness on the part of the people. He warned them that apostasy would take away all of God’s blessings.
Joshua’s second farewell address was given to Israel in Shechem. Again, he charged them to remain loyal to Jehovah. He reminded them of their idolatrous ancestors and challenged them to “choose you this day whom you will serve” (24:15). The people responded, promising that they would never forsake the Lord. Thereupon, Joshua made a covenant with them and wrote down a memorandum of their promise in a book.
At the advanced age of 110 Joshua, Jehovah’s Captain, died, and was buried in the border of his own inheritance in Timnath-serah. A great tribute to his life was paid when the sacred writer wrote, “And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua” (24:31).
Conclusion
In conclusion we want to summarize the religious teachings of the book. What does the book of Joshua tell us about God? What truth about God does it reveal? The book of Joshua sheds light on at least three aspects of God’s relationship to men: God’s faithfulness, God’s holiness, and God’s salvation.
Long years before, the promise had been given to Abraham that his seed would possess Canaan. Abraham never lived to see that fulfilled; he was only a sojourner in the land. Now, with Joshua, the promise is fulfilled. Our God is a promise-keeping God. He is faithful.
In the time of Joshua the iniquity of the Canaanites was at last full. Israel became the instrument of punishment. God’s holiness is seen in His judgment and in His insistence that His instrument of judgment must be holy. The conquest of Canaan was a holy war, and Israel could be successful only if she put away evil from her.
Again, we see in the Book of Joshua the salvation of God. The name Joshua means “Jehovah is salvation”, and is the Hebrew form of the name “Jesus”. Joshua was the captain of Israel’s salvation, as Jesus is the captain of our salvation. As the Jordan River flowed between God’s people in the new land that He had given them, so the Jordan of death lies between us and heaven’s glory. As the old English hymn states it: “On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand and cast a wishful eye to Canaan’s fair and happy land, where my possessions lie. We will rest in the fair and happy land by and by, just across on the evergreen shore. Sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, by and by, and dwell with Jesus evermore.”
Questions for Class Discussion
- Discuss the promises God made to Abraham.
- Discuss the qualifications of Joshua to become Moses’ successor.
- Does the New Testament commend the falsehoods of Rahab?
- During what season of the year did Israel cross the Jordan River?
- Discuss the objective and meaning of the miraculous crossing at the Jordan River.
- Where was Israel’s first camp after crossing the Jordan River?
- Describe the conquest of Jericho.
- Explain the seriousness of Achan’s sin.
- Discuss Joshua’s military strategy in conquering Canaan.
- What was the purpose of the cities of refuge?
- What was Joshua’s inheritance?
- Summarize the religious teaching of the book of Joshua.