Old-Testament Survey The Book of Joshua The Conquest

Old-Testament Survey: The Book of Joshua The Conquest of Canaan

God’s Promises to Abraham • God made three promises to Abraham: – Nation – Land – Seed • While in Egyptian bondage, Abraham’s descendents grew into a nation; leaving, they became a free people. • Now the nation of Israel needs a home, and God is preparing to deliver on His second promise.

God’s Promises to Abraham • Joshua is the foremost character in the book that bears his name. • God names Joshua to be Moses’ successor (1: 5 -9). • God tells Joshua to be of good courage because He will not forsake him. • In three days, they will cross the River Jordan to claim their inheritance.

The Spies and Rahab • In preparation for the first battle, Joshua sends in two spies to survey Jericho. • Rahab, a harlot, hides the spies; in return, they promise her and her family safety when Israel takes the city (2).

Crossing The River Jordan • Joshua commands the Levites to take the ark of the covenant into the river. • When they did so, the water dried up and Israel crossed over on dry land (3). • Twelve stones are taken out of the river bed and set up in Gilgal as a memorial. They camp at night before crossing (4). • They are instructed to circumcise the boys and men who are uncircumcised (5).

Crossing The River Jordan • At Gilgal, Israel eats the produce of Canaan and the manna from heaven. (5: 10 -12) • Joshua saw a messenger from God, standing with his sword drawn (5: 13 -15). • Jericho’s inhabitants lock themselves within the walls of the city.

Taking Jericho • God’s instructions—men of war are to march around the city once a day, for six days. No speaking. Led by seven priests carrying trumpets and the ark of the covenant (6: 1 -11). • On the seventh day, march around seven times, blow the trumpets, and shout. The walls will fall down! (6: 15 -21) • They are not to take any of the “accursed” things (6: 18, 19).

Failure at Ai • A man named Achan disobeyed God’s instructions. • The small force sent to attack Ai was routed. Thirty-six men died (7: 1 -5). • God tells Joshua there is sin in the camp. He is to find the guilty (7: 6 -15). • Achan is found guilty; he and his family are put to death (7: 16 -26).

They Take Ai • 5000 men attack from the west, and the rest from the north. • Ai saw Israel and went out to attack them, abandoning the city—ambushers attacked and burned the city! (8: 16 -20) • Ai’s army saw the smoke, and they had no power to flee. Israel easily defeated them. (8: 21 -25) • Spoils of the city were divided among the people (8: 27).

Blessings and Cursings • After the victory, Joshua built an Altar on Mt. Ebal, and they offered sacrifices to the Lord (8: 30, 31). • Joshua reads the law, and Israel renews her covenant. Half stand in front of Mt. Ebal, and half in front of Mt. Gerizim (8: 32 -35).

The Gibeonites • Gibeon heard about Jericho and Ai and sought to make a covenant with Israel (9: 3). • To deceive Israel, they dressed as if they had traveled a long way (9: 3 -6). • Israel had been forbidden to make covenants with the people of Canaan, but Joshua did not consult the Lord (9: 8 -15). • When Israel learned the truth, they kept the oath and did not attack Gibeon (9: 17 -21). • The Gibeonites became their servants (9: 24 -26).

The Conquest Continues • Joshua conquered all the southern part of Canaan. • Now he turns his attention to the north and defeats an alliance of its kings (11). • Israel has defeated 31 of Canaan’s kings and is now in control of the land (12). • Still, some parts of Canaan remain unconquered (13: 1 -7).

Dividing the Land; the Inheritance • The land will be divided among the tribes according to the numbers of people in the tribes. • The Levites received 48 different cities within the borders of the different tribes. • Different Levite families received different cities (21). • The tabernacle was set up at Shiloh (18). • They appointed six cities of refuge (20).

A Problem for the Eastern Tribes • Now that Canaan is secure, Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh return home (22: 1 -9). • Upon returning, they erected an altar. The other tribes thought they were rebelling (22: 10 -12). • The High Priest and ten other priests went to investigate (22: 13 -20). • The altar wasn’t built for worship; it was to witness to their brethren that they were partakers of the same covenant (22: 21 -29).

All the Land Is Given “So the LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass. ” (Joshua 21: 43 -45)

Joshua’s Warnings “Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed. Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all the good things have come upon you which the LORD your God promised you, so the LORD will bring upon you all harmful things, until He has destroyed you from this good land which the LORD your God has given you. When you have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you shall perish quickly from the good land which He has given you. ” (Joshua 23: 14, -16)

Joshua’s Final Challenge “Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. ” (Joshua 24: 14, 15)

Joshua Dies • The people agree to follow God (24: 16 -22) • Joshua sets up a stone to be a witness of the covenant between God and the people (24: 23 -28). • Joshua dies at the age of 110; Eleazar, the High Priest, also dies (24: 29 -33). • Joseph’s bones, brought from Egypt, are buried at Shechem which Jacob had bought for a burial plot (24: 32).