You Can Read the Bible Guided Podcast

Today’s reading begins with the LORD’s response to Joshua after Achan – and the sin of Israel – have been purged: “Do not fear and do not be dismayed…See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai…”

We’ll be looking at three distinct episodes today, all related to both conquest and covenant.  First, Israel heads out again to take Ai, in coordination with the LORD’s blessing and His instructions.   Next, Israel completes the dedication ceremony on Mount Ebal and Mount Gerezim that was outlined in Deuteronomy 27.   (A note: When reading about the size of the armies, I want to remind you of the range of meanings for the word elef, which I covered on Day 43, at the beginning of Numbers.  For example, we could be looking at 30,000 soldiers, or 30 divisions.)

Finally, chapter 9 opens an episode with the people of Gibeon.  The town’s leaders, looking for any way to save their town and their own skins, concoct a ruse with which they hope to deceive the Israelites.  The chapter pivots on one small observation of Israel’s leaders: “…but [they] did not ask counsel from the LORD,” that foreshadows how it will turn out. 

The author is highlighting a lack of focus throughout this book.  There are moments when the LORD’s counsel is sought, such as before Jericho, and others when it is not.  You probably noticed that at the beginning of chapter 7, the author knows that Israel had “broken faith” with the LORD, but Israel did not.  Here with Gibeon, the author is quite clear that a deception is unfolding, and makes it clear, again, why Israel did not.  A simple consultation with the LORD, it’s hinted, would have saved them a lot of trouble.  It seems every success is followed by misplaced self-reliance. 

The author also allows the Gibeonites to speak for themselves regarding their deception:   “Because it was told to your servants for a certainty that the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you—so we feared greatly for our lives…”  Their reasoning shows confidence in Yahweh, and elicits sympathy, and Joshua’s “How could you?” question seems stupid: So what else were they going to do?  Try to keep your focus on Israel, not Gibeon, during this presentation. 

Our verse for this week is Galatians 3:29: And if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.

Joshua chapters 8 and 9.  Now let’s read it!

Yesterday, the spies returned from Jericho with this report: “Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.”  This melting of the hearts of Canaan was predicted in Moses’ song in Exodus 15, but the last time spies returned from Canaan, Deuteronomy 1 records that it was the Israelites’ hearts that melted.  It appears that things have been set right, and that Israel is finally ready for this.  

This leads into the LORD’s commands, at the beginning of today’s reading, regarding crossing the Jordan.  Had they entered from the south 40 years ago, there would have been no dramatic crossing.  But now they approach from the east, and this generation gets its own parting of the waters moment.  

Go back and read Exodus 14 again, and compare the details of the two events.  The first one was chaotic – Pharaoh’s army and the angel of the LORD and people panicking and Moses promising “Stand firm! The LORD will fight for you!”  

The Joshua crossing contains much less drama but no less significance.  The LORD promises that today, He will “begin to exalt Joshua before all Israel.”  The priests and the ark play a central role.  And by this parting of the river, the people will know “that the living God is among you and He will without fail drive out the Canaanites.”  

So they cross, as promised.  And the manna ceases, also as promised.  And they celebrate the Passover – close readers yesterday would have noticed we’re in the middle of the first month of the year.  And they are circumcised, prepared for battle and covenant occupation of the promised land.  

We close today with one of my favorite texts in all the Bible.  At the end of chapter 5, Joshua heads out toward Jericho alone.  The text doesn’t tell us why he was out there.  Perhaps he was praying, working up his courage, or preparing plans for battle… He looks up, and sees a man with drawn sword.  Joshua asks a binary question: “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?”  Let the man’s answer sink in, and consider, once again, the type of God we are dealing with.  

Our verse for this week is Galatians 3:29: And if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.

Joshua chapters 3 through 5.  Now let’s read it!

Now that we’re entering the first of what are called the “Historical” books of the Old Testament, let’s refresh ourselves on some basics of reading narratives. 

First, pay attention to the dialogue, which is often used to move the plot forward and reveal characters’ motivations.  Second, listen for repeated words, phrases, and themes, which reveal what’s important to the author. 

Third, let the narratives do the driving.  Listen for echoes of what we’ve already seen and heard, but keep future theological concerns in the background for as long as possible.  Avoid the tendency to tease out a “moral” of each story.  Try to discern what the author’s concerns were in telling the story, and in telling it as he did, and in excluding other material in favor of what we see.  

We don’t have to get far into Joshua to find these principles at play.  If you combine Deuteronomy 31 and Joshua 1, “Be strong and courageous” is repeated a half dozen times – each time addressed to Joshua – by Moses, by the LORD, and even by the people.  What do you make of this?

Having read Numbers you’ll remember the importance of singling out the warriors from Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh.  You’ll also recognize the irony of their response when Joshua commissions them: 

“And they answered Joshua, ‘All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.  Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you.  Only may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses!  Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death.  Only be strong and courageous.” 

Chapter 2 presents a singular narrative when spies are sent to Jericho.  There they stay in the house of a prostitute, Rahab, who hides them and lies to the king of Jericho about their whereabouts.  This is the kind of story that elicits great Sunday School debates, and before you do so, pay attention to both the dialogue and the Biblical context.   

First, we’ve seen this kind of truth-bending before, most prominently from the Hebrew midwives at the beginning of Exodus.  As with most other narratives we’ve seen, the author doesn’t seem to proclaim any moral judgment on any of these characters.  But Rahab herself makes a judgment – that she knows the LORD will give Jericho to Israel, and the spies make a decision about her and her family – that if she does not “tell this business” of theirs, they will “deal kindly and faithfully with her.” 

Our verse for this week is Galatians 3:29: And if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.

Joshua chapters 1 and 2.  Now let’s read it!