Joshua Chapters 18-21

Joshua Chapters 18-21

Chapter 18 18:1-3 Up to this point the allotment of the land had taken place at Gilgal (9:6).

After the inheritances of Judah and Joseph had been assigned, the Israelite camp had moved to Shiloh. This context does not reveal the reason for this move, but obviously it was the will of God (Deut. 12:11; Jeremiah 7:12). Shiloh was located about 12 miles south of Shechem and 20 miles north of Jerusalem. The ark would remain at Shiloh until it was captured by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:4,11. After that, the tabernacle was moved to Nob (1 Samuel 21:1) and later to Gibeon (1 Kings 3:4).

18:2 It seems that the tribes of Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh had taken off after receiving their inheritances. The remaining tribes seemed content to continue a nomadic existence such as they had experienced in the wilderness. A feeling of war weariness may have overtaken them. Even today, God’s people can succumb to the temptation of wanting to have peace at any price. “They longed for rest, but it was not the true rest promised by God that they had in mind” (Goslinga p. 137).

“More foot-dragging (Joshua 17:14-18). We can no longer put off a problem I’ve been ignoring for three chapters. The sledge is getting stuck in the mud. The first hint was as early as chapter 15:63. A second intimation of trouble soon follows (16:10). What do you mean ‘could not drive out?’ Isn’t God the captain of this expedition? Is anything too hard for God? I am stuck by the way the author puts the matter of Israel’s failure---‘could not drive out’. No commentary here, no theologizing, no explanation of the reasons, just a flat statement of the fact that they were unable. Whether this inability is due to a fault in God or a fault in man is completely left to the reader to ponder and decide. I know how I’m voting…On past readings of this passage (16:10) I have thought: ‘Well now, that’s not so bad. The Israelites didn’t drive out the Canaanites but they made them slaves. That’s something. It’s not an A-plus but it’s at least a B-minus. But 1

I am catching on to the understatement of the author, and I think he’s saying ‘Booo!’ under his breath when he writes this narrative” (Andree Seu).

18:3 Joshua was determined that these tribes were not going to squander what God had so graciously given to them. “He seized this occasion to scold the remaining tribes for their indolence and their ingratitude for the favors God had shown. He would not tolerate any further delay, and he himself took the initiative to push on with the allotment” (Goslinga p. 137).

Delay at this point was so dangerous. “With the backbone of Canaanite resistance presently broken, these tribes must follow up this advantage and nail down the land (i.e. permanently occupy it). But here they remain—letting the opportunity slip away” (Dale Ralph Davis p. 142). Even though God had given them the land, that did not cancel out human responsibility. “Yahweh’s promises are intended not as sedatives but as stimulants. God does not want us to swallow His promises but to seize them” (Dale Ralph Davis p. 142). Compare with 2 Peter 1:3ff.

“The slackness blamed by Joshua may well have been due to an unwillingness to settle down. It was fine to have a ‘promised land’, but the reality showed the need for learning new skills and engaging in hard work. That is for many the disappointing side of God’s gifts; they are always given that we may serve the better. Even His rest is linked with a yoke (Matthew 11:28-30)” (H.L. Ellison, Scripture Union Bible Study Books: Joshua—2 Samuel, p. 17).

18:4 Three men from each tribe were organized into a team that would survey the land which remained to be divided. In doing such, the tribes could not later argue that they were unfamiliar with the land, and thus unable to properly divide and settle in their assigned territories. Such a survey should have motivated each tribe as they received a wonderful description of the land that was being given to them (18:6,8-9).

Notice how Joshua places the division of the land under God’s authority. Three times we read that after the twenty-one men write up the land, the lot will be cast for the seven tribes ‘before the Lord’ (18:6,8,10). This was necessary. “There could be no end of complaint, quarrelling, or discontent unless the tribes were assured that their lot was determined by Yahweh’s decision” (Dale Ralph Davis p.

141).

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18:11-28 The following is a description of the territory which was assigned to the tribe of Benjamin. “Though their area was covered by mountains and ravines, extending only 25 miles from east to west and 15 miles at its widest point from north to south, it included many cities that were important in biblical history— Jericho, Bethel, Gibeon, Ramah, Mizpah, and the Jebusite city, Jerusalem” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 361).

Chapter 19 19:1-9 Simeon was given territory which was the southern section of Judah’s territory. “But it was not long before Simeon was to lose her individuality as a tribe, for her territory was incorporated eventually into that of Judah….This explains why after the division of the kingdom following Solomon there were 10 tribes in the north and only 2 in the south (Judah and Benjamin)” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 361). Compare with Genesis 49:7. The descendants of Simon were destined to be scattered among the other tribes as punishment for his violent revenge against the Shechemites (Genesis 34). Thus, Joshua 19:9 is not saying that God had made a mistake in giving the tribe of Judah too much territory. Rather, Simeon living within the territory of Judah was the fulfillment of prophecy. Judges 1:3 records that Judah and Simeon cooperated in subduing pockets of Canaanites living within their territory.

19:10-16 “The territory of Zebulun was formed by the fertile region of Lower Galilee, lying between the Valley of Jezreel and the hill country of Naphtali” (Goslinga p. 142). The city of Sarid, is modern Tell Shadud, south of Nazareth.

Note, the Bethlehem mentioned in 19:15 is not the Bethlehem village in Judah, where Jesus was born.

19:17-23 Lying east of Zebulun and south of the Sea of Galilee, Issachar was to occupy the fertile and beautiful valley of Jezreel. “Until the time of David, however, its people remained in the mountainous district at the eastern end of the valley” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 361).

19:24-31 The tribe of Asher was assigned the Mediterranean coastal lands from Mount Carmel north to Sidon and Tyre. “By virtue of her vital position she was to protect Israel from northern coastal enemies such as the Phoenicians” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 362).

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19:32-39 Located adjacent to Asher on the east, Naphtali had the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee as its eastern boundary.

19:40-48 Since the territories of the surrounding tribes of Ephraim on the north, Benjamin on the east, and Judah on the south had already been mapped, it was not necessary that any boundaries be drawn for Dan. Because of the fear and indifference found in this tribe, the greater part of this territory remained in the hands of the Amorites (Judges 1:34). As a result, many in this tribe migrated north and conquered the town named Leshem (later renamed “Dan”), which was near the headstreams of the Jordan. This event is recounted in greater detail in Judges chapter 18. “I remember Andre Senecal. He was an only child and my brother’s best friend in elementary school, and he got so many presents from his parents at Christmas that they were still standing around unopened a few weeks into January. Today’s chapter in Joshua is a Polaroid of all the presents God left under the tree for Israel but that never got opened for one reason or another. We will take Asher as an example. You may read in verses 24 what God intended her to conquer and to rule over. You may read in Judges 1:31-32 what actually happened. Bereft of television and iPods, the Israelites had only one book to read, after all, and it was the Bible. So it’s not as if they weren’t aware of what Moses had written (Deuteronomy 7:1). The lot Asher drew happened to be a nice spot that stretched north-south from beyond Sidon to Mount Carmel…She saw her parcel, sank her tent peg into the ground, noticed how rich the soil was, started growing the best olives in Israel, and said it was good enough for her.

We’ll be farmers, she evidently though to herself. She never got around to driving out the Phoenicians from the seaports of Trye, Sidon, and Acco...This story of Asher makes me wonder what gifts and blessings God wants me to have that are still sitting under the tree unopened” (Andree Seu).

It is rather so tempting to forgo the adventure, and “settle” for a little earthly pleasure.

19:49-51 Finally, Joshua receives his inheritance. Joshua had asked for the city named “Timnath-serah”-(TIM nath SIR uh). This is probably present day Khirbet Tibneh, which is located about 17 miles SW of Shechem. Consider the contrasts we have noted in taking possession of the land: * Caleb, 14:6-15 * Joseph tribes, 17:14-18 * Seven tribes, 18:1-10 * Joshua, 19:49-50

Positive Negative Negative Positive 4

Chapter 20 The dividing of the land among the various tribes was complete (chapters 13-19).

All that remained to be done was to designate the cities of refuge (chapter 20) and the Levitical towns (chapter 21).

20:1 Instructions concerning the cities of refuge are found in Numbers 35:6-34 and Deut. 19:1-13. Once again we are confronted with the fact that the Bible is a harmonious and unified collection of books. Joshua is told to implement the commands which were revealed through Moses.

20:3 The Bible makes a definite distinction between premeditated murder and accidental manslaughter. “The avenger of blood”: “Even though the law made provision for a strong centralized government or ‘state’ to enforce the laws, at various times in Israel’s history this was lacking, as in the period of Joshua and the judges. Thus the responsibility to protect the rights to property or to avenge the murder fell to the victim’s closest relative, who was called ‘the avenger of blood’. Vengeance was to be a deterrent to murder” (Gaebelein p. 348).

20:4 The city gate was an elaborate structure designed to control all traffic in or out, and thus to ensure the protection of the city. “Normally there were benches in this area where the elders of the city would sit to adjudicate cases of various kinds (Ruth 4:1-12)” (Gaebelein p. 348). The person who had accidentally contributed to the death of another had the obligation of immediately leaving home, family, and friends, and of properly stating his case when he arrived at one of the refuge cities. Sanctuary was not to be granted indiscriminately.

20:5 One was innocent until proven guilty. The judges in such a city must be men able to resist bribes or peer pressure. “God’s law and rule takes note of the motives and intents in such cases. A man without a murderer’s heart should not suffer a murderer’s punishment” (Dale Ralph Davis p. 148).

20:6 If the man was proven innocent, then he had to remain in this city until the death of the current high priest. The Scriptures do not state why the death of the high priest would mean release for the manslayer. Some suggest that the death of the high priest signaled the end of an era and thus a general amnesty was declared. “God invented the cities of refuge, because there are extenuating circumstances in life. You didn’t get off scot-free because you still were forced to

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leave everyone and everything you knew and go to a strange city and hang around there until the high priest died” (Andree Seu).

“The very number and location of the cities show how available God’s justice was meant to be and how practical His ways are. The provision of the cities of refuge also reflects the values of God’s justice. The chapter breathes the sanctity of human life---both the manslayer’s and the dead man’s. We can clearly see that the concern with these cities assumes the preciousness of the unintentional manslayer’s life. But we may not so clearly see that the slain man’s life is presumed sacred as well. For the city of refuge is no only a place of safety for the manslayer but also of exile. He enjoys protection but also suffers penalty. He cannot…return to his hometown and resume a normal life; he must stay in the city of refuge until the death of the current high priest…even when that life is taken unintentionally the consequences of that wrong must be carried. Life made in God’s image always remains exceedingly sacred (Genesis 9:6)” (Dale Ralph Davis pp. 148,149).

20:7-9 These cities were strategically located, so that wherever a person might be, he or she would have ready access to one of them.

20:9 “And for the stranger”: This verse explains that asylum was also to be offered to non-Israelites. “Though the Israelites stood against the pagan societies around them, their hearts were to be open to receive any foreigner who would adopt their religion and their customs” (Gaebelein p. 349). “Finally, we must note how the circle of Yahweh’s justice includes the sojourner as well as the native Israelite” (Dale Ralph Davis p. 150).

Chapter 21 Finally, the heads of the Levite families step forward and claim the cities which had been promised to them through Moses (Numbers 35:1-8). As we have previously noted some were not eager to claim the land, but others, like Caleb, Joshua, the daughters of Zelophedad were. Now the Levites come to claim what had been promised to them. Let us have a similar attitude, that is, what God has authorized us to have, what God has promised us---we should seek in prayer (James 4:1-2).

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The distribution of these cities were according to the three main branches of the tribe, that is, the sons of Kohath, Gershon and Merari. “This scattering of the tribe of Levi among the other tribes fulfilled Jacob’s curse on Levi as well as Simeon (Genesis 49:5,7). In the case of Levi’s descendants God overruled to preserve their tribal identity and make them a blessing to all Israel. He did this because the Levites stood with Moses at a time of acute crisis (Exodus 32:26)” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 364). With Levitical cities found among every tribe, this enabled every Israelite to be near these teachers of the Law (Deut. 33:10).

Many of the cities were located along Israel’s borders. Especially in the north and east the Levites ought to have been barriers against the idolatry of Tyre and Sidon; as well as against the heathen practices of the desert tribes. Someone has estimated that no one in Israel lived more than 10 miles from 1 of the 48 Levite towns. “Thus every Israelite had nearby a man who could give advice and counsel on the many problems of religious, family, and political life” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 364). Even though the Levites performed spiritual functions, God realized that they still had earthly needs---houses to live in, pastures to sustain livestock, and so on.

21:43-45 God kept His promise (Genesis 12:3; 15:18-21). “All of Canaan was not yet in Israel’s possession, nor were all the enemies destroyed, nevertheless Israel was in control of ‘all the land’. It was securely in their hands” (Gaebelein p.

353). God’s oath to Abraham concerning this land had been fulfilled. We must therefore reject the argument which says that Israel never really possessed the land, and thus the land promised to Abraham is as yet unfulfilled. “In every case Yahweh gave what He swore, not a word fell, everything came about. There were no falling words!” (Dale Ralph Davis p. 156).

“Every once in a while, the Lord likes to make a point of the fact that everything He says comes true. The point is made after the allotting of all the territory (Joshua 21:45). And in case you missed it then, a hoary-headed general named Joshua makes the point again years later in his farewell address in chapter 23:14.

Not only the good words of God come true but the bad words (Deut. 11:29-32; Joshua 8:30-35). The principle holds true for observing the work of God in my life. From my 57-year perch, I now see that rebellion bore fruit for evil in the long run, though in the short run I seemed to have gotten away with it. God’s words ‘overtake’ (Zechariah 1:6). They catch up. They are living words. Put them on a shelf and they will vibrate till they jump off, or smoke till there’s a fire.

A day is coming when many of us will moan to see that ‘no one word’ of God has failed---all those words we watered down, we relegated to poetry, we tamed into liturgy, we dismissed as culturally conditioned….we submitted to the 7

judgment of man rather than submitting the judgments of man to the Word of God” (Andree Seu).

21:44 “The Gibeonite deception and the pockets of resistance still holding out do not contradict the fact that Israel was victorious over every enemy that they faced in battle….God had not promised the immediate and total destruction of the Canaanites, but only their gradual extermination (Exodus 23:30; Deut. 7:22)” (Gaebelein p. 354). If Israel failed to keep the land, she couldn’t complain that God hadn’t done enough. The land was firmly in the grasp of the Israelites and the Canaanites were on the run. The price of “rest” for God’s people isn’t easy or cheap. In order for the Israelites to have rest, her enemies must be defeated.

“This may appear harsh. It is. But the only way lasting rest can be given God’s people is by the decisive cutting off of their enemies. Otherwise they are never secure” (Dale Ralph Davis p. 160). Compare with 2 Thess. 1:7-9.

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