Joshua Chapters 4-7

Joshua Chapters 4-7

Chapter 4 4:1 “That the Lord spoke to Joshua”: The frequent repetition of this phrase emphasizes the fact that everything was done in obedience to God’s commands.

4:3 The removal of stones from the very center of the river would stand as objective evidence that the river had actually stopped flowing. 4:5 It appears that the stones to be removed were to be of good size.

4:6 “Let this be a sign among you”: The verse suggests that this miracle would not be repeated for each successive generation. “These memorials were intended to provoke questioning so that the story of God’s miraculous interventions might be told over and over. The miracles would not be repeated---in fact, there is an economy of miracles in Scripture” (Gaebelein p. 269). Here we learn the truth that the description of the miraculous event (Scripture), takes the place of the event for all following generations. That in God’s mind, the description of the event is just as certain or real as the event itself. The person who complains that they can’t believe in God because of a lack of modern miracles, is without excuse before God (John 20:30-31).

4:9 Joshua also set up a memorial of stones in the middle of the river, that such stones could still be seen when the book of Joshua, was compiled. God is into memorials (like the Lord’s Supper), let us remember that among other things, the memorial always a reminder that the event actually did happen. “We observe a certain assumption operating in 4:1-10, namely, that the greatest enemy of faith may be forgetfulness (Deut. 8). Just as in a marriage, the real threat may not be infidelity but simply a slow process of forgetting and a gradual failure to remember the preciousness of the other person…The twelve stones were meant to provide occasions for teaching…If Yahweh so insists that Israel remember this day, it implies that this event was unique and that Yahweh does not usually work with such visibly raw power. Apparently, this sort of miracle will be infrequent. Yahweh’s standard method of retaining His people’s fidelity is not 1

by frequent and dabbling displays of power but by faithful witness and teaching of those particular acts in which He had already demonstrated His care for His own” (Dale Ralph Davis p. 40).

4:10 “The people hurried and crossed”: Even in the face of the miraculous, man still must do his part. Miracles don’t give people the right to be casual with God. 4:12 “In battle array”: The tribes which had already been given territory east of the Jordan, crossed first, and they were armed for battle. They were prepared in the event that the inhabitants of the land should strike while Israel was crossing the river. 4:13 “About forty thousand”: From Numbers 26:7,18 and 34 we know that the potential fighting force from these tribes numbered about 110,580 men.

“Why, then did only 40,000 cross over? The answer is probably found in the situation on the east bank. The conquest might take some time, and the eastern tribes could not afford to leave their cities undefended. We might presume therefore that the remaining parts of their armies stayed on the east side for purposes of local protection” (Davis p. 39). In addition, such men crossed first, because they were not hampered with families or goods.

4:14 The Lord exalted Joshua in the minds of the people, just as He had promised (3:7). Joshua was now firmly established as leader in the place of Moses. 4:18 The miraculous element is only magnified when we are told that the waters of the Jordan immediately resumed its flow at the moment that the priests feet were on the river bank. “As soon as their feet touched the western bank a raging wall of water came down the riverbed” (Smith p. 61). “One can imagine what it must have been like for the Israelites to stand on the riverbank, watching the hurrying torrent covering up their path, and then lifting up their eyes to look at the opposite side where they had stood that morning” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 336).

4:19 “Tenth of the first month”: That is, the 10th of Nisan. On this very day forty years earlier, every Israelite had selected a lamb for the Passover (Exodus 12:3). “Gilgal”: This town or place was strategically located. The Jordan provided security on one side, and the open plain prevented any surprise attack from the other. Gilgal will serve as Israel’s base of operations for some time (10:15,43; 14:6). The name Gilgal (GILL gal) means “circle of stones”. The presumed site of this city is about one mile northeast of Old Testament Jericho.

“Gilgal means ‘circle’ and may have been taken from an ancient circle of stones of pagan significance. If so, the more recent circle commemorating Yaweh’s

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great work would serve to counteract the idolatrous association of the site” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 336).

4:21-22 The responsibility for passing on truth to the next generation did not solely rest on the shoulders of the priests, but was the responsibility of parents (Ephesians 6:4). “We can almost see it now. Fifteen years post-Jordan time an Israelite father and his six-year-old son are strolling through Gilgal National Park. The lad spots an imposing pile of stones. He counts twelve, and exclaims, “Hey, Daddy, what are those stones for?” (Dale Ralph Davis p. 39).

4:23 “Just as the Lord your God had done to the Red Sea”: The crossing of the Red Sea was just as miraculous as this crossing! Any attempt to downplay the miraculous nature of that crossing must twist other passages as well (1 Corinthians 10:1ff).

Chapter 5 5:1 The verse explains why the Israelites were left undisturbed while they performed the rite of circumcision and celebrated the Passover. News had traveled fast! Instead of the Jordan River (at flood stage) keeping the Israelites at bay, in one day over two million had crossed. In addition, others must have seen the Jordan River stopped in its tracks (3:16). In Canaan, the Amorites occupied the hill country, and the Canaanites occupied the territory further west.

5:2-8 We are not told specifically why the practice of circumcision had been suspended during the period of wilderness wandering. Some say that God did not permit them to perform this rite because of their sin. According to Numbers 14:29, all Israelite males twenty years and older were condemned to die in the wilderness. That statement had been made 38 years ago. This means, therefore, that all males under the age of thirty-eight were uncircumcised, and those between the ages of thirty-eight and fifty-seven were circumcised before they left Egypt. The inference seems clear that God had commanded a stop to this practice until the unbelieving generation died off. Be impressed that this uncircumcised generation had manifested greater faith than the previous circumcised generation. Outward religious acts cannot make up for a lack of faith, and religious acts do not automatically change the heart (1 Cor. 10:1ff).

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5:3 “Gibeath-haaraloth”: Pronounced (gibb ee AH). The name means “hill of the foreskins”. 5:4 The punishment that God pronounced was carried out. God does not issue false threats. The same will be true for eternal punishment.

5:6 While the fulfillment of God’s promise might be forfeited by one generation, the promise remains. Unbelief cannot stop the purposes of God and somebody will end up blessed. Someone will serve God faithfully.

5:9 “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you”: Such a reproach the people had brought on themselves in the wilderness. For forty years the Egyptians had heard of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, and may have ridiculed what looked now like a vain attempt at freedom (compare with Numbers 14:13-16 and Deut. 9:28). After crossing the Jordan, the Israelites were no longer subject to such words of shame. No longer can the Egyptians crack their “how many Hebrews does it take to get out of the wilderness” jokes.

5:10-12 The Passover is observed at it’s stated time, and the manna ceases. God is still providing for them, but such provisions are coming from the land. “But it is still His provision, whether it is manna that falls from heaven in the wilderness or grain that grows in the ground in Canaan” (Dale Ralph Davis p. 48). Before any military campaign is undertaken, the people first must be in a right relationship with God. They had waited forty years to take this land, but staying in favor with God was far more important than rushing into battle. Spiritual things take precedence (Matthew 6:33).

5:13-15 “With his sword drawn”: That is, ready for combat. “Are you for us or for our adversaries”, like the expression, “Who goes there—friend or foe?” “A captain of the host of the Lord: Meaning a commander of angelic armies.

Obviously, Joshua realized that this was no mere solider. In addition, Joshua is given the same basic command that was given to Moses (Exodus 3:5).

Joshua could have been contemplating how Jericho was going to be captured.

Despite his long military experience he had never led an attack on a fortified city that was prepared for a long siege. In addition, Israel’s army had no siege engines, no battering rams, no catapults, and no moving towers. Their only weapons were slings, arrows and spears—which were like straws against the walls of Jericho. “He had anticipated a battle between two opposing armies, Israelite and Canaanite. He had thought this was to be his war and that he was to be in the general-in-charge….The top general of the Lord’s army had not come to be an idle spectator of the conflict, or even an ally. He was in complete charge 4

and would shortly reveal His plans for capturing the citadel of Jericho” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 339). This army of the Lord is composed of angels (2 Kings 6:8-17; Matthew 26:53). This encounter should have reminded Joshua and us, that the invasion of Canaan was God’s judgment against the Canaanites (Genesis 15:16). God’s long-suffering delay of judgment was over.

“The stranger’s response put everything in proper perspective. God is sovereign.

It is never a question whether God is on our side but whether we are on God’s side” (Gaebelein p. 276). This last statement should really make us think. Too often we get caught up in “our cause”. We need to remember that the only relevant cause is God’s cause. Let us make sure that we are fighting His battles and not our self-chosen battles.

“My favorite part of chapter 5 is the end---the appearance of a swordbrandishing angel standing before Joshua, who, seeing that the man is formidable asks, ‘Are you for us, or for our adversaries?’ The Angel of the Lord answers, ‘No’. Good answer, too. None of the above. None of your categories.

Way beyond what you have conceived: ‘I am the commander of the army of the Lord’ (5:14). It is good to be reminded. We sometimes forget that the battle is the Lord’s, and ours, but the humbling privilege is to be in the fight” (Andree Seu).

Chapter 6 6:1 The city of Jericho was completely sealed, no traffic was being allowed in or out of the city. “The king neither considered surrender nor made a foray against Israel. Relying on the strong city walls, he chose to face down this desert nation that had had no experience in storming a fortress” (Goslinga p. 67).

6:2 God reminds Joshua that He has everything under control.

6:3-5 The plan of attack is given. Such a plan would make it clear to all that God Himself had leveled this city. We need to remember that God’s methods, which might appear too simple, are purposefully designed to demonstrate that the real power is in God and not man. For example, the gospel message, the method of spreading the gospel, the organization of the church, the qualifications for elders, the work of the church, the plan of salvation, the worship of the church and so on —glorify God, not man. “If Israel only marches and shouts, there will be no doubt about who batters Jericho to the ground. God still functions this way” (Dale Ralph Davis p. 54). Yet how often does man want to tinker with God’s plan,

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so that man gets the credit? Often in life, all that God wants us to do as Christians is “march and shout”, i.e. just follow His directions. “They say ’90 percent of success is showing up’. That’s pretty much all that was required of Israel” (Andree Seu).

6:5 “And the people will go up every man straight ahead”: When the people shout, it won’t matter where you are around the wall, the entire wall surrounding the city will instantly crumble, so that every soldier will be able to advance right into the city. 6:6 Without any questions or doubts concerning this unorthodox plan, Joshua passes on the instructions.

6:7-11 In addition, the people did not question this plan. The Hebrew writer notes that the walls fell because the people believed in God’s instructions (11:30).

There is a lesson here. Cynical people claim that the Bible cannot be followed or that God’s instructions on morality, doctrine, etc.., are unworkable.

Congregations and individuals do not fail because God has a bad plan, but because man fails to trust God and carry out His plan.

“A single march around the nine acre mound area probably took twenty-five to thirty-five minutes” (Davis p. 45). Every day the Israelites might have heard the taunts and ridicule of the soldiers and inhabitants in Jericho. “Do they think they can frighten us into surrender by the sound of their ram’s horns?” In addition, their faith also triumphed over the fear that the enemy might emerge from the city at any moment and attack.

6:10 “But Joshua commanded the people, ‘You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout” “I always understood that eerie silence of the marchers as a strategy to unnerve the enemy. Just imagine how you would feel as a citizen of Jericho, high up in your fortress that’s suddenly feeling more like a tomb, having heard the rumors of the Red Sea and Jordan crossings, and of what Israel’s God had done to the two Amorite kings Og and Sihon. And now here is this mysterious and unlikely war machine encircling your city---in dead silence. Spooky. But God does not in fact tell us the purpose of the injunction of silence, and another possibility arises: We recall the reason for Israel’s detainment of 40 years in a desert that should have taken two weeks to walk; it was because of her chronic murmuring, whining, complaining, negativity, faithless talk, and ‘bad reports’ (Numbers 13:32). The tongue is a very consequential organ, leading the whole body either 6

into the paths of victory or defeat in the spiritual realms, releasing the power of God or inviting Satan by agreement. It is as if Joshua….said, OK, this time around, let’s not sabotage our venture with loose lips. Let’s keep our mouths zipped so as not to risk breathing a word of unbelief. Until the blowing of the trumpets! And then shout for all you’re worth!” (Andree Seu).

6:12-17 “Under the ban”: Jericho and all its contents were completely devoted to the Lord. Clear instructions are given before the soldiers enter the city, including the sparing of Rahab and that all property is off-limits to the soldiers (18). “The conquest is not a bunch of land-hungry marauders wiping out, at the behest of their vicious God, hundreds of innocent, God-fearing folks” (Dale Ralph Davis p. 52). Rather, this is God’s judgment against people who had refused to repent for centuries (Lev. 18:1ff; Genesis 15:16; Deut. 9:4-5). This was God’s battle and God had the right to determine what would be done with the spoils.

6:18 The curse that rested on Jericho would in turn rest on them if they disobeyed God. In like manner, false doctrine brings a curse on those who embrace it or seek to have anything to do with it (2 John 9-11). 6:19 Jericho was the first city taken in Canaan, therefore in a sense, this was the “first-fruits” which belonged exclusively to the Lord.

6:20-21 The men of Israel climbed over the debris, finding inhabitants paralyzed with terror and unable to resist. Those who refuse to repent, those who put off obedience to God, will find themselves terrified as well (Romans 2:1-5).

“No doubt, if someone were making a movie of Joshua 6 he would shoot extensive scenes of the actual assault of the city, combat scenes within, and so on.

But our writer has no such celluloid interests nor does he care to show the bravado of Israelite warriors. He gives only a very brief mention, an almost matter-of-fact report, of the triumph itself---one and a half verses! This should clue us that his concerns lie elsewhere” (Dale Ralph Davis pp. 55-56).

6:22 Joshua makes doubly sure that Rahab isn’t harmed. He sends the two original spies (they knew where she lived in the city and also could recognize her) to see to it that she is spared.

6:23 “Outside the camp of Israel”: Being Gentiles, Rahab and her family first had to be ceremonially cleansed before they could enter into the Israelite camp (Lev. 13:46; Deut. 23:3). With the passage of time and the appropriate rituals, they were received into the congregation.

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6:25 “She has lived in the midst of Israel to this day”: That is Rahab was still alive when the book of Joshua was completed.

6:26-27 Devoting the city of Jericho to destruction, included the pronouncing of a curse on anyone who would dare to refortify the city. Some 500 years later, in the time of Ahab, someone ignored this clear statement and attempted to rebuild Jericho’s walls, but it cost him the lives of his two sons (1 Kings 16:34). Various attempts have been made to explain away the miraculous elements of Jericho’s downfall. The most bizarre explanation is that the pitch of the trumpets and the shout of the individuals caused tremendous vibrations, thereby bringing about the collapse of the walls. Others claim that the walls were already in horrible condition and were built on sandy soil. Yet excavations have shown that the wall construction at Jericho was not haphazard. Since God says the walls fell by faith---those who reject the biblical record in Joshua 6, thus brand themselves as unbelievers.

Chapter 7 7:1 God knows the secret things, and nothing takes Him by surprise. “Carmi” is pronounced (KAHR mye); “Zabdi” is pronounced (ZAB die). “Though one might wish to give credit to the discipline of Joshua’s forces because only one of his soldiers gave in to temptation, even this one did not escape God’s notice….He considered them collectively responsible and withheld His blessing until the matter was made right” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 343). “This chapter reveals how victory on the part of God’s people can be quickly undermined by disobedience and sin on the part of a single individual” (Davis p. 52).

7:2 “Ai”(A eye), was a city located east of Bethel and north of Michmash.

Centuries before, Abraham had pitched his tent near here (Genesis 12:8).

“Beth-aven” (beth A van), which means “house of idols”.

7:2-3 Seeing that the total slain (men and women) was 12,000 (Joshua 8:25), which would mean that the size of Ai’s army was about two or four thousand, the request by the spies was not at all unreasonable. “Though it was only about fifteen miles from Jericho to Ai, the great difference in elevation (Jericho: 800 ft. below sea level; Ai: 2500 feet above sea level) made this journey a rigorous climb” (Gaebelein p. 284). “The syllogism seemed air-tight: (1) God promised conquest of the land; (2) Ai is the next up; (3) Ai will be squashed like Jericho.

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Joshua didn’t even bother sending out many men, for his commanders told him this one would be a piece of cake” (Andree Seu).

7:5 “Shebarim” is pronounced (SHEB uh rim). 7:6 Joshua and the elders were overcome by grief and sorrow and prayerfully sought the Lord.

7:7-9 “The cry of Joshua recorded in verse 7 is strangely familiar. It raises a question which, in essence, was raised by unbelieving and murmuring Israel during the wilderness journey (Numbers 14:2-4). Joshua was concerned not only about the destiny of the people but also about the name of his God” (Davis p. 54).

“How often have I impugned God’s justice, all because I didn’t know all the circumstances The portion of reality we see is always finite; God’s is infinite” (Andree Seu).

Let us learn from this chapter and be far more humble when it seems from our limited vision that God is not cooperating with us. There is always far more to the story, and the reason that things go wrong is never a lack of power or concern on God’s part.

7:11 Even though only one individual had sinned, the entire nation was guilty.

“I suppose many twentieth century American individualists might believe this is unfair….But we do better to fear. Fear because one man’s sin turned away God’s presence from a whole people. Fear because one man’s whole household was drawn into his punishment. We Christians generally have such tame views of sin; wrongly, we have no paranoia over this contagious power (1 Cor. 5; Acts 5:111)” (Dale Ralph Davis p. 62). “Today’s lesson: God is to be feared. It is best to get the ground rules straight from the beginning---this is not meanness but kindness. Welcome, reality. God is God and we are not. He cannot be otherwise. Once we have that clarified we can do business” (Andree Seu).

7:12 If we are tempted to fellowship error or downplay the seriousness of sin, this verse should make us rethink such a decision. How many people today justify their association with unsound religious bodies by thinking that such an association doesn’t affect their relationship with God? If Joshua didn’t act to remove the sin—then God wouldn’t be with Joshua or any other Israelite for that matter.

7:13-15 Clear instructions are given concerning how to correct the problem. In like manner, Christians are given equally clear instruction (Matthew 18:15-17).

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7:14 “The tribe which the Lord takes by lot”: “But since God knew who was guilty, why did He not simply reveal his identity to Joshua? The answer is that this dramatic method would impress on the nation of Israel the seriousness of disobeying God’s commands. Since the method took time it would also give the guilty person an opportunity to repent and confess his sin” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 345). “In the drawing of lots, it was customary to use white and black stones, and the method may have been to have each person select a stone from a pouch” (Goslinga p. 80).

7:16-18 The sinner can’t hide from God’s judgment. This was no quirk of fate or accident (Proverbs 16:33).

7:19 Achan had remained silent during the entire process, probably like many people, believing that he would escape or that God certainly wouldn’t punish him. “Give glory to the Lord…and give praise to Him”: God is praised and glorified when we confess our sins. God isn’t being praised when we refuse to acknowledge or accept what His word says about our bad attitudes or behavior.

“By refusing to come forth earlier in the process Achan revealed his hardened and defiant heart” (Smith p. 74).

7:20-21 Observe the progression of sin. His sin involved these crucial steps: He saw, he coveted and he took. Compare with James 1:14 and Genesis 3:6.

The weight of the silver came to approx., six and a half pounds. The wedge or ingot of gold may have resembled a wedge that was unearthed in the city of Gezer, which measured about 10 inches, by one inch, by one-half inch.

7:22-23 God makes sure that innocent individuals are not condemned. Besides Achan’s confession, the evidence is clearly displayed in the sight of all Israel.

These items were spread out before the Lord, because they belonged to Him. 7:24-25 It seems probable that Achan’s sons and daughters were also killed because Achan could not have hidden such items in his tent without their knowledge. “From a purely practical point of view, it is doubtful that Achan could have removed this number of objects and kept them concealed without some help from his family” (Davis p. 55). In addition, the text doesn’t demand that the sons or daughters included babies or infants. Since children were not to be executed for the sins of their parents (Deut. 24:16), we must assume that the sons and daughters here were accomplices in the crime. Since all Israel (24) participated in the punishment of Achan and his family, it demonstrates that 10

they had indeed sanctified themselves by being willing to remove the evil from their midst, even if is was one of their own.. God hasn’t changed His attitude towards sin among God’s people. The story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5), members of the early church, is very similar to this account. The text infers that Achan was a man of some means (“his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep…”), and therefore didn’t need any of what he had stolen. But how often are we tempted to forsake God for things that we don’t need either?

“This chapter sheds important light on the sober, realistic character of sacred history….Chapter 7 demonstrates the truth of this and thus indirectly warns us to be watchful, since the tempter never rests (1 Peter 5:8) and evil lurks everywhere” (Goslinga p. 83). We can never let our guard down, because apostasy is always a real threat, and professed believers will fall away (2 Tim. 4:2-4). 8. If we have a problem with the punishment that came upon Achan and his family, “Our problem here is—sinners that we are---we don’t think breaking Yahweh’s covenant is all that big a deal…That’s why we cannot understand Jesus when he tells us we should be willing to go to any extreme to avoid sin (Matthew 5:29-30). It is baffling to us because we do not share Jesus’ alarm over sin. The testimony of Joshua 7 is that we cannot treat cancer with vitamin pills; it requires radical surgery” (Dale Ralph Davis p. 64). The New Testament confirms the truthfulness and historical reality of this account in Joshua 7 (Hebrews 12:15).

People like Achan will continually surface even in the church.

7:26 “The Lord turned from the fierceness of His anger”: As a people we can only have God’s blessing if we are willing to take sin seriously and deal with it.

Congregations which refuse to exercise church discipline will find themselves no longer recognized by God as being His people (Revelation chapters 2-3).

“Hidden sin will lead to defeat even if the sin is never discovered or known to a living soul, or even its host. I knew a man who committed adultery, and the affair was buried for 10 years, and the man moved on with his life. But as if the earth itself could hold it in no longer, the immorality was vomited up in the end.

By a series of improbable events, it resurfaced and destroyed him. There are spiritual laws operating in the universe that we have no idea of” (Andree Seu).

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