Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Reading for October 2nd

Read Joshua 7.1-15
In 7.1-15: The consequence of Achan's sin.
In verse 1: Achan, a man of impeccable ancestry, has ignored Joshua's explicit warning concerning the ban (6.18).
He acted alone, that all the Isrealites broke faith (also v. 11).
Thus the anger of the Lord is directed against the entire nation.
In verse 2; Sending spies was a typically first step in a campaign (2.1; Judges 1.23).
In verse 5; Such a great panic associated with only thirty-six deaths indicates something seriously amiss.
Israel experiences the fear their enemies have felt: The hearts of the people melted (contrast 2.11;5.1).
In verses 7-9: Joshua follows the pattern of typical lament prayers such as Ps 44 or 74.
He questions the Lord's motives and seeks to provoke a response by highlighting the potential damage to the Lord's reputation (great name).
In verse 11: As a violation of the covenant (also v. 15), Achan's crime endangers Israel's relationship with the Lord in a fundamental way.
In verse 12: The contagious effect of items devoted for destruction (compare (6.18) means that the entire nation has fallen under the ban.
In verse 13: The people must engage in a ceremony to make themselves holy in order to prepare for contact with God's action (compare 3.5).
In verse 14: The procedure for discovering the culprit involves the use of the sacred lot (1 Sam 14.40-42).
In verse 15: An outrageous thing in Israel means a heinous crime against society that endangers the whole nation.
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