Read Joshua 9.16-27
In 9.16-27: Discovery and punishment.
In verse 16: The fears of v. 7 are realized; the Gibeonites indeed are living among them.
In verses 20-21: The sanctity of the oath must be preserved, but this deception has endangered the community and must be punished.
The expression hewers of wood and drawers of water indicates a subservient class (Deut 29.11).
In verse 22: Joshua summarizes their deceit by contrasting very far (see vv. 6, 9) with living among us (see vv. 7, 16).
In verse 23: Some Gibeonites are to be servants of the house of my God that is, the Temple.
Comments or Questions..
Monday, September 30, 2019
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Reading for October 7th
Read Joshua 9.1-15
In 9.1-15: The Gibeonite deception.
In verses 1-4: There are two contrasting reactions to the news about Israel's victories.
The kings of the various peoples gathered ... to fight (v. 2).
But the citizens of Gibeon acted with cunning (v. 4).
In verse 6: Their argument rests on being from a far country (also v. 9), exempting them from the extermination required by Deut 20.16-18.
In verse 7: In reality they are Hivites, one of the nations to be destroyed (9.1; Deut 20.17).
A treaty with any who live among Israel was forbidden (Deut 7.2).
In verse 8: Their language about being servants is respectful, but it is also ironic in light of vv. 21, 23, 27.
In verses 9-10: Their speech is similar to Rahab's confession (2.10-11), but is hypocritical.
In verse 15: All three Israelite parties fall for the ruse.
The ordinary Israelites of vv. 6 and 7 ("men" is the better reading) taste the evidence.
Joshua makes peace.
The leaders of the congregation swear an oath.
Gibeonites retained their special status as a foreign enclave down to the reign of David (2 Sam 21.1-6).
Comments or Questions..
In 9.1-15: The Gibeonite deception.
In verses 1-4: There are two contrasting reactions to the news about Israel's victories.
The kings of the various peoples gathered ... to fight (v. 2).
But the citizens of Gibeon acted with cunning (v. 4).
In verse 6: Their argument rests on being from a far country (also v. 9), exempting them from the extermination required by Deut 20.16-18.
In verse 7: In reality they are Hivites, one of the nations to be destroyed (9.1; Deut 20.17).
A treaty with any who live among Israel was forbidden (Deut 7.2).
In verse 8: Their language about being servants is respectful, but it is also ironic in light of vv. 21, 23, 27.
In verses 9-10: Their speech is similar to Rahab's confession (2.10-11), but is hypocritical.
In verse 15: All three Israelite parties fall for the ruse.
The ordinary Israelites of vv. 6 and 7 ("men" is the better reading) taste the evidence.
Joshua makes peace.
The leaders of the congregation swear an oath.
Gibeonites retained their special status as a foreign enclave down to the reign of David (2 Sam 21.1-6).
Comments or Questions..
Saturday, September 28, 2019
Reading for October 6th
Read Joshua 8.30-35
In 8.30-35: Building an altar, reading the law.
In verses 30-31: Joshua obeys Mosaic ordinance (Deut 11.29-30; 27.2-13) by building an altar for sacrifice, writing on stones (v. 32), and arranging the people for blessing and cursing (v. 33).
In verse 32: These are not the altar stones, but others set up in accordance with Deut 27.4.
In verses 34-35: In obedience to Deut 31.10-12, Joshua reads the book of the law (Deuteronomy), including the blessings and curses of Deut 28.
There is an emphasis on totality: All the words and all that is written are read to all the assembly.
Comments or Questions..
In 8.30-35: Building an altar, reading the law.
In verses 30-31: Joshua obeys Mosaic ordinance (Deut 11.29-30; 27.2-13) by building an altar for sacrifice, writing on stones (v. 32), and arranging the people for blessing and cursing (v. 33).
In verse 32: These are not the altar stones, but others set up in accordance with Deut 27.4.
In verses 34-35: In obedience to Deut 31.10-12, Joshua reads the book of the law (Deuteronomy), including the blessings and curses of Deut 28.
There is an emphasis on totality: All the words and all that is written are read to all the assembly.
Comments or Questions..
Friday, September 27, 2019
Reading for October 5th
Read Joshua 8.14-29
In 8.14-29: Victory at Ai.
In verses 14-15: The sight of Israel's main army draws the forces of Ai out to the north.
Israel's withdrawal pulls them further away from the city in the direction of the wilderness, that is eastward away from the ambush on the west (vv. 12-13).
In verse 19: Joshua's extended sword signals the ambush to overrun the undefended (v. 17) city.
in verses 20-21: The smoke of the city both disheartens the defenders and signals the Israelite main body to turn and attack.
Biblical narratives are not always in strict chronological order: v. 21 overlaps with the last part of v. 20.
In verse 22: The Israelite ambush comes out of Ai to attack the enemy's rear, so they were surrounded by Israelites.
In verses 25-27: Devoting the enemy population to destruction (utterly destroyed; v. 26) but sparing the booty follows the pattern set in v. 2.
In verse 28: Joshua's action explains the name Ai, which means "the ruin."
In verse 29: Exposing an enemy's body was a great insult (1 Sam 31.10).
Joshua is careful not to violate Deut 21.22-23.
This great heap of stones was presumably a well-known landmark (compare 7.26; 10.27).
Comments or Questions..
In 8.14-29: Victory at Ai.
In verses 14-15: The sight of Israel's main army draws the forces of Ai out to the north.
Israel's withdrawal pulls them further away from the city in the direction of the wilderness, that is eastward away from the ambush on the west (vv. 12-13).
In verse 19: Joshua's extended sword signals the ambush to overrun the undefended (v. 17) city.
in verses 20-21: The smoke of the city both disheartens the defenders and signals the Israelite main body to turn and attack.
Biblical narratives are not always in strict chronological order: v. 21 overlaps with the last part of v. 20.
In verse 22: The Israelite ambush comes out of Ai to attack the enemy's rear, so they were surrounded by Israelites.
In verses 25-27: Devoting the enemy population to destruction (utterly destroyed; v. 26) but sparing the booty follows the pattern set in v. 2.
In verse 28: Joshua's action explains the name Ai, which means "the ruin."
In verse 29: Exposing an enemy's body was a great insult (1 Sam 31.10).
Joshua is careful not to violate Deut 21.22-23.
This great heap of stones was presumably a well-known landmark (compare 7.26; 10.27).
Comments or Questions..
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Reading for October 4th
Read Joshua 8.1-13
In 8.1-13: Setting a trap at Ai.
In verse 2: From now on, Israel is to follow the more usual pattern of killing all potential slaves, but keeping the other spoils of war.
Even though ultimate victory is given by the Lord (vv. 1, 7, 18), human strategy (an ambush) is still required.
In verse 3; Here the ambush is thirty thousand strong; in v. 12 it will number only five thousand.
Such irregularities result when narrative versions were blended together.
In verse 8: The tactical purpose of setting the city on fire is not revealed until v. 20.
Unanswered questions boost the readers interest.
Comments or Questions..
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Reading for October 3rd
Read Joshua 7.16-26
In 7.16-26: Discovery and punishment.
In verses 16-18: That Joshua rose early in the morning signals obedient zeal (3.1; 6.12).
The sacred lot gave only a yes or no answer, so the discovery process moves down through smaller and smaller social units: tribe, clan, family (household).
In verse 19: Because confession acknowledges God's justice, it is the equivalent of giving glory to the Lord.
In verse 21: Cloth, silver, and gold are typical items of plunder (2 Kings 7.8).
The mantle from Shinar would be a costly outer robe imported from Babylon.
In verse 22: Discovery of the silver underneath (v. 21) communicates the complete accuracy of Achan's confession.
In verses 25-26: The trouble (better: "state of ritual isolation": 6.18) brought on by Achan connects to the Valley of Achor where later generations could view the stone pile that marked his grave.
Comments or Questions..
In 7.16-26: Discovery and punishment.
In verses 16-18: That Joshua rose early in the morning signals obedient zeal (3.1; 6.12).
The sacred lot gave only a yes or no answer, so the discovery process moves down through smaller and smaller social units: tribe, clan, family (household).
In verse 19: Because confession acknowledges God's justice, it is the equivalent of giving glory to the Lord.
In verse 21: Cloth, silver, and gold are typical items of plunder (2 Kings 7.8).
The mantle from Shinar would be a costly outer robe imported from Babylon.
In verse 22: Discovery of the silver underneath (v. 21) communicates the complete accuracy of Achan's confession.
In verses 25-26: The trouble (better: "state of ritual isolation": 6.18) brought on by Achan connects to the Valley of Achor where later generations could view the stone pile that marked his grave.
Comments or Questions..
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.
Comments or Questions..
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.
Comments or Questions..
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