Reading for October 8th

 Read Joshua 2.15-24. In 2.15-24: The spies renegotiate. In verse 15: it is difficult to reconcile the location of Rahab's house with the collapse of Jericho's wall in Jos 6. In verse 16: She is still in charge. These three days are difficult to correlate with the three days of 1.11 and 3,2. In verses 17-20: Once they are safely out of Rahab's trap, the spies seek to clarify their obligations in order to avoid violating them unintentionally. They must insist on a conspicuous means of identification, strict concentration of Rahab's family in one place, and that their secret be kept. In verse 24; The spies report only what Rahab has told (vv. 9, 11). Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 7th

 Read Joshua 2.1-14. In 2.1-14: Rahab outsmarts the spies. In verse 1: Rahab is a legally independent woman with her own house, where the presence of strangers would not be questioned. The spies apparently think this is a good place to gather information. In verse 3: Come to you (also v. 4) has a double meaning. Understood as as "come into you" it can imply sexual intercourse. In verses 6-7: Although she saves them from the king, they find themselves  trapped on her roof with the city gate shut. Their situation gives her leverage to negotiate an agreement. The pursuers block their route back, deepening their predicament. In verse 8: Rahab take the initiative in the negotiations. In verses 9-11: She provides the content of the spies' eventual report (v. 24) and confesses that the Lord is the universal God (Echoing Deut 4.39). Sihon and Og were utterly destroyed (v. 10), that is devoted to destruction in holy war. This is the fate Rahab seeks to avoid. In verses 12-14: She suggests a pact of reciprocal protection, and the spies agree. She has dealt kindly (v. 12) by showing faithfulness to the relationship between host and guest. In return they are to deal kindly by honoring an agreement to protect her extended family. Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 6th

 Read Joshua 1.10-18. In 1.10-18: Joshua commands the people. In verse 11: These three days are concluded by 3.2. In verses 12-15: These tribes have already occupied land east of the Jordan. The command of Moses is reported in Deut 3.18-20. Rest (vv. 13, 15) is security in the land established by defeat of the enemy (21.44;23.1), In verses 17-18: The eastern tribes agree with enthusiasm, but their double use of only introduces some tension into the plot. Will the Lord be with Joshua? Will Joshua be strong and courageous. Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 5th

 Read Joshua 1.1-9. In 1.1-9: The Lord commissions Joshua. Joshua is to move westward across the river in  order to give Israel possession of the land (v. 6), In verse 3: To walk over land was a way of legally claiming it. In verse 4: The idea that the land of promise extends to the river Euphrates reflects Deut 11,24 and royal ideology (Ps 72.8. In verse 5: The Lord as divine warrior promises Joshua military success (see v. 3) and a supportive presence (v. 9). In verses 7-8: The theology reflects Deuteronomy: Undeviating obedience to the book of the law produces prosperity and success. Joshua is to be like the ideal king of Deut 17.18-20. Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 4th

 Read Philemon verses 17-25. In verses 17-25: Request and closing. The letter opened in both private and public spheres and closes in the same way, with the greetings in vv. 24 and 25. In verse 17: So, a transitional word marking the start of the final section. In verse 19: My own hand, Paul probably dictated his letters to a scribe (1 Cor 16.2; Gal 6.11) but here he writes himself. In verse 20: Benefit; Greek "onaimen," similar to Onesimus. In verse 21: More that I say, perhaps "more than I say obliquely"; Philemon must decide freely. In verses 23-24: Epaphras, see Col 1.7; 4.12. The others are mentioned in Col 4.1--17, which includes Jesus Justus as well. In verse 25: A similar benediction is found in Phil 4.23; Gal 6.18 Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 3rd

 Read Philemon 8-16. In verse 8-16: Paul's appeal. In verse 8: For this reason, a transition marks a new section. In verse 9: Old man could mean "ambassador,' but likely refers to Paul's age. In verse 10: My child, a metaphor for a convert. See 1 Cor 4.14, 17; Gal 4.19. In verse 11: Useless ... useful, see introduction and not 1. In verse 15: he was separated, is a passive form, possibly suggesting God as the cause, underlining the point that the delay was benefical. Comments or Question...

Reading for October 2nd

 Read Philemon verse 1-7. In verses 1-7: Opening and thanksgiving. Paul praises Philemon but does not mention Onesimus. He wants Philemon to act out of good will, so he establishes Philemon's good will at the start. Because he wants Philemon to accept Onesimus, Paul very heart (v.12), he praises Philemon's love. In verse 1: Timothy, see 1 Thess 3.1-6; 1 Cor 4.17; Phil.= 2.29-24. Dear, the Greek is the same as "beloved," used for Onesimus in vv. 5, 7, 9, 16. In verse 2: Apphia or sister, in the Lord. Archippus, see Col 4.17. Fellow soldier, see Phil 2.25. Church in your house, early Christians worshipped in private homes (Rom 16.5;1 Cor 16.19; Col 4.15). In verse 5: Love for all the saints, extravagant praise so the Philemon will love the new saint, Onesimus, In verse 6: The good, see Rom 10.15; Phil 1.6; 1 Thess 5.15; Gal 6,10. On verse 7: Hearts, literally "inward parts." Comments or Questions..