Week 13 - Joshua 9-Judges 5
This week we continue on with the story of the Israelites; their struggles, battles, conflicts, and God’s continued grace through it all.
Joshua 9-11
After destroying Jericho and Ai, the people living in Gibeon deceived Joshua
and the people into making a peace treaty with them. Joshua and the elders in
Israel failed to seek the Lord before making this treaty, so they would become
temple servants going forward. God brought about a great victory over 5 Amorite
kings who attempted to punish the inhabitants of Gibeon.
Chapters 10-11 recount many battles against the nations of that land, and the
Lord gave Joshua total victory over every king and city and nation they fought
against. First conquering most of the nations in the south, and then into Galilee
and to Mount Herman in the north. However, not all of the nations were
destroyed and ejected.
Joshua 12-14
Joshua lists all of the kings and people who were conquered in battle, and the
boundaries of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh are
called out. Hebron, and the surrounding region is given to Caleb as previously
promised.
Joshua 15-17
The inheritance of Judah is with much territory in the southern half of the
country. Ephraim and (half of Manasseh) are given territory in the central region
of the land. Caleb drove out the inhabitants in his allotted territory, but in Judah
the Jebusites continued to hold the city of Jerusalem (until the days of David),
and the Philistines continued to control the Gaza Strip, and the land between
Judah and Egypt to the Southwest. Likewise, Ephraim and Manasseh failed to
completely drive out the inhabitants of the land within their allotted territories.
Joshua 18-19
The Tabernacle of Meeting is set up at Shiloh, and it will remain there some
400 years, until the days of David, and then the building of Solomon’s Temple in
Jerusalem.
The remainder of the land is surveyed, and divided by lot between the
remaining 7 tribes (Reuben, Gad, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Judah were already
allotted). Simeon is not given a distinct boundary, but is given some cities within
the inheritance of Judah, and the Levites are similarly given cities throughout the
territories of Israel, fulfilling the prophecy of Jacob, who predicted that they would
be “dispersed and scattered in Israel” (Genesis 49:7).
Joshua 20-22
Six cities of refuge are established (which are also among the cities given to
the Levites), with 3 to the west of the Jordan, and 3 to the east, so that a person
inaccurately accused of murder can flee to the closest one for refuge.
Forty eight cities in all of Israel are given to the Levites, by their families.
The men of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh are released to return to their
inheritance and families to the east of the Jordan, and they build a monument as
a message to future generations that they also serve Jahweh, even though they
live on the far side of the Jordan River.
Joshua 23-Judges 1
At the end of Joshua’s life he calls together the elders of Israel, and
challenges them to a commitment of serving Jahweh, and refusing to serve the
idols of Egypt, or of the remaining pagans living in their land. The people swear
to serve the Lord, but over time that commitment fades, as those elders in Israel
died off.
After Joshua died, the tribes of Judah (under Caleb’s leadership) joined with
Simeon and did a good job of driving out the Canaanites and Perizzites from
most of their inherited territory. The remaining tribes were not so diligent in doing
that same thing, and they left many of the pagans living among them.
Judges 2-5
After Joshua died, and the elders who were alive in his time, the people
gradually fell into worshipping idols, and as God had promised to them through
Moses and Joshua, He allowed the enemies of Israel to persecute His people.
When the people would repent, and cry out to God for help, He would then raise
up judges to lead the people, and fight against their oppressors.
In the decades that followed, God raised up Othniel to defeat the king of
Mesopotamia, and then many years later He raised up Ehud to lead Israel in
defeating the king of Moab. After the days of Ehud, the Canaanite king Jabin
oppressed the people, and God raised up Deborah as judge in Israel, and Barak
to fight against the Canaanite general Sisera.