Day 69: Joshua 22-24

(The previous post concluded the distribution of land in Israel, listed the cities of refuge, and listed the cities given to the Levites.)

Joshua 22
¹ Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,
² and said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded you, and have hearkened unto my voice in all that I commanded you:
³ ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of Jehovah your God.
⁴ And now Jehovah your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he spake unto them: therefore now turn ye, and get you unto your tents, unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave you beyond the Jordan.
⁵ Only take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded you, to love Jehovah your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
⁶ So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away; and they went unto their tents.

(Joshua told the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh to return to their inheritance on the eastern side of the Jordan River. These tribes kept their end of the bargain and fought with their brothers until all the tribes had rest. Joshua blessed them and sent them away.)

⁷ Now to the one half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given inheritance in Bashan; but unto the other half gave Joshua among their brethren beyond the Jordan westward; moreover when Joshua sent them away unto their tents, he blessed them,
⁸ and spake unto them, saying, Return with much wealth unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.
⁹ And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the land of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the commandment of Jehovah by Moses.

(The two and a half tribes departed with much wealth.)

(The rest of this chapter covered a major conflict between the tribes on either side of the Jordan River.)

¹⁰ And when they came unto the region about the Jordan, that is in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, a great altar to look upon.

(The two and a half tribes had great wealth and built a great altar.)

¹¹ And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar in the forefront of the land of Canaan, in the region about the Jordan, on the side that pertaineth to the children of Israel.
¹² And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up against them to war.

(The whole congregation gathered at Shiloh to go to war against the two and a half tribes. Does this seem a bit impulsive? Did the nine and a half tribes try to find out why the other tribes built an altar?)

¹³ And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest,
¹⁴ and with him ten princes, one prince of a fathers' house for each of the tribes of Israel; and they were every one of them head of their fathers' houses among the thousands of Israel.
¹⁵ And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and they spake with them, saying,
¹⁶ Thus saith the whole congregation of Jehovah, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following Jehovah, in that ye have builded you an altar, to rebel this day against Jehovah?

(The congregation confronted the two and a half tribes that built an altar. This confrontation was filled with judgment. It seemed the nine and a half tribes were convinced this was an act of rebellion before the two and a half tribes were able to answer.)

¹⁷ Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves unto this day, although there came a plague upon the congregation of Jehovah,
¹⁸ that ye must turn away this day from following Jehovah? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to-day against Jehovah, that to-morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.
¹⁹ Howbeit, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of Jehovah, wherein Jehovah's tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against Jehovah, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar besides the altar of Jehovah our God.
²⁰ Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the devoted thing, and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.

(The nine and a half tribes were afraid that the two and a half tribes were trespassing against the Lord and that all of Israel would have to pay. They confronted the two and a half tribes with experience: Achan in Joshua 7. They did not confront them with understanding.)

²¹ Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered, and spake unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,
²² The Mighty One, God, Jehovah, the Mighty One, God, Jehovah, he knoweth; and Israel he shall know: if it be in rebellion, or if in trespass against Jehovah (save thou us not this day,)

(God knew. The nine and a half tribes were afraid of what the two and a half tribes did. They did not know the how/why of what the two and a half tribes did. God did know and would judge.)

²³ that we have built us an altar to turn away from following Jehovah; or if to offer thereon burnt-offering or meal-offering, or if to offer sacrifices of peace-offerings thereon, let Jehovah himself require it;
²⁴ and if we have not rather out of carefulness done this, and of purpose, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with Jehovah, the God of Israel?
²⁵ for Jehovah hath made the Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no portion in Jehovah: so might your children make our children cease from fearing Jehovah.
²⁶ Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice:
²⁷ but it shall be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we may do the service of Jehovah before him with our burnt-offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace-offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no portion in Jehovah.

(The why behind the altar: The two and a half tribes did not want to be mistaken for people who did not have a part in the Lord. The altar was a witness between the nine and a half tribes and the two and a half tribes.)

²⁸ Therefore said we, It shall be, when they so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we shall say, Behold the pattern of the altar of Jehovah, which our fathers made, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice; but it is a witness between us and you.
²⁹ Far be it from us that we should rebel against Jehovah, and turn away this day from following Jehovah, to build an altar for burnt-offering, for meal-offering, or for sacrifice, besides the altar of Jehovah our God that is before his tabernacle.

(The two and a half tribes made it clear that this altar was not meant to replace the altar of God in the tabernacle. This altar was meant to testify of the two and a half tribe's part in Israel.)

³⁰ And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation, even the heads of the thousands of Israel that were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them well.

(When Phinehas and the other leaders heard the why, it pleased them.)

³¹ And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we know that Jehovah is in the midst of us, because ye have not committed this trespass against Jehovah: now have ye delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of Jehovah.
³² And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again.
³³ And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and spake no more of going up against them to war, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and the children of Gad dwelt.

(The why also pleased all the children of Israel. Although the approach that was used by the nine and a half tribes to confront the two and a half was rather rash, they proved their willingness to hear the two and a half by how they responded. The nine and a half tribes proved their humility.)

³⁴ And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: For, said they, it is a witness between us that Jehovah is God.

(They called the altar Ed. Ed meant "witness; testimony; evidence (of things).")




Joshua 23

(This chapter covered Joshua's farewell.)

¹ And it came to pass after many days, when Jehovah had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua was old and well stricken in years;
² that Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders and for their heads, and for their judges and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and well stricken in years:

(Joshua was old and he called for the leaders of Israel.)

³ and ye have seen all that Jehovah your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for Jehovah your God, he it is that hath fought for you.
⁴ Behold, I have allotted unto you these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun.
⁵ And Jehovah your God, he will thrust them out from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as Jehovah your God spake unto you.
⁶ Therefore be ye very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;

(Joshua reminded the elders, heads, judges, and officers to be courageous and to keep all the Law.)

⁷ that ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves unto them;
⁸ but cleave unto Jehovah your God, as ye have done unto this day.
⁹ For Jehovah hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath stood before you unto this day.
¹⁰ One man of you shall chase a thousand; for Jehovah your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he spake unto you.
¹¹ Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love Jehovah your God.

(They were told to "cleave" to God and Joshua gave them the value in doing this. This was the same word as what was used in Genesis 2:24 to state that a man ought to cleave to his wife. We ought to cleave to something greater for our benefit.)

¹² Else if ye do at all go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you;
¹³ know for a certainty that Jehovah your God will no more drive these nations from out of your sight; but they shall be a snare and a trap unto you, and a scourge in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which Jehovah your God hath given you.

(Joshua told them what would happen if they cleaved unto the people of the land, which was actually cleaving to something worse than cleaving to God and even worse that cleaving to their own people of Israel.)

¹⁴ And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which Jehovah your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, not one thing hath failed thereof.
¹⁵ And it shall come to pass, that as all the good things are come upon you of which Jehovah your God spake unto you, so will Jehovah bring upon you all the evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which Jehovah your God hath given you.
¹⁶ When ye transgress the covenant of Jehovah your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and bow down yourselves to them; then will the anger of Jehovah be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.

(If/when Israel broke the Covenant and served other gods, God would be angry and would cause them to perish from off the land He gave them. Cleaving to something lesser than one's self results in destruction.)




Joshua 24

(This chapter covered the renewal of the Covenant between God and Israel.)

¹ And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.

(Next, Joshua spoke to Israel on behalf of God...)

² And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt of old time beyond the River, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor: and they served other gods.
³ And I took your father Abraham from beyond the River, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.
⁴ And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it: and Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.
⁵ And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did in the midst thereof: and afterward I brought you out.
⁶ And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and with horsemen unto the Red Sea.
⁷ And when they cried out unto Jehovah, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes saw what I did in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness many days.

(This covered the time from Abram through being released from slavery in Egypt: from Genesis 13 through Exodus 12.)

⁸ And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, that dwelt beyond the Jordan: and they fought with you; and I gave them into your hand, and ye possessed their land; and I destroyed them from before you.
⁹ Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel: and he sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you;
¹⁰ but I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.

(God brought up Balaam again (Numbers 22).)

¹¹ And ye went over the Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Girgashite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; and I delivered them into your hand.
¹² And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; not with thy sword, nor with thy bow.
¹³ And I gave you a land whereon thou hadst not labored, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell therein; of vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.

(Joshua reminded Israel of what God did for them. He covered their entire story. This should have built their faith in God.)

¹⁴ Now therefore fear Jehovah, and serve him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt; and serve ye Jehovah.

(After he reminded them of how God blessed them, he said therefore (for this reason), they should fear God and serve Him in sincerity and truth.
-Sincerity meant "complete, whole, entire, sound."
-Truth meant "a right what with a right how/why."
This meant that because of the things God did for them, they ought to serve Him with their whole beings the right way and for the right reason.)

¹⁵ And if it seem evil unto you to serve Jehovah, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah.

(Essentially saying, "state your will, one way or the other."

Revelation 3:15-16 – "15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.")

¹⁶ And the people answered and said, Far be it from us that we should forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods;
¹⁷ for Jehovah our God, he it is that brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and that did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the peoples through the midst of whom we passed;
¹⁸ and Jehovah drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites that dwelt in the land: therefore we also will serve Jehovah; for he is our God.
¹⁹ And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve Jehovah; for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgression nor your sins.

(God is holy and jealous. Holy meant "of one substance." Jealous in this verse was the Hebrew word qanna. This word was specifically attached to the verses that described God. Other uses of the word "jealous" do not use this Hebrew word. This meant it was a word that was uniquely assigned to an attribute of God. This word was used of God as not bearing any rival. The word "jealous" occurred nineteen times in the KJV Bible and only six of those times was the word qanna used.)

²⁰ If ye forsake Jehovah, and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.
²¹ And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve Jehovah.
²² And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you Jehovah, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.

(The people stated their will. They agreed they would be witnesses against themselves.)

²³ Now therefore put away, said he, the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto Jehovah, the God of Israel.
²⁴ And the people said unto Joshua, Jehovah our God will we serve, and unto his voice will we hearken.
²⁵ So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.

(Joshua re-established the Covenant with God.)

²⁶ And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of Jehovah.
²⁷ And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us; for it hath heard all the words of Jehovah which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness against you, lest ye deny your God.
²⁸ So Joshua sent the people away, every man unto his inheritance.
²⁹ And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Jehovah, died, being a hundred and ten years old.

(Joshua died at 110 years old.)

³⁰ And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in the hill-country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.
³¹ And Israel served Jehovah all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, and had known all the work of Jehovah, that he had wrought for Israel.
³² And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in the parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money: and they became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.

(Joseph’s bones were buried in Shechem. See Genesis 50:25.)

³³ And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in the hill of Phinehas his son, which was given him in the hill-country of Ephraim.

(This post covered Joshua's final instructions to the Israelites before he died. Joshua was the keeper of Moses' ministry. Not only did Joshua lead the Israelites into the Promised Land in Moses' place, Joshua served God all his days. Joshua was the second Judge of Israel.)

(The second section of the Old Testament was known as the historical section. It consisted of twelve books that documented the history of Israel from its entry into the Promised Land until Israel's captivity. The Book of Joshua was the first book of the historical section and was believed to have been written by Joshua. This book documented the events of Joshua's life while he served as Israel's second Judge which included Israel's entry into the Promised Land.)

Day 70