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The Book of Joshua, Chapter One
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REMEMBER the childhood game "follow the leader"? The idea was to
mimic the antics of the person in front of you in the line of boys and girls
winding through the neighborhood. Being a follower was all right, but being
leader was the most fun, creating imaginative routes and tasks for everyone else
to copy.
In real life, great leaders are rare. Often, men and women are
elected or appointed to leadership positions, but then falter or fail to act.
Others abuse their power to satisfy their egos, crushing their subjects and
squandering resources. But without faithful, ethical, and effective leaders,
people wander.
For 40 years, Israel had journeyed a circuitous route through the
desert, but not because they were following their leader. Quite the
opposite was true - with failing faith, they had refused to obey God and to
conquer Canaan. So they wandered. Finally, the new generation was ready to cross
the Jordan and possess the land. Having distinguished himself as a man of faith
and courage (he and Caleb gave the minority spy report recorded in Numbers
13:30-14:9), Joshua was chosen to be Moses' successor. This book records
Joshua's leadership of the people of God as they finish their march and conquer
the promised land.
Joshua was a brilliant military leader and a strong spiritual
influence. But the key to his success was his submission to God. When God spoke,
Joshua listened and obeyed. Joshua's obedience served as a model. As a result,
Israel remained faithful to God throughout Joshua's lifetime.
The book of Joshua is divided into two main parts. The first
narrates the events surrounding the conquest of Canaan. After crossing the
Jordan River on dry ground, the Israelites camped near the mighty city of
Jericho. God commanded the people to conquer Jericho by marching around the city
13 times, blowing trumpets, and shouting. Because they followed God's unique
battle strategy, they won (chapter 6). After the destruction of Jericho, they
set out against the small town of Ai. Their first attack was driven back because
one of the Israelites (Achan) had sinned (chapter 7). After the men of Israel
stoned Achan and his family - purging the community of its sin - the Israelites
succeeded in capturing Ai (chapter 8). In their next battle against the
Amorites, God even made the sun stand still to aid them in their victory
(chapter 10). Finally, after defeating other assorted Canaanites led by Jabin
and his allies (chapter 11), they possessed most of the land.
Part two of the book of Joshua records the assignment and
settlement of the captured territory (chapters 13-22). The book concludes with
Joshua's farewell address and his death (chapters 23, 24).
Joshua was committed to obeying God, and this book is about
obedience. Whether conquering enemies or settling the land, God's people were
required to do it God's way. In his final message to the people, Joshua
underscored the importance of obeying God. "So be very careful to love the Lord
your God" (23:11), and "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve ....
But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (24:15). Read Joshua and
make a fresh commitment to obey God today. Decide to follow your Lord wherever
he leads and whatever it costs.
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VITAL STATISTICS
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PURPOSE:
To give the history of Israel's conquest of the promised land
AUTHOR:
Joshua, except for the ending which may have been written by the high
priest Phinehas, an eyewitness to the events recounted there
SETTING:
Canaan, also called the promised land, which occupied the same general
geographical territory of modern-day Israel
KEY VERSE:
"Go through the camp and tell the people, 'Get your supplies ready.
Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession
of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own' " (1:11).
KEY PEOPLE:
Joshua, Rahab, Achan, Phinehas, Eleazar
KEY PLACES:
Jericho, Ai, Mount Ebal, Mount Gerizim, Gibeon, Gilgal, Shiloh, Shechem
SPECIAL FEATURE:
Out of over a million people, Joshua and Caleb were the only two who
left Egypt and entered the promised land.
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THE BLUEPRINT
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A. ENTERING THE PROMISED LAND (1:1—5:12)
1. Joshua leads the nation
2. Crossing the Jordan
Joshua demonstrated his faith in God as he took up the challenge
to lead the nation. The Israelites reaffirmed their commitment to God by
obediently setting out across the Jordan River to possess the land. As we live
the Christian life, we need to cross over from the old life to the new, put off
our selfish desires, and press on to possess all God has planned for us. Like
Joshua and Israel, we need courageous faith to live the new life.
B. CONQUERING THE PROMISED LAND (5:13—12:24)
1. Joshua attacks the center of the land
2. Joshua attacks the southern kings
3. Joshua attacks the northern kings
4. Summary of conquests
Joshua and his army moved from city to city, cleansing the land
of its wickedness by destroying every trace of idol worship. Conflict with evil
is inevitable, and we should be as merciless as Israel in destroying sin in our
lives.
C. DIVIDING THE PROMISED LAND (13:1—24:33)
1. The tribes receive their land
2. Special cities are set aside
3. Eastern tribes return home
4. Joshua's farewell to the leaders
Joshua urged the Israelites to continue to follow the Lord and
worship him alone. The people had seen God deliver them from many enemies and
miraculously provide for all their needs, but they were prone to wandering from
the Lord. Even though we may have experienced God at work in our lives, we too
must continually renew our commitment to obey him above all other authority and
to worship him alone.
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MEGATHEMES
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THEME
Success EXPLANATION
God gave success to the Israelites when they obeyed his master plan, not when they followed their own desires.
Victory came when they trusted in him rather than in their military power,
money, muscle, or mental capacity. IMPORTANCE
God's work done in God's way will bring his success. The standard for
success, however, is not to be set by the society around us but by God's Word.
We must adjust our minds to God's way of thinking in order to see his standard
for success. <>< <>< ><> ><>
THEME
Faith EXPLANATION
The Israelites demonstrated their faith by trusting God daily to save and
guide them. By noticing how God fulfilled his promises in the past, they
developed strong confidence that he would be faithful in the future.
IMPORTANCE
Our strength to do God's work comes from trusting him. His promises reassure
us of his love and that he will be there to guide us in the decisions and
struggles we face. Faith begins with believing he can be trusted. <>< <>< ><> ><>
THEME
Guidance EXPLANATION
God gave instructions to Israel for every aspect of their lives. His law
guided their daily living and his specific marching orders gave them victory in
battle. IMPORTANCE
Guidance from God for daily living can be found in his Word. By staying in
touch with God, we will have the needed wisdom to meet the great challenges of
life. <>< <>< ><> ><>
THEME
Leadership EXPLANATION
Joshua was an example of an excellent leader. He was confident in God's
strength, courageous in the face of opposition, and willing to seek God's
advice. IMPORTANCE
To be a strong leader like Joshua we must be ready to listen and to move
quickly when God instructs us. Once we have his instructions, we must be
diligent in carrying them out. Strong leaders are led by God. <>< <>< ><> ><>
THEME
Conquest EXPLANATION
God commanded his people to conquer the Canaanites and take all their land.
Completing this mission would have fulfilled God's promise to Abraham and
brought judgment on the evil people living there. Unfortunately, Israel never
finished the job. IMPORTANCE
Israel was faithful in accomplishing their mission at first, but their
commitment faltered. To love God means more than being enthusiastic about him.
We must complete all the work he gives us and apply his instructions to every
corner of our lives. <>< <>< ><> ><>
A. ENTERING THE PROMISED LAND (1:1—5:12)
After wandering for 40 years in the desert, a new generation is ready to
enter Canaan. But first God prepares both Joshua and the nation by teaching them
the importance of courageous and consistent faith. The nation then miraculously
crosses the Jordan River to begin the long-awaited conquest of the promised
land. Like Joshua, we too need faith to begin and continue living the Christian
life.
1. Joshua leads the nation
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Joshua's Profile
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One of the greatest challenges facing leaders is to replace
themselves, training others to become leaders. Many outstanding accomplishments
have been started by someone with great ability whose life or career ended
before the vision became reality. The fulfillment of that dream then became the
responsibility of that person's successor. Death is the ultimate deadline for
leadership. One of the best tests of our leadership is our willingness and
ability to train another for our position.
Moses made an excellent decision when he chose Joshua as his
assistant. That choice was later confirmed by God himself when he instructed
Moses to commission Joshua as his successor (Numbers 27:15-23). Joshua had
played a key role in the exodus from Egypt. Introduced as the field general of
Israel's army, he was the only person allowed to accompany Moses partway up the
mountain when Moses received the law. Joshua and Caleb were the only two among
the 12 spies to bring back an encouraging report after being sent into the
promised land the first time. Other references show him to have been Moses'
constant shadow. His basic training was living with Moses - experiencing
firsthand what it meant to lead God's people. This was modeling at its best!
Who is your Moses? Who is your Joshua? You are part of the chain of
God's ongoing work in the world. You are modeling yourself after others, and
others are patterning their lives after you. How important is God to those you
want to be like? Do those who are watching you see God reflected in every area
of your life? Ask God to lead you to a trustworthy Moses. Ask him to make you a
good Joshua.
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Joshua's Strengths and Accomplishments
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* Moses' assistant and successor
* One of only two adults who experienced Egyptian slavery and lived to enter the
promised land
* Led the Israelites into their God-given homeland
* Brilliant military strategist
* Faithful to ask God's direction in the challenges he faced
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Lessons from Joshua's Life
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* Effective leadership is often the product of good preparation and
encouragement
* The persons after whom we pattern ourselves will have a definite effect on us
* A person committed to God provides the best model for us
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Joshua's Vital Statistics
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* Where: Egypt, the Desert of Sinai, and Canaan (the promised land)
* Occupations: Special assistant to Moses, warrior, leader
* Relative: Father: Nun
* Contemporaries: Moses, Caleb, Miriam, Aaron
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Key Verses
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"Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before
Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. Then he laid his hands on him and
commissioned him, as the Lord instructed through Moses" (Numbers 27:22, 23).
Joshua is also mentioned in Exodus 17:9-14; 24:13; 32:17; 33:11; Numbers
11:28; 13; 14; 26:65; 27:18-23; 32:11-12, 28; 34:17; Deuteronomy 1:38; 3:21, 28;
31:3, 7, 14, 23; 34:9; the book of Joshua; Judges 2:6-9; and 1st Kings 16:34.
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The Lord Commands Joshua
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1. Who is Joshua the son of, who was Joshua an aide to, what
did the L ORD
tell Joshua, Moses (the LORD's servant), was, what did the LORD
tell Joshua that he and all the people were to get ready for, what did the LORD
say he was giving the Israelites, where did the LORD
say the Israelites territory extend from, whom did the LORD
say would be able to stand up against the Israelites all the days of their life,
and how did the LORD
say he would be as he was with Moses?
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As the book of Joshua opens, the Israelites are camped along the east bank of
the Jordan River at the very edge of the promised land and they are completing
the mourning period for Moses, who has just died.
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Cross-reference Deuteronomy 34:7, 8
(7)Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes
were not weak nor his strength gone. (8)The Israelites grieved for Moses in
the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was
over.
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Thirty-nine years earlier (after spending a year at Mount Sinai receiving God's
law), the Israelites had an opportunity to enter the promised land, but they
failed to trust God to give them victory. As a result, God did not allow them to
enter the land, but made them wander in the desert until the disobedient
generation had all died.
During their desert wanderings, the Israelites obeyed God's laws. They also
taught the new generation to obey God's laws so that they might enter the
promised land (also called Canaan). As the children grew, they were often
reminded that faith and obedience to God brought victory, while unbelief and
disobedience brought tragedy. When the last of the older generation had died and
the new generation had become adults, the Israelites prepared to make their
long-awaited claim on the promised land.
Joshua succeeded Moses as Israel's leader. What qualifications did
he have to become the leader of a nation? (1) God appointed him (Numbers
27:18-23). (2) He was one of only two living eyewitnesses to the Egyptian
plagues and the exodus from Egypt. (3) He was Moses' personal aide for 40 years.
(4) Of the 12 spies, only he and Caleb showed complete confidence that God would
help them conquer the land.
Because Joshua had assisted Moses for
many years, he was well prepared to take over the leadership of the nation.
Changes in leadership are common in many organizations. At such times, a smooth
transition is essential for the establishment of the new administration. This
doesn't happen unless new leaders are trained. If you are currently in a leadership
position, begin preparing someone to take your place. Then, when you leave or
are promoted, operations can continue to run efficiently. If you want to be a
leader, learn from others so that you will be prepared when the opportunity
comes.
Joshua's new job consisted of leading more than two million people into a
strange new land and conquering it. What a challenge - even for a man of Joshua's
caliber! Every new job is a challenge. Without God it can be frightening. With
God it can be a great adventure. Just as God was with Joshua, he is with us as
we face our new challenges. We may not conquer nations, but every day we face
tough situations, difficult people, and temptations. However, God promises that
he will never abandon us or fail to help us. By asking God to direct us we can
conquer many of life's challenges.
2. Why did the LORD
tell Joshua to be strong and courageous,
what did the LORD
tell Joshua to be careful to do, why did the LORD
tell Joshua to do this, what did the LORD
tell Joshua not to depart from his mouth, why did the LORD
tell Joshua to meditate on the Book of the Law day and night, what did the LORD
tell Joshua not to be, and why did the LORD
say this?
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Many people think that
prosperity and success come from having power, influential personal contacts,
and a relentless desire to get ahead. But the strategy for gaining prosperity
that God taught Joshua goes against such criteria. He said that to succeed
Joshua must (1) be strong and courageous because the task ahead would not be
easy, (2) obey God's law, and (3) constantly read and study the Book of the
Law - God's Word. To be successful, follow God's words to Joshua. You may not
succeed by the world's standards, but you will be a success in God's eyes - and
his opinion lasts forever.
3. What did Joshua order the officers of the people to do, what did Joshua
say will happen in three days, and what did Joshua say they were going to do?
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Joshua had a well-organized chain of command by which orders
could quickly be passed to the people. The supplies would have included the
manna that God continued to provide until Israel crossed into the land of
Canaan. (The NIV Commentary -
Zondervan)
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Cross-reference Joshua 5:12
(12)The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the
land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate
of the produce of Canaan.
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Each man was responsible for his own supplies since there was no
regular quartermaster's corps. Once the Israelites were in the land, they found
a ready food supply standing in the fields, for the invasion was begun during
the harvest season. (The NIV Commentary -
Zondervan)
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Cross-reference Joshua 3:15
(15)Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as
soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet
touched the water's edge,
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"Three days" simply means "the day after tomorrow" or "in a few
days." (The NIV Commentary -
Zondervan)
4. What did Joshua tell the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of
Manasseh to remember, what did Joshua say the LORD
was giving them (the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh), where did Joshua say the
Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh wives, their children and their
livestock may stay,
whom did Joshua say must cross over ahead of their brothers, how long did
Joshua say the
Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh had to help their brothers, and what did Joshua say the
Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh could
do after that?
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During the previous year, the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the
half-tribe of Manasseh had asked Moses if they could settle just east of the
promised land. The area was excellent pasture-land for their large flocks. Moses
agreed to give them the land on one condition - that they help their fellow tribes
enter and conquer the promised land. Only after the land was conquered could
they return to their homes. Now it was time for these three tribes to live up to
their agreement.
God was giving the people rest. This was wonderful news to these people
who had been on the move for their entire lives. The people who had no land
would be given a land of their own, and they would be able to settle and to
"rest."
5. What did the
Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh say they would do, how
did the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh say they would obey Joshua, what did the
Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh want the LORD
their God to do for Joshua, what did the Reubenites, the Gadites and the
half-tribe of Manasseh say will happen to whoever rebels
against Joshua's word and does not obey Joshua's words (whatever Joshua may
command them), and what did the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of
Manasseh tell Joshua to be?
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If everyone had tried to conquer the promised land his own
way, chaos would have resulted. In order to complete the enormous task
of conquering the land, everyone had to agree to the leader's plan and be willing to
support and obey him. If we are going to complete the tasks God has given us, we
must fully agree to his plan, pledge ourselves to obey it, and put his
principles into action. Agreeing to God's plan means both knowing what the plan
is (as found in the Bible) and carrying it out daily.
When God
commissioned Joshua, he was told three times to be strong and courageous (see
1:6, 7, 9). Here, Joshua was given the same kind of encouragement from the
people. Apparently, he took God's message to heart, and found the strength and
courage he needed in his relationship with God. The next time you are afraid to
do what you know is right, remember that strength and courage are readily
available from God.
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Answers to Joshua 1
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1. Nun...Moses...dead...to cross the Jordan River into the land
the L ORD
was about to give them - to the Israelites...every place where they set their
foot, as he promised Moses...the desert of Lebanon, and from the great river,
the Euphrates - all the Hittite country - to the Great Sea of the west...no
one...he will be with Joshua, he will never leave him nor forsake him (Joshua)
2. Because he will lead these people to inherit the land the LORD
swore to their forefathers to give them...to obey all the law the LORD's
servant Moses gave Joshua; do not turn from it to the right or to the left...so
that Joshua may be successful wherever he goes...this Book of the Law...so that
he may be careful to do everything written in it. Then he will be prosperous and
successful...terrified or discouraged...for the LORD
his God will be with him wherever he goes
3. To go through the camp and tell the people to get their supplies ready...they
will cross the Jordan... they were going to go in and take possession of the
land the LORD
their God is giving them for their own
4. The command that Moses the servant of the LORD
gave them...rest and has granted them this land...in the land that Moses gave
them east of the Jordan...all their fighting men (from the Reubenites, the
Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh), fully armed...until the LORD
gives them rest, as he has done for them, and until they too have taken
possession of the land that the LORD
their God is giving them...they may go back and occupy their own land
5. Whatever Joshua commanded them, they would do, and wherever Joshua sent them,
they would go...as they fully obeyed Moses...to be with him as he was with
Moses...they will be put to death...strong and courageous
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The Life Application Study Bible - NIV- Zondervan
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