Jericho

「When King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem learned that Joshua had captured Ai and proscribed it, treating Ai and its king as he had treated Jericho and its king, and that, moreover, the inhabitants of Gibeon had come to terms with Israel and remained among them,」

The sacred chest symbolizing God's covenant presence with Israel, guiding and blessing them.

How did Joshua's allotment of the twelve tribes foreshadow the later division of the kingdom?

Tribal tensions in Joshua—geographic and identity fissures that foreshadowed future division.

「Curving northward, it ran on to En-shemesh and ran on to Geliloth, facing the Ascent of Adummim, and descended to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben.」

Twelve stones taken from the Jordan riverbed set up as a permanent sign of God's miraculous crossing, meant to teach future generations of His faithfulness.

Were there already seeds of north-south division in the Joshua period?

Tracing tribal tensions back to the book of Joshua.

「And Joshua said unto them, If thou be a great people, get thee up to the forest, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim; since the hill-country of Ephraim is too narrow for thee.」

The land promised by God to Israel as a possession, symbolizing covenant blessing and rest.

Before the kingdom split, what seeds of division were already sown in the Joshua era?

Joshua's closing record of unconquered lands and intermingled peoples foreshadowed the coming split.

「Three days later, the officials went through the camp」

God's sacred name and reputation, tied to His glory and faithfulness, often invoked to plead for divine action.

Before the kingdom split, what seeds of division were already sown in the Joshua era?

Joshua's closing record of unconquered lands and intermingled peoples foreshadowed the coming split.

「And he said, Nay; but as prince of the host of Jehovah am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?」

The five daughters of Zelophehad who, having no male heirs, successfully claimed their father's inheritance under Mosaic law, establishing a landmark precedent for women's inheritance rights.

How did Joshua's allotment of the twelve tribes foreshadow the later division of the kingdom?

Tribal tensions in Joshua—geographic and identity fissures that foreshadowed future division.

「Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go; for ye have not passed this way heretofore.」

An honorific title for Moses emphasizing his special role as God's agent who carried out divine instructions, particularly in allocating the land to the tribes of Israel.

Were there already seeds of division among the tribes in Joshua's time?

From Joshua's farewell charge, look back at tensions within the tribal confederation.

「the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Beth-el, one;」

Caleb's exclusive devotion to God, serving as a model of faith that secures divine promises.

Were there already seeds of division among the tribes in Joshua's time?

From Joshua's farewell charge, look back at tensions within the tribal confederation.

「Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt gather unto thee into the house thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household.」

The nearest relative of a murder victim responsible for avenging the death, yet subject to mercy through cities of refuge. Reflects God's balance of justice and mercy.

Were there already seeds of north-south division in the Joshua period?

Tracing tribal tensions back to the book of Joshua.

「No one shall be able to resist you as long as you live. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.」

Divine command to Joshua not to fear mighty armies, emphasizing trust in God's promised victory.

「Therefore, divide this territory into hereditary portions for the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”」

Supernatural confusion and fear inflicted by God on enemies, demonstrating divine sovereignty and victory in battle.

「And the west border was to the great sea, and the border thereof. This is the border of the children of Judah round about according to their families.」

Allowed to inherit land in the absence of male heirs, demonstrating God's justice and care for women's rights.

「Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,」

God's promise to Joshua echoing the divine name from Exodus 3, assuring divine presence and non-abandonment.

「Joshua then turned back and captured Hazor and put its king to the sword.—Hazor was formerly the head of all those kingdoms.—」

The sacred practice of casting lots before the LORD to apportion land, signifying divine sovereignty and providential guidance in the division of the inheritance.

「Then the children of Judah drew nigh unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that Jehovah spake unto Moses the man of God concerning me and concerning thee in Kadesh-barnea.」

Moses's distinctive title highlighting his role as God's appointed agent; links the conquest narrative to Mosaic authority, covenant faithfulness, and God's promises to Israel.

「The family heads of the Levites approached the priest Eleazar, Joshua son of Nun, and the family heads of the Israelite tribes,」

A land share granted by God to each tribe, underscoring individual and communal blessings within the covenant.

「And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families; and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid;」

The tribe set apart for serving God and managing the tabernacle/temple, who received no contiguous territory but were scattered among the tribes.

「And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites, even the rest of the children of Kohath, they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.」

Hebrew for fraud or trickery. The Gibeonites' disguise reveals Israel's failure to seek God's guidance before making critical decisions—a spiritual lapse.

「Joshua thereupon rent his clothes. He and the elders of Israel lay until evening with their faces to the ground in front of the Ark of GOD; and they strewed earth on their heads.」

The active, ever-present God who manifests power and drives out enemies before His people.

「From the wilderness, and this Lebanon, even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border.」

Items totally devoted to God in war, forbidden for personal use; violating this ban brings divine judgment.

「Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,」

Ancestors of a race of giants; King Og of Bashan was their last remnant. Their defeat represents the end of the pre-Israelite, mysterious peoples of the land.

「So the people shouted, and the priests blew the trumpets; and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, that the people shouted with a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.」

A sacred agreement between God and Israel (or with Gibeon) establishing peace and unity, central to biblical theology.

「and it went down westward to the border of the Japhletites, unto the border of Beth-horon the nether, even unto Gezer; and the goings out thereof were at the sea.」

The tribe set apart for service in the sanctuary; their inheritance is the LORD Himself.

「The vanguard marched in front of the priests who were blowing the horns, and the rear guard marched behind the Ark, with the horns sounding all the time.」

The divine Teaching given through Moses, the foundational guide for Israel's covenant life. Joshua commands faithful observance without deviation to either side.

「These were the appointed cities for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person unwittingly might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.」

God's repeated command to Joshua, emphasizing courage and reliance on divine presence.