Conquest and Judges

「A report reached the Israelites: “The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar opposite the land of Canaan, in the region of the Jordan, across from the Israelites.”」

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.

「GOD then said to Joshua, “Hold out the javelin in your hand toward Ai, for I will deliver it into your hands.” So Joshua held out the javelin in his hand toward the city.」

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.

「And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thy handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.」

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

Tracing tribal tensions back to the book of Joshua.

「And if you are afraid to attack, first go down to the camp with your attendant Purah」

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.

「This is the territory that remains: all the districts of the Philistines and all [those of] the Geshurites,」

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

Tracing tribal tensions back to the book of Joshua.

「but keep a distance of some two thousand cubits from it, never coming any closer to it—so that you may know by what route to march, since it is a road you have not traveled before.”」

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.

「And there was not a man left in Ai or Beth-el, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.」

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.

「On the seventh day, before the sunset, the townspeople said to him:“What is sweeter than honey,And what is stronger than a lion?”He responded:“Had you not plowed with my heifer,You would not have guessed my riddle!”」

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 Joshua dealt with them as GOD had ordered him; he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots.」

「His mother’s brothers said all this in his behalf to all the citizens of Shechem, and they were won over to Abimelech; for they thought, “He is our kinsman.”」

「And they said unto her, Nay, but we will return with thee unto thy people.」

「The king of the Ammonites replied to Jephthah’s messengers, “When Israel came from Egypt, they seized the land that is mine, from the Arnon to the Jabbok as far as the Jordan. Now, then, restore it peaceably.”」

「Israel has sinned! They have broken the covenant by which I bound them. They have taken of the proscribed and put it in their vessels; they have stolen; they have broken faith!」

「they took their daughters to wife and gave their own daughters to their sons, and they worshiped their gods.」

「Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.」

「from the Shihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the border of Ekron northward, which is reckoned to the Canaanites; the five lords of the Philistines; the Gazites, and the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avvim,」

「And the people, the princes of Gilead, said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.」

「And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.」

「He said to him, “Please, my Sovereign, how can I deliver Israel? Why, my clan is the humblest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s household.”」

「And ye shall describe the land into seven portions, and bring the description hither to me; and I will cast lots for you here before Jehovah our God.」

「the king of Makkedah 1the king of Bethel 1」

「should you wait for them to grow up? Should you on their account debar yourselves from marriage? Oh no, my daughters! My lot is far more bitter than yours, for GOD’s hand has struck out against me.”」

「Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez begat Hezron,」

「and they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, Jehovah commanded Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.」