Joshua/Judges

Joshua
Reading Joshua 1-8; 23, 24

Read Joshua 1:1–9 and compare Deuteronomy 31:7–8. What promise and
what exhortation is given to Joshua at the beginning of the campaign to
possess the land

Joshua 3 and 4 is the wonderful story of the crossing of the Jordan River.
Consider the following aspects of that story:
-The fact that there is a river (at flood stage) to cross (3:14)
-The fact that the ark of the covenant is to lead the procession
-The command to step forth into the river before the waters are miraculously stopped
-The twelve-stone memorial that is built to commemorate the crossing (4:20–24)

Joshua 5:13:15 records Joshua’s encounter with “the commander of the Lord’s
army.” What is the significance of this encounter?

The destruction of the city of Jericho and its inhabitants (except Rahab) is a
military high point for God’s people, but it is also one of many acts of war and
annihilation that troubles many Christians (and others) today. Is this simply
an “OT” vs. “NT” issue, or is there a way in which such acts can be seen as
morally justified?

God’s people are expected to define their lives upon God’s Word. The Biblical narratives focuses in on whenever this is done or not done.
-The story of Rehab: Not all Canaanites are “Canaanites”. Converts are always welcome.

-People then read the Deut 7 and 20 too literally. Joshua explains that is isn’t ethnic cleansing; but ethical cleansing.

The story of the book of Joshua is a story of victory (Jericho and other
settlements), disobedience and defeat (Ai), crime and execution (Achan),
deception (the Gibeonites), failure to strictly obey God (Joshua’s treaty with
the Gibeonites), battles against native populations (where the sun stands still
—Joshua 10), possession and allotment of land, the institution of cities of
refuge (Joshua 20). But there are also moments of consecration:

Joshua 8:30–35 (fulfillment of Deuteronomy 27:1–8): renewal of the Sinai covenant after entering the land

Joshua 23 and 24: Joshua’s “farewell address” and exhortation (Joshua 23) and the renewal of the covenant after possessing and settling the land (Joshua 24). The “choice” of Joshua 24:15.


Judges
Reading: Judges 2; 13-16

The Book of Judges sees the twelve tribes of Israel settled in the land of
promise, but there is no “happily living ever after.” There remain more
Canaanites to drive out, but the Israelites fail to drive out pockets of
indigenous people. Read the following passages:
· Judges 2:1–5: Disobedience to God’s covenant and punishment
· Judges 2:10–15: Apostasy of the new generation, and God’s judgment
· Judges 2:16–19: God raises up judges, and the cycles of judgment (See Drama p. 86)
· Judges 2:20–23: God’s purpose in leaving remnants of indigenous peoples.

Why were the Israelites attracted to the worship of Baal? See Drama p. 87.
Ch. 2 Israel is seen committing the same sins Joshua predicted and the sins they swore they would never committee.
· Fertility Religion Committing “Fertility” acts to get the gods to bless them with fertility.

Deborah and Gideon are the two most remarkable of the judges, and their
stories are told in full in the Book of Judges. How are they models of godly
leadership? (Deborah: Judges 4 and 5; Gideon: Judges 6–8).
· Israel’s victory came through women. Introduces gender theme in Judges

13-16 Samson and Delilah (Samson’s name means Sun, Delilah’s name mean Night)

The most colorful of the judges is Samson, who is a Nazirite. What is a
Nazirite and what was important about being a Nazirite? How is Samson’s
career a “mirror to the behavior of Israel itself”? (See Drama pg. 87).



General Notes:

Characters: Comprehensive in nature.
-God does everything he said he was going to do.
-The people do almost everything
-Judges is written out of the “almost”
-The book will show that for God “Almost is not enough”

Joshua --> Good
--> The two narratives play off one another
Judges --> Bad

Success and prosperity is about living your life in conformity with the Word of God/scriptures. “Biblical” success is not to be confused with American “success”.

Joshua

Occupation: 1-12
Distribution: 12-22
Speeches: 23-24
· Speeches act as a Commentary on Campaign

The Gift of the Land
· The Lord leads Israel to the land (1-5:12)
· The Lord gives Israel the land (5:13-12)
· The Lord allocates the land (13-22)
· The Lord renews the covenant (23,24)

Conquest: Lord’s work
The Lord leads Israel into the land (Josh. 3,4)
The Lord comes as commander (5:13-15)
The Lord brings down Jericho (6)
The Lord gives victory (9-12)

Covenant Options on Land
Jericho: Blessing on faith/obedience
Ai: Curse on unbelief/disobedience
Mt. Ebal (Josh. 8:30-35)
Shechem (24)

‘Holy War’
Why complete destruction?
Judgment on wicked nations (Gen. 15:16)
Danger of idolatry
God’s redemptive beachhead


Victory and Responsibility in the military campaigns
· Extraordinary victory of Jericho 2-6
o Failure at Ai because of individual sin 7-8
o Failure with Gibeon because of corporate lapse 9
· The sun stood still for southern campaign
- YHWH fought for Israel (10:14, 42; 23:3, 9-10)
- Israel had corporate responsibility for obedience that extended to every person
- Not enough to obey the “letter of the law”; true obedience is based on faith and humility.

Confrontation with Gibeon
They are far away- (Deut 20)
Can make a treaty with them.
· *Eventually these people take care of the ark because the treaty was made.
Israel deceived by not consulting God.
Obedience isn’t going through the motions, but it is about doing it with the right heart attitude.
Not blind literalness to the text, but a true loyalty to God.


Judges

Not just a book about personal moral stories as they are often taught in churches as individual isolated events. As a whole we must look for the theological agenda in the book of Judges.
Narratives are not a story for those involved, but those who would hear and read the story later.

Often times the stories are formulated in these ways:
3:7 --> Israel did evil in the eyes of the Lord
3:12 --> same story
3:9 --> often there is placement of “The people cried out to the lord”

Typical structure:
* In the second part of the book the people cease to rest. Also see Drama of Scripture pg. 86.Evil
Oppressed
Delivered
Rest
Evil etc…

Failure to Be Display People
Israel fails to take land (Ju. 1)
Covenant court case (2:1-5)
Judgment pronounced: Cycles (2:11-23)
Cycles elaborated historically (3-16)
Corruption illustrated (17-21)

Judges is a downward spiral until you reach the end of the book and realize it was always bad.

Othniel Abimelech--> Anti-Judge
Ehud Good
Deborah Judges Jephthah Problem
Gideon Samson Judges