The Promise Land

Twelve Memorial Stones from the Jordan (chapter 4)

When all the nation crossed over the Jordan, Joshua issued the following command (v.1) Select ONE man from each TRIBE Take 12 STONES from the river and place them here where we lay (v. 3) The 12 STONES were to serve as SIGN of God’s faithfulness What are other signs of God’s faithfulness?

Twelve Memorial Stones from the Jordan (chapter 4) Memorials in stone were common in OT Israel Jacob on FOUR occasions set up stones after a significant event in his life (Genesis 28:18; 31:45; 35:14; 20) In Joshua, there are many different stone memorials (4:1-9, 20-24; 8:28 – 32; 10:27; 22: ; 24:26 – 27) What was the purpose of a stone memorial?

Twelve Memorial Stones from the Jordan (chapter 4) Children would ask the question “What Does This Mean”? (v. 6) Then parents would retell the story of what God has done (v. 7) What are the things we can set up in our lives to encourage our children to ask the question, “What Does This Mean?”

Plains of Jericho is the area north of the Salt Sea that spreads out into a large flat plain of both sides of the Jordan river.

And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place (4:16 – 17)

The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho (4.19 )

What Does This Mean? Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground YAWHEH dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, just like he did at the Red Sea. So that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is might, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.

The New Generation Circumcised (chapter 5:1 – 9) When the Israelites crossed over the Jordan the Kings of the Ammorites and Canaanites lost their courage and spirit (5.1) Before the battle of Jericho Joshua CIRCUMCISED all the men of Israel. Why? For 38 years circumcision had ceased and now as the covenant had been renewed so did the sign of the covenant.

5:6 For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the L ORD ; the L ORD swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the L ORD had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 5:7 So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised. For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.

FIRST PASSOVER IN CANAAN Israel arrived in the Passover Land on the 10 th of Nissan (our March/April) This is the day which the Passover Lamb would be selected (Exodus 12:13) The males of Israel were circumcised so that the Passover could be performed properly (Exodus 12:48) Why do you think God times everything this way?

And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna fro the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. (5.11 – 12)

The Commander of the LORD’S army

Who Is This Man? He is the commander of the army of the Lord He has a sword drawn indicating he is read for battle Joshua worships him and calls him “my lord” Joshua also removes his sandals just as Moses did in the presence of the burning bush. The presence of this man makes the ground HOLY.

The Battle of Jericho (chapter 6)

Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in (6.1)

You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once, for six days. Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. (6.3-4)

And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets preceding the ark of the covenant marched around the city walls of Jericho (6.8)

The March of Jericho The size of Jericho is estimated to have been 9 – 12 acres. Its circumference may have been ½ mile to a mile. A large processional could circle Jericho in less than an hour. The Israelites were commended not shot or make your voice heard, until the seventh day. Each night they would come back to camp and spend the night. On the Seventh Day they would march around SEVEN times Why the march?

The Blowing of the Ram’s Horns

On the Seventh Day after the Seventh March, Joshua said to his people, “Shout, for the LORD has given you the city” (6.16)

Battle Instructions All that is within the walls of Jericho is DEVOTED to destruction (6.17) Except Rahab and her family (6:17) Keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction (6.18) Why? Except: Silver, Gold, and every vessel of Bronze and Iron. They will go into the LORD’S TREASURY (6.19)

Devoted To Destruction Verse 21 indicates what was to be destroyed – men, women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword. Destruction of Jericho is total. Israel is an agent of God’s JUSTICE Residents of Jericho are destroyed for not repenting of their unbelief, child sacrifice, ritual prostitution, and abominable practices even though they were given time to.

The two men who had spied went into Rahab’s house and brought her and all who belonged to her to live with them in Israel (6.22 – 25)