Joshua WeekDateTopic 107 Sep 11Introduction to the Book of Joshua 214 Sep 11Chapter 1:1-2:24 - Into the Promised Land Part I 321 Sep 11Chapter 3:1-5:12 – Into the Promised Land Part II 428 Sep 11Chapter 5:13 – 8:35 - Possession of the Land Part I 505 Oct 11Chapter 9:1-10:43 - Possession of the Land Part II 612 Oct 11Chapter 11:1-12:24 – Possession of the Land Part III 719 Oct 11Chapter 13:1-14:15 – Division of the Land Part I 826 Oct 11Chapter 15:1-17:18 – Division of the Land Part II 902 Nov 11Chapter 18:1-19:51 – Division of the Land Part III 1009 Nov 11Chapter 20:1-21:45 – Special Cities 1116 Nov 11Chapter 22:1-34 – Eastern Tribes Return Home 1223 Nov 11Auditorium 1330 Nov 11Chapter 23:1-24:33 – Joshua’s Farewell

Judges and Ruth – Winter Quarter WeekDateTopic 107 Dec 11Overview – Judges and Ruth 214 Dec 11Israel’s Success and Failure: Judges 1:1-2:5 321 Dec 11Oppression and Deliverance: Judges 2:6-3: Dec 11Deborah, Gideon: Judges Jan 12Gideon’s Success and Failure: Judges 7:1-10:5 611 Jan 12Jephthah the Judge: Judges 10:6-12: Jan 12Samson and His Exploits: Judges Jan 12Samson and Delilah: Judges Feb 12A Levite and His Concubine: Judges Feb 12The War with Benjamin: Judges Feb 12Ruth and Naomi Return to Bethlehem: Ruth Feb 12Ruth and Boaz are Married: Ruth Feb 12Review – Judges and Ruth

References Constable Notes on the book of Joshua Guzik – Commentary on Joshua Jamieson, Fausett, Brown Bible Commentary ISBE (Encyclopedia) Bible Archaeology Review Class slides are available on Westside’s website at – cuments/Classes/Klemmer/Joshua/ cuments/Classes/Klemmer/Joshua/

Objectives for Today’s Lesson Review key points from last week’s lesson Study the Book of Joshua Chapter Learn about Joshua’s farewell address to the people Review Israel’s past blessings from God and warnings for future transgressions Learn about the covenant renewal Learn about the death of Joshua and Eleazar

Last Week’s Class Studied chapter 23 providing an overview of the eastern tribes return to their land Learned that Joshua had praised the eastern tribes before releasing them to return home Learned they built an altar near the Jordan River as they returned, similar to the one at Shiloh This enrages the western tribes The western tribes remain follow Biblical law and investigate, meet with the eastern tribes, they explain their actions, they remain at peace

Timeline of the Palestine Region EventBeginEnd Stone Age?4500 BC Copper Age4500 BC1350 BC Bronze Age1350 BC1200 BC Iron Age1200 BC586 BC Neo-Babylonian Period586 BC538 BC Persian Period538 BC332 BC Greek Period332 BC63 BC Roman Period63 BC324 AD Byzantine Period324 AD640 AD Early Arab (Islamic) Period640 AD1099 AD Crusader (Christian) Period1099 AD1291 AD Mamluk (Egyptian) Period1291 AD1517 AD Ottoman (Turkish) Period1517 AD1918 AD

Timeline EventYearHebrewDayMonth Departure from Egypt1446Nisan15April Quail and Manna provided1446Iyyar15May Ten Commandments in the Sinai1446Sivan?Jun Tabernacle Built1445Iyyar1April Depart from Sinai1445Iyyar20May At Kadesh-Barnea – second time1406Nisan1March At Mt. Hor – Aaron Dies1406Ab1Jul Moses Death1406Shebat1Jan Cross Jordan1405Nisan10Apr Conquest complete1399Nisan14Apr

Hebrew Calendar

A Look Back at Deuteronomy The period of history covered in Deuteronomy is very brief, occurring in 1406 BC All the events recorded took place on the plains of Moab within a few weeks before Israel's entrance into Canaan as recorded in Joshua It contains a series of speeches by Moses – God’s faithfulness to the people of Israel – The laws of God – Criticality of Israel’s obedience to God Intended to prepare Israel for the conquest

Overview The name of the book comes from the principal character – Joshua “Joshua” means “Yahweh saves” Joshua in Hebrew translates to Jesus in Aramaic What Jesus is to us today, Joshua was to the Israelites in a smaller sense Joshua brought God’s people into the realization of many of God’s plans and purposes for them

Joshua in Context It is considered an historical book (from Genesis to Esther) In the second of three main divisions of the OT – Law is the first division – Prophets are the second division – Writings are the third division Part of what is called the “Former Prophets” – Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings Hebrews regarded this book as much of a spiritual lesson to reveal God’s will as they did an historical lesson

Historical Background Events begin around 1406 BC and the book is written after the conquest – Read Josh 4:9, 5:9, 6:25 for example Writer was alive when Israel entered the promised land (Josh 5:1 and 5:6) – Therefore, an eye-witness account – Must have written the book not long after the conquest was complete Most conservative scholars argue that Joshua wrote the book

Historical Background Continued Start date of the Book of Joshua – 1 Ki 6:1 dates the Exodus out of Egypt, 1446 BC – Ex 16:35, Israel spent 40 years in the wilderness – Israel crossed the Jordan River around 1406 BC Period of the conquest – Josephus states it took five years (AOTJ 5:1:19) – Other writers suggest closer to seven years Book of Joshua spans about 35 years – Joshua was 35 when he fought the Amelekites – Assuming Joshua was 75 when they crossed the Jordan and he died at age 110 (Jos 24:29)

Geographical Background Israelites traveled from Mt. Sinai to the plains of Moab – East of Jericho and the Jordan River However, not a direct route – Proceeded from Sinai to Kadesh Barnea – On Canaan’s southern border Failed to proceed to the Promised Land from Kadesh Barnea because of unbelief – Wondered 38 more years in the wilderness God finally brings them back to Kadesh, then led them to the Plains of Moab on Canaan’s eastern border Book of Joshua picks up after Moses dies and as Israel prepares and executes a conquest of Jordan river

Joshua had reached what he believed to be his final days Before his death, he wanted to address the nation of Israel Duplicates Moses’ actions (Deut 31) –Both men led Israel across a body of water –Both men delivered God’s message –Both held out staffs at critical points in battle –Both built altars to the Lord –Both gave final addresses to the people Joshua’s Farewell Address (Ch. 23)

Joshua reminds the Israelites of God’s faithfulness in their military victories –Must keep their covenant, remain loyal –God would drive out the remaining Canaanites The nation as a whole had been faithful to God under Joshua’s leadership –No mention of Israel’s past unfaithfulness There would be drastic consequences if Israel failed to obey God out of love Past Blessings (23:1-13)

Joshua reaffirms his pending death (vs. 14) God had delivered on his promises of good in the lives the Israelites Prophesy of the future (vs ) –Just as God had delivered favorable blessings for the Israelite’s obedience, he will destroy them if they disobey God –Particularly singles out worshipping other gods as Israel had done in the past A Warning (23:14-16)

A formal covenant renewal takes place at Shechem –Preamble (vs. 1-2a) –Historical prologue (vs. 2b-13) –Stipulations and consequences –Agreement memorialized in writing (vs ) Preamble –Occurs at Shechem, a foundational city for the national of Israel Covenant Renewal (Chapter 24)

God first appears to Abraham Abraham promises to build an altar (Gen 12) Jacob buried his idols, built his home, built an altar to God (Gen 33) Israel pledged itself to the covenant (Josh 8) A city of refuge (Josh 20) Shechem

Joshua introduces the words of God (vs. 2) Then reviews God actions on behalf of the people –Starting with the call of Abraham –Including the Exodus from Egypt –Preservation of the believers in the Wilderness –Victory over the Amorites east of the Jordan –Turned Balaam’s oracles into blessings –Crossing of the Jordan River –Victory over the Canaanites Historical Prologue (24:1-13)

Joshua appeals to Israel to commit themselves to God –Because of what God had done for them Joshua reviews their choice –To serve God or gods (vs. 15) –Helps Israel distinguish their choices and select a pathway –There was no middle ground A common theme for us today Terms of the Covenant (24:14-24)

The people respond –Commit themselves to God and join Joshua in serving the Lord (vs ) Joshua is concerned that the people are making a superficial, popular decision –Joshua reminds them of the difficulties they would have in serving the Lord (vs ) –Could not serve the Lord in their own strength The people confirm their decisions (vs. 21) –Joshua then repeats the commands to put away idols Terms of the Covenant (24:14-24)

Covenant renewed is the same as that made on Mt. Sinai (vs. 25) The Israelites renewed the covenant from time to time after God first gave it A written commitment to obey the Law –Recorded in the Book of the Law –Similar to Gen 28:18 and Deut 27:2 –Memorialized by a large stone Preservation of the Covenant (24:25-28)

Final versus of Joshua record the end of Joshua’s life and death of Eleazar the priest Israel’s success continued through the remainder of Joshua’s time (vs. 31) Joshua died shortly after the renewal of the covenant at 110 years old –Same age of Joseph (Gen 50:26), 1366 BC Records the burial of Joseph’s bones (vs. 32) –Fulfills the promise to Joseph’s heirs (Gen 50:25) Death of Joshua and Eleazar (24:29-33)

Review Reviewed last week’s lesson and final chapters in the book of Joshua Studied Joshua’s farewell address Reviewed Israel’s past blessings from God and warnings for future transgressions Learned about the covenant renewal Learned about the death of Joshua and Eleazar Next week: Introduction to Judges and Ruth