The Bible and Its Influence (Hebrew Bible) November 8, 2011 Joshua and the Conquest

Jericho  Joshua 6:1-21  YDk YDk YDk  voYQ voYQ voYQ –Highly ritualized. –What’s a ram’s horn?

Literary Parallels  How was Joshua like Moses?

How is Joshua a new Moses?  Sends out spies (chapter 2)  Causes the waters (of the Jordan) to stand still.  Take off your shoes (Ex. 3:5; Josh 5:15)  Miracles: Sun stands still. (Josh 10:12-14)  Promises (Joshua 1:3; Deut 11:24)

Reading the Hebrew Bible as the “Old Testament”  For early Christians, reading the Bible in Greek, the name Joshua was indistinguishable from the name Jesus.

 “Old Testament Jesus” takes over for Moses.  Symbolizes Christianity taking over for the religion of Moses. “New Covenant” replaces the “Old Covenant”. –Bible is full of hidden or half concealed meanings. –crimson cord foreshadows the blood of the crucifixion.

Church is New Israel  Joshua = Jesus  1 Cor 10:18; Rom 2:28; Phil 3:3  Emissaries of Joshua establish contact with a sinner (Rahab)

Matt. 1:5-6  And Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.

Rabbinic Midrashic Commentator also held Rahab in high esteem.  “Eight priests and eight prophets came forth from Rahab the harlot, and they are these: Jeremiah, Hilkiah, Sariah, Mahsiah, Baruch, Neriah, and Shallum. Rabbi Judah added: Likewise Huldah the prophetess was among Rahab’s descendants....Because she brought herself near to the worship of God, so too did God bring her near.”  Sifrei Numbers 78

The Joshua Account of the Conquest  Three highly successful military operations. –Central highlands: Jericho and Ai –Southern campaign: Israel decisively defeats Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon and Jebus (sun stands still). –Northern Campaign: Joshua defeats king of Hazor and his coalition near the waters of Merom.

 A crucial promise has been fulfilled. The land of Canaan is now completely in the hands of Abraham’s heirs.

The Archeology of the Conquest/Settlement  Albright and many others concluded that the conquest narrative was essentially verified. –Evidence of newcomers with discernible cultural differences: houses, pottery.  Some archeologists point to the absence of pig bones in hilltop sites starting in the Iron I period ( BCE) and continuing beyond. Before that, pig bones abound.

Bethel and Hazor  Evidence of being forcibly destroyed in the time of Joshua. –Joshua 11:10-13 –Joshua 8: 17

El Amarna Letters  ca BCE; picture of the Land of Israel at the same time that Israelites were supposed to be invading it.  Letters written by Canaanite vassals to Egyptian authorities.

habiru Marauders who were scattered all across the land of Canaan who raid Canaanite cities and wreak havoc. “the war...of the apiru against me is severe....” Many, many references.

Negative Archeological Evidence  Absence of protecting walls dating from the time of Joshua. In fact, Jericho seems to have been abandoned at time of Joshua (13 th c BCE)  Story of Ai more likely told about impressive ruins.

Israel lives in the midst of the Canaanites Judges 1:27-35; 3:5-6  Most Modern scholars reject the Bible’s own picture of a great exchange of population. Rather the people of Israel end up incorporating significant elements of the locals.

Judges picture probably more accurate  Gradual infiltration over a long period of time by various related groups of people who peacefully moved in to live alongside the Canaanites only occasionally engaging in military conquest.

New villages and technology  BCE amazing number of new villages established in the hill country  Iron tools.  Large cisterns.  Terraced hillsides.  Was this the first phase of Israel’s settlement?

Were Israelites outside conquerors, peaceful semi-nomads or Canaanite revolutionaries?  ‘apiru and other disgruntled elements over through the network of Egyptian puppets  Israelites as semi-nomadic grazers move in and out of Canaan for a long while and then gradually settle, mostly peacefully.

Was there a real Joshua?  Some scholars hold that he was a hero of tribe of Ephraim during the period of Judges. Brilliant fighter and tactician. Deuteronomist historian need a might conquistador seized on these legends and elevated Joshua to his current central role and attributed actions highly reminiscent of Moses. (James Kugel)