1. Session 7 Ch

2. Jews included Joshua in the Prophets
The book of Joshua is a "selective history“. It’s purpose is to reveal God's will.
Joshua

3. Jabin forms northern coalition against Israel
When Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things .… he sent to: (v1)
Tribes
Canaanites – east & west
Amorites
Hittites
Perizittes
Jebusite in the mountains
Hivites under Hermon
Kings
Madon
Shimron
Achshaph
Kings
north of mountains,
plains south of Chinneroth,
valley & borders west of Dor
And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many (v4)

4. Hazor: leading city in northern Canaan Area: 175 acres Pop: 30,000 - 40,000

5. Israel’s most formidable foe
The combined armies of the Canaanite tribes
300,000 footmen,
10,000 horsemen,
20,000 chariots.
Josephus
The kings of the northern Canaanite cities also decided to unite to withstand the threat of Israelite expansion.
It was only in the battles against Jericho and Ai that the Israelites initiated the action.
In all the other battles the Canaanites attacked the Israelites.
Each successive battle that Israel fought was more difficult than the last.

6. Hardening of hearts
The hardened soul is incapable of making intelligent moral & spiritual decisions.
Sinners persist in wrongdoing refusing to repent.
This causes them to continue in their wicked way.
God hardens their hearts.
This does not exonerate or excuse their wickedness and rebellion.
Was it wise of Pharoah to rush into the Red Sea?
Why did Jabin think he could defeat Israel when most of Canaan failed?

7. “he shall not multiply horses to himself” Deut 17:16
God did NOT wish Israel to own many horses. They should rely on God alone. When Solomon multiplied horses (40,000), it was displeasing to God.
Should Christians use the enemy’s methods? We should trust God completely!

8. The LORD said unto Joshua Outcome
So Joshua came & all the people of war and they fell upon them. (v7)
Be not afraid because of them (V6)
Tomorrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel (v6)
The Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel (v8)
Thou shalt hamstrung their horses, and burn their chariots with fire (v6)
Joshua hamstrung their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire (v9)

9. Secret of Joshua’s success
His consistent, complete obedience to the Lord (v. 15).
We too will experience victory over our spiritual enemies
—the world, the flesh, and the devil
to the extent that we do God's will revealed in His Word.

10. Fulfilled Prophecies
Israel took possession of a great many cities without the burning of them, only destroying all of the inhabitants, living in them.
And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land ……………… to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not (Deuteronomy 6:10)
Also, all of the wealth, the treasures, and the cattle of many of those cities became the possessions of Israel.
And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; (Deuteronomy 6:11)

11. Reasons for destroying the Canaanites
The gross sins of the Canaanites—including incest, adultery, child sacrifice, homosexuality (cf. Lev. 18; Deut. 9:4-5).
God had waited 400 years to execute judgment, allowing the Canaanites time to turn from their wicked ways (cf. Gen. 15:16).
God was protecting His people from those sins.
The Canaanites had sought to destroy the Israelites on at least two occasions. God had promised to bless those nations that blessed Israel, and to curse those nations that cursed Israel (Gen. 12:3).

12. Joshua type of Lord Jesus
Joshua's conquest of the land anticipated the work of Jesus Christ.
Both defeated the enemies of their people.
Their names mean "God saves."
Victories preceded by Israel's apostasy.
God worked through human instruments.
Victories only occurred because of trust and obedience.
Both victories won an inheritance and rest for God's people.

13. Anakim giants
And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims …………………………………
Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.
(Joshua 11:21)
And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
(Numbers 13:33)
The giants of 40 years ago fall.
They were no match for an army that was blessed by God.
God managed their affairs so they would face this most difficult challenge last.
God knows how to manage the battles in your life.
Do we allow God to manage our battles?

14. The land of the children of Israel
First time Canaan is called "the land of the children of Israel,” in scripture (v22). Joshua "subdued (took) the whole land" (v. 23). God now expected individual tribes to subdue the remaining pockets of resistance (cf. 13:1; Judg. 1:1).

15. “The land had rest from war” (Ch.11 v23)
No more great pitched battles were required
The work of “mopping up” became the responsibility of the individual tribes.
They soon demanded the PAYING OF TRIBUTE instead of DESTROYING them.
“When the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out. “ Ch.17:13
"The people did NOT to obey for two reasons:
They wanted peace at any price; (easy life)
They wanted wealth (money)
Is that true of us today?

16. Joshua Ch. 12 Summary of conquests
v1-6
Lists the kings Moses defeated east of the Jordan earlier.
v7-24
Those whom Joshua conquered west of the Jordan.
summary (verses 7-8);
central kings (verse 9);
southern kings (verses 10-16);
northern kings (verses 17-24).

17. Defeat of the Western Kings (12: 7-24)
31 kings are listed in the order in which Joshua defeated them.
Not all the defeated kings are listed – completeness not intended!
e.g. Shechem, the hills of Ephraim & north of Hazor.
The writer seeks to compile a list that will impress the readers with the greatness of the feat of God.
This summary concludes the record of the conquest of the land (chs. 1—12).
Chs. 13—21) record the division of the land - his second great work.

18. Armana tablets
Tablets discovered in Egypt The Amarna Letters discovery is highly important in the study of Biblical Archaeology because they refer to events in the middle east in the 15th and 14th centuries BC. They refer to the Hebrews, they give evidence of the trustworthiness of the book of Judges. They mention a lot about Canaan, the half of Israel to the west of the Jordan.

19. Always Spiritual Conflict
In the name of tolerance many people cry out for peace.
Peace is definitely something to be desired.
Unfortunately, in this present life, peace is just impossible!
The Bible teaches that as long as this world exists there will always be a clash between good and evil.
Believers will always be at war with the forces of darkness, and there will always be spiritual conflict.
You will always meet with resistance when you share the message of salvation in Christ alone; for even Jesus said:
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places Ephesians 6:12

20. Spiritual lessons
God can harden the hearts of persistently wicked sinners.
God wants us to rely solely upon Him. (Not use enemy’s methods)
Obedience to God’s Word brings victory.
Sin will be punished!
God brought victory & peace through an obedient man.
God manages our life for us (if we let Him!)
Pursuit of ease & money prevents us from appreciating blessings.
We will always have spiritual conflict.