Charles Dermer

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Joshua

  1. The Lord tells Joshua to have the fighting men prepare for battle to claim the land from the Wilderness to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates to the Sea. The fighters include men of Reuben, Gad, & the half-tribe of Manasseh, whose brethren already have land east of the Jordan. #Jsh1

    The Harlot of Jericho and the Two Spies, c. 1896-1902, by James Jacques Joseph Tissot (French, 1836-1902)
  2. Joshua sends two spies to Jericho who lodge with Rahab, a harlot. People there fear Israel & word gets out, but Rahab hides them & lets them go provided they spare her & her family’s life. They agree if she does not report them. A scarlet cord in her window is a sign. #Jsh2
  3. Joshua and the Israelites leave Shittim and camp for 3 days east of the Jordan River before crossing it. They follow the Levitical priests who bear the ark of the covenant. The river stops flowing and allows them to cross.  #Jsh3
  4. The Lord tells Joshua to have one man from each of the tribes gather 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan to be brought to the Israelite camp at Gilgal as a memorial. After the people cross, including 40000 warriors & priests with the ark, the Jordan resumes its flow. #Jsh4
  5. Amorite & Canaanite kings fear Israel upon learning that the Jordan dried up so they could cross. The Lord commands all men of Israel born in the Wilderness to be circumcised with flint knives. Israel observes Passover in Gilgal. Joshua is visited by a captain of the Lord. #Jsh5
  6. The Lord commands Israel’s army to march once around Jericho for 6 days with shofars & the ark, and 7 times on the 7th day, shouting to bring the walls down. Jericho is utterly destroyed except for Rahab and her family. Silver, gold, bronze and iron go to the Lord’s house. #Jsh6
  7. Defying the Lord, some devoted things—a robe, silver, and gold—are taken from Jericho. For this, the Lord punishes Israel, whose army is routed trying to take the village of Ai, with 36 Israelites killed. Achan of Judah is found out. He and his family are stoned and burned. #Jsh7
  8. An ambush is planned for Ai whereby a force retreats, luring the defenders out during which a flanking force enters and sacks Ai. This works and 12000 are killed that day—all the men of Ai. The king is hanged & his corpse is piled with stones on which Joshua writes the law. #Jsh8
  9. Fearing for their lives, the people of Gibeon (near Gilgal) send a delegation posing as if from a distant land to make peace with Israel. With moldy bread & torn garments, this deception works. Joshua signs an oath. They are made carpenters & water-carriers when found out. #Jsh9
  10. Five Amorite kings join to attack Gibeon, who appeal to Joshua for help. Israel routes the Amorites, with the Lord sending hail. The Sun and moon stand still for a day while vengeance is made. The five kings are captured and hanged. Many Canaanite cities are conquered. #Jsh10
  11. The Northern kings headed by the king of Hazor band together to fight Israel. The Lord commands Joshua to hamstring (geld) their horses and burn their chariots. All the kings are defeated and put to the sword, their cities destroyed, and all the hill country is taken. #Jsh11
  12. In lands east of the Jordan, Moses had defeated Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan. In lands west of the Jordan, Joshua defeated kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. In total, 31 kings were defeated. #Jsh12
  13. Lands still to be taken include Gaza (the land of the Philistines), and Phoenicia (Lebanon). Allocation of lands east of the Jordan to Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh is prescribed. Levi is given no land, as the Lord is their inheritance. #Jsh13
  14. The conquered lands are given out by lot to the 9 1/2 tribes, though the Levites receive no land, save for cities and pasturelands. Caleb receives the town of Hebron in the land given to Judah. #Jsh14

    Lands of the twelve tribes of Israel
  15. The boundaries of the land given to the tribe of Judah are defined by the Dead Sea to the east and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. The northern  boundary continues westward from the mouth of the Dead Sea, and the Southern portion is the Negev bordering Egypt. #Jsh15
  16. Allotments of land in the central/northern part of Canaan west of the Jordan are defined for the tribes of the sons of Joseph, namely Ephraim and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Some Canaanites who were not dislodged are made to do forced labor. #Jsh16
  17. Allotments of land for the tribes of the sons of Joseph are further defined. A portion is given to the daughters of Zelophedad, who had no sons. These tribes argue for more land because they are so numerous, but Joshua tells them that if they are so many, then take it. #Jsh17
  18. Joshua sends three men from each of the remaining seven tribes to survey the land not yet allotted, and divide it into seven parts. The land will be allocated by lot. The boundaries of the land granted by lot are defined. The land given to Benjamin includes Jerusalem. #Jsh18
  19. Allocations of lands and towns are made to the tribes of Simeon (taken from the land of Judah), Zebulun (containing Bethlehem), Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan. Joshua receives as his inheritance the town of Timnath Serah in the hills of Ephraim, as the Lord commanded. #Jsh19
  20. Cities of refuge for those who accidentally kill someone & seek justice are established. They stand trial there, or wait until the high priest dies. These include Kadesh in Naphtali, Shechem in Ephraim, Hebron in Judah, Bezer in Reuben, Ramoth in Gad, & Golan in Manassah. #Jsh20
  21. Forty-eight towns and their pasturelands are given to the Levites, as commanded by the Lord through Moses.  The Kohathite, Gershonite and Merarite clans are given 23, 13 and 12 towns, respectively, throughout the lands of Israel, which include several cities of refuge. #Jsh21
  22.   Having taken the promised land, the Gadites, Reubenites & half-tribe of Manasseh are sent back to their lands east of the Jordan. They build an altar to their unity with the Israelites, but it is mistaken as an altar to heathen gods until they affirm the Lord God of gods. #Jsh22
  23. Joshua, now old, summons Israel to tell them that he is going the way of all the earth. They are to follow the Law of Moses & serve no other gods. The Lord gave you the promised land as an inheritance, but will destroy you from this good land if you violate the covenant.  #Jsh23
  24. Joshua assembles the heads of Israel to recount their history  & how the Lord helped them to defeat many peoples. And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not. So fear the Lord, serve him, & put away strange gods. Joshua dies. #Jsh24