Joshua 5-8
Joshua 5-8; Ps 43
The first section of Joshua displayed God’s providence of leadership for His people. In these chapters Joshua led the people to follow God’s law in the conquest of the Promised Land. When Israel obeyed the demands of the old covenant, they enjoyed success in Canaan—but the disobedience of one man, Achan, brought harm to many. Nonetheless, repentance resulted in God’s favor.
The initial scene of ch 5 demonstrates the significance of the law in the conquest of Canaan. While the Canaanite kings were full of dread at the thought of mighty Israel (v. 1), rather than marching straightway into the land and attacking the inhabiting nations, Israel obeyed the LORD’s command of circumcision (vv. 2-9; cf. Gen 17.9-14; Ex 12.48; Lev 12.3); the mention of recovery time for the adult males reveals the degree of Israel’s devotion to the Law! Before the military offense in Canaan, Israel kept the Passover—according to the law (cf. Ex 12; Num 9; Deut 16)—with produce from the Transjordan of Canaan (vv. 10-12).
Israel’s devotion to the law brought success in the conquest of Canaan (ch 6):
- Jericho was especially fortified because it was a city within range of any—like Israel—seeking to conquer it by way of the Transjordan plains (v. 1)
- The bizarre plan of attack demonstrated God’s jealousy for glory in the battle (vv. 2-5). Israel followed the plan marching around the city for six days (vv. 6-14). After receiving the final instructions on the morning of the seventh day (vv. 15-19), the volume of their corporate shout at the sound of the trumpets demolished the fortified walls of Jericho (vv. 20-21)
- Israel’s success was enjoyed even by foreign believers: Rahab and her family were spared while the city was destroyed, and the precious items were placed in the treasury of the LORD’s house (vv. 22-26)
- The degree of success in the initial conquest of Canaan was evident in the cursing of any who attempted to rebuild Jericho (vv. 26-27)
However, all had not gone as well as Joshua thought; ch 7 begins with an adversative conjunction, “However” (v. 1). Achan had stolen some of the items that were set apart for destruction (they were to be placed in the LORD’s treasury, 6.18-19, 24; cf. Deut 7.2; Num 31.11, 12, 21-23); in short, Achan robbed God. His sin had several consequences: the LORD’s anger burned against all of Israel (6.18; 7.2, 10-18), Israel’s first combat mission ended in defeat and the death of three dozen soldiers (vv. 3-5), and Achan—along with the stolen plunder, his family, and all that he had—were destroyed; only then was the LORD’s anger satisfied (vv. 20-26).
Nevertheless, as is clear in Gen-Deut, God’s word of discipline is never His last word to those who turn to Him in repentance (cf. Ex 32-23; Num 12-15). The successful conquest of Ai, through another divine plan of attack in ch 8, confirmed that the LORD would not abandon His covenant-faithfulness to His people. Established in the land, Joshua and Israel gave allegiance to the LORD by enacting the ceremony of commitment to the law on the peaks of Ebal and Gerazim (vv. 30-35; cf. Dt 27.1-8).
These chapters provide the opportunity to synthesize several themes of the storyline of Scripture, especially the concept of Sabbath rest. Since the time God tested His people’s reliance upon Him for food after the exodus (cf. Ex 16), Israel had anticipated Sabbath rest in Canaan. The author of the book of Joshua would eventually write: “the LORD gave them rest on every side according to all He had sworn to their fathers” (Jos 21.44); the conquest of Jericho was the first victory in that plan. The seven trumpets blown then prefigure the seven trumpets of the Revelation—when God’s judgment upon the nations will be complete, and He finally grants rest to His people (Rev 8.7—11.19; cf. 1 Cor 15.52; 1 Thess 4.16). According to the author of Hebrews, this eternal rest is presently available for those who trust in Christ; he wrote:
“Therefore, while the promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear so that none of you should miss it. For we also have received the good news just as they (the conquest generation) did; but the message they heard did not benefit them, since they were not united with those who heard it in faith…For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken later about another day. A Sabbath rest remains, therefore, for God’s people. For the person who has entered His rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from His. Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience” (4.1-2, 8, 11).
*For a complete list of references, please see scripturestoryline.com