Joshua 9-11
Joshua 9-11; Pss 42, 67, 100
The first several chapters of the book of Joshua display the significance of both Joshua’s leadership, and Israel’s devotion to the law of Moses. Chs 9-11 magnify the purpose for which the LORD had given His people a leader and the law: the conquest and inhabitation of Canaan. Yet, even these had a further purpose; Israel’s occupation in the land of Canaan—the central land-bridge of three continents and the local of the major trade-outs of the day—was missional. That is, as Israel occupied their sacred space—and lived according to the Mosaic law—the nations that surrounded them would witness God’s glory, and want Him to be their God too (cf. Dt. 4.1-8; Pss 67, 100).
However, Israel had a track-record of partial obedience to the law—so much so that Moses prophesied the people’s failure in Canaan (cf. Dt 28-32). In the law the LORD commanded that after He delivered Canaan into the hands of His people, they were to “completely destroy” the inhabiting nations, and “make no treaty with them and show them no mercy” (Dt 7.2). While the kings of Canaan were terrified of Israel (9.1-2), the common men of Gibeon were able to fortify themselves against the intimidating nation of Israel. Through a treaty of falsehood they tricked God’s people; Joshua and Israel were compromised by their own dullness (9.3-15; 22-27). This time the Israelites had reason to grumble against their leaders (9.16-19)!
Ch 10 records that the compromise with Gibeon did not decrease the dread Canaan’s kings felt when they considered the threat posed by Israel. After forming a desperate alliance, these kings attacked Gibeon—perhaps thinking it void of its strongest warriors (vv. 4-5). Israel, demonstrating repentance through their faithfulness to help Gibeon (vv. 6-7), was blessed by the LORD; He cast Israel’s opponents into confusion (v. 10), and “threw large hailstones on them from the sky,” killiing more than Israel’s swords (v. 11). The LORD even caused the sun to stand still “until the nation took vengeance on its enemies” (v. 13). In fulfillment of the law, Joshua killed all five Amorite kings (vv. 16-27).
The final section of these chapters describes how Israel routed the lands of what would later be known as Judah in the south (10.28-43), and Israel in the North (11.1-23; cf. Ps 42.6). Throughout these scenes the reader is reminded that the LORD delivered these nations to His people (10.30, 32; 11.6, 8), and that Israel completely destroyed their enemies (10.28, 32-33, 35, 37, 39, 40; 11.8-9, 11-15, 17). At the end of ch 11, the author provided commentary of the events to date: “For it was the LORD’s intention to harden their hearts, so that they would engage Israel in battle, be completely destroyed without mercy, and be annihilated, just as the LORD had commanded Moses” (11.20); and, “So Joshua took the entire land, in keeping with all that the LORD had told Moses. Joshua then gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. After this, the land had rest from war” (11.23).
These chapters prove formative for the storyline of Scripture, providing the opportunity to think about the missional status of both national Israel, and the New Testament church. While Israel’s missional success was based upon their static geographical placement, ours is related to dynamic movement among all nations. Just as the LORD placed Israel in the land-bridge of three continents, we are placed throughout our cities and towns, neighborhoods and workplaces, to show our privileged status as the people of God—and invite others to join us. After His resurrection Jesus told His disciples:
“All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28.18-20).
As Israel witnessed of their relationship with the LORD through faithfulness to the law, so too, believers witness of our relationship to Christ through faithfulness to what He has commanded. Paul wrote:
“For the grace of God has appeared, with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a special people, eager to do good works” (Tit 2.11-14).
*For a complete list of references, please see scripturestoryline.com