Joshua 9

Joshua 9:1 When all the kings heard about Jericho and Ai, those who were west of the Jordan in the hill country, in the Judean foothills, and all along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea toward Lebanon – the Hethites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites – 

Joshua 9:2 they formed a unified alliance to fight against Joshua and Israel.

Joshua 9:3 When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

Joshua 9:4 they acted deceptively. They gathered provisions and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys and old wineskins, cracked and mended.

Joshua 9:5 They wore old, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies. Their entire provision of bread was dry and crumbly.

Joshua 9:6 They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a faraway land. Please make a treaty with us.”

Joshua 9:7 The men of Israel replied to the Hivites, “What if you actually live among us? How could we make a treaty with you?”

Joshua 9:8 They said to Joshua, “We are your slaves.” Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?”

Joshua 9:9 They replied to him, “Your slaves have come from a faraway land because of the reputation of Yahveh, your God. You see, we have heard news about him and all that he did in Egypt,

Joshua 9:10 and all that he did to the two Amorite kings beyond the Jordan –  King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan, who was in Ashtaroth.

Joshua 9:11 So our elders and all the inhabitants of our land told us, ‘Take provisions with you for the journey; go and meet them and say, “We are your slaves. Please make a treaty with us.”‘

Joshua 9:12 This bread of ours was warm when we took it from our houses as food on the day we left to come to you; but see, it is now dry and crumbly.

Joshua 9:13 These wineskins were new when we filled them; but see, they are cracked. And these clothes and sandals of ours are worn out from the extremely long journey.”

Joshua 9:14 Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions but did not seek Yahveh’s decision.

Joshua 9:15 So Joshua established a relationship with them and made a treaty to allow them to stay alive, and the leaders of the community swore an oath to them.

Joshua 9:16 Three days after making the treaty with them, they heard that the Gibeonites were their neighbors, living among them.

Joshua 9:17 So the Israelites set out and reached the Gibeonite cities on the third day. Their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.

Joshua 9:18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the community had sworn an oath to them by Yahveh, the God of Israel. Then, the whole community grumbled against the leaders.

Joshua 9:19 All the leaders answered them, “We have sworn an oath to them by Yahveh, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.

Joshua 9:20 This is how we will treat them: we will let them stay alive so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.”

Joshua 9:21 They also said, “Let them stay alive.” So, as the leaders had promised, the Gibeonites became woodcutters and water carriers for the whole community.

Joshua 9:22 Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said to them, “Why did you deceive us by telling us you live far away from us, when in fact you live among us?

Joshua 9:23 Therefore you are cursed and will always be slaves – woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

Joshua 9:24 The Gibeonites answered him, “It was clearly reported to your slaves that Yahveh, your God, had commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land and to annihilate all the inhabitants of the land before you. We greatly feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this.

Joshua 9:25 Now we are in your hands. Do to us whatever you think is right.”

Joshua 9:26 This is what Joshua did to them: he rescued them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them.

Joshua 9:27 On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers – as they are today – for the community and for Yahveh’s altar at the place he would choose.

Joshua 9 quotes:

” A new phase of possessing the land begins here, and conquering the hill country is the next challenge for possessing the land. The narrator tells of independent ethnic enclaves who plot war against the tribal threat (9:1). These ethnic groups live in the hill country, in the western foothills (Shephelah), and along the coast of the Mediterranean, or Great Sea, as far north as Lebanon. The narrator tells readers that the nations in Canaan came together to make war against Joshua and Israel (9:2).”

Harris J. Gordon et al. Joshua Judges Ruth. Hendrickson Publishers ; Paternoster Press 2000. p. 61.

“The biblical narrator wants the reader to know that this ruse tricked the Israelites but not their God. Had they inquired of God, they would have learned of the deceit that targeted them (9:14).”

Lyles, Ron, et al. Joshua and Judges. 1st ed, Baptistway Press, 2005. p. 53.

“This chapter tells how the people of Gibeon, a city some 11 kilometers southwest of Ai, tricked the Israelites into making a treaty with them. Their plan worked, and even when the Israelites discovered that they had been deceived they could not kill them; the treaty was binding, and all the Israelites could do was to subject them to the status of slavery, a condition which was still in force when the account was written.”

Bratcher Robert G and Barclay Moon Newman. A Handbook on the Book of Joshua. United Bible Societies 1992. p. 123.

Joshua 9 links:

Maranatha Daily Devotional – October 10, 2015
Maranatha Daily Devotional – October 11, 2015
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Thursday, June 20, 2019
missions and common sense

The JOSHUA shelf in Jeff’s library

Joshua 7 

Joshua 7:1 The Israelites, however, were unfaithful regarding the things set apart for destruction. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart, and Yahveh’s anger burned against the Israelites.

Joshua 7:2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and scout the land.” So the men went up and scouted Ai.

Joshua 7:3 After returning to Joshua they reported to him, “Don’t send all the people, but send about two thousand or three thousand men to attack Ai. Since the people of Ai are so few, don’t wear out all our people there.”

Joshua 7:4 So about three thousand men went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai.

Joshua 7:5 The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them and chased them from outside the city gate to the quarries, striking them down on the descent. As a result, the people lost heart.

Joshua 7:6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of Yahveh until evening, as did the elders of Israel; they all put dust on their heads.

Joshua 7:7 “Oh, Lord God,” Joshua said, “Why did you ever bring these people across the Jordan to hand us over to the Amorites for our destruction? If only we had been content to remain on the other side of the Jordan!

Joshua 7:8 What can I say, Lord, now that Israel has turned its back and run from its enemies?

Joshua 7:9 When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will surround us and exterminate our name from the land. Then what will you do about your great name?”

Joshua 7:10 Yahveh then said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why have you fallen facedown?

Joshua 7:11 Israel has failed. They have violated the covenant that I appointed for them. They have taken some of what was set apart. They have stolen, deceived, and put those things with their belongings.

Joshua 7:12 This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies because they have been set apart for destruction. I will only be with you if you annihilate[1] from among you what is set apart.

Joshua 7:13 “Go and consecrate the people. Tell them to consecrate themselves for tomorrow, for this is what Yahveh, the God of Israel, says: Some things are set apart among you, Israel. You will not be able to stand against your enemies until you remove what is set apart.

Joshua 7:14 In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe Yahveh selects is to come forward clan by clan. The clan Yahveh selects is to come forward family by family. The family Yahveh selects is to come forward man by man.

Joshua 7:15 The one who is caught with the things set apart must be burned, along with everything he has, because he has violated Yahveh’s covenant and committed an outrage in Israel.”

Joshua 7:16 Joshua got up early the next morning. He had Israel come forward tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected.

Joshua 7:17 He had the clans of Judah come forward, and the Zerahite clan was selected. He had the Zerahite clan come forward by heads of families, and Zabdi was selected.

Joshua 7:18 He then had Zabdi’s family come forward man by man, and Achan, son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was selected.

Joshua 7:19 So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to Yahveh, the God of Israel, and make a confession to him. I urge you to tell me what you have done. Don’t hide anything from me.”

Joshua 7:20 Achan replied to Joshua, “It is true. I have sinned against Yahveh, the God of Israel. This is what I did:

Joshua 7:21 When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Babylon, five pounds of silver, and a bar of gold weighing a pound and a quarter, I craved[2] them and took them. You can see for yourself. They are concealed in the ground inside my tent, with the silver under the cloak.”

Joshua 7:22 So Joshua sent messengers who ran to the tent, and there was the cloak, concealed in his tent, with the silver underneath.

Joshua 7:23 They took the things from inside the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites, and spread them out in Yahveh’s presence.

Joshua 7:24 Then Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the cloak, and the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his ox, donkey, and sheep, his tent, and all that he had, and brought them up to the Valley of Achor.

Joshua 7:25 Joshua said, “Why have you cut us off? Today Yahveh will cut you off!” So all Israel stoned them to death. They burned their bodies, threw stones on them,

Joshua 7:26 and raised over him a large pile of rocks that remains still today. Then Yahveh turned from his burning anger. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Achor still today.

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[1] שָׁמַד  = annihilate. Joshua 7:12; 9:24; 11:14, 20; 23:15; 24:8.

[2] חָמַד = crave.

Joshua 7 quotes:

“The narrator sets the stage for failure at Ai (Hb. ruin; LXX, city). From an omniscient view, the narrator warns readers that all is not well in the camp after victory at Jericho. The people have acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things because Achan of the tribe of Judah has taken some of the forbidden booty for himself. The impact of this violation of herem means that the LoRD’s anger burned against Israel (7:1). The point of view of the narrator focuses the story on the ban violation and its implications for the entire people. These responses explain why the army of the tribes was defeated, suffered casualties, and felt embarrassed when God did not fight for the people.”

Harris J. Gordon et al. Joshua Judges Ruth. Hendrickson Publishers ; Paternoster Press 2000. p. 52.

“Joshua followed God’s instructions precisely (7:16-18). The reader is immediately curious as to how Joshua knew that the tribe of Judah “was taken” instead of Ephraim or Benjamin. Probably God directed the process through the casting of lots (1 Samuel 14:41-42). The practice of casting lots utilized marked objects that one threw to the ground to determine yes or no answers or to determine one of two alternatives.”

Lyles, Ron, et al. Joshua and Judges. 1st ed, Baptistway Press, 2005. p. 46.

“Chapter 7 serves to connect the fall of Jericho (6.1-27) to the capture and destruction of Ai (8.1-29). There is first an unsuccessful attempt to capture the city (verses 2-5); Israel’s failure to take the city is explained as being the consequence of Achan’s sin in disobeying the Lord’s command not to keep anything valuable found in Jericho (verse 1). The Israelite leaders complain to God about the defeat of Israel (verses 6-9), and God reveals the reason for their defeat and the method for discovering the guilty one (verses 10-15). The plan is put into effect: Achan is indicated as the guilty man (verses 16-19), he confesses his sin (verses 20-21), and is immediately executed.”

Bratcher Robert G and Barclay Moon Newman. A Handbook on the Book of Joshua. United Bible Societies 1992. p. 85.

Joshua 7 links:

disabled warfare
each link is important
first reaction
formed from the dust – Snips and snails
loser lottery
Maranatha Daily Devotional – October 8, 2015
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Wednesday, June 19, 2019
missions and the valley of trouble
set apart for destruction
standing up against sin
the only number that matters
the shame of selfishness
valley of cutting off

The JOSHUA shelf in Jeff’s library

Joshua 6 

Joshua 6:1 Jericho was strongly fortified because of the Israelites – no one leaving or entering.

Joshua 6:2 Yahveh said to Joshua, “Notice, I have handed Jericho, its king, and its most capable soldiers over to you.

Joshua 6:3 March around the city with all the soldiers, circling the city one time. Do this for six days.

Joshua 6:4 Have seven priests carry seven ram’s-horn trumpets in front of the ark. But on the seventh day, march around the city seven times while the priests blow the trumpets.

Joshua 6:5 When there is a prolonged blast of the horn, and you hear its sound, have all the troops give a strong yell. Then the city wall will collapse, and the troops can advance, each man straight ahead.”

Joshua 6:6 So Joshua, son of Nun, called the priests together and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and have seven priests carry seven trumpets in front of the ark of Yahveh.”

Joshua 6:7 He said to the troops, “Move forward, march around the city, and have the armed men go ahead of the ark of Yahveh.”

Joshua 6:8 After Joshua had spoken to the troops, seven priests carrying seven trumpets moved forward and blew the trumpets in front of Yahveh; the ark of Yahveh’s covenant followed them.

Joshua 6:9 While the trumpets were blowing, the soldiers went in front of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard went behind the ark.

Joshua 6:10 But Joshua had commanded the troops: “Do not yell or let your voice be heard. Don’t let one word come out of your mouth until the time I say, ‘Yell! ‘ Then you are to yell.”

Joshua 6:11 So the ark of Yahveh was carried around the city, circling it once. They returned to the camp and spent the night there.

Joshua 6:12 Joshua got up early the following day. The priests took the ark of Yahveh,

Joshua 6:13 and the seven priests carrying seven trumpets marched in front of the ark of Yahveh. While the trumpets were blowing, the soldiers went in front of them, and the rear guard went behind the ark of Yahveh.

Joshua 6:14 On the second day, they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.

Joshua 6:15 Early on the seventh day, they started at dawn and marched around the city seven times in the same way. That was the only day they marched around the city seven times.

Joshua 6:16 After the seventh time, the priests blew the trumpets, and Joshua said to the troops, “Yell! Because Yahveh has given you the city.

Joshua 6:17 But the city and everything in it are set apart to Yahveh for destruction. Only Rahab, the prostitute, and everyone with her in the house will stay alive because she hid the messengers we sent.

Joshua 6:18 But keep yourselves from the things set apart, or you will be set apart for destruction. If you take any of those things, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and make trouble for it.

Joshua 6:19 You see, all the silver and gold, and the articles of bronze and iron, are sacred to Yahveh and must go into Yahveh’s treasury.”

Joshua 6:20 So the troops yelled, and the trumpets sounded. When they heard the blast of the trumpet, the troops gave a great yell, and the wall collapsed. The troops advanced into the city, each man straight ahead, and they captured the city.

Joshua 6:21 They set apart for destruction everything in the city with the sword – every man and woman, both young and old, and every ox, sheep, and donkey.

Joshua 6:22 Joshua said to the two men who had scouted the land, “Go to the prostitute’s house and bring the woman out of there and everyone who is with her, just like you swore to her.”

Joshua 6:23 So the young men who had scouted went in and brought out Rahab and her father, mother, brothers, and everyone who belonged to her. They brought out her whole family and settled them outside the camp of Israel.

Joshua 6:24 They burned the city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of Yahveh’s house.

Joshua 6:25 However, Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, her father’s family, and everyone who belonged to her because she hid the messengers Joshua had sent to spy on Jericho, and she still lives in Israel today.

Joshua 6:26 At that time, Joshua imposed this curse: The man who undertakes the rebuilding of this city, Jericho, is cursed before Yahveh. He will lay its foundation at the cost of his firstborn; he will finish its gates at the cost of his youngest.

Joshua 6:27 And Yahveh was with Joshua, and news about him spread throughout the land.

Joshua 6 quotes:

“Many readers reject the book of Joshua because they think it describes only warfare. In reality, the narratives concentrate on God’s role in giving the land and summarize the warfare. Joshua 6:20-25 covers the fighting in summary fashion. That section points out the results of what could have been an intense battle. It describes the falling of the wall, the killing of the population, the burning of the city, and the rescue of Rahab and her family. Most of the chapter details marching instructions to Joshua and subsequently to the people and the liturgical march around the city. This format emphasizes not the violence of the warfare but rather the sounding of the trumpets and the war whoop of the ritual. The chapter makes the point that Jericho falls because of the power of God and the faithfulness of the people instead of battlefield strategy or skills.”

Harris J. Gordon et al. Joshua Judges Ruth. Hendrickson Publishers ; Paternoster Press 2000. p. 47.

“In verses 1-7 the Lord gives instructions to Joshua about the capture of Jericho; it is the Lord’s doing (verse 2), and the city walls will fall without the use of human force (verses 3-5). Joshua tells the Lord’s instructions to the priests (verse 6) and to the people (verse 7), and all is ready. Jericho is in a state of siege (verse 1), which may indicate that considerable time has passed since the Israelites encamped at Gilgal.

Bratcher Robert G and Barclay Moon Newman. A Handbook on the Book of Joshua. United Bible Societies 1992. p. 69.

Joshua 6 links:

conditional victory
dedicated or destroyed
Immanuel – part 1
Jericho and Gehenna
leaving the rubble alone
Maranatha Daily Devotional – October 7, 2015
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Tuesday, June 18, 2019
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Tuesday, June 20, 2023
our missions–his victories
our scarlet cord
set apart for destruction
silent soldiers
spared
symbol of fear

The JOSHUA shelf in Jeff’s library