comments on joshua-l m grant

8/9/2019 Comments on Joshua-L M Grant

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Comments On Joshua

By L M Grant

http://www.biblecentre.org

PREFACE

Joshua is a book of victory, not in every detail, but in its overall character. Joshua's name

is the same as Jesus in the Greek language, meaning "Jehovah is avior." !oses has been seen as a type of hrist as ruler, leading #is people through the wilderness, with the

promised land in view. $ut Joshua is a type of hrist in resurrection, establishing #is

people in their heavenly inheritance. %herefore, he pictures hrist as regardedsub&ectively, not ob&ectively. or this reason Joshua's e(perience in hapter ):*+*) is

most important. -hen a !an stood opposite him with #is sword drawn, Joshua asked

him, "re you for us or for our adversaries" $ut the answer was, "0o, but asommander of the army of the 1ord 2 have now come." 2f we are to engage in spiritual

conflict, it is not enough to have hrist in us, but we must also have hrist in authority

over us.

$y the pirit of God today hrist dwells in every believer to enable him to enter into thegreat spiritual truths to which he is entitled, truths that are connected with his heavenly

inheritance. 3et let us not depend on the fact that hrist is in us. 4ather we depend on

the great ommander who is above us. or the pirit of God within us always seeks tolead us in true obedience to hrist in glory above us. %hus, when God gives the word we

should be prepared to fully obey because we have #is pirit within us. %he book of

Joshua therefore contains many e(hortations to be strong and of good courage. Joshuaneeded this, as did all 2srael, and we no less today.

3et this courage is to be calmly dependent on God, for 2srael is not seen rushing eagerly

into battle, but with calm deliberation taking each step as guided by the -ord of the

1ord. %hey entered the promised land by means of the hand of God parting the 4iver

Jordan, which is typical of the death and resurrection of hrist introducing believers intotheir heavenly inheritance. 5ach enemy in turn must give way to God's power among #is

armies.

%his book compares with 5phesians in the 0ew %estament, for the land of anaan speaks

of "heavenly places," the present sphere into which believers are brought "in hristJesus." 6ur blessings are there 75ph. *:+8, our position is there 75ph. 9:8, and our

conflict is there also 75ph. :*98. $ut we are given "the whole armor of God" by which

to resist and defeat the hosts of atan, who seeks to hinder our en&oying what is rightlyours. 2f Joshua was told the -ord of God was to be his meditation "day and night" 7Josh.

*:;8, how much more reason do hristians have for meditation on the -ord of God

continually, for we have all the 0ew %estament as well as the 6ld. !ay we deeply valueall the -ord of God.


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%he $ook of the 1aw was to be the meditation of Joshua day and night, in order that he

might do all that was written therein 7v. ;8. -e today need, not only the 6ld %estament,

but the whole truth of the 0ew %estament if we are to have spiritual prosperity andsuccess.

2t is the living God who commanded Joshua. %herefore again he is told to be strong andof good courage 7v. ?8. #e had no reason to give way to fear or discouragement, for the

1ord God was with him wherever he went. 5ven when we have learned the -ord of Godthere may be still a danger of giving way to fear, so that we need constant encouragement

from the 1ord.

20%4>%260 20 A25- 6 4620G J64=0 7vv. *E*;8

%here was to be no rushing to cross the Jordan and yet no delay either, but calmdeliberation and action. Joshua commanded the officers of the people to tell the people to

prepare provisions for themselves, for in three days they would pass over Jordan 7vv. *E

**8.

%hen Joshua addressed the 4eubenites, the Gadites and the half tribe of !anasseh, whohad obtained possessions for themselves on the east of Jordan. %hey were not on this

account to be e(empt from warfare. !oses had made it clear to them that, though they

were allowed to settle east of Jordan, and their wives, children and livestock could remainthere, yet all able bodied men were to accompany the rest of 2srael into anaan to help

them in conFuest of the enemy 7vv. *9*@8. 0ot till all 2srael were settled in peace in the

land were these warriors to return to their possessions east of Jordan 7v. *)8. %his was to be an effective testimony to the unity of 2srael. -e too should have such concern for the

blessing of all the children of God.

%heresponse of these men is commendable, being fully agreeable to do &ust as Joshua

commanded. %hey desired to be as sub&ect to Joshua as they had been to !oses, ande(pressed the desire that the 1ord God would be with Joshua as #e was with !oses 7vv.

**D8. %here was general unity in this, yet they added that if any individual among them

rebelled against Joshua's command, he would be put to death. %hen they repeated to

Joshua what God had told him, "6nly be strong and of good courage." #ow deeply doesevery believer need this positive message

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in. 6nly Joshua and aleb urged that they should launch an attack because they knew

God could easily overpower the enemy on their behalf, but the rebellion of the people

resulted in +; more years of wandering in the wilderness. 2n this case, however, the menare told to view especially Jericho. %hey were not sent to make a decision as to whether

to attack Jericho, but rather to find out Jericho's condition in view of 2srael's attacking

them. or Joshua had already told 2srael that in three days they would cross the Jordan.%here was firm decision to go forward, and Jericho was the first ob&ect of attack. 2n the

sending of the spies God had at least two ob&ectives in view, 7*8 to confirm to 2srael the

fact that God was already weakening the hearts of the anaanites, and798 to save 4ahaband her household from destruction.

2t so happened that the spies found lodging in the home of a woman who proved to be a

harlot. inful as she was, the 1ord had begun a work of repentance and faith in her heart,

as her words to the spies proved. 2t was not lust that led them to her home, but it was

God's grace that did so. -hen the king of Jericho heard that 2sraelites had come toJericho as spies, he demanded that 4ahab should deliver them to him 7v. +8. $ut she was

the one person in that whole city who had been awakened to realiBe that 2srael wasserving the true God and that #is rights were paramount, so that she decided she must

take sides with God against her own nation. -hen the messengers came to 4ahab, she

lied to them, telling them that though the men had come to her house, she did not knowwhere they were from and they had left again as darkness was falling 7v. )8. %he

messengers accepted her word for it, and her suggestion that they pursue them Fuickly.

-as it right for 4ahab to lie 0o, it is never right to lie. 3et 4ahab lied because she had

faith in God. 0ot that faith made her lie, but she could see no other way of protecting the

spies.


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#aving such reports, 4ahab says, "our hearts melted," and courage deserted the people of

the land. %he report brought fear to all the people generally, but it awakened faith in

4ahab, who declares firmly, "%he 1ord your God, #e is God in heaven above and onearth beneath" 7v. **8.

%hen she pleads with the spies, on the basis of her faith in showing kindness to them, thatwhen 2srael conFuers Jericho, they will spare her father's house, her father, mother,

brothers and sisters, delivering them all from being put to death 7vv. *9*+8. %his is aclear evidence of a work of God in her heart, for harlotry shows no regard for proper

family relationships. imilarly, when one has been saved from an ungodly life today, it is

wonderful to see how concerned he or she is that close relatives should be saved.

%he spies willingly promise her this favor, but on condition that she and her family do not

betray them to others. %he spies could not leave by the gate, which had been closed, but

since 4ahab's house was on the wall, she let them down by a rope from her window. he

suggested their going the opposite way from Jordan, to hide for three days till the

pursuers were back in the city.

0o doubt before they were let down they spoke the words of verses *D9E, instructing her

to bind the line of scarlet cord in her window, which would mark out her house as that to

be spared when 2srael conFuered Jericho. he must bring her family into the house atthat time, for anyone outside the house could not count on any protection 7vv. *;*?8.

%his may remind us of the


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be merely following one another. %hus, for us today also, we see hrist in the distance

before us, and each individual is to be concerned to personally follow #im, yet giving

#im the sole honor that belongs to #im, of being the distinct and distinguished leader of#is people.

Joshua then commanded the people to sanctify themselves in view of the 1ord's doingwonders among them 7v. )8. anctification involves separation from what does not honor

God and separation to God, for #e was to work mightily among them. -e too should bemorally prepared for receiving God's blessing, by being set apart for #is glory.

%he time had now come for another amaBing miracle of God on behalf of 2srael. Joshua

told the priests to take up the ark and begin the crossing of the 4iver Jordan 7v. 8. %he1ord at the same time told Joshua that now #e would begin to magnify Joshua in the

sight of 2srael in order that they might realiBe that as God was with !oses, so #e was

now with Joshua 7v. D8. #e is told then to instruct the priests to carry the ark and actually

stand in the water at the edge of Jordan 7v. ;8.

peaking to all 2srael, Joshua informs them beforehand how God was going to work

among them, giving the assurance by what #e would do that day, that #e is indeed the

living God who would without fail drive out the seven nations from the land before the

children of 2srael. "%he ark of the covenant of all the earth," he tells them "is crossingover before you into the Jordan" 7v.**8. %hey were therefore to appoint a man from each

tribe as a representative 7v. *98.%his was in view of chapter @:9.

Joshua assures them in advance that as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests carryingthe ark would rest in the waters of Jordan, the waters would be cut off, no longer flowing,

but standing as a heap upstream from them 7v. *+8.

%hus, neither Joshua nor the people were taken by surprise when this astounding miracle

took place. %he priests' feet barely dipped in the water at the edge of Jordan when thewaters were cut off. 2t must have been a tremendous heap of waters that accumulated far

upstream, especially since at that time the river was at flood stage 7vv. *)*8. %ypically,

Jordan is the river of death 7running into the =ead ea8, and the heaping up of the waters

speaks of the death of the 1ord Jesus, who bore the overflowing &udgment of God for usat alvary, taking all that &udgment into #is own bosom in order that we might have none

whatever to bear. or the people passed over on dry ground, while the priests with the

ark remained in the middle of Jordan until all the people had crossed over 7v. *D8. %husall the power of death was defeated. o, in the cross of hrist we see death's power

annulled and believers now identified with hrist in resurrection, though this is

particularly seen in the stones taken from the Jordan in hapter @:).

CHAPTER 4

STOES OF MEMOR!AL

7vs.*9@8


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6nly when all were passed over did Joshua, at God's command, instruct that each of the

twelve chosen men should carry a stone out of the midst of Jordan, from the place where

the priests had stood, and take them to the place where they would encamp that night7vs.@)8. %his was to be a sign for 2srael when their children would ask the meaning of the

stones set as they were 7v.8. %he spiritual significance is Fuite simple. %he stones taken

out of the water 7the place of death8 are typical of 2srael being taken through death intoresurrection life. ll the tribes are represented, &ust as all believers today are seen by God

as "risen with hrist" 7ol.+:*8.

%he crossing of the Jordan certainly reminds us of the passage of the 4ed ea. $ut the

emphasis in the case of the 4ed ea was 2srael's deliverance out of Egypt C while thecrossing of Jordan emphasiBes 2srael's entrance into the land of promise. %his is the

positive side of 2srael's blessing and reminds us of God's words concerning the saints of

God today, "blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places inhrist"75ph.*:+8. %hus, the death and resurrection of hrist not only separates us from a

hostile world, but it invests us with wealth beyond all imagination in a place of pure &oy

and eternal glory. anaan is of course only a faint picture of this.

%he children of the 2sraelites then were to be instructed as to the meaning of the stones, &ust as children of believers should be instructed as to the death and resurrection of hrist

being the basis of all blessing for #is people. -e today have a memorial of this great

work of God in the 1ord's supper, for believers are told, "=o this in remembrance of !e"71k.99:*?8. 6ur children too should be taught diligently as to the significance of this

memorial.

s well as the stones set up in the land, Joshua 7not the twelve men8 set up twelve stones

in the midst of Jordan 7v.?8. %hey would be soon covered with water, therefore unseen.

%his is a picture, not of our having resurrection life in hrist, but of our having died withhrist, our past therefore, as it were, blotted out. 2t is hrist's death that has done this: we

had no part in that work. o it was Joshua who set up these stones. $ut believers are privileged to enter into and en&oy the resurrection life we have now in hrist, as seen in

the stones set up by the twelve men.

%hough historically the death of hrist came before #is resurrection, yet the resurrection

side 7the stones in the land8 is mentioned first because it is the positive side of the truth,and the blessing of the new life is to be emphasiBed in the book of Joshua.

%he priests who carried the ark remained in the midst of Jordan as a guarantee that there

was no danger to the people, till all this was finished and all the people had passed over,

then they too crossed over with the ark.

2t is good to see that about @E,EEE of the men of 4euben and Gad and of the half tribe of!anasseh kept their word to cross over Jordan, all prepared for war, with the rest of

2srael, though their families and possessions remained on the eastern side 7vs.*9,*+8.


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%his marvelous event of the crossing of the Jordan on dry ground could not but deeply

impress all 2srael, and God used it to e(alt Joshua in their eyes 7v.*@8. imilarly, the more

marvelous miracle of the resurrection of the 1ord Jesus from among the dead surelye(alts #im in our eyes. rom this time forth 2srael would have full reason to respect and

honor the leadership of Joshua.

t the 1ord's command Joshua told the priests bearing the ark to come up out of Jordan

7vs.*)*D8, and as soon as they reached the ground not affected by the overflowingwaters, the waters returned to the same flood stage as before 7v.*;8. %hus no one would

be able to follow 2srael on dry ground. 6nly true believers can know what it means to

have died with hrist and to be raised with hrist.

Aerse *? tells us the date of this event, the tenth day of the first month. -ould they not

remember that this was the date they were told in 5gypt to take a young lamb and keep it

for four days until the


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Joshua was reFuired to make flint knives by which the men of 2srael were to be

circumcised 7vs.+@8. %his was totally contrary to military strategy, for it would leave

them naturally greatly weakened in case the enemy attacked. $ut God was able to keepthe enemy in check, and #is word is most vital if any results for #im are to be obtained.

Aerse reminds us that 2srael was kept for forty years in the wilderness because theydisobeyed the 1ord's instructions to enter anaan 7v.8, so that that generation of men had

died and their sons now were circumcised. %hey remained in the camp till they werehealed 7v.;8, which reFuired three days. %he 1ord's words at this time are instructive,

"%his day 2 have rolled away the reproach of 5gypt from you" 7v.?8. Gilgal means

"rolling away" 5gypt is typical of the world, which has kept believers in bondage, but the bondage was broken by the death of hrist, pictured in the 4ed ea. 3et, to enter into the

truth of this practically reFuires the application of the death sentence to ourselves

personally. -hen this death sentence is made vital to the individual 7as symboliBed incircumcision8, he realiBes that he is, not only in principle, but in practice, dead to the

world. %he reproach of 5gypt is thus rolled away, for it is final, definite separation from

all that is of 5gypt 7the world8.

ircumcision depicts the negative side of the truth, that is, saying "0o" to the flesh, andin the 0ew %estament baptism answers to circumcision, for baptism also speaks of

virtually putting the flesh in the place of death, or of burial. -e shall see as we go on in

Joshua that the positive side is presented to us, where all blessing is centered in hrist.

THE PASSO$ER %EPT

7vs.*E*98

-hile we have seen that circumcision deals with what is negative, the &udgment of sin in

our own flesh, now the keeping of the


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#is e(altation, raised and glorified, so that this is e(alting food. %he believer is privileged

today to eat both of these, for as regards his circumstances he is in the wilderness, but as

regards his spiritual position he is in the heavenlies.

THE S#PREME COMMA&ER

7vs.*+*)8

%here has been an orderly progression in the preparations made for warfare, now only

one matter remains, and that of greatest importance. s Joshua was by Jericho, evidentlycontemplating an attack, he saw a !an standing before him holding a drawn sword.

Joshua was no weakling: he went to the !an and asked #im on which side #e was

7v.*+8.

%he answer was "0o." #e neither came to support Joshua nor to support the enemy, butfor a far higher purpose. #e came as ommander of the army of the 1ord. %his could be

no other than the 1ord #imself, and Joshua fully gives #im this place. #e worshiped

#im and asked what #e had to tell Joshua 7v.*@8. %he only instruction he was given wasto take the sandal off his foot because the place he stood was holy ground. %hus, Joshua

would be reminded of !oses and the burning bush 75(.+:)8.

Joshua surely would never forget this. God intended to impress on him that he was only a

secondary leader and all 2srael must realiBe their total dependence on the grace and power of the eternal God.

CHAPTER '

JER!CHO &ESTRO(E&

Joshua and 2srael having been fully prepared by God, their conFuest of anaan begins.Jericho, with its thick walls, was securely shut up 7v.*8, prepared for a long siegeC but

certainly not prepared for what happened Joshua did not depend on his military wisdom,

but received orders from God, who tells him #e has given Jericho and its king andmighty men into Joshua's hand 7v.98.

#e is given what appears to be strange instructions, that 2srael's army should march

around the city once every day for si( days, with seven priests sounding rams' horns

before the ark 7vs.+@8. 6n the seventh day, however, they were told to march around thecity seven times, followed by a long blast with the ram's horn and a trumpet blast. %hen

all the people who had been Fuiet before, were to shout loudly. God would cause the wallof the city to fall down flat, so that the men of 2srael could go straight before them intothe city 7v.)8.

Joshua followed these instructions precisely, as verses * show. %here were armed men

before the priests and the ark, and a rear guard followed the ark. %he sight of this must

have been astonishing to the people of Jericho who would be watching from the walls.%he Fuiet, orderly marching, with only the rams' horns sounding is a picture of the proper


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testimony of believers today before a world that is destined for &udgment. %he orderly

walk of believers with hrist 7the ark8 as their enter is a witness of moral character

before the world, while the blowing of the rams' horns is the announced witness, that is,the proclaiming of the gospel of the grace of God.

5ach day for si( days this continued 7v.*@8, but on the seventh day they arose early andmarched around the city seven times 7v.*)8. =oes this not indicate that as &udgment nears

the testimony of God is intensified, as indeed in our day the gospel is being declaredmore urgently than ever before, while the world continues in a state of rebellion and

refusal of the message of grace.

6n the seventh day, at the end of the seventh time around the city, the priests blew withthe trumpets and Joshua told the people to shout, since the 1ord had given them the city.

$ut he said more. %he city must be destroyed, but 4ahab the harlot and all who were in

her house would be spared 7v.*D8. lso, the people were warned not to take anything

from Jericho, for the city and everything in it was under the curse of God. 3et all the

silver and gold, vessels of bronBe and iron were to be consecrated to the 1ord and brought into the treasury of the 1ord 7vs.*;*?8. %hese were things that could resist the

fire of God's &udgment, things that fire would only purify rather than destroy, and are allsymbolical of spiritual things that, rightly used, may be of glory to God and blessing to

the whole congregation. or instance, gold speaks of the glory of God, but in the hands of

mere professors of religion, those who are deceived by the seductions of atan, the gloryof God is badly abused, as we see in 4evelation *;:*9 where the false church is spoken of

as making merchandise of gold, or in other words, making merchandise of that which is

only rightly used for God's glory. %his is true of silver also, which speaks of redemption,

but which men's religions misuse also, making the redemption that is in hrist Jesus onlya teaching by which the church might make monetary gain. $ronBe 7or copper8 is

mentioned also in the same verse. opper pictures the holiness of God, and people usethe word even in giving titles to religious dignitaries, but again it becomes onlymerchandise in their profitable religion #ow important to have these things rescued from

unholy hands and given back to God

-hen the people added their shout to the sounding of the trumpets, the wall of the city

fell down flat. %his evidently does not mean that the walls toppled over, for they werewide enough to contain homes, and the soldiers went in straight before them. #owever,

recent reports of archaeological e(cavations reveal that the evidence is that the walls sank

into the ground. %his would account for the e(pression "fell down flat," and of course the2sraelites would then be able to go straight before them into the city, with no having to

circumvent rubble. #ow astounding a sight for 2srael to witness %he one e(ception

would be that area of the wall in which 4ahab and her relatives were gathered.

5very living thing in the city was totally destroyed, men, women, children and animals,e(cept for those people in 4ahab's house 7v.9*8. %his may seem appalling to us today, but

we must remember that the inhabitants of the land 7including Jericho8 had been

completely given up to demon worship. t least the little children, who were not yet


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responsible for this wickedness, would be taken to heaven, which would be far better than

remaining on earth to follow the ways of their parents.

t Joshua's instructions, the young men who had been spies went to 4ahab's house and brought her out, together with her father, mother, brothers and all she bad, to the vicinity

of the camp of 2srael, though not into the camp 7vs.999+8.

%he city itself then was burned, though, as God had ordered, the silver and gold and

vessels of bronBe and iron were put into the treasury of the 1ord 7v.9@8.

2t is noted in verse 9 that 4ahab, her father's house and all her possessions were spared,and she dwelt in 2srael still at the time this record was written. %his e(ception, being

mentioned a few times, is intended to impress us with the reality of the grace of God in

#is willingness to save souls, even though God had decreed the destruction of the cityand the entire country. Just so, today God has decreed the &udgment of the world 7cts

*D:+*8, yet in grace #e is saving souls out of the world when in faith they receive the

1ord Jesus as avior.

Jericho having been destroyed, Joshua pronounced a curse against the man who wouldrebuild the city. %he curse involved the death of his firstborn at the time the foundation

was laid and the death of his youngest when the gates of the city were set up 7v.98. %his

was fulfilled in the days of hab, the most wicked of 2srael's kings. #iel, a man of $ethel, built Jericho again, and his oldest son biram died when the foundation was laidC then at

the setting up of its gates his youngest son egub died 7* Hi.*:+++@8.

%he 1ord's conFuest of Jericho by Joshua and 2srael's armies resulted in Joshua's fame

being spread throughout the country. $ecause Joshua had a character of faith and

sub&ection to the word of God, he was a fit leader for 2srael.

Jericho means "fragrant" and speaks of the character of the world in its condition of self

satisfaction and natural attraction. 2t is the world in its fundamental principle of refusal of

God's rights. or this reason it was devoted to complete destruction, with no rightwhatever to be revived again. %he believer is to be once and for all settled in his purpose

to "love not the world" and have no confidence in its attractions.

CHAPTER )

&EFEATE& B( A!

7vs.*?8

%hough Joshua and 2srael as such were unaware of it, there was sin in the camp that

affected all of 2srael, for we are told that "the children of 2srael committed a trespassregarding the accursed things" 7v.*8. 6nly one man had done this, but God held the nation

responsible because the man, chan, was part of 2srael. #e had taken some things that

were under the curse and God was therefore angry with 2srael 7v.*8.


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0ow Joshua sent men from Jericho to i to spy out that city 7v.98. 0otice, they had not

returned to Gilgal after the defeat of Jericho. 2f they had taken time to go back to Gilgal,

the place of self&udgment, the 1ord would likely have revealed to them that sin was inthe camp. $ut we do not even read that Joshua enFuired of God as to attacking i. #e had

before depended fully on the 1ord in reference to Jericho, but we too easily fall into the

snare of being flushed with a great victory and thinking therefore that we can easily win alesser victory. re we any more capable of a small thing than a large thing 0o 2f God is

not in it, the small as well as the large will defeat us.

%he advice of the spies to Joshua was to send only about +EEE men against i because it

was small 7v.+8. Joshua took this advice from men without asking God's counsel, and theresult was that the men of i came out and soundly defeated 2srael, killing + men.

Jericho is a picture of the world in principle. ll believers by faith in hrist Jesus

"overcome the world" 7* Jn.):@)8, as 2srael overcame Jericho. $ut i pictures the world

in its details. these things may seem small to us, and we can easily be defeated by them.

3oung men are told, "=o not love the world or the things in the world" 7* Jn.9:*@*)8.%hey had overcome the wicked one, yet in spite of this there was danger that they might

be defeated by attraction to the world or its things. %hrough faith they had become strong, but if faith becomes virtually inactive in our lives, we may be overcome by even small

worldly attractions.

-hen 2srael was defeated the hearts of the people melted in apprehension 7v.)8. %his was

a shock they had not e(pected. Joshua tore his clothes and prostrated himself before the1ord, together with the elders of the people, putting dust on their heads 7v8. %hese things

speak of repentance which they saw was evidently needed, though they were still not

aware of the sin in the camp that had occasioned their defeat.

t least Joshua pled with the 1ord then, though he did not think of asking what was thereason for this defeat: rather he asked why God had even brought 2srael across the Jordan

&ust to deliver them into the hand of their enemies. #e thought it would have been better

to remain on the other side of Jordan. =id he not stop to consider that the mighty way inwhich God had already reduced Jericho's opposition to nothing

"6 1ord," he says, "-hat shall 2 say when 2srael turns its back before its enemies" 7v.;8.

#e felt that the news of this would imbue the anaanites with boldness and strength to

surround 2srael and destroy them. %hen he adds, "then what will 3ou do for 3our greatname" 7v.?8. #e did not realiBe that in 2srael's painful defeat God was rightly caring for

the honor of #is great name.

ACHA*S S! E+POSE& A& J#&GE&

7vs.*E98

%he 1ord answered Joshua's prayer by telling him to get up and act. or #e says, "2srael

has sinned" 7v.**8. %hough only one man was guilty and his guilt was concealed, yet all

2srael was held accountable. 2f they had consulted God before attacking i, #e would


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have told them about this, but our lack of communion with God will too easily leave us

ignorant of atan's attacks. %his is a serious lesson for the hurch of God today.

God told Joshua that 2srael had taken some of those things that were under the curse and put it among their own goods. %herefore they could not stand before their enemies, and

could not stand until they had destroyed the evil from their midst, because God would not be with them 7v.*98.

Joshua must sanctify the people, that is, separate them from the normal pursuits of life, toconcentrate on this one matter of importance, that there was an accursed thing in their

midst and it must be taken away. -e might wonder why this could not be taken care of

without involving the whole congregation, but all must learn publicly that God is a Godof true holiness. %his public dealing was thus intended to impress the seriousness of such

sin upon every individual, to guard against any further infractions. %he probe and its

results would take no little time. %he prosecution of the war must be held up, to

emphasiBe that God governs among #is own.

ertainly the 1ord could have e(posed chan as the offender immediately, but in #is

great wisdom #e made all the tribes come as though all were under suspicion 7v.*@8. %his

would call for serious heart searching among all, so that there would be no mere

resentment aroused against chan, but that all would be humbled by the evil. %he processwould gradually narrow down to the individual whom the 1ord had already &udged must

be burned with fire 7v.*)8.

5arly in the morning the e(amination began. 6f the twelve tribes, the tribe of Judah wassingled out by the 1ord 7v.*8, and from this the family of the Iarhites was taken. %hen

the family came, man by man, and Iabdi was taken. Iabdi's household was then brought

man by man, and the finger of accusation was pointed at chan 7vs.*D*;8. chan had been given plenty of time to confess his guilt, but evidently he was hoping right to theend that he might not be e(posed. #ow foolish is the unbelief of greed 2f people will not

confess their guilt before God while #e waits patiently, how humiliating will be the

e(posure of their guilt at the Great -hite %hrone 74ev.9E:***98.

Joshua shows no hostility toward chan, but pleads with him to at least now give glory tothe 1ord God of 2srael by confessing candidly what he has done 7v.*?8. -hat else could

chan do now but confess his guilt #e admitted he had sinned against the 1ord God of

2srael and had tolen three things from the spoil of Jericho, a beautiful $abyloniangarment, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing )E shekels, and had

buried them under his tent floor 7v.9*8. %he silver would be about eight pounds in weight,

the gold two pounds, the value of which would be great. %he $abylonian garmentrepresents idolatrous lu(ury which should have been destroyed, while the silver and gold

ought to have been put in the treasury of the 1ord.

-hat did chan think he could do with these things $ut greed is often foolish and

unthinking. #e has to admit he coveted them and took them. #e is like many today whograsp after all they can get when they can put it to no practical use.


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%he stolen goods being recovered from chan's tent, he and the stolen property, his sons

and his daughters, his o(en, donkeys, sheep and his tent were all taken to the Aalley of

chor 7meaning "trouble"8. %hen Joshua solemnly pronounced sentence against chan7v.9)8, he reaping trouble because of the trouble he sowed. ll 2srael was called upon to

stone them to death and burn them. %he fact that his sons and daughters were included in

this &udgment indicates that they knew of his crime and did not report it, for in 2srael nochildren were to be put to death for their father's sins 7=eut.9@:*8. chan's animals also

were destroyed, however. s to the silver and gold, we are not told whether this was

brought into the treasury of the 1ord. $ut of course it would not be destroyed by burning great heap of stones was raised over the remains, a testimony to God's holiness in

&udgment. 6nly when this stern &udgment of the evil took place was God's anger abated.

%he place was called "the Aalley of chor" 7A.98.

Joshua , CHAPTER -

A! TOTALL( &ESTRO(E&

7vs.*9?8

0ow the 1ord gives e(plicit instructions to Joshua as to attacking i. #ow different thesewere to the plans Joshua used at first God tells Joshua not to be afraid, but to take with

him all the men of war , not only +EEE men 7v.*8. 2t was God who would deliver them into

the hand of Joshua, so that there was no doubt of their gaining the victory. %hey must dowith i as they had done with Jericho, but in this case the people could take the spoil for

themselves 7v.98.

God had given the total victory over Jericho, which symboliBes the world as a system of

evil. $ut as to i, though God was behind all that 2srael did, yet they were to fight in

various ways, for i speaks of the details of worldliness that hinder the spiritual progressof believers. 2n their overcoming these things, small as they seem to be, believers will

gain spiritually. %hus 2srael in this case gained through the spoils.

irst they were told to set an ambush behind the city. Joshua therefore chose +E,EEEvaliant warriors, telling them to lie in wait behind the city, not far from it, and being

ready for conflict 7v.@8. %hey would wait for Joshua and those with him to show

themselves before the city, with the confidence that i's men would come out to attackthem as before. 2srael would then act as though they were beaten and retreat with the men

of i in pursuit. %his would give the ambush time to enter the city and set it on fire 7vs.)

;8. %he men therefore remained in ambush that night 7v.?8.

5arly the ne(t morning Joshua mustered his army and brought them to the north side ofi, where they encamped 7v.**8. #e also set about ),EEE men in ambush on the west side

of the city. %hus there were +E,EEE lying in wait behind the city and ),EEE on the west

side and a large army with Joshua at the front of the city.

%hen Joshua and his army marched into the valley in view of the city gates 7v.*+8. %heking of i immediately led his army out of the gates to attack 2srael as he did before,


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being ignorant of the ambushes that had been laid 7v.*@8. Joshua and his army retreated

then, fleeing from i. ll the army of i &oined in pursuit of 2srael, leaving the city

without defense 7vs.*)*D8. %hey were not like the men of Jericho who kept their citytightly closed against 2srael, but felt themselves strong in taking the offensive, no doubt

encouraged by the fact that they had done so before and won.

-hen i had been left defenseless, the 1ord told Joshua to stretch out his spear toward i

7v.*;8. %his was the signal for which the ambush was waiting, and they rushed into thecity and set it on fire before the army of i knew what was happening 7v.*?8. -henthey

saw their city on fire, they found themselves caught in the middle, for those they pursued

turned back and struck down the men of i 7v.9*8. %hose who had torched the city cameout and attacked from behind, thus in a short time destroying all the army of i 7v.998.

%he king of i was taken alive and when the army had been destroyed, the armies of

2srael returned into the city and finished the destruction, so that *9,EEE were killed that

day, the entire population of i 7v.9)8. %he livestock and other spoil was taken by the

2sraelites, however, as God had instructed 7v.9D8. %he king of i was hanged, then his body buried by a great heap of stones at the entrance of the city.

2n all of this history we are reminded of some distinct ways in which scripture instructs us

to deal with evil:

7*8 5ntrenched against evil those pitched on the north side of i 7v.**8.

ompare 5phesians :*+.

798 -atching against evil those who laid in ambush 7v.*98.

ompare * orinthians *:*+.

7+8 ppearing against evil Joshua's group going into the midst of the valley7v.*+8.

ompare 5phesians ): **.

7@8 leeing from evil Joshua's retreat 7v.*)8.ompare 9 %imothy 9:99.

7)8


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2srael rush immediately into further conFuests, but rather sought to have them soberly

consider their relationship to #im, to give #im the worship due #is name and be found in

a spirit of dependence on #im and obedience to #is law,

!ore time was then taken for 2srael to be gathered together, with half the congregation in

front of !ount GeriBim and half of them in front of !ount 5bal. %he ark was in thecenter, attended by the priests, but all 2srael was reFuired to be present. %hese two

mountains were in close pro(imity, and Joshua was obeying God's command in=euteronomy 9D:***+. urses were connected with !ount 5bal and blessings with

!ount GeriBim. #ere Joshua read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings

7v.+@8. !oses had rehearsed this with 2srael before, but this was needed as a constantreminder to them.

0o one was e(empt from hearing this discourse. -omen, little children and strangers

living among them must be included too 7v.+)8.

CHAPTER .

&ECE!$E& B( THE G!BEO!TES

7vs.*9D8

%he calm deliberation with which the 1ord was acting gave time for the forces of theenemy to be marshaled against 2srael. i( nations, the #ittites, morites, anaanites,


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-hat the Gibeonites said sounded plausible, and it may be that their reference to 2srael's

God had a deciding effect with Joshua, but he and 2srael made the fatal mistake of

receiving them on their own word without asking counsel from the 1ord 7v.*@8. %heymade and confirmed a covenant with them by an oath 7v.*)8. 2f we think 2srael was not to

blame since they were deceived, then let us think again: if they had taken the matter to

God, would they have been deceived 0o 2f we are in proper communion with the 1ord,we shall not be deceived, for the 1ord is not deceived.

%hree days following this 2srael found that these people lived close to them 7v.*8, and as

2srael &ourneyed they came to their four cities, $ut these cities had to be spared because

of the oath 2srael had made to them. %his led the congregation to complain against therulers, for this was contrary to what God had commanded 7v.*;8

ould they rescind the covenant now on the basis of having been deceived bsolutely

not -hy $ecause, though others may act falsely, this never gives a hristian the right

to act falsely in return. %hey had given their word. God would not allow them to go back

on it in spite of the problems that might follow. 1ater on Hing aul, "in his Beal for thechildren of 2srael and Judah" killed some of the Gibeonites 79 am.9*:*98, and God sent

a famine on 2srael in the days of =avid because of this. aul thus chose a foolish way oftrying to correct the failure of his forefathers. -hat a lesson to teach us the importance of

bowing to the governmental results of our failures, rather then to proudly think we can

correct them

#owever, there must be some discipline meted out because of the deception. %heGibeonites had said they were 2srael's servants, therefore the rulers of 2srael said, "let

them be woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation" 7v.9*8. %hey must be kept

in total subservience to 2srael. Joshua then gave them this message, telling them that, in

spite of their being spared, they were under a curse for their deception and would never be freed from slavery 7vs.999+8.

%hey answered Joshua that they knew that God had told !oses to destroy the people of

the land and this deception was the only means they could think of to be preserved fromdeath, for they were filled with fear 7v.9@8. 2f it had been faith that brought them, they

would have found the God of 2srael full of compassion, as #e was with 4ahab, but God

knew that these nations had given themselves up to idolatry and unbelief.

#owever, they did not by any means resist Joshua's words and declared themselves readyto submit to whatever Joshua thought right. %his is similar to what will take place at the

end of the Great %ribulation. %here will be those from foreign nations who will hear of

hrist in #is great conFuests.


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CHAPTER /0

!SRAEL &EFEATS F!$E %!GS

7vs.**E8

%he news of Gibeon's treaty with 2srael greatly alarmed other nations in the land, forGibeon was considered prominent and important, so that the king of Jerusalem took the

lead in enlisting four other kings to attack Gibeon 7vs.@:*@8.

%hese enemies have vital spiritual significance. Jerusalem means "the foundation of

peace," and is the center God had purposed for 2srael to place #is name there. $ut it was

held by doniBedec 7v.+8 which means "lord of righteousness," &ust as satanic deceit putson a show of righteousness to deceive people. "atan himself transforms himself into an

angel of light. %herefore it is no great thing if his ministers transform themselves into

ministers of righteousness" 79 or.**:*@*)8. atan is determined, if he can, to prevent

our laying hold of the truth of the enter of gathering, that is, the understanding that the

1ord Jesus #imself is the one enter around whom #is people are to gather, not adenominational name, not to a certain physical location or building, but to #im

personally, as #e says, "-here two or three are gathered together in, !y name, 2 amthere in the midst of them" 7!t.*;:9E8. #ow good it is if faith can displace atan's

deception, &ust as 2srael displaced doniBedec and took possession of Jerusalem.

#ebron means "communion" or " fellowship" and its king, #oham, means "corrupt

confusion of sound," for the world's fellowship has no calm, Fuiet peace such as does truecommunion with God, for the world thinks of fellowship as every voice raised in

confused discord.


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heavenly places, puts much emphasis on walk, for if we truly appreciate our position in

heavenly places, this will have a very real effect on our earthly walk.

%he last of these five cities is 5glon, meaning "round, as a wheel." 2ts king was =ebir,meaning "speaker" or "an oracle." 5glon pictures God's government, which grinds slowly

but surely, telling us that God will always have the last word, for hrist is "the men."


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would eventually find the answer to this. #e did so and came to Joshua *E. $ut he

returned to the second man and told him that now he knew the $ible was not true because

he had calculated that at the time of Joshua the earth had lost only 9+ hours and 9Eminutes. #e thought Joshua had known something of this and had resorted to deception

in reporting his e(perience. #owever, he was instructed to notice that at this time in

Joshua the sun and moon hasted not to go down for about a whole day. %old to resume hisreading, he finally came to 9 Hings 9E:?** and was astonished to find that 2saiah had

given a sign to #eBekiah that the shadow on the sundial would return *E degrees. %his

accounted for the @E minutes that was short of a whole day. %hus the -ord of God was proven true and the scientist was converted to hrist.

fter the great victory over the five kings, Joshua returned with 2srael to Gilgal. #ow

important it is that we do the same thing when the 1ord has enabled us to gain a victory.

-e deeply need the place of self&udgment then, to keep us from the pride that likes toglory in our accomplishments.

THE F!$E %!GS E+EC#TE&7vs.*9D8

%he kings of the five cities were evidently not in the forefront of the battle, but directing

operations from a distance. %hey escaped together to a cave where they e(pected to behidden 7v.*8. $ut they had been observed and the news was given to Joshua, who

ordered his men to roll large stones to the mouth of the cave, with men kept on guard

7vs.*D*;8.

%hese few were left while 2srael continued to pursue their enemies and destroy them

before they could enter their cities. %hus, the e(tra long day served to enable a sweeping

victory, with only few escaping to seek refuge in fortified cities 7v.9E8. ive of these citieswere left without any king, however. %he camp of 2srael is now seen to be at !akkedah,farther west and south than Gibeon. 2srael's army returned there, where the five kings

were imprisoned in the cave.

-hen the stones were rolled away the kings were still there. %hough they were alive they

were not able to release themselves. 2n contrast to this, the 1ord Jesus had died and #is body put in a cave with a stone rolled over its mouth and soldiers guarding it. $ut when

the stone was rolled away, #is body was not there

-hen the five kings were brought out Joshua told the captains of 2srael's army to put

their feet on the necks of these kings 7v.9@8. or the stiffnecked, proud kings of the worldmust have their stubborn pride reduced to humiliation before the God of heaven and

earth. Joshua told his men therefore not to fear, but be strong and courageous, for the

1ord would in the same manner reduce all the pride of their enemies before them 7v.9)8.%he kings were then put to death and hanged on five trees until evening. 1et us remember

these were leaders in satanic worship, and when the day of God's &udgment comes there

will be no sparing those who have sold themselves to atan. %he sun finally went down


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on that long day, and the bodies were taken from the trees and returned to the cave with

large stones again covering it permanently 7v.9D8.

Aerse 9; now adds that "on that day" 7the long day of which we have read8 Joshua tookthe city of !akkedah, completely destroying its king and its people. %he meaning of

!akkedah is "bowing the head." %he five proud kings had been compelled to bow theirheads there, but from 2srael's viewpoint, when she took the city, is this not significant of

learning the truth of willingly bowing our heads to the great God of creation

F#RTHER CO1#ESTS OF C!T!ES

7vs.9?@+8

%hese ensuing victories of Joshua evidently began the day following the long day. %he

second city that he conFuers is 1ibnah, meaning "whiteness." alse religion boasts in theclaim of purity, but it is all on the surface, like whitewashed graves 7!t.9+:9D8, with the

corruption of death underneath. $ut true purity involves separation from evil, no

contamination being allowed. %hus, in picture, we conFuer the city of 1ibnah by learningwell the truth of sanctification to God and therefore from all this contrary to #im.

1ibnah's inhabitants were also destroyed 7v.+E8. 3et, let us observe that none of these

cities were destroyed, as Jericho was, but captured.

rom 1ibnah they passed to 1achish, which name we have noted as meaning "walk asmen." 2ts army had already been defeated, now the inhabitants are killed and 2srael

captures the city 7v.+98. true walk as men who honor God can only be the possession of

those who are born again.

nother king, #oram, of GeBer, comes to the help of 1achish 7v.++8, GeBer means

"isolated" or "cut off," and #oram "tumid or "swollen." #oram therefore speaks of theswollen pride that glories in its independence 7isolation8. %he city itself is not spoken of

as being taken by Joshua, for God is not seeking a place of isolation for any of #is saints, but Joshua did destroy #oram and his people. #owever, we read in * Hings ?:* that


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have any right to possess the place of true communion or fellowship. atan e(pends

every effort to keep us from this, but faith in the on of God overcomes.

rom #ebron Joshua and his army went to =ebir, the name of this city being the same asthe king of 5glon 7v.+8, meaning "speaker" or "oracle." %his city too was captured and its

king and inhabitants killed 7vs.+;+?8. %hose whom atan uses effectively as speakers inhis cause must be totally e(pelled and replaced by speakers for God. #ow good it is if we

know how to silence the claims of false doctrine by means of the true doctrine of hrist.%he establishing of hristianity in the world in the book of cts answers to these great

victories of Joshua, who is a type of "hrist in you."

2n this great campaign of chapter *E Joshua completely conFuered all the outhland, themountain country and the lowland, from Hadesh $arnea as far as GaBa and all the

country of Goshen 7vs.@E@*8. ll of this he took at one time, but nothing could account

for this e(cept that the 1ord God fought for 2srael. %his is likely the most amaBing and

decisive military engagement that history has ever seen.

t the end of this, which took so short a time, Joshua and all 2srael returned to the camp

at Gilgal 7v.@+8. !ilitary wisdom certainly did not decide this for him, but God's leading.

%he backbone of all anaan's resistance had been broken, but instead of e(ploiting his

advantage, Joshua sought the presence of God in the place of self &udgment. #ere hewould find renewed strength for future warfare.

CHAPTER //

CO1#EST OF ORTHER EEM!ES

7vs.**)8

2srael's returning for the time being to Gilgal gave time for the nations in the north to

mobiliBe. 2n this God's wisdom is evident, for #e brought these nations together so that2srael could defeat them enmasse, and not have to spend weeks or months in going from

one city to another to wage war. 2n defeating their armies first, the taking of their cities

would be simple.

2n the tremendous gathering of this northern confederacy only two kings are mentioned by name, Jabin king of #aBor and Jobab king of !adon. Jabin means "discerning" and

#aBor means "inclosed." Jabin therefore represents "the wisdom of this world" 7*

or.*:9E8 which has its own inclosed stronghold, keeping out anything that does not

conform to its proud claims. $ut God knows how to render the wisdom of this world"foolish." %his attack by "philosophy and empty deceit" 7ol.9:;8 can appear most

formidable so that many are deceived by it, but the energy of faith in the living God can

fully overcome it.

Jobab, meaning "shouter" was king of !adon which means, "contention."


24/48


25/48

S#MMAR( OF JOSH#A*S CO1#ESTS

7vs.*9+8

ll the land from south to north, whether mountainous or plain, Joshua conFuered, from!ount #alak in the south to the Aalley of 1ebanon in the north, below !ount #ermon

7vs.**D8. %o accomplish this, it was necessary to continue warfare for a long time7v.*,;8. 0o other city besides Gibeon made peace with 2srael: all were taken in battle

7v.*?8.

%he 1ord had hardened the hearts of their enemies so that they should fight against 2srael.

%his is &udicial hardening which is the result 6f their having for a long time hardened

themselves against God. %hey had come to the point of no return, stubbornly refusingtheir only avenue of hope, a genuine straightforward repentance. %hus they were devoted

to total destruction 7v.9E8.

2n verse 9* the nakim are specifically mentioned. %hese were giants 70um.*+:++8, and

were found in the area of #ebron and =ebir. -e have before seen that #ebron 7meaning"communion"8 and =ebir 7"the speaker"8 were taken by Joshua 7ch.*E:++?8, but there

were nakim still in the area, determined to have some possession at least of #ebron and

=ebir, for atan wants to encroach on these things that are rightly the possession of

believers. %he enemy would like to claim a place of communion with God in order to"speak" his evil doctrine as though it was God's message. Hing hab employed such

deceivers to prophecy to him and Jehoshaphat insisted on hearing a prophet of the 1ord

7* Hi.99:+D8.

t this time in Joshua's history, however, the nakim were cut off from the land of the

children of 2srael and left only in the


26/48


27/48

doctrine that one believes, but the way helives. 2t is true that hristianity calls for a

godly, upright life, but if it is not based upon the truth of the teachings of scripture,

though that life may seem commendable to many people, yet it is merely a facade thatcovers up the evil within. "or atan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

%herefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of

righteousness, whose end will be be according to their works" 79 or. **:*@*)8. 2fhrist is not the 6b&ect of people's living, then their living is empty show. $elievers must

conFuer this evil by a genuine confession of hrist and a life consistent with this.

inally, the Jebusites 7"treaders down"8 picture a more bold, open defiance of the truth of

hristianity. -hile the #ivites were more like the


28/48

4ed ea, so they are a picture of those who have come into hristian profession without

facing the truth of the death of hrist for them, not redeemed, but religious. %heir

name means "wallowers," for they wallow in the mire of empty forms and ceremonies,and have always been a thorn in 2srael's side. 2n the history of the hurch too this same

evil has continually opposed the simplicity of the truth of the gospel of grace, and only

faith can overcome it. 2n =avid's day the


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plant which !y heavenly ather has not planted shall be uprooted" 7!t. *):*+8. %hus the

energy of faith will give #im #is rights.

%he


30/48

2t is noted here, because 4euben is so close to !oab, that the children of 2srael killed

$alaam the soothsayer, who had been hired by $alak to curse 2srael, then had counseled

$alak to have his people mingle with 2srael to corrupt them 70um. +*:*8.

G=' 20#542%05 7vv. 9@9;8

%he land given to Gad was north of that of 4euben, including the territory of JaBer

7evidently &ust north of #eshbon8 and continuing north to include uccoth which was

near the Jordan 4iver. Jordan was again the west border of Gad, and the east border isonce more apparently indistinct. 2n this territory and the meaning of the names of cities

there is without doubt spiritual instruction to be found if we were diligent and discerning

enough to find it.

%#5 5%540


31/48

t that time aleb says he was forty years of age 7v. D8, and when sent to spy out the land

he brought back a report that fully honored the 1ord. -hen others discouraged the

people, he wholly followed the 1ord 7vv. D;8. $ecause of his faithfulness, !oses hadsworn that the land aleb's feet trod upon would be his inheritance. %herefore, his faith,

depending on the -ord of God, claimed what rightly belonged to him 7v. ?8. %his is

deeply instructive for believers today. -hat God has declared to be ours in scripture,such as we see in the book of 5phesians, we should surely claim with true boldness of

faith.

-hile all the men of 2srael who had been over twenty when aleb was forty, had died

before the entry into anaan 7e(cept Joshua8, aleb had continued now till he was ;) 7v.*E8, and told Joshua that he was as strong at ;) as he had been at @E to go to war 7v. **8.

%hus, he and Joshua would be fully 9Eyears older than any of the other men of 2srael, yet

still full of courage. aleb's name means "a dog," and he was evidently a Gentile proselyte in 2srael 7Gentiles being regarded as dogs by Jews8, but dogs are noted for their

unwavering devotion to one master, and aleb's devotion to the God of 2srael was a

salutary e(ample for all 2srael.

%herefore, aleb claimed "this mountain," where the nakim 7giants8 lived and who hadgreat and fortified cities 7v. *98. #e did not look for the easiest place to possess, but the

reverse. 2t made no difference to him how strong the giants were: God was stronger than

they. %his was enough for him. #ow good it would be if every believer today had thesame firm decision of faith as did aleb

2n answer to the faith of aleb, Joshua blessed him and gave him #ebron as an

inheritance 7v. *+8. #ebron means "communion," so that typically aleb is blessed with

the special sweetness of communion with the 6ne to whom he was devoted. 2t will be so

with us too if we do not shrink from the conflict of possessing those possessions that areobtained by genuine faith. 2f we "wholly follow the 1ord" we shall know in vital

e(perience the truth of the words of the 1ord Jesus, "2f any one loves !e, he will keep!y wordC and !y ather will love him, and we will come to him and make our home

with him" 7Jn. *@:9+8.

Aerse *)tells us that #ebron had formerly been called Hir&ath rba 7city of rba8, and

rba was the greatest man among the nakim. %hus aleb had no hesitation indispossessing the greatest of the giants. -hen he did this, "the land had rest from war."

Joshua , CHAPTER /"

THE BOR&ERS OF J#&AH

7vs.**98

Judah occupied the largest territory of the tribes, though later we read that imeon's

possession was within Judah's territory 7ch.*?:*8. %he boundary on the south of Judah is

first considered. %his was ne(t to the land of 5dom, beginning at the =ear ea andreaching to the !editerranean ea 7vs.9a8. 5dom 7the same name as dam, pictures man


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in the flesh, and God's land is to be decidedly separated from this. leshly ambition is the

world's principle of action, but Judah 7meaning "praise"8 is to be the opposite of this,

giving God, not self, the first place.

-e return in verse ) to consider the east border, which was the =ead ea, the border

continuing north to the mouth of the 4iver Jordan where it emptied into the =ead ea.%hough the east is the direction of the sun rising, reminding us of the coming of the 1ord,

which will mean great blessing for believers, yet when John the $aptist speaks of the1ord's coming, he tells us, "#is winnowing fan is in #is hand, and #e will thoroughly

clean out #is threshing floor, and gather #is wheat into the barnC but #e will burn up the

chaff with unFuenchable fire." %hus the =ead ea 7really a large lake8 speaks of the lakeof fire. %he Jordan, the river of death, runs into the =ead ea, where no life is found.

#ow many there are who, with no repentance or faith, drift with the current of death into

the awesome death of eternal punishment 7!t.9):@8 the second death of 4evelation9E:*@ Judah's border separates her from the =ead ea, but the reminder was always there

of the &udgment that is escaped only by faith in the living God.

%he northern border began at the mouth of the Jordan 7v.)8. and the description of this is

much more detailed than we have found with the other borders. %his border ad&oins2sraelite territory, as the other borders do not. %hus there is a careful marking off of the

territory of Judah 7"praise"8 from the other tribes. 5phraim's border is discussed after

Judah, but it does no ad&oin Judah, and later $en&amin is seen to have its territory between Judah and 5phraim 7ch.*;:**8, and =an also, farther west than $en&amin

7ch.*?:@E@8. $ut the many details given as to Judah's border surely indicate that praise

must be kept distinct from all other virtuous aspects of the hristian's life, and there are

many occasions for praise also. gain, the meanings of the names would certainly furnishus with good spiritual food if we interpret them aright. 2f the reader desires more help in

such interpretation, the 0umerical $ible by .-.Grant is highly recommended.

Judah's northern border then began at the north end of the =ead ea and went generallywestward till ending at "the Great ea," that is, the !editerranean, which seacoast served

as the western border of Judah 7v.*98. %he great ea is typical of the Gentile nations

74ev.*D:*)8, )E often in a state of upheaval and unrest, seeking to encroach upon the

land, but held in check by the power of God, who has said, "%his far you may come, butno farther, and here your proud waves must stop" 7Job +;:**8, %hus, Judah's western

border tells us that, though the world may threaten to swamp the testimony of the people

of God, yet God is greater than the world, and will preserve #is people.

THE FA!TH OF CALEB AGA! EMPHAS!6E&

7vs.*+*?8

hapter *@:** has reported the boldness of the faith of aleb in claiming what had been

promised him. 0ow he is again given by God a place of prominence, for God delights tohonor that faith that honors #im. God gives a similar honor to Joshua 7ch.*?:@?)*8.

%hus the faithfulness of aleb and Joshua 7in contrast to the other ten spies8 was well

rewarded. aleb was given a share in the land of Judah 7v.*+8, which seems to indicate


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that he did not have this right by natural birth, so that he must have been a Gentile

brought into 2srael as a proselyte.

Aerse *@ tells us that in conFuering Hir&ath rba 7or #ebron8 aleb drove our heshai,himan and %almai, the sons of nak. Giants meant no more to aleb than did weak

men, for God was with him. #e therefore took possession of #ebron, typically possessingthe communion with God to which every believer is entitled, but which many do not

en&oy.

#aving taken #ebron, aleb went up to Hir&ath epher 7"city of the book"8, but its name

changed to =ebir, which means "oracle." or if we are once en&oying communion with

God, we shall then be concerned about speaking for #im. #owever, aleb givesopportunity to others to capture this city, promising his daughter to the man who took

=ebir 7vs.*)*8. urely this tells us that if we are in communion with God, we shall be

glad to encourage others in God's service. 0or does aleb speak in vain, for his nephew,

6thniel, responded to the challenge. 6thniel means "lion of God," speaking of the

courage to act for God, so that it appears he did not delay to accomplish this victory over=ebir 7v.*D8. #e did not only gain =ebir, the oracle, picturing the honor of speaking for

God, but also the daughter of aleb, chsah, meaning "anklet," whose faith is very soonafter emphasiBed beautifully, so that she must have been an e(cellent wife for 6thniel.

chsah persuaded 6thniel to ask her father for a field, &ust as believers should desire a

workable inheritance. he had the e(ercise of asking before receiving, for God oftenwaits for us to have concern enough to ask. aleb responded positively to this reFuest,

giving her a land in the south. $ut the south was a warm, dry land, good land but

reFuiring moisture if it was to yield produce. %herefore chsah asked for springs of water

also, and aleb gave her both the upper and lower springs. 2f we have the simple concernto ask of God in faith, not doubting, we shall find #im indeed a liberal giver, as James

*:) assures us. %he upper springs speak of the refreshment of en&oying our inheritancein heavenly places, and the lower springs furnish us with grace to walk through the worldin devoted obedience to God. #ow good if we are well balanced enough that we do not

neglect either.

THE C!T!ES OF J#&AH

7vs.9E+8

%he list of all the cities of Judah is intended to hold true spiritual instruction, as

.-.Grant shows in his 0umerical $ible in considering this chapter, for both the numbers

and the meaning of the names furnish the clues for understanding its spiritual

significance. $ut we pass over this e(cept to mention that Judah could not drive out theJebusites from Jerusalem 7v.+8. %his was the chief city, the city God had purposed to

place #is name, but it has been over all the centuries claimed by both the Jews and their

enemies. =avid conFuered Jerusalem from the Jebusites 79 am.):D8, so that it is called"the ity of =avid" and the kings of Judah reigned there for many years, but since the

time of the kings it has suffered through constant contention from 2srael's enemies, and

will do so until the 1ord Jesus finally subdues the whole world under #is authority. %henindeed Jerusalem, called Iion, will be "the city of our God, in #is holy mountain.


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$eautiful in elevation, the &oy of the whole earth, is !ount Iion on the sides of the north,

the city of the great Hing" 7


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faith they claim the inheritance 7vs.+@8. ertainly also, believing women are as fully

entitled to a spiritual inheritance in heavenly places as are men. %his blessing for them is

wonderful, though of course it does not do away with God's governmental order as to therelative place and responsibilities of the man and the woman in the assembly or in public

testimony. 2n this there are distinctions that must always be maintained.

Aerse ) speak of ten shares taken by !anasseh on the west side of Jordan, besides the

land of Gilead and $ashan on the east. %hus, verse * refers to the east side of Jordan andverses 9@ the west side. %he daughters of Ielophehad received their inheritance among

the sons mentioned in verse 9, and the rest of !anasseh's sons had the land of Gilead.

!anasseh had a relatively large possession, its border on the south ad&oining 5phraim,the !editerranean ea being its west border and the river Jordan the east, though 2ssachar

was on its northeast border, and sher on the north 7v.*E8.

number of towns are mentioned in verse ** which were in the territory given to

!anasseh and 2ssachar, but !anasseh could not drive out the anaanites who lived there.-hen !anasseh was strong enough, they put these anaanites under forced labor, but did

not drive them out 7vs.*9*+8. adly, the territory of the church today is still

compromised by the presence of people and principles that are not consistent with the

pure truth of God.

COMPLA!TS R!GHTL( AS7ERE&

7vs.*@*;8

%hough the territory allotted to 5phraim and !anasseh was large, yet they complained to

Joshua that they had so little to inherit, saying that they were a great people, the 1ord

having blessed them. =id 5phraim think that, since Joshua was of 5phraim he would givethem special recognition

$ut Joshua was a man of God: he had been guided by God in the allotment of territory,

and was not partial to his own tribe. #is answer was wise and to the point, "2f you are agreat people, then go up to the forest country and clear a place for yourself there in the

land of the


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Joshua silenced the arguments of 5phraim and !anasseh. #e had the last word. #ow

could they deny its appropriateness

CHAPTER 8-

S#R$E(!G A& &!$!&!G THE REST OF THE LA&7vs.**E8

%hough Jerusalem was God's purposed center for 2srael, they had not been able to takethis city from the Jebusites, so that they found hiloh in the territory of 5phraim

convenient for the setting up of the tabernacle 7v.*8. %he land was generally subdued

before 2srael but there were still seven tribes that had not been apportioned theirinheritance 7v.98.

Joshua remonstrates with 2srael in verse + as to their neglect to actually possess what God

had given them 7v.+8. -ell might believers today take to heart such an admonishment. -e

have not possessed what God has given us title to. Joshua told 2srael therefore to pick outthree men from each tribe who could pass through the remaining territory, survey it and

part it into seven portions 7vs.@8. %hen Joshua would cast lots before the 1ord as to

which portion each of the tribes would receive. %he men would be thus put in a position

of wanting to be fully impartial as to the dividing of the land.

%he men whom Joshua was sending to survey the land were reminded 7v.D8 that the

1evites had no stated inheritance and the 9L tribes had theirs on the east side of Jordan.

-ith Joshua's backing therefore the men left on the survey. #ow long it took we are nottold, but when completed they returned to Joshua to the camp at hiloh. Joshua did as he

said, casting lots as to which of the seven tribes was to inherit which portion 7v.*E8.

THE TERR!TOR( OF BEJAM!

7vs.**9;8

$en&amin means "son of my right hand," so that the tribe emphasiBes the glory of the1ord Jesus as reigning at the right hand of God. ppropriately therefore, $en&amin

included Jerusalem 7v.9;8, which was on the border of $en&amin and Judah 7ch.*):+8.

uthority 7in $en&amin8 and praise 7Judah8 are beautifully united therefore in this capitalcity which was God's center, though it was a long time before Jerusalem was taken from

the Jebusites 7in =avid's day8.

$en&amin's borders are described in verses *9E, and its cities named in verses 9*9;. 2tsterritory was comparatively small, lying between Judah and 5phraim, bounded by the4iver Jordan on the east and the tribe of =an on the west.

CHAPTER /.

S!MEO 7!TH! J#&AH*S BO#&AR!ES

7vs.*?8


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$ecause Judah's inheritance was so large, imeon was given a possession within Judah's

borders. imeon means "hearkening," for the one whose habit is to listen to God will

certainly praise #im, thus having title to an inheritance within Judah 7"praise"8. 0oseparating borders are mentioned for imeon, and God has definite reason for this, but a

number of cities with their surrounding villages are listed as belonging to imeon.

ertainly all of these also have spiritual significance which will yield blessing for thosewho are concerned and enabled to search it out.

6EB#LO*S !HER!TACE

7vs.*E*8

Iebulon means "dwelling." o that in 2srael this implied a permanent abode in the presence of God, a good reminder for us today, for "he who abides 7or dwells8 in love

abides in God, and God in him 7* John @:*8. %he boundaries of Iebulon are not as

clearly defined as natural thought would e(pect, but this itself indicates a spiritual lesson

needful for us. =welling with God does not need definition, but spiritual en&oyment and

e(ercise. God's presence is certainly a place of greatest &oy for the believer, but also ofserious concern that #e should be honored in every detail of our conduct.

%he area of Iebulon's possession was north of !anasseh. %welve cities and their villages

are noted as belonging to Iebulon 7v.*)8, a picture of his representing all *9 tribes in thevirtuous character of dwelling with God.

!SSACHAR*S POSSESS!O

7vs.*D+*8

2ssachar means "there is reward." $elievers at the &udgment seat of hrist will receive

reward for what they have done for the 1ord 79 or.):*E8, so that this tribe appears toemphasiBe what outward works should be, not simply our inward character. gain, its

borders are not clearly defined, as though indicating we should not limit our good works,which are to be e(ercised toward all mankind, specially those of the household of faith

7Gal.:*E8. %he east border, however, was the Jordan 4iver 7v.998, a reminder that death

will be the end of any opportunity to earn reward for good work done.

THE !HER!TACE OF ASHER

7vs.9@+*8

sher means "happy," which surely implies that in our present inheritance "in heavenly

places in hrist" we have every reason for re&oicing, so that this is another lovely featureof hristian character as illustrated by the tribes of 2srael.


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0aphtali means "my wrestlings," so that this adds the lesson of overcoming in conflict. 2n

this matter too 0aphtali represents all 2srael, for in one very real respect every true

believer is an overcomer. "-ho is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes thatJesus is the on of God" 7* Jn.):)8. %he victory that overcomes the world is not our

works, but our faith 7* Jn.):@8. ll 2srael were overcomers in their overcoming in general

the enemies of the land, though in practice they were not by any means alwaysovercomers. %hus believers are all overcomers in principle, and ought to be also in daily

practice, for we should be concerned about details as well as overcoming in general.

0aphtali was north of Iebulon and east of sher 7v.+@8, so that its territory was in the far

north of the land, as was sher, including a number of fortified cities.

&A*S !HER!TACE

=an's name means "&udge." %his reminds us that "the saints will &udge the world" and

will &udge even "angels" 7* or.:9+8. -e shall do this as identified with hrist when #e

takes #is great authority.


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ll the tribes having been given their territory, now we read of that which was given to

Joshua. #is name is the same as Jesus 7in Greek8, meaning "Jehovah is avior," so that

Joshua is a type of hrist as the 1eader and ompleter of faith. "2f others have their particular possessions, how appropriate that hrist should have %imnath erah, which

means "an abundant portion." %his surely causes believing hearts to re&oice, that the 6ne

who is supremely worthy receives that which delights #is great heart of love. 2t is #isvoice we hear in


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the ending of the 1ord's work in #eaven as #igh


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included in Judah. %hus the priests would be near to God's sanctuary, to do service there.

%he priests were 7typically8 the worshipers, so that in the service of God they came first.

%he rest of the Hohathites were given ten cities by lot in 5phraim, =an and !anasseh.Hohath means "obedient," and stands for the ob&ective ministry of the -ord of God that

is itself fully sub&ect to that -ord. %heir service was connected with those things that

speak directly of hrist, caring for the furnishings of the tabernacle 70um.@:@*)8, so thatHohath's ministry would involve the blessedness of the position that all believers have 'in

hrist." -e may be sure that all the cities allotted to them had some spiritual significance

consistent with the character of their work.

%he children of Gershon were given thirteen cities by lot from 2ssachar, sher and 0aphtali and the half tribe of !anasseh east of Jordan 7v.8. Gershom means "a stranger

there," speaking of that service for God that does not settle down in the world, but serves

God without selfish, material motives. Gershom's service was connected with the curtainsand coverings of the tabernacle, the hangings for the door and for the court. %hus the

spiritual significance of Gershom's service is that of encouraging a godly walk through a

world in which we are strangers, a walk that honors God, though the world does notunderstand.

%he children of !erari received twelve cities from the tribes of 4euben, Gad and

Iebulon, with surrounding lands 7vs.D;8. %he service of !erari involved caring for the

boards of the tabernacle, its bars, pillars and sockets, pegs and cords with all theirfurnishings 70um.@:9?+98. %he boards speak of believers &oined together by bars and

sockets, and the pillars, of believers holding up hangings, etc. ll of this indicates not

only the walk of believers personally through the world, but of their united testimony as

&oined together by the power of the pirit of God.

GO&*S PROM!SE F#LF!LLE&7vs.@+@)8

-ith all the tribes being given their place in the land, it is now emphasiBed that what God

had promised #e had fulfilled to 2srael, so that they took possession of the land, dwellingin it 7v.@+8. #e gave them rest all around, so that not a man of all their enemies was able

to resist their taking the land 7v.@@8. God had done all that #e had promised.

%his is true for believers today. %he book of cts gives us the history of God's

establishing the hurch of God in separation from the world, though in it, giving us aheavenly inheritance as clearly taught in the epistles. God on #is part had done

everything for our blessing. $ut &ust as 2srael failed in their response to God's

faithfulness, so has the hurch failed to manifest a true response to God's grace in actingupon the truth of what they have been given and what we are "in hrist."

3et it is good for us to get back to the sublime pronouncement, "0ot a word failed of any

good thing which the 1ord had spoken to the house of 2srael. ll came to pass" 7v.@)8.

%hank God we may rest on #is faithfulness, though all else may fail.


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CHAPTER 22

THE RET#R OF THE 2 9 TR!BES

7vs.*?8

%o their credit, the warriors from 4euben, Gad and the half tribe of !anasseh hadcontinued faithfully with the other tribes in conflict with the enemy until all the power of

the enemy was subdued. Joshua now speaks to them, commending them for theirobedience to !oses and to him 7v.98 in not leaving their brethren during these many days

of warfare. %herefore he tells them that they are free to return to their homes on the east

side of Jordan, the possession that God had granted them before the crossing of theJordan 7v.@8.

#owever, he urgently admonished them to take careful heed to keep the commandment

and the law that !oses had communicated to them, "to love the 1ord your God, to walk

in all #is ways, to keep the commandments, to hold fast to them, and serve #im with all

your heart and with all your soul" 7v.)8. Joshua was particularly concerned about thesetribes because they had chosen to take the territory east of Jordan, thus having a boundary

that naturally separated them from the rest of 2srael. 2n their returning, however, they doso with the blessing of Joshua 7v.8.

Joshua approved of their taking with them much in the way of riches obtained as spoil

from the enemies they had defeated 7v.;8. imilarly, if believers today, through conflict

with spiritual enemies, are enriched with the knowledge of the truth of God, they have plenty to share with their loved ones and neighbors.

A GREAT ALTAR B( JOR&A

7vs.*E+@8

4eturning to their land, these men of the two and one half tribes immediately erect a verylarge altar by the banks of the Jordan 4iver 7v.*E8. 2t is understandable that when the

other tribes heard of this altar they were alarmed, for God's altar in 2srael was to be in the

place that #e would choose. t that time it was at hiloh because 2srael did not have

possession of Jerusalem, which was to be God's center. $ut God recogniBed only onealtar on which 2srael was to offer their sacrifices, for the altar typically speaks of hrist.

2srael gathered together at hiloh prepared to go to war against the 9 L tribes 7vs.***98.

#owever, they wisely waited to engage in warfare until they had sent a delegation headed

by


43/48

%hey of course reasoned that a separate altar could not be God's altar, and therefore that

these tribes were turning away from following the 1ord. %hey remember "the iniFuity of


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other tribes as possible 7vs.+9++8. %hen it is added that the altar was appropriately named

"-itness."

CHAPTER 2:

A APPEAL O THE BAS!S OF GO&*S FA!THF#LESS7vs.**8

!any years had passed now that Joshua calls for all 2srael, elders, heads, &udges andofficers, and tells them he is old and advanced in age 7vs.*98. hortly after coming out of

5gypt Joshua was said to be "a young man" 75(.++:**8. 2f therefore he might have been

about +E when leaving 5gypt, then when entering anaan he would be about DE. o thathis address to 2srael now would be about @E years after entering anaan, since he died at

**E years.

$ut his spiritual energy and e(ercise are beautiful to witness in this appeal to 2srael. #is

concern for them did not diminish because he was leaving them, for he was a true man ofGod. #e seeks to draw their hearts in reality into the 1ord's presence, reminding them

that they themselves had seen all that the 1ord had done in defeating all the nations who

opposed 2srael 7v +8.

Joshua tells 2srael he had divided to them by lot, not only the property in the land, but"these nations that remain to be an inheritance for your tribes" 7v.@8. %hus the nations had

not been totally e(pelled, though they had been subdued. %here remained therefore work

for 2srael to do in siding with God to have these inhabitants e(pelled, so that 2srael mightfully possess the land 7v )8.

Joshua almost verbally repeats to 2srael what God had told him personally many years before in chapter *:D "%herefore be very courageous to keep and to do all this is written

in the $ook of the 1aw of !oses" 7v.8. #ow often we need to be reminded to havecourage to act on all that is revealed to us in God's -ord or us today this is not the 1aw

of !oses, but the more wonderful truths of the 0ew %estament.

%he -ord of God would be their one real protection against mingling with the

unbelieving inhabitants of the land 7v.D8, and they are warned not to even make mentionof their false gods, not in any way to acknowledge them, but to continue to hold fast to

the 1ord God 7v ;8. or the 1ord had already proven #is faithfulness by driving out

before them great and strong nations, and none had been able to stand before 2srael. 1et

them remember this. lso, they may still depend on #is grace and strength to enable oneman to chase a thousand, certainly an amaBing accomplishment 7v.*E8. %his was

however conditional upon their taking careful heed to love the 1ord God 7v.**8. 2f not,

and they declined morally to mi( with the nations, intermarrying etc., the tables would becompletely turned: instead of driving out the nations, they would find them to be snares

and traps, scourges in their sides and thorns in their eyes, so that 2srael would be e(pelled

from the land 7vs.*9*+8.


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2srael would no longer have Joshua to depend on, for as he tells them, he was going the

way of all the earth, into death. #owever, he strongly reminded them that they knew in

their hearts and souls that not one thing had failed of all that the 1ord God had promisedthem: all had been fulfilled 7v.*@8.

%hough he has been e(horting them, his words become more prophetic in verses *) and*. #e says that &ust as God had fulfilled #is word in blessing to them, so #e would in

the future bring on them harmful things culminating in their destruction from the landwhich in grace #e had given them 7v.*)8. #e does not say, "2f you have transgressed," but

"when you have transgressed the covenant of the 1ord your God which #e com

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