They had a very high regard for Joshua, ranking him as second only to Moses. The whole story seems to lead up to his reign, and he is portrayed very favorably in it. Our Favorite Verses from Judges. God promises him The Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Josh. exile. Joshua was in overall charge, but all the people had roles to play, and even the tussles and crafty positioning were necessary to keep a nation of imperfect individuals working in harmony. But the blessings of the land went beyond the favorable climate, abundant water, and other natural benefits provided by the hand of the Creator. The chosen nation conquers and divides the Promised Land. The Book of Joshua. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. These chapters detail the work of setting boundaries, assigning cities and towns, and creating procedures to resolve conflicts the work of organizing and cultivating a society for human flourishing and glorifying God. The two books of Samuel record an important transition in political organization. Destructive critics doubt if Joshua even authored the book with his name. to the righteous rule of God and thus be a witness (and a Under his leadership, the aspirations for Israel's future hopefully would soon be realized, for it seemed reasonable enough to suppose that Israel's troubles during the early period of the settlement in Canaan were due to the fact that the people had no king to rule over them, at least according to certain parts of Samuel. When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not in fact drive them out (Joshua 17:13). Furthermore they were more than instruments in Gods hand. all those who opposed it, giving place in the earth only This gets their attention. see Ge 15:16 and note). turn lose its place in the Lord's land -- as Israel almost did We cannot take credit as if we deserved the blessings of success. (and sub-Christian) stage of moral development that the Christian, it happened. For example, Joshua 24:1-15 records his farewell speech to the Israelites before his death. But within, the phrase abounds (multiple times in each of Deuteronomy 6; Joshua 13; Samuel 11; Kings 13). What if we made it a practice to keep track of the things God does on our behalf? promoting Israel's covenant faithfulness. land, and they said to David, "You shall not come in here, but the blind and lame will turn you away"; of her national deity. received their territories, Joshua instructed his men "to The Book of Judges begins with two introductory passages. Guests Maya Adolf and Jamie Sturm started an employee-led educational group to foster racial understanding in their workplace. Here is our bread; it was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for the journey, on the day we set out to come to you, but now, see, it is dry and moldy; these wineskins were new when we filled them, and see, they are burst; and these garments and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey. So the leaders partook of their provisions, and did not ask direction from the Lord. The years that followed did not do well by Judah, and eventually the little kingdom was destroyed by Josiahs own allies - the Babylonians. 2. We discover that we have elevated other concerns above receiving his love and loving and serving him through our work. Governments serve citizens. . Only Joshua and Caleb, representing the tribe of Judah, He serves as personal attendant to Moses, as one of the twelve spies (of whom only he and Caleb believed God), and as Moses successor. The Bible offers guidance for a Christian view of wealth and how wealth can be used for God's redemptive purposes. All rights reserved. On the other hand, it tells of urgent appeals to God in times of crisis, moving the Lord to raise up leaders (judges) through whom he throws . in Egypt, but he also witnessed the supernatural plagues wife." Flashcards. That indicates they were written at about the same time, if not by the same person. He leads the nation into battle, he executes judgment when necessary, and he attempts to hold the people to the terms of the covenant God made with the Israelites at Mt. an exodus that would then have taken place 40 years earlier The command to dispossess the Canaanites (Joshua 1:1-5) is a. While God may provide miraculously at times for our physical needs, the norm is for us to subsist on the fruit of our labors. This evidence is contemporary and consistent with Joshua as being the author of the book named and the Assyrians would not send in their armies until centuries The answer is most likely Eleazer the priest and his son Phinehas (24:33). Ruth was a Moabite woman who married into a Hebrew family, and remained loyal to her mother-in-law Naomi, and the God of Israel, after her husband's death. (Josh 6:25). and note on 1Ki 6:1. But when they follow their own inclinations and set themselves up as the ultimate authority, then poverty, strife, and every kind of evil bring grief and suffering. Here is our bread; it was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for the journey, on the day we set out to come to you, but now, see, it is dry and moldy; 10 Key Points About Work in the Bible Every Christian Should Know, Beyond Rank and Power: What Philemon Tells Us About Leadership, Learning From the Psalms How to Pray Through Your Work, The End of Moses' Work (Deuteronomy 31:1-34:12), Conquering the Land - Does God Endorse Conquest? viewpoint that the invasion occurred c. 1406 b.c. [3] See Decision Making by the Book[4] and Decision Making and the Will of God[5] for in-depth analysis of Gideons discernment methods. 4:4), indicating how closely she resembles Moses and Joshua, to whom God also spoke directly. Salem Media Group. Yet, some liberal scholars today believe they have superior insight, even though they are living more than two thousand years later. Joshua was destined to turn that promise into reality. There is thus an inextricable link between land and labor. First he recounts Gods amazing acts on Israels behalf in Egypt, the wilderness and the Promised Land. at modern Ras Shamra on the northern coast of Syria (see Joshua named the Canaanite cities by their archaic names: Balaa for Kirjanth-jearim (Josh 15:9), John Wesley, Covenant Renewal Service (1781). The ephod he makes becomes a snare for his people, and all Israel prostituted themselves to it there (Judg. 3. In our spheres of work today, threats against the powerless including abuse of women and foreignersremain shockingly common. While we will maintain the traditional designation of judges, the epithet deliverers is a more accurate description of these leaders. The Consecration at Gilgal by ascribing the author's perspective to a pre-Christian They look upon them, and rightly so, as standing by themselves in solitary grandeur. With little hope of economic development, people may be drawn into armed factions fighting over whatever resources may be left to exploit. 5:31), a rare occurrence at any point in Israels history. Creation can be a place where either evil or good dwells. The liberal views are not superior views resulting from scholarship but from bias against Jesus Christ. (, The Reconnaissance of IV. But when we break covenant with the God who works on our behalf and when we begin to practice the injustices that we so easily learn from the culture around us, we find that our labors are as empty as the idols we've fallen into serving. Moses died short of the goal and was told to turn everything The designation is significant. The Crossing of the Jordan Because the career of Samuel marks an important transition point in the history of the Hebrew people, many stories concerning him are preserved. Kirjanth-arba for Hebron (Josh 15:13), and Kirjath-sannah for Debir (Josh 15:49). The Babylonian Talmud states that Joshua was the author of the book of Joshua. Such passages remind us that productive labor depends in large measure on cooperation and fair play, meaning organization and justice. This is important since it reveals that Joshua wrote the speech in verses 1-15. Who wrote the book? (Josh 15:9), Now he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the sons of Judah, according The judges ruled over regions . Investors judge war-torn countries a poor risk and are unlikely to funnel resources to improving infrastructure. And he said, "I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, 'I will never break My covenant with you". Themes God's love for his chosen people continues in the book of Joshua. possession by right of conquest, but it belonged to the Lord. He wrote there on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written, in the The most probable explanation for this conflict is that these sources were written by both supporters and detractors of the idea of a monarchy for Israel. David Noel Freedman, The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 1013. In other words, by getting a religious authority to bless his idolatrous enterprise, Micah believes that he can co-opt God into churning out the goods he craves. The story of Joshuas conquest of the Land of Israel is interrupted by an account of Joshuas spies and Rahab the harlot. Since Moses sinned, he was not allowed to enter the land (Numbers 20:12; Deuteronomy 3:23-28; 32:48-52). (1999). of Israel; only allot it to Israel for an inheritance as I have commanded you. If Israel became unfaithful and Joshua records that Rahab was still alive (Josh 6:25). the Levites (chs. Dans migration to the north (Joshua 19:47; Judges 18:27-29). And they rebuilt the city and The hand of Midian prevailed over Israel; and because of Midian the Israelites provided for themselves hiding places in the mountains, caves and strongholds. (18:8). But keeping these caveats in mind, this is still the best theory weve got: that the Deuteronomistic History was mostly written in the court of King Josiah, who hoped to forge a great Israelite empire under his command, but who died before it could come to be. Threshing activity on the hilltops would only have aroused the attention of the marauding Midianites. defeated and their lands occupied. not heed God's testimony to himself or his warnings -- those With your gift of any size, youll enable us to continue equipping Christians with high-quality biblically-based content. That would be why the king's scribes write that Israel and Judah were once united under David and Solomon (Josiahs ancestors thereby establishing precedent); that is why the people of Israel are said to have been once united as one during the time of Joshua; that is why the covenant says that all should worship in one temple, conveniently located in Josiahs capital (Jerusalem again, giving him control); and that is why they took the trouble to stitch together the different stories, legends and myths of the different people of the land (sometimes conflicting stories) into one great story. Age (1550-1200 b.c.). 1. The first city to be attacked is Jericho, where the walls tumble down at the moment when trumpet blasts are heard. 1 / 29. in shaping or compiling the materials of the book, but in The high point of the tale is, of course, Gideons astonishing triumph over the Midianites (Judges 7). Based on what we believe, we draw a conclusion, quickly make a decision, but forget to ask Gods guidance. It is too easy to rely on our own insights when we think we understand the situation, rather than asking God for his insight. date for Joshua's invasion c. 1250 b.c. A counterfeit god is anything so central and essential to your life that, should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living. But if serving customers, shareholders, citizens, students, and the like becomes more important to us than serving God, or if it becomes simply a means of enlarging ourselves, we are following the ancient Israelites into worshipping false gods. Sufficient resources and fruitful labor were integral elements of the Promised Land. This happened in roughly 561 BCE. God's people into their eternal "rest" (see Heb 4:1-11 and They wanted the Israelites to believe they lived far away from the land of Canaan, and therefore posed no threat to Israel. Many other fortified towns were taken, however, Consequently, the book of Joshua records what happened as Israel entered the land and conquered it. An idol has such a controlling position in your heart that you can spend most of your passion and energy, your emotional and financial resources, on it without a second thought. 21:25). (The fact that he does this at night, out of fear, is a disturbing detail. Joshua is Moses successor as leader of Israel. And Caleb said, "The one who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give him Achsah my daughter as a You cannot serve the Lord, he tells them, for he is a holy God (Josh. Thomas Nelson Publishers. book draws on early sources. Eventually Saul became jealous of David, and his antagonism is illustrated in a number of different stories. 4. and dissolute Canaanites (whose measure of sin was now full; Some think that Samuel may have had a hand dealings with anyone, and it was in the valley which is near Beth-rehob. Obedience to Yahweh's commands was certain to cause consequences quite different from the ones that were sure to follow disobedience of these same commands. much intercity warfare among the Canaanites, and afterward So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the 6: Judges, Ruth. Much of the data from archaeology appears to support a But if we look carefully, we find that insights for todays issues does arise from the incidents in the text, including leadership development and management, the relative roles of hard work and Gods guidance in attaining our objectives, conflict over resources, the tension between driving for success and serving others, Gods guidance in our work, and the ever-present peril of making an idol of our work. cities are questionable undertakings. ritual vessels have been uncovered, throwing more light on Firstly, none were written in the first person, which is how witness accounts are generally written. Samuel, the Talmud says, wrote the Book of Judges and the Book of Samuel, until his death, at which point the prophets Nathan and Gad picked up the story. There are four other small sections that must have been written by someoneafter Joshuas death. She said to him, Gideons name literally means hacker,[1] and it seems to point in a positive direction when he hacks up his fathers idols in Judges 6:25-7. The effects of war on work are felt throughout many parts of the world today. recorded by Eleazar son of Aaron and whose death in turn, was recorded by his son Phinehas. Conversely, the land does not work itself. The least of the disputes concerns later editing: scholars think some parts of these books were later additions or even copying mistakes. This Book became the basis of a series of reforms, which made Josiah, according to his own scribes, the best king ever: Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him (2 Kings 23:25). Therefore Gideon resorts to beating the grain in a sheltered vat used for pressing grapes. Although the leaders of the people were known as judges, their chief function was not that of deciding cases of law but rather providing political and military leadership in times of crises. The Book of Ruth occurred during the period covered in the Book of Judges. 2.4K. 11). All Rights Reserved. Israeli archaeology: Often controversial, always fascinating. This point is made quite precisely in Joshua 5:11-12. On I will devastate the land, so that your enemies who come to settle in it shall be appalled at it. and for the altar of the LORD, to this day, in the place which He would choose. It was there in Babylon that another scribe wrote a brief account of the events after Josiahs death, and tacked it to the end of the book. Possibly believing his own propaganda, Josiah expected God to be on his side. Like the Canaanites, the Israelites will also suffer displacement from the land through conquest by others, which the Bible likewise attributes to the hand of God. Since Joshua could not have written the conclusion to the book after his death, someone else had to write the ending to the book. But they took along their ancient texts, including the Deuteronomistic History. Deuteronomy 6:10-11). Judges 17 opens with almost a parody of idolatry. testified to the world that the God of Israel is the one How, exactly, can each of us weave these into our own ways of receiving guidance from God about the administration, management, and leadership we exercise? at a city with the same name (Ex 1:11). Now he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the sons of Judah, and cruelty. They called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father who was born in Israel; 4:5). The conquered land itself would not become Israel's national While the authorship of Joshua is in question, there is ample evidence to show that Joshua could have when the waters of the sea opened before them. Joshua's day. concerning the domestic, commercial and religious life of the tabernacle was erected (Ex 33:11). Jeremiah 9:23-24. However, Rahab the harlot and her father's household and all she had, Joshua spared; and with his people. For more on the dangers of idolizing work, see the sections on the first and second commandments at Exodus and Work (You shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3); You shall not make for yourself an idol (Exodus 20:4)) and Deuteronomy and Work (You shall have no other gods before me (Deut 5:7; Ex 20:3); You shall not make for yourself an idol (Deut 5:8; Ex 20:4)) at www.theologyofwork.org. He acts according to his plans, not according to our merit or lack thereof. D.I. And there was no one to deliver them, because it was far from Sidon and they had no However, liberal scholarship does not agree that Joshua was the author. Then he went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir; now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher. Sidonians, as far as Aphek, to the border of the Amorite; and the land of the Gebalite, and all of Lebanon, Maybe we prove capable as individual performers but fail as managers. Joshua is a story of conquest and fulfillment for the people routed by the Egyptians during King Solomons time (1 Kings 9:16). 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; Daniel 9:27. So she alighted from The Pentateuch, Next The territory of the sons of Dan proceeded beyond them; for the sons of Dan went "until this day" occurs. When Farmers in war-torn areas are reluctant to plant crops when they are likely to be dislocated before the harvest comes. Now they buried the bones of Joseph, which the sons of Israel however, the name of the city formerly was Laish. Where Deuteronomy ends, the book of Joshua begins: The tribes Also the Midianites were dealt a severe blow. Key personalities include Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Abimelech, Jephthah, Samson, and Delilah. fact we are unsure who the final author or editor was. How the mighty are fallen! Some Bible students think Joshua wrote the book except for the death reports (Joshua 24:29-33); . 237-239. It leads otherswho expect God to deliver prosperity though their workto neglect family and community, to abuse co-workers, and to do business unethically, certain that Gods favor exempts them from ordinary morality. lifetime, others point to a writer of a somewhat later period. Joshua took scrupulous measures to ensure the distribution was done fairly (Joshua 14:1). Josh-Chron. Bit by bit, the succession of judges diminishes in quality until finally leading Israel into utter chaos. by Jay Smith The book of Judges includes several interesting genres; Poetry, Riddles, and mainly Narrative History. in Egypt in a favorable situation. They do more than merely record the nation's history from Moses to the fall of Judah in 586 b.c. Used with permission. It is rather the story of how God, As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. (Joshua 1:2-5). Near the end of Joshua's ministry, after the Israelites had entered into a covenant to not serve false gods in the promised land, the book's narrator reports that "Joshua wrote these words in the book of . Then the border went up the valley of Ben-hinnom to the slope of the Jebusite on the Many of us keep mementos of our successes at workawards, plaques, photos, commendations, certificates and the like. dominant power. 24:15-27). The Division of the Land And Tyre is never mentioned, probably because In the absence of modern technology, grain was threshed by first beating the heads of the cut stalks with a flail, discarding the straw, and then tossing the mixture of chaff and grain in the air, allowing the wind to blow away the chaff while the heavier kernels of grain fell to the floor. Micah said, Now I know that the Lord will prosper me, because the Levite has become my priest (Judges 17:13). It came about after these things that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being one hundred and ten years old. land in fulfillment of the ancient pledge he had made to Although possession of the land and governance of the people were of first importance to the nation, the later chapters in this section show us that neither the conquest of the land nor the organization of the nation was fully completed. Perhaps there are times when this technique can gain compliance for a while. It is not surprising that Micahs tawdry home-grown cult features an equally abysmal theology. (Judg 18:27-29). The period of the judges came to an end with Samuel, who is also referred to as a seer and a prophet, and who anointed Saul to be the first king of Israel. These crises occurred one after another in rapid succession, indicating quite clearly that after the death of Joshua, the situation that the Israelites faced was chaotic. All the inhabitants of the hill Society also depends on those who research and teach management methods and who shape corporate and government policy accordingly. Deborahs service as a prophetess-judge of Israel suggests that God does not regard womens political, judicial, or military leadership as problematic. Chapter 33 / Lesson 7. By the sweat of our faces must we produce bread (Genesis 3:19). Further support for these institutions was provided by showing that the course of Hebrew history was determined primarily by the attitude of these people with regard to the requirements specified in these codes. Ronald Heifetz, Leadership Without Easy Answers, 1 edition (Harvard University Press), 1994. 10 key points from the Bible give a foundation for Christians asking what the Bible says about our work. the eighth year of his reign (2 Sam 5:6). the Canaanites. Likewise, we cannot judge those whom we deem less deserving of Gods favor, as Paul reminds us in Romans 2:1. The question we are concerned about is did Joshua write the book of Joshua? If the central section of Judges offers us flawed heroes caught in a depressing cycle of oppression and deliverance, the final chapters portray a fallen people seemingly beyond the hope of redemption. Neither Babylon nor God has given them a bountiful land primed for productive labor, but they forget his work on their behalf and squander their resources on idols. This brings them to a point of actual decision, and they resolve, No, we will serve the Lord! (Josh. Joshua is not an epic account of Israel's heroic generation father of Shechem for one hundred pieces of money; and they became the inheritance of Joseph's sons. Biblical archaeologists call this period the Late Bronze California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information, The Entrance into the God gave Created by. take Canaan in his name out of the hands of the idolatrous Throughout both Joshua and Judges, the land is of such central importance that it is virtually a character unto itself: And the land had rest (Judges 3:11, 3:30, etc.). We will organize our treatment of the books around four major themes, which roughly correspond to the flow of the narrative: Conquest, Coordination, Covenant, and Chaos.[1]. had sought to kill them in his zeal for the sons of Israel and Judah). the period of the judges was marked by general turbulence. Transjordan, tried to stop the Israelites, they were easily theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the Book of Joshua. Each guide incorporates extensive commentary, detailed observations on overriding themes, and probing questions to help you study the Word of God with guidance from John MacArthur, and each study includes an introduction that provides background information to each book of the Bible being studied and a . There is a certain irony in the newly liberated Israelites becoming slave owners at the first opportunity. that other groups were involved in campaigns in the region land. The Levite goes to Bethlehem to retrieve her. Some today may find it surprising that a woman, not the widow or daughter of a male ruler, could arise as the national chief of a pre-modern nation. He is described as a man of valor and learning, strong and courageous (Joshua 1:6-7), well-informed about and obedient to Gods law (Josh. Ruth 1-2 Samuel 1-2 Kings 1-2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Wisdom Prophetic Deuterocanonical Bible portal v t e Early 4th-century CE manuscript of Joshua from Egypt, in Coptic translation. Schools serve students. (1:1-6; 21:43-45). Israel served the Then it relates the If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good (Josh. 3. Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites. Capture of Othniel of Kirjath Sepher (Joshua 15:13-17; Judges 1:9-13). The Areas Yet to Be Conquered One night, Yahweh called to Samuel and spoke a message of reproof that Samuel was to deliver to Eli. A Survey of the Old Testament Introduction. In 1 Samuel, we read that even before Samuel was born, he was dedicated to Yahweh. Take for example the phrase to this day. It is rare in the rest of the Bible, appearing only 13 times outside the Deuteronomistic History. or the story of Israel's conquest of Canaan with the aid Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. A non-profit, 501(c)3 corporation. So the dismal cycle of war and destitution continues. Then she said, "Give me a blessing; since you have given In their original form, these sources represent a period of Hebrew history that preceded the teachings of the great prophets and the corresponding development of ethical ideals. How did the sun stand still in Joshua 10:12-14? Gideon was another judge who delivered the people of Israel, this time from the Midianites. in the light of Christ's teaching, must repudiate and transcend. Therefore we said, Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between us and you, and between the generations after us, that we do perform the service of the Lord in his presence with our burnt offerings and sacrifices and offerings of well-being; so that your children may never say to our children in time to come, You have no portion in the Lord. (Judges 22:22-27).