One who gives an answer before he hears, it is foolishness and shame to him. - Proverbs 18:13

Good morning my beloved! What a joy it is to be here in God’s house with you today. We have come to worship the LORD and to hear His word proclaimed. It is my prayer that He will speak to us profoundly through today’s message.

We find ourselves in Joshua chapter 22, nearing the end of this great book. In this chapter, we will read about a conflict that arose between the tribes. Having just defeated the Canaanites, would the tribes of Israel now turn on one another?  

I. THE TRANSJORDAN TRIBES RETURN (Joshua 22:1-9)

After several long years of war, the conquest of Canaan was ended and the land was finally at rest. The fighting men of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh (also called the Eastern tribes or the Transjordan tribes) had fulfilled their commitment to fight alongside their brothers until the Promised Land was secured. When Joshua finished dividing the land among the remaining 9 ½ tribes and designating the special cities for the Levites, he summoned the Reubenites, Gadites, and ½ tribe of Manasseh. He urged them to remain obedient to the LORD’s commandments, to love God and walk in His ways, and to serve Him wholeheartedly. Joshua thanked them for their valiant military service, blessed them, and released them to return to their homes beyond the Jordan River.

Apparently the tribe of Manasseh had fought together in unity during the conquest. They, like the other tribes, had accumulated a great amount of spoil taken from the many battles they’d won. This included riches such as livestock, gold, silver, iron, bronze, and clothes. However, because their inheritance was split into 2 parts, the tribe of Manasseh had to further divide these spoils amongst themselves so that each of the ½ tribes (those on the East and those on the West) got their own share. After this had been done, the Transjordan tribes departed from Shiloh and returned to their homes in the land of Gilead.

The Reubenites, Gadites, and ½ tribe of Manasseh should be recognized for keeping their promise. In exchange for receiving their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan, they had sworn to fight alongside their brothers on the west side of the Jordan during the conquest of Canaan (Numbers 32:16-22). When the time came, they bravely honored their commitment. In this respect, the Transjordan tribes set an example that we should follow.

II. THE OFFENSIVE ALTAR (Joshua 22:10-20)

On their journey home, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh stopped near the Jordan River and built a large altar. Its exact location is unknown and disputed. When the Western tribes (called “the sons of Israel”) found out about it, they reassembled at Shiloh and prepared to go up against their brethren in battle. The Law of Moses strictly prohibited the use of any altars for making offerings to God other than the altar in the tabernacle (Deuteronomy 12:10-14). The Western tribes feared that perhaps the Eastern tribes had erected this altar to practice idolatry, so they began readying themselves for civil war.

The Western tribes sent a delegation of their leaders led by Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, to investigate the situation. This approach was plainly set forth in the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 13:12-16). The delegation came to the Transjordan tribes in Gilead and spoke with them. They asked the Reubenites, Gadites, and ½ tribe of Manassah why they had sinned against God by building an unsanctioned altar as an alternative to the true altar at Shiloh. They expressed concern that God’s wrath would fall upon all of the 12 tribes (including them) as the result of this grave sin, just as it had done previously at both Peor and Ai (Numbers 25 and Joshua 7). The delegation kindly invited the Eastern tribes to join them on the west side of Jordan River (rather than rebelling against God) if they believed their land was unclean.

The children of Israel perceived that a blatant, egregious sin had taken place within their own ranks. They reasoned that the entire congregation would suffer under God’s judgment if the sin was left unchecked. Therefore, they took immediate action to deal with it. In much the same way, we as the New Testament believers are instructed to enforce church discipline within the body of Christ (Matthew 18:15-20) when serious sin arises in our midst. Church discipline is often unpleasant and uncomfortable, yet is absolutely critical to maintain the purity and health of the congregation. It should always be administered with the intent to protect the church while also restoring the sinner(s).  

III. A SIMPLE MISUNDERSTANDING  (Joshua 22:21-34)

The sons of Reuben, Gad, and the ½ tribe of Manasseh explained that the altar they’d built wasn’t for making offerings to the LORD or to any other gods. In fact, they had no intention of using it as a functional altar at all. Rather, it was built as a monument from generations to come of their solidarity with their brethren in Canaan. It was fashioned to look like the altar at Shiloh to reflect their allegiance to the same God. It was built to bear witness of the ongoing unity between the Eastern and Western tribes.

When Phinehas the priest and the rest of the delegation heard this explanation, they were greatly relieved and satisfied. Phinehas actually commended the Transjordan tribes for not acting unfaithfully against God. He now recognized that their motives for building the altar had been pure and righteous all along. They had no intention of sinning against the LORD or alienating their brothers. In fact, they were trying to do just the opposite!

Thus, Phinehas and his companions returned to Shiloh. They explained to the tribes of Canaan why the Transjordan tribes had built the altar. Upon hearing this report, the sons of Israel rejoiced and their hostility subsided. Each tribe returned peacefully to their own inheritance and a major crisis was averted. For many years thereafter the Eastern tribes referred to the altar, which was actually a symbolic monument, simply as “Witness”.

CONCLUSION

This story highlights the importance of determining someone’s true intentions before acting out against them. The Western tribes initially presumed that the Eastern tribes were behaving in a sinful and potentially harmful manner. Based on these presumptions, they began preparing themselves for war. Fortunately, they took time to investigate the situation before resorting to bitterness and violence. Lo and behold, it turned out that the Eastern tribes had no sinful or ill intentions at all! It was all a big misunderstanding.

Many people have the tendency of jumping to conclusions without knowing all the facts. We are often quick to criticize and condemn others, without giving them an opportunity to explain or defend themselves. In some cases, this causes unnecessary strife and conflict. Perhaps if we’d take a moment to discover their intentions or motivations we’d think differently about their behaviors. We should be careful about making rash and impulsive judgments.

Next week we will discuss Joshua’s farewell address to the children of Israel. It will likely be our final message in the book of Joshua. Until then, may God bless and keep you. And may we all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and extremely careful about making assumptions…

Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan opposite Jericho, saying, “Command the sons of Israel that they give to the Levites from the inheritance of their possession cities to live in; and you shall give to the Levites pasture lands around the cities. - Numbers 35:1-2

Good morning. In last week’s message we studied about how the Promised Land was divided among the 12 tribes of Israel after the conquest of Canaan was complete. Every tribe, with the exception of Levi, was given a portion of the land as an inheritance in which to settle. Each tribal allotment contained numerous cities. Unlike their brethren, the Levites had been chosen to be the priests of God and caretakers of the tabernacle for all of Israel. They would also serve as teachers and religious leaders in local synagogues from town to town. They would therefore need to be dispersed among each of the other tribes. This morning we will discuss the tribe of Levi’s unique inheritance…

I. CITIES OF REFUGE (Joshua 20)

Moses had previously commanded the children of Israel to designate 6 cities of refuge within the Promised Land after they’d taken possession of it. These cities were to be spread abroad in various regions so as to be accessible to all parts of the land. They would serve as safe places where those who committed manslaughter could flee (Numbers 35:9-14). Manslaughter was defined as killing a person unintentionally or accidentally, without malice or premeditation.

According to the Law of Moses, whenever a person was murdered the family of the victim was entitled to appoint from among its members an “avenger”. This avenger was legally permitted to find and kill the person who had murdered their relative. This practice was based upon God’s requirement of a life for a life (Genesis 9:5-6). However, manslaughter is not the same as premeditated murder and there were provisions in the law for it.

Any person who killed someone could flee to a city of refuge where they would be safe from the avenger until a trial could be conducted by the congregation. If they were determined to be guilty of murder, they would be handed over to the avenger to be executed. If they were determined to have committed manslaughter they could remain in the city of refuge until the death of the current high priest as the sentence for their crime. After the high priest died, they were free to leave the city and the avenger had no legal standing against them. If, however, they left the city prematurely while the current high priest was still living the avenger was still justified to find and execute them.

In keeping with Moses’ earlier command, Joshua, Eleazar, and the tribal leaders designated 6 cities of refuge - 3 to the east of the Jordan River and 3 to the west. On the east, the first city was Kedesh, located in the inheritance of Nephtali, north of the Sea of Chinneroth. The second was Shechem, located in the hill country of Ephraim, in central Canaan. The third was Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, to the south. On the west of Jordan, the first city was Bezer, located on the wilderness plains of Reuben. The second was Ramoth, located in Gilead from the tribe of Gad. The third was Golan, in the land of Bashan that had been given to Manassah.    

II. LEVITICAL CITIES (Joshua 21:1-42)

While still gathered at Shiloh (Joshua 18:1), the sons of Levi asked Joshua to appoint cities with corresponding pasture lands in which they could live and work (Numbers 35:4-5). So Joshua cast lots, as he had done earlier when dividing the land among the final 7 tribes, in order to determine the order of these appointments. The clans of Levi were named for his 3 sons: Kohath, Gershon, and Merari (Genesis 46:11).

The first lot fell to the Kohathites. Moses, Aaron, and Miriam were of the line of Kohath. Thus, the Levitical, or more specially the Aaronic, priesthood was a subset of the Kohathites. The sons of Aaron were given 13 cities within the lands of Judah, Benjamin, and Simeon. The remaining Kohathites, not of the line of Aaron, were given 10 cities within the lands of Dan, Ephraim, and the ½ tribe of Manasseh.

The second lot fell to the Gersonites. They were given 13 cities. These were located within the lands of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the ½ tribe of Manasseh beyond the Jordan River. The third lot fell to the Merarites. They were given 12 cities located among the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

The 6 cities of refuge, which we discussed earlier in this message, were included in the 48 cities given to the tribe of Levi discussed above (13+10+13+12=48). This means that there were 42 Levitical cities not also designated as cities of refuge. The Levitical cities can be broken down specifically by tribe(s) as follows, with the cities of refuge underlined:

• Judah and Simeon: Hebron (which was shared with Caleb), Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, Holon, Debir, Ain, Juttah, and Beth-shemesh - 9 cities.
• Benjamin: Gibeon, Geba, Anathoth, and Almon - 4 cities.
• Ephraim: Shechem, Gezer, Kibzaim, and Beth-horon - 4 cities. 
• Dan: Elteke, Gibbethon, Aijalon, and Gath-rimmon - 4 cities.
• ½ Manasseh (East): Taanach and Gath-rimmon (Ibleam) - 2 cities.
• ½ Manasseh (West): Golan and Be-eshterah - 2 cities. 
• Issachar: Kishion, Daberath, Jarmuth, and En-gannim - 4 cities.
• Asher: Mishal, Abdon, Helkath, and Rehob - 4 cities. 
• Naphtali: Kedesh, Hammoth-dor, and Kartan - 3 cities.
• Zebulun: Jokneam, Kartah, Dimnah, and Nahalal - 4 cities.
• Reuben: Bezer, Jahaz, Kedemoth, and Mephaath  - 4 cities.
• Gad: Ramoth, Mahanaim, Heshbon, and Jazer - 4 cities.

A second, partial listing of these cities is recorded in 1 Chronicles 6:54-81. There are some slight discrepancies in the 2 complementary lists of Levitical cities, including the use of alternate names for some of these cities. Nevertheless, these minor differences in no way invalidate the main truth of either passage.

III. ISRAEL’S REST  (Joshua 21:43-45)

Through the leadership of Moses and Joshua, God gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers. They were released from Shiloh to take possession of and settle in their respective territories. The LORD had enabled them to defeat all of their enemies and had fulfilled all of the good promises that He’d made to them. After the long conquest, which was filled with bloodshed and war, God gave the Israelites rest on every side.

CONCLUSION

As we close this morning’s message, I want to make 2 observations and applications. First, everyone has sinned against God. As such, we are all guilty and deserving of death. The avenger is seeking each of us, and given enough time he will find us. But Jesus is our city of refuge! We can run to Him for security and protection from the evil one. He will forgive our sins and give us salvation. Have you trusted in Jesus as the Lord and Savior of your life?

Second, the Christian Church has been called to spread the message of Jesus throughout this lost world and to shine His light everywhere. Like the Levites, we are not to be isolated or confined to a particular place. He has dispersed us among the nations and is calling us to go and make disciples. How can we be more effective?

James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. - James 1:1

Good morning. Last Sunday we covered 2 ½ chapters in a single message as we summarized all of the remaining battles of the conquest. Israel’s invasion of and war against Canaan lasted for almost 7 years. In the end, some 31 kings were defeated by Joshua and the Israelites were victorious.

This week we are going to make an even larger leap… Today’s sermon will cover 7 chapters! We will do a quick overview of chapters 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, & 19. These chapters describe the division of Canaan among the 12 tribes after the conquest ended. These chapters include lengthy and detailed descriptions of tribal boundaries, cities, and so forth. We will not dive deeply into these issues. Nevertheless, it is important for us to have a basic understanding of how the Promised Land was apportioned.
  
I. THE TRANS-JORDAN TRIBES & LEVI (Joshua 13)

Under Joshua’s leadership, the united army of Israel made up of men from all 12 tribes conquered the land of Canaan. However, once the conquest was complete, large portions of the land were still yet to be possessed. Regions such as Philistia in the southwest along the Mediterranean coast and Lebanon in the far north were still populated with various Canaanite people groups. Nevertheless, God instructed Joshua to go ahead and divide the land among the remaining 9 ½ tribes of Israel. Each tribe would be individually responsible for driving out any Canaanites or other occupants remaining in their allotted territory.

As for the 2 ½ tribes who settled beyond the Jordan River, their inheritance had already been assigned by Moses prior to the conquest. Just as in Canaan, there were still remnants of adversarial people groups living in these regions. The trans-Jordan tribes never completely drove them out, but allowed some to remain and live in their midst including the Geshurites and Maacathites.  

The tribe of Reuben settled in an area that had formerly been held by the Ammonites northeast of the Dead Sea. The tribe of Gad dwelt north of Reuben in the lands of Gilead and those formerly held by the Amorites, along the eastern shore of the Jordan River. The half-tribe of Manasseh resided north of Gad, in the land that had formerly been known as Bashan to the east of the Sea of Chinnereth and Lake Hulah.

As for the tribe of Levi, it was not given a specific territory to possess. The Levites had been chosen as the priestly tribe that was responsible for the tabernacle of God. Due to its special designation and religious role, the tribe of Levi would be spread out among all of the other tribes. 

II. CALEB’S REQUEST & JUDAH (Joshua 14 & 15)

Caleb approached Joshua to remind him of a promise that Moses had made during the exodus some 45 years earlier. Caleb and Joshua (both much younger at the time) were among the 12 spies that Moses originally sent from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the Promised Land. They were the only 2 of the 12 that believed that Israel could defeat the Canaanites. Although they were outvoted, God allowed them to survive the wilderness wanderings while everyone else of their generation died. Moses promised to give Caleb an inheritance of his own in the hill country of southern Canaan (where the spies had traveled). Now, all these years later, Caleb asked Joshua to keep Moses’ promise.

Caleb’s request was made at Gilgal, either during or after the conquest of Canaan. Joshua had already destroyed Hebron and Debir and killed all of their inhabitants during Israel's southern campaign. It seems logical to me that the mighty Anakim living in these cities would have been annihilated at the same time, not spared to be eliminated later. However, the Bible seems to suggest that the removal of the Anakim took place after the conquest ended. Ultimately, Caleb was given the city of Hebron as his inheritance and was accredited for driving out the Anakim there (notably Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai,). Othniel, Caleb’s nephew, was accredited for capturing the nearby city of Debir and driving out the Anakim there. As the result of his heroism, Caleb gave his daughter Achsah to Othniel as a wife.

Joshua, Eleazar the high priest, and other prominent leaders began to apportion the Promised Land among the remaining 9 ½ tribes. Judah was the first to receive its inheritance. The tribe of Judah was the most prominent of the Hebrew tribes and was given the largest area of land. It stretched north-to-south from Jerusalem to Kadesh-barnea and east-to-west from the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea. The Bible lists 115 cities that were located in Judah (including Hebron and Debir, which were associated with Caleb and Othniel). However, the tribe of Judah was unable to expel the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem.

III. THE REMAINING TRIBES (Joshua 16-19)

Following Judah, the sons of Joseph were the next to receive their inheritance. The tribe of Ephraim was given the land immediately north of Judah and the remaining ½ tribe of Manassah was given land immediately north of Ephraim. Together, these 2 allotments covered most of central Canaan stretching from the Sea of Chinnereth to the Dead Sea. Neither Ephraim or Manassah drove out all of the remaining Canaanites in their territories, but rather subjected them to forced labor. They complained that their allotments were too small. Joshua advised them to drive out the Canaanites in the forests of the hill country, to clear the area of trees, and to settle there also.

The whole congregation of Israel assembled at Shiloh, a city within the borders of Ephraim. The tabernacle was set up in Shiloh, where it would remain for over 350 years throughout the era of the judges. Joshua formed a team of men from the remaining 7 tribes and sent them out to survey the land that had yet to be apportioned. When they returned, lots were cast and the land was divided based upon the descriptions these surveyors had recorded.

The first lot fell to Benjamin, who received an inheritance that was carved out between Judah and Ephraim. It contained 26 named cities, most notably Jerusalem which sat on the border between it and Judah and was considered a city of both tribes. Second was Simeon, whose inheritance was taken from the excessive southern desert lands previously given to Judah. It contained 19 named cities. Third was Zebulun with 12 cities, fourth was Issachar with 16 cities, fifth was Asher with 22 cities, and sixth was Naphtali with 19 cities. These 4 tribal allotments bordered each other and were located in northern Canaan, west of the Sea of Chinneroth and Lake Hulah.

The seventh and final lot fell to the tribe of Dan. They were given an area on the Mediterranean coastline overlapping the borders of Philistia. The Danites were woefully unable to drive out the Philistines and felt squeezed in the small portion of their allotment that remained. For this reason, the tribe of Dan began seeking another territory for itself and eventually relocated in the extreme north of Israel toward Sidon. We will read about their move northward later in this series. As for Joshua, he settled in Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. Thus, the land was divided.

CONCLUSION

Every tribe was given its own inheritance - a place just for them. These territorial allotments were to become their eternal homeland. As we wrap up this morning, I am reminded of Jesus’ promise to give each of us our own dwelling place. Jesus spoke about the many rooms in his Father’s house that He was going to prepare just for us (John 14:2-3). These are to be our inheritance - our eternal homes in the glorious Promised Land of heaven. Have you reserved your inheritance yet? Have you trusted in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and the salvation of your soul?

He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation. - Acts 17:26

Good morning. I want to warn you at the outset that today’s message might be a bit dry. We will be covering 2 ½ chapters that basically list the remaining battles of the conquest. While the Bible contains engaging stories and vivid details about the earlier battles at Jericho, Ai, and Gibeon, little if anything is said about the many other conflicts that followed. Nevertheless, I believe that every word of Scripture is important and has purpose. Therefore, we are going to spend some time examining this text and trust that God will somehow speak to us through it. 

I. THE SOUTHERN CAMPAIGN (Joshua 10:29-42; 11:21-23; 12:9-16)

After capturing the city of Makkedah, Joshua and the men of Israel launched their military campaign against southern Canaan. They attacked, defeated, and destroyed the city of Libnah killing its king and all of its inhabitants. Next, they came to Lachish, whose army had previously been decimated during the battle at Gibeon. In an effort to save the city, the king of Gezer came up to help Lachish. Despite his assistance, Joshua struck Lachish and all of its citizens leaving no survivor, including the king of Gezer and his army. Israel then did likewise to Eglon followed by Hebron, who’d both also been severely weakened by their losses during the battle of Gibeon. While in the region, Joshua also attacked, defeated, and destroyed the cities of Geder and Adullam and killed their kings.

Israel advanced southward out of the hill country and into the Negev desert. Along the way they defeated Debir, Hormah, and Arad. Joshua continued as far south as Kadesh-barnea, then traveled west across the region of Goshen to Gaza on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, and finally back north to Gibeon. As he went Joshua captured numerous kings and their lands one by one.  In each instance he utterly destroyed all who breathed, just as God had commanded. The LORD fought for Israel. After completing their march through central and southern Canaan, the men of Israel returned to their main camp at Gilgal. 

During their conquest of southern Canaan, the Israelites killed the Anakim who lived in Hebron, Debir, and Anab. Only a remnant of the Anakim remained in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod, which would eventually become the principal cities of Philistia. The Anakim were the descendants of Anak. They were a formidable race of giant, warlike people. The most famous of the Anakim was Goliath, the mighty Philistine warrior who fought against David.

II. THE NORTHERN CAMPAIGN (Joshua 11:1-15; 12:17-24)

After an unspecified period of time, presumably to rest and recover, Joshua and his army launched their northern campaign. They journeyed northward from Gilgal through central Canaan and likely attacked, defeated, and destroyed the cities of Tappuah and Tirzah along the way. By the time they reached the Sea of Chinneroth, which would later be known as the Sea of Galilee, a great alliance of northern cities was being formed.

Jabin, the king of Hazor, knew that Israel was pressing northward. He sent word to the kings of Madon, Shimron, and Achshaph, as well as to many other kings in the northern hill country and region of Mizpeh, to those in the land of Arabah just south of the Sea of Chinneroth, and to those in the west toward the heights of Dor on the Mediterranean coast. All of these kings and their armies joined together as one, possibly including the cities of Kadesh, Goiim, Lasharon, Aphek, and Dor (among others). They were as numerous as the sand on the seashore, equipped with many horses and chariots. This mighty coalition camped at the waters of Merom, which was near Lake Huleh in the extreme northern reaches of Canaan.

Though the enemy had assembled an enormous fighting force, the LORD told Joshua not to be afraid. So Israel fearlessly attacked them at the waters of Merom, defeated them, and pursued those who retreated in various directions until all were struck down. No survivors were left. After the battle ended, Joshua hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots as God had instructed.

Israel then proceeded to Hazor, the leading city of the northern alliance. They killed all of the people there and burned it with fire. Then, Joshua systematically went to all of the other cities which had been part of the alliance and struck their inhabitants also. However, he did not burn these other cities. Rather, the Israelites plundered them and took their cattle and spoils.

Also during their northern campaign, Joshua’s army defeated the king and army of Jokneam somewhere near Mt. Carmel. They also attacked and defeated the cities of Meggido, Taanach, and Hepher. Once they had completed their offensive, the men of Israel returned to their camp at Gilgal and the conquest of Canaan was complete. 

III. A SUMMARY OF THE CONQUEST (Joshua 11:16-20; 12:1-8)

In the end, Joshua took all of the Promised Land including the northern and southern hill country, the Negev, the regions of Goshen and Arabah, and much, much more. The extent of Israel’s victory stretched from Mt. Hermon and the Valley of Lebanon in the north to Mt. Halak and the land of Seir in the south. The conquest lasted almost 7 years. During this time, the only city that made peace with Israel was Gibeon - all the others were destroyed mercilessly. This was God’s punishment on Canaan for its idolatry and sin.

Prior to crossing into Canaan, while Moses was still alive, the army of Israel had defeated Sihon, king of the Ammorites, and Og, king of Bashan. The Israelites had taken territorial control over Ammon, Bashan, and Gilead just east of the Jordan River. Moses gave these lands as an inheritance to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Mannassah. These 2 kings (who ruled “beyond the Jordan'') may be included with the 31 kings who were defeated within the land of Canaan to form a complete list of those conquered by Israel during the conquest.

CONCLUSION

The conquest of Canaan can be divided into 3 chapters - the central, southern, and northern campaigns. Israel crossed the Jordan River into central Canaan. They attacked several cities in the region and quickly seized control, effectively separating Canaan into 2 halves. From there, they proceeded southward through the desert defeating many more cities and kings. Lastly, they ventured northward and overtook those areas as well. It was a brilliant strategy which worked because God fought on behalf of Israel.

A conquest involves the invasion of a foreign land with the intent to take possession of and/or control over it. It should be noted that the conquest of Canaan was a one-time event in Scripture. No where else does God command His people to engage in such behavior. The conquest was limited to a specific time, place, and people. It was waged so that God’s chosen people would have a possession of their own. The land of Israel is sufficient as is and need not be expanded. The Bible does not teach or sanction the concept of “holy war”. Faith is not to be spread by the sword, but rather through the proclamation of the gospel. Nor is sin to be confronted with violence, but rather with love and forgiveness.

We have completed our study of the conquest. In the coming weeks we will see how the land was divided by Joshua among the 12 tribes. Each would be responsible for settling their allotted territory and displacing any Canaanites that remained there. Some tribes would do a better job at this than others… 

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place; What is man that You think of him, and a son of man that You are concerned about him? - Psalm 8:3-4

Hello again. I trust you all had a great week. This morning’s sermon is titled “Defending the Gibeonites”. It is an offshoot of the story we read last Sunday. In case you have forgotten, let’s go over what we learned then…

An envoy from the nearby city of Gibeon came to Joshua’s headquarters at Gilgal posing as foreigners from a distant land. Without consulting God, Joshua and the leaders of Israel entered into a peace treaty with them, vowing not to kill them in exchange for their servanthood. A few days later, after hearing that these “foreigners” were in fact Canaanites, Joshua led his people to Gibeon to find out the truth. Upon arrival, Israel discovered that they had been tricked into making a peace treaty with their enemies. Nevertheless, because they had sworn the oath on God’s Name they were obligated to honor it.

With this in mind, let’s now move into chapter 10. Joshua and the Israelites have returned to their camp at Gilgal. The Gibeonites are no longer fearful of being attacked, because they have made a binding peace agreement with Israel… 

I. 5 KINGS ATTACK GIBEON (Joshua 10:1-5)

Reports of Israel’s conquest continued to spread throughout Canaan. When the king of Jerusalem, Adoni-zedek, heard how Joshua had defeated Jericho and Ai and made peace with Gibeon he became very fearful. Gibeon was a great city, like a royal city, and its alliance with Israel infuriated the king. How could the mighty Gibeonites betray their own countrymen by submitting themselves to Joshua? Adoni-zedek sent messengers to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon asking them to join him in a coalition to attack the traitorous city of Gibeon. So all 5 of these Amorite kings and their armies gathered together and laid siege upon the Gibeonites.

The city of Gibeon was less than 10 miles to the northwest of Jerusalem. Its surrender to the Israelites was cause for great alarm. Joshua and his forces were making steady progress in their military advance through central Canaan. Despite this grave threat, the alliance of Amorite kings seemed more intent on destroying the Gibeonites than on preparing to face Israel. Their behavior exemplifies the bitter and blinding nature of betrayal, even among non-believers.

Another interesting note… the king of Jerusalem, Adoni-zedek, shared a similar name as the former king of Salem, Melchizedek (Genesis 14:8). Salem eventually became known as Jerusalem - both refer to the same city (Psalm 76:2). Adoni-zedek means “lord of righteousness” while Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”. 

II. ISRAEL DEFENDS GIBEON (Joshua 10:6-14)

The Gibeonites had come under attack and sent word to Joshua desperately calling for help. According to the terms of their treaty, Israel was obligated to defend the Gibeonites. So Joshua and his army marched all night long from Gilgal to Gibeon, a distance of about 20 miles. Along the way God assured Joshua that these 5 kings would not stand before him. Israel arrived in the early morning hours and immediately joined the battle. The LORD brought confusion upon the Canaanite coalition and they were soundly defeated at Gibeon.

These 5 allied armies began to retreat toward the Valley of Aijalon as Israel relentlessly pursued. Along the way, God rained down large hailstones from heaven upon them so that more died from the hailstones than from Israel’s sword. Joshua asked God to make the sun and moon stand still in the sky so that his army would have more time to destroy their fleeing enemies and prevent them from escaping. God answered by miraculously causing the sun and moon to stop “for about a whole day”. This additional daylight allowed Israel to strike down many more Amorites than otherwise possible and chase them as far south as Azekah and Makkedah.

The account of Israel’s victory over the 5 Amorite kings and the sun and moon standing still in the sky was also recorded in the extra-biblical Book of Jashar. Though there are a few modern books with this title, the original text referred to here has been lost. There are also several accounts of a “long day” in the histories of other ancient cultures that may or may not point to this same event. The Canaanites worshiped the sun and moon, but God demonstrated His power over them by temporarily stopping the earth’s rotation.

III. VICTORY AT MAKKEDAH  (Joshua 10:16-28)

During their retreat, the 5 Amorite kings sought refuge in a cave near Makkedah. The Israelite army found them hiding inside and asked Joshua what to do. Joshua instructed them to roll stones in front of the cave’s opening and set a guard there so that they could not escape. After capturing the kings, Israel continued its pursuit. Ultimately, some of the fleeing Canaanites escaped to their fortified cities and survived, but a great number of them were killed. When the chase finally ended, the Israelites returned to Joshua who’d apparently remained at Makkedah.    

Joshua ordered that the 5 kings be brought out of the cave to stand before him. He then had all the leaders of Israel’s army come forth one by one and put their feet on the necks of these defeated pagan kings as a means of humiliating them. Joshua told his men to be strong and courageous because God was with them. Afterwards, he killed the kings and hung their bodies on 5 trees until evening. At sunset, he ordered their corpses to be taken down and thrown into the very cave where they’d previously hidden. Stones were then rolled over the mouth of the cave where the king’s bodies were left.

Joshua then set his sights on the city of Makkedah and struck it down as well. He destroyed all of the city’s inhabitants and executed its king also. He left no survivor. Including Makkedah, 6 Canaanite kings were slain in all during this campaign and their armies were largely decimated. Israel had won a great victory.

CONCLUSION

From this point forward, the particular details of individual battles that occurred during the Conquest of Canaan are rather limited. For the most part, the upcoming verses and chapters provide an extensive list that contains all of Joshua’s remaining victories and exploits. We will study these next week. So let me close with this…

Though the stories themselves are very different, I can’t help thinking of another famous cave in scripture. It was the tomb where Jesus’ body was taken after His crucifixion. A stone was rolled in front of it and a guard was posted there also. In sharp contrast, these 5 Amorite kings went into their cave alive but were brought out to their deaths while Jesus was laid dead in His tomb and came out alive!

In today’s passage, we saw that God has power of nature and creation. He temporarily made the sun and moon stand still. But let us also remember that He has power over sin and death. Jesus rose from the dead as the firstfruits of all who have or will trust in Him for their salvation. In Christ we have the assurance of resurrection and eternal life. Will you accept Him today?

If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or takes an oath to put himself under a binding obligation, he shall not break his word; he shall act in accordance with everything that comes out of his mouth. - Numbers 30:2

​Earlier this year we began a new sermon series titled “The Conquering and Independent Church''. We are studying the period of Israel’s history following the exodus, starting with their invasion of Canaan. Today’s message is the 7th sermon of this exciting series. It is called “Deceived By the  Gibeonites” and focuses on Joshua chapter 9.

Let’s quickly look back over the events of our series so far. Following Moses’ death Joshua assumed command over the children of Israel in Moab. He sent spies ahead into Jericho, who were hidden and protected by Rahab the prostitute. When these spies returned, the people of Israel crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Soon afterwards, they attacked and conquered the city of Jericho because God miraculously caused its walls to collapse. Next, after failing on their first attempt, they successfully defeated Ai. Then they conducted a ceremony of blessings and curses on Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal. By this point, the conquest of Canaan was in full swing…    

I. A FLAWED TREATY (Joshua 9:1-15)

As reports spread about Joshua’s military incursion into Canaan, many of the country’s kings began aligning themselves together in order to defend their cities against Israel. While these alliances were being formed among most of the Canaanites, the people of Gibeon took a completely different approach. Rather than fighting against Joshua (which would have almost certainly led to their defeat), they devised a crafty plan to avoid conflict.  

The Gibeonites gathered provisions for a journey, including worn-out sacks for their donkeys, old wineskins that had been split open and patched, worn-out clothing and sandals to wear, and old, dry, crumbling bread to eat. They made their way to Gilgal, where Joshua and their Israelites were camped. They deceptively presented themselves to Joshua as foreigners from a distant land who had heard about the mighty deeds of the God of Israel and His people and had come to make peace. They humbly submitted themselves to Joshua as servants.

The Israelites were unsure if these people were telling them the truth, questioned where they had come from, and remained hesitant to make a treaty with them. Then these Gibeonites showed them their old, crumbled bread and told them it had dried out during the long journey. They further claimed that their wineskins had broken and their sandals and clothes had worn out along the way. The men of Israel looked at their tattered provisions and believed their story, so Joshua made a covenant with them and swore by the name of the LORD to let them live. In all of this, the Israelites did not seek God’s counsel.

Though they did not yet realize it, Joshua and the people of Israel had been tricked into entering a peace treaty with their enemies. They fell for the Gibeonites’ lie because they did not seek the LORD’s counsel. Instead, they made a misguided covenant following their own initiative and understanding. The Bible teaches us that Satan is “the father of lies” (John 8:44). He uses deceit as his primary weapon against mankind. If we fail to pray and seek God’s wisdom, we will surely stumble and fall for his tricks.

II. A PROMISE KEPT (Joshua 9:16-21a)

After they had departed, some 3 days later, Joshua received word that these “foreigners” were in fact inhabitants of Canaan. He was disturbed by these reports and wanted to confirm their truthfulness. Therefore the Israelites set out from Gilgal and came to Gibeon and its surrounding region. When they arrived, they discovered that the Gibeonites were not travelers from a far away land as they had claimed. On the contrary, they were local citizens.

Joshua and the leaders of Israel had been fooled.  They had made a terrible and humiliating mistake. Nevertheless, they were now bound by their oath and did not attack the Gibeonites. The people of Israel grumbled against them, but there was nothing they could do. The leaders explained to the congregation that they had sworn by the LORD to let these Gibeonites live and were obligated to keep their promise.

The Bible teaches us not to swear by the name of the LORD except on the most solemn of occasions (Matthew 5:34; James 5:12). When we swear by His name, we connect Him to our promise or commitment - whatever it is. If then we fail to keep the oath, we simultaneously break our word to God. This, in turn, invites His judgment upon us. These Israelites had just experienced God’s anger at Ai and were not about to provoke Him again. Thus, as Jesus taught, we should not swear at all, but simply let our “yes” be “yes” and our “no” be “no”.

III. A SUBJUGATED PEOPLE (Joshua 9:21b-27)

Joshua summoned the Gibeonites together and asked them why they had lied about their true identity. They explained that they had heard of the LORD’s might and Israel’s mission to subdue and occupy the Promised Land. They were afraid of having their city destroyed and being killed themselves. They begged Joshua to do right by them. And so, in keeping with the treaty he’d made, Joshua allowed the Gibeonites to live as servants of Israel. They were used as laborers to gather firewood and draw water for both the congregation and the altar of the LORD.

There are some obvious parallels between the stories of Rahab and the Gibeonites. Both had heard about the amazing feats of Israel and acknowledged that Jehovah God was greater than their pagan gods. Both were confident that God had given the land to Israel and that the Canaanites would soon be defeated. As such, both were allowed to live. However, because Rahab acted with honesty and integrity she and her family remained free. On the other hand, because the Gibeonites were dishonest and lied to Joshua and the Israelites, they became slaves. Both professed a degree of faith, but their actions resulted in very different outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Centuries later the Gibeonites were still living among the people of Israel (2 Samuel 21:1-2). King Saul and those of his “bloody household” zealously sought to exterminate them once and for all. While they successfully killed many of the Gibeonites, a remnant of them survived. Later, when David became king, a severe famine struck the land that persisted for 3 years. The LORD told David that this judgment had come upon Israel because Saul and his sons had slain many of the Gibeonites. In other words, Israel’s oath not to kill them was still in effect and the nation was suffering the consequences of breaking it. King David took steps to make amends with the remaining Gibeonites. This episode illustrates the seriousness and longevity of vows made in God’s name.

In today’s message, we have highlighted 3 critical truths. First, we should always seek God’s counsel in our decision making in order to uncover deception and avoid missteps. Second, we should be very careful about swearing in the LORD’s name and should never do so flippantly or thoughtlessly. If we do make such a promise, we should keep it. Third, professions of faith should be accompanied by sincere and honest behavior.

Next week we will continue our discussion of Israel and their newly formed treaty with the Gibeonites.

For nothing is concealed that will not become evident, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. - Luke 8:17 

Good morning. In today’s message, we are going to cover 2 chapters - Joshua 7 & 8.  Both of these cover the battle of Ai, which was the second city to be attacked in Israel's conquest of the Promised Land. Due to the length of these chapters and our limited time together, I am going to summarize some of the events that took place. I encourage you to read these chapters in their entirety for yourselves.

I. DEFEAT AT AI (Joshua 7:1-15)

Having soundly destroyed Jericho, Joshua set his sights on the small city of Ai about 10 miles to the northwest. Joshua sent a few scouts ahead to spy out the area. After making their observations, these scouts returned feeling confident that Ai would be a relatively easy target. They suggested that Joshua send only a smaller detachment of troops, rather than the entire Israelite army, to take the city. Following their advice, Joshua deployed around 3,000 men to Ai. However, much to their surprise, when these warriors attacked the city they were driven back by the men of Ai. During the battle and their subsequent retreat 36 Israelites were killed.

Joshua’s failure to capture Ai was humiliating and demoralizing. Joshua was not accustomed to losing a battle. He tore his clothes, put ashes on his head, and fell on his face before the Ark of the Covenant in sorrow and disgust. Joshua cried out to God, questioning why the LORD would instruct him to invade Canaan only to suffer defeat. God told Joshua to stand up and pull himself together. The LORD explained that someone in the camp had sinned by taking of the spoils of Jericho in direct violation of His command. God warned Joshua that Israel would be unable to stand before her enemies until this sin was dealt with.

As a result of this person’s sin, 3 dozen soldiers died. These children would now grow up without their father, these wives would be forced to move on without their husbands, and these families would suffer the life-long consequences of losing someone in war. This story vividly demonstrates the pervasive nature of sin. The devastating consequences of sin are not limited to only the sinner themselves. Our sins affect others, and their sins affect us. We would be wise to consider this when making life’s decisions.

II. ACHAN’S SIN (Joshua 7:16-26)

So, in keeping with the LORD’s instructions, Joshua set out to rid the sin from the camp. Early the next morning, Joshua brought the people of Israel before him by tribe. Judah was selected, and so he brought them before him by family. The Zerahites were selected, so he brought them forward by man. Zabdi was selected, so Joshua brought the members of his household forward individually. Achan was chosen and charged with his sin. Having been identified as the culprit, Achan admitted to taking a robe, some silver, and a gold bar from Jericho and hiding them in his tent. Joshua sent messengers to search for and retrieve these items.

When these men returned, Joshua and the whole assembly of Israel took Achan, the stolen items, Achan’s children, his animals, his tent, and all of his possessions to the Valley of Achor, which translates to the Valley of Trouble. When they arrived, Joshua pronounced God’s judgment against Achan and his household. Then the people of Israel stoned them, burned their bodies, and erected a large heap of stones over them which stood until the writing of Joshua and after. Once their sin had been purged from Israel, God’s fierce anger subsided.

Again we see how Achan’s sin impacted others and brought tragedy upon his entire family. Furthermore, we are reminded that sin never remains secret forever. Your sin will be found out eventually. Even if no one else knows about it, God is fully aware of your sin. Trying to conceal or cover it up is never a good idea. Finally, while admitting guilt is necessary to satisfy God’s ongoing wrath, it does not absolve someone of sin’s earthly consequences.     

III. VICTORY AT AI (Joshua 8:1-29)

After Achan’s sin was dealt with, God told Joshua to make a second assault against Ai. Joshua sent a large troop of about 30,000 soldiers by night to hide just west of the city. Joshua then led another group to attack the city from the north, as they had on the previous occasion. When the men of Ai saw the Israelites approaching across the plains, they rushed out to meet them as they had done before. Joshua and his band of forces pretended to retreat thereby luring the pursuing men of Ai away from the city. With the city exposed and unguarded, the Israelite soldiers who were hiding in ambush rose up, captured Ai, and set it on fire. When Joshua saw the smoke ascending, he and his soldiers turned to fight the men of Ai. Those who had ambushed the city also came out and attacked them from the other side, trapping the soldiers of Ai in the middle. Israel completely annihilated them leaving no survivors.

When the battle ended, Joshua and the Israelites killed all of the remaining inhabitants of Ai. In total, some 12,000 people died. They also burned the city just as they had done to Jericho. However, this time they were allowed to keep the cattle and spoils of the battle as plunder for themselves. Joshua hanged the King of Ai (who had been taken captive) on a tree until evening, took his body down and laid it at the city’s gate, and erected a large heap of stones over it. With this, the destruction of Ai was complete.

Though the reason for Israel’s initial failure was Achan’s sin, it is still noteworthy that Joshua learned from his previous experience. He used the information he had gathered from the first battle to form an improved strategy. Knowing that the men of Ai would pursue the retreating Israelites as they’d done before, Joshua used their tactics as a ploy to ambush the city. I am not suggesting that Joshua would have won the second battle against Ai without first dealing with Achan’s sins, but rather pointing out a secondary point - we should learn from our mistakes.  

IV. BLESSINGS AND CURSES (Joshua 8:30-35) 

Following their victory at Ai, the people of Israel paused briefly from their military conquest to observe a special ceremony that Moses had commanded before his death (Deuteronomy 11:26-20, 27:1-28:68). They traveled a few miles north to the twin peaks of Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal. Joshua built an altar on Mt. Ebal and offered several sacrifices there. He then separated the people so that half of them stood at the base of each mountain, opposite of and facing toward each other. Joshua, the elders, officers, and priests, and the Ark of the Covenant remained in the valley between. There Joshua read the entire Law of Moses, including its blessings and the curses, as all of the people listened carefully.

It is no coincidence that this solemn ceremony came on the heels of Israel’s encounter with Ai. Their first attempt to take the city had failed because of unconfessed sin which brought God’s curse upon the people. However, their second attempt was successful because their removal of this sin invoked God’s blessing. Thus, the battle of Ai serves as a fitting backdrop for the observance of blessings and curses that took place at Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim.      

CONCLUSION

The stories of Ai and Achan teach us several important lessons. Let’s review a few that we pointed out this morning.

First, the effects of sin are numerous and far-reaching. They not only impact the sinner themselves, but also impact others. Second, while repentance is necessary to satisfy God’s wrath and free us from the eternal consequences of sin, it doesn’t always absolve us from the sin’s earthly consequences. Third, sin cannot be hidden forever - it will be exposed and we will answer for it. Fourth, we as God’s people are responsible for dealing with known sin in our midst. If left untouched, it will render us uneffective.

Do you have unconfessed sin in your life today? Turn to Jesus for forgiveness and pardon. He paid the debt of sin so that you wouldn’t have to. God frees us from the curse of sin and gives us the blessing of eternal life through the atoning work of His Son, Jesus Christ. Receive Him as your Lord and Savior today.

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and he was unable due to the crowd, because he was short in stature. - Luke 19:1-3 

Jericho is believed by many to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Located in the Jordan River Valley, it sits at 800 feet below sea level making it the lowest city in the world. Jericho is lush with palm trees, fed by several natural springs, and is an oasis in the surrounding region. The modern city of Jericho has a population of about 14,000 people, but in Joshua’s time it is estimated that around 2,500-3,000 people lived there. It was one of the first cities in history to build a wall around itself for defense.

Jericho appears many times in the Bible, throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Many significant events took place there. Of all of them, perhaps the most well known is the Battle of Jericho. If you grew up in church, you’ve probably heard this story many times going back to your childhood days in Sunday School. But don’t be fooled - this isn’t just a tale for kids. The amazing story of Joshua and the Battle of Jericho provides several powerful truths and insights for Christians of all ages.  

I. THE BATTLE PLAN (Joshua 6:1-5)

The citizens of Jericho were aware that the Israelites were camped close by, so they closed the city gates and took security measures in preparation for the coming assault. The Lord spoke to Joshua and assured him of victory over Jericho. The Lord gave Joshua a peculiar battle plan. All the men of war, along with priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant and 7 trumpets of ram’s horns, were to march around the city once each day for 6 successive days. Then, on the seventh day, they were to march around Jericho 7 times as the priests blew the trumpets. When they completed their final lap around the city, the priests were to sound a long trumpet blast and the people were to shout. At this point, the Lord declared that the walls of Jericho would fall down flat allowing the army of Israel to invade the city.

The opening verses of chapter 6 are considered to be a continuation of the episode that began near the end of chapter 5. As you may recall from last Sunday’s message, the Captain of the Army of LORD appeared to Joshua and spoke to him. Joshua took off his sandals and bowed down before the heavenly warrior. Now this same person, thought to be either an angel or perhaps a preincarnate appearance of Jesus Christ, laid out instructions for Joshua and his army to follow. By obeying these commands, Israel’s victory was certain.

II. DAYS 1 THROUGH 6 (Joshua 6:6-14)

After receiving the LORD’s commands, Joshua summoned the people and priests together. He carefully relayed all of God’s instructions to them. They formed a procession with armed men leading the way in the front, followed by the 7 priests blowing the 7 trumpets, followed by those carrying the Ark of the Covenant, and finally another armed guard following in the rear. The people were told to be absolutely quiet as they marched around the city so that the only sound would be that of the blaring trumpets. In this manner, the people approached the city of Jericho and marched around it once each day for 6 consecutive days. After circling the city each day, they would return to their camp at Gilgal to spend the night.    

This tactic must have seemed odd and perhaps even foolish to the defenders of Jericho. They were expecting Israel to lay siege upon the city - to surround it and seek to overrun its defenses. Yet, for 6 days in a row the Israelites came, marched peacefully around the city’s outer wall, and quietly returned to camp. As the people of Jericho watched from atop their mighty wall, surely some thought to themselves, “What are they doing? Is this some type of psychological warfare? Do they really think this will work?” The Bible teaches that the wisdom of God is foolishness to the world (1 Corinthians 1:25, 2:14). They don’t, nor can they, understand it. This story serves as a tangible example of this principle.

III. DAY 7 (Joshua 6:15-21)

On the 7th day, the children of Israel arrived at Jericho early in the morning and proceeded to march around the city 7 times. When they completed their final lap, Joshua commanded them to shout. He said that the LORD had given them the city, but warned them not to take any of its spoils. The entire city, all of its possessions, and all of its people were designated by God for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and those in her house were to be spared, as promised by the spies she’d hidden there a few weeks earlier. All gold, silver, and other precious articles would be placed in the treasury of the LORD.

And so, in obedience to these instructions, the Israelites shouted and the walls of Jericho miraculously collapsed. God caused the walls to crumble and fall, except for the limited area around Rahab’s house (she lived in the wall). Immediately the Hebrew army rushed into the city and killed all of its inhabitants - men, women, young, old, donkey, ox, sheep, and every living thing. Apart from Rahab and those sheltered with her, it was a complete and total destruction. This was the beginning of God’s judgment upon Canaan.

Some nonbelievers see the slaughter of Jericho’s citizens as an indication of God’s cruelty and ruthlessness. They perceive this event and others like it as reasons to despise God and to keep themselves far from Him. They fail to recognize that, like Rahab, salvation was available to all the people of Jericho. Had they submitted themselves to God, the story would likely be a lot different - like in the case of Nineveh during the days of Jonah. But they did not repent, and thus the LORD’s justice was poured out upon them.

IV. AFTER THE BATTLE (Joshua 6:22-27) 

After the onslaught was complete the spies went to Rahab’s house and escorted her and her family to safety outside of the city. Then the Israelites went through the houses, buildings, and so forth to collect all of the gold, silver, and other precious articles that were there. Once these were removed to be placed in the LORD’s treasury, they set Jericho afire and burned it to the ground. Joshua made the people take an oath saying, “Cursed is the man who rebuilds Jericho. Whoever raises this city up again will suffer the loss of both his oldest and youngest son.” With this, the battle and subsequent destruction of Jericho was finished.

Rahab and her descendants continued to live among the Israelites, even after the conquest of Canaan was complete. In the centuries that followed, the once formidable Jericho remained an uninhabited, ruinous heap of rubble. It served as a chilling reminder to both Israel and her enemies of God’s incredible strength and power. Over 500 years later, during the reign of King Ahab, a man named Hiel decided to rebuild the city of Jericho. During the construction, Hiel’s firstborn son and youngest son died just as the LORD’s curse had declared (1 Kings 16:34).

CONCLUSION

As is the case with many other Biblical stories, modern excavations at the site of ancient Jericho support the truthfulness of this account. It is not a made-up myth or legend. Archaeologists have discovered in the layers of the city’s ruins that there was in fact a wall around Jericho during this time period. It appears to have been made of mud and stone and it rested upon a smaller retaining wall at ground level. The findings indicate that this wall collapsed outward, forming a sloping siege ramp upon which the Hebrews could invade. Though the Bible was not written primarily to be a history book, the events described in it did actually happen.

One final observation… The Battle of Jericho vividly demonstrates the relationship between faith and works. Scripture teaches us that faith without works is dead (James 2:14-16). When God tells us what to do, we are to do it - even when it may seem odd or unconventional. Faith is belief in action. Belief alone is not enough, nor are works alone. Faith combines both of these, thereby proving our beliefs by and through our deeds. God caused the walls of Jericho to tumble because of Israel’s faithful obedience to His commands (Hebrews 11:30). May we exhibit this same level of saving faith in our lives today.

But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; - Romans 2:29a

Hello again! This morning’s message is the 4th sermon of our current series called “The Conquering and Independent Church”. Today we will be in Joshua chapter 5. I have titled this message “Camped at Gilgal”. When we stopped last Sunday the Israelites had just crossed the Jordan River into Canaan. They had set up camp just a few miles from Jericho and erected the memorial stones they’d taken from the river bed. Let’s see what happened next…

I. THE ENEMIES’ REACTION (Joshua 5:1)

When the Amorites who dwelt west of the Jordan River and the Caananites who lived east of the Mediterranean Sea heard how God had cut off its waters and allowed Israel to pass over it on dry ground, they were terrified. Their courage to stand against the children of God completely melted away. They recognized that the LORD of Israel was mightier than their pagan gods.

The conquest and settlement of the Promised Land accomplished 2 purposes. First, God gave this land to the descendants of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob as an eternal possession where they could live as a distinct people group. From there, they would serve as God’s representative people on the earth and make His name known to all the nations. Second, God took this land from the Canaanites as punishment for their centuries of idolatry and wickedness. God used Israel as the instrument of His judgment.

II. ISRAEL IS CIRCUMCISED (Joshua 5:2-9)

While at Gilgal, the day after they had crossed the Jordan, the LORD instructed Joshua to have all of the sons of Israel circumcised. Therefore, Joshua made several flint knives and went about circumcising all of the men. Based upon the numbers, it seems only logical that Joshua enlisted helpers to accomplish this major task. He referred to the place Gibeath-Haaraloth, which means “The Hill of Foreskins”. This undertaking was necessary because the practice of circumcision had been neglected during the 40 years of wilderness wanderings. Thus, this new generation of Israelites who had been born during the exodus were all uncircumcised.

After the circumcisions were complete, the Israelites remained at their camp for a few days to recover. The LORD spoke to Joshua saying, “Today I have rolled the shame of Egypt away from you.” Now circumcised, the children of Israel were set apart from the Egyptians once and for all. In recognition of this, Joshua officially named the site Gilgal which means “rolling” or “rolling away”.

Circumcision was the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 17:10-14). It was a physical mark that identified the children of Israel as God’s covenantal people. Beginning with Abraham and his sons, all Hebrew boys were to be circumcised when they were 8 days old. In addition, any male slaves that were acquired by the Israelites were to be circumcized as well. According to the law of Moses, only those who were circumcised could participate in the Passover celebration (Exodus 12:48-49).

III. ISRAEL CELEBRATES PASSOVER (Joshua 5:10-12)

The Israelities crossed the Jordan River on the 10th day of Nissan, the first month of the year. The males were circumcised the next day on the 11th and then took a few more days to recuperate. Then, on the evening of the 14th day of Nissan, while still camped at Gilgal on the desert plains near Jericho, they observed the Passover (Exodus 12:18). Their circumcision had been a prerequisite for participating in the Passover celebration. This was likely the first Passover to be held by the Hebrews since their encampment at Mt. Sinai 40 years earlier.  

On the day following the Passover, when the Feast of Unleavened Bread began, the children of Jacob ate produce from the land. They prepared unleavened cakes and roasted bread. I am sure this was a welcomed and long anticipated occasion. The manna that had sustained them throughout 4 decades of sojourning in the desert ceased and Israel began feeding themselves with the yield of the land. This cessation speaks to the bountiful fruitfulness of Canaan in contrast to the dry barrenness of the surrounding wilderness.

Earlier in this series we spoke about the meaning and significance of the Passover while discussing Rahab the prostitute and the scarlet cord that she hung from her window. This morning I want us to consider the timing of this particular Passover celebration. God commanded Israel to observe the Passover immediately prior to launching their invasion. It was held on the eve of battle. This was yet another example of how God taught His people to put Him first. The battle belongs to the LORD (Proverbs 21:31). If we are to be victorious in this life, the LORD must have priority over all else.

IV. JOSHUA’S ENCOUNTER (Joshua 5:13-15) 

Later on, when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing opposite of him with a sword drawn. Joshua approached the man and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” The man answered that he had come as the captain of the army of the LORD. Hearing this, Joshua fell on his face in reverence before the man. The captain of the LORD’s army told Joshua to remove his sandals, for he was standing on holy ground. Joshua obeyed.

Theologians are split regarding the identity of this man who met with Joshua. Some believe that he was an angel sent by God while others believe that he was God himself in human form - a preincarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. There are various arguments supporting both views. I tend to think it was Jesus. Either way, whether in person or through His messenger, God conversed with Joshua and laid out His battle plan for attacking Jericho. We will read more about this plan next week.

Joshua was an experienced and highly successful military leader. Just a few days earlier he had sent scouts into Jericho to do reconnaissance. Based on their reports, I am reasonably certain that he had already developed or at least was in the process of developing a strategy for the upcoming siege. It is hard to believe that a person of his character wasn’t thinking about it. Furthermore, I trust that he’d devised a good plan. Nevertheless, when the LORD appeared everything suddenly changed. Joshua’s plan took the back seat and God’s plan took precedent. Sometimes in life the LORD intervenes and alters our plans. Has that ever happened to you? In these moments, it is best to follow His lead.

CONCLUSION

In the last few chapters, we’ve seen a repeated theme. Take a moment to consider and reflect on these 3 things:

The Ark of the Covenant went before the people into the Jordan River.
The people were circumcised and celebrated the Passover before beginning the conquest.
Joshua received and would prioritize God’s battle plans over his own.

So what is the message? Put God first. Allow Him to lead. Revere Him above all others. Never go into battle without first seeking His face. Make His plan the priority for your life. I am not saying that your way is bad, but His is always better. Trust me, I’ve learned this from personal experience. I urge you, make Jesus the Lord and King of your life.

Next week, the combat begins. We will be talking about the epic battle of Jericho. I am so excited! I have always been a fan of war stories. Until then, may we remember to put the Lord first in everything.

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him; and a voice came from the heavens: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” - Mark 1:9-11

Hello Beloved.  Isn’t it good to be in God’s house this morning? What a tremendous blessing and privilege it is to gather each week for worship. May the LORD our God be exalted and His Name be praised! Today we will discuss chapters 3 & 4 of Joshua. We will read about Israel’s crossing of the Jordan River. But before we begin, let’s set the stage by looking back at last week’s message.

Before leading the children of Israel into Canaan, Joshua sent 2 spies ahead to the city of Jericho to assess its strengths and weaknesses. While they were there, the pair's presence was discovered and the king gave orders to seize them. A local prostitute named Rahab hid them on the roof of her house so that they wouldn’t be found. Though she was a Canaanite, Rahab expressed faith in Jehovah - the God of Israel - and rejected the pagan gods of her people. In exchange for her kindness, the spies promised to spare her family whenever the Israelites attacked Jericho. Rahab tied a scarlet cord on her window as a sign of protection and the spies returned safely to their camp beyond the Jordan...

I. THE WATERS ARE CUT OFF (Joshua 3:1-11, 13-17)

Early the next morning, after the spies had returned, Joshua and the Israelites set out from Shittim and came to the edge of the Jordan River. They spent the night there. Joshua sent word through the camp for the people to consecrate themselves in anticipation of their crossing into the Promised Land. He instructed them to follow the Ark of the Covenant at a distance of about 3,000 feet. The priests would go ahead of the people into the river, carrying the Ark. Joshua commanded the priests to stand in the middle of the Jordan, and stated that the waters of the river would be cut off while the people crossed. This miracle would serve as a declaration of God’s presence and power among His children and an assurance of their upcoming victory over the Canaanites.

When the time came to cross, the priests led the way carrying the Ark of the Covenant just as they had been instructed. It was early spring, around the time of the barley harvest, and the Jordan River was full and overflowing its banks. This would only serve to amplify the miraculous power of God Almighty. As soon as the priests’ feet touched the water, the flow of the Jordan River was cut off. The waters stood in a heap upriver at the city of Adam, near Zarethan. The priests made their way to the middle of the riverbed and stood there until all of the Hebrew children crossed over on dry ground. This crossing took place just opposite of Jericho.

The manifest presence, power, and glory of God dwelt in and upon the Ark of the Covenant. It was a holy vessel that no one was allowed to touch. It went before the people into the Jordan River, just as it would go before them into battle. When the people followed the Ark, they were following God’s direction. As such, the LORD miraculously enabled them to overcome obstacles in their path. In the same way, we as Christians are called to follow Jesus. We must be careful not to get ahead of Him. Rather, we should obey His commands, do His will, and follow His lead. As we do so, our mighty LORD will clear our paths and make a way for us.  

II. THE MEMORIAL STONES ARE TAKEN (Joshua 3:12; 4:1-10, 12-13)

The entire nation crossed the Jordan River into Canaan, including some 40,000 warriors from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Mannasseh who had pledged to assist their brothers in the coming conquest. After everyone had reached the other side, in keeping with God’s command, Joshua sent 12 men back into the river - one from each of the 12 tribes. He instructed each of them to pick up a large stone from the riverbed near the place where the priests were standing. They were to carry these stones on their shoulders to the camp where they’d stop for the night. Once there, these stones would be set up as a memorial for generations to come of the day when God cut off the waters of the Jordan before the Ark of the Covenant and Israel crossed over on dry ground.

According to some interpreters, Joshua also set up a memorial of 12 stones in the middle of the Jordan’s riverbed to mark the exact spot where the priests stood. If so, this second memorial would have been covered by the waters once they returned to their normal course. It seems rather strange to me that someone would erect a memorial that no one could see or visit. Nevertheless, ambiguity in the translation of the original Hebrew text leaves this possibility open.

The number of memorials that were set up isn’t important, but the purpose of the memorial(s) is. God wanted His people to remember this day. He wanted the future generations of Israel to commemorate this miraculous event in their history. It is essential for the people of God to learn about and remember the past. Scripture urges us to do so again and again. As we reflect on our history we are reminded of God’s faithfulness, love, and strength. It should be a source of motivation and encouragement. Furthermore, it warns us about the dangers and missteps of those who’ve gone before us so that we might not repeat the same mistakes.

III. THE PEOPLE MOVE TO GILGAL (Joshua 4:11, 14-24)

Once all the people finished crossing the river and the memorial stones were taken from its midst, the priests who had been standing in the middle of the Jordan carrying the Ark of the Covenant exited as well. As soon as they stepped out of the river onto the opposite side, the waters of the Jordan were released and flowed normally again, spilling over the banks as they had before. The priests resumed their position in front of the procession and led them a short distance away from the river.

Joshua and the children of Israel stopped and set up camp at Gilgal, just east of Jericho. It was the 10th day of Nissan, the first month of the Hebrew year (which roughly equates to April on our modern calendars). Joshua took the 12 stones that had been taken from the Jordan and set them up as a memorial of the day’s events. He dedicated the monument and compared the crossing of the Jordan River to the crossing of the Red Sea some 40 years earlier. Both occurrences declared the mighty power of God Almighty and beckoned the people to know and fear Him. On that day, the LORD exalted Joshua and the children of God began to revere him just as they had revered Moses.

CONCLUSION

Many theologians view the imagery of crossing the Jordan River as a picture of the physical death of a believer. As Christians, we are citizens of the kingdom of God. This world is not our home. The Bible refers to us as strangers and pilgrims living in a foreign land. Whenever we die, however, we will metaphorically pass over the Jordan into our Promised Land, the heavenly inheritance that God has reserved for His children. There we will spend eternity with our Savior and King, Jesus Christ. 

In closing, Israel’s crossing of the Jordan River was and is a hallmark event in Jewish history. It marked the end of the exodus and the beginning of the conquest. It was the start of a new chapter in Israel’s remarkable story. As we reflect on this miracle today, we are reminded that God can see His people through any obstacle or circumstance. He is able. Praise Him! May His glorious Name be magnified in all the earth!