Joshua 2 – “Scouts in Jericho”

I. Summary

Joshua sends scouts to Jericho and Rahab saves them from the king. The scouts vow to save Rahab and her family when they return to conquer the land.

II. Photo

Rahab saves Joshua’s scouts: “She let them down by a rope through the window — for her dwelling was at the outer side of the city wall and she lived in the actual wall.” (v. 15)

III. Select Verses

1-4b: Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, reconnoiter the region of Jericho.” So they set out, and they came to the house of a harlot named Rahab and lodged there. The king of Jericho was told, “Some men have come here tonight, Israelites, to spy out the country.” The king of Jericho thereupon sent orders to Rahab: “Produce the men who came to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out the whole country.” The woman, however, had taken the two men and hidden them.

9-11: She said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given the country to you, because dread of you has fallen upon us, and all the inhabitants of the land are quaking before you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Sea of Reeds for you when you left Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings across the Jordan, whom you doomed. When we heard about it, we lost heart, and no man had any more spirit left because of you; for the LORD your God is the only God in heaven above and on earth below.

17-19: But the men warned her, “We will be released from this oath which you have made us take [unless,] when we invade the country, you tie this length of crimson cord to the window through which you let us down. Bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your family together in your house; and if anyone ventures outside the doors of your house, his blood will be on his head, and we shall be clear. But if a hand is laid on anyone who remains in the house with you, his blood shall be on our heads.

IV. Outline

1a. Joshua sends scouts to Jericho

1b. The scouts arrive at Rahab’s house

2-3. The king is informed and accosts Rahab

4a. Rahab hides the scouts

4b-5. Rahab lies to protect them

6-7. The Jerichoans are fooled

8-11. Rahab endorses Yahweh and Israel

12-14. The scouts vow to save Rahab and her family

15-21. The scouts leave and Rahab agrees to put a sign on her door

22. The scouts wait for safety

23-24. The scouts return to Joshua and give a favorable report

V. Comment

No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used

(see “Commentaries” page)

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Joshua 1 – “Joshua’s Charge; Reuben, Gad, and Half Manasseh”

Hebrew-English Text

I. Summary

Yahweh orders Joshua to cross the Jordan River in order to conquer the land. Joshua informs the people and reminds the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Half Manasseh about their commitment to cross over with the rest of the nation.

II. Photo

Yahweh promises the land to Joshua: “Every spot on which your foot treads I give to you, as I promised Moses.” (v. 3)

III. Select Verses

1-3: After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ attendant: “My servant Moses is dead. Prepare to cross the Jordan, together with all this people, into the land that I am giving to the Israelites. Every spot on which your foot treads I give to you, as I promised Moses.”

4: Your territory shall extend from the wilderness and the Lebanon to the Great River, the River Euphrates [on the east] — the whole Hittite country — and up to the Mediterranean Sea on the west.

5: No one shall be able to resist you as long as you live. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.

7-8: But you must be very strong and resolute to observe faithfully all the Teaching that My servant Moses enjoined upon you. Do not deviate from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Let not this Book of the Teaching cease from your lips, but recite it day and night, so that you may observe faithfully all that is written in it. Only then will you prosper in your undertakings and only then will you be successful.

18: Any man who flouts your commands and does not obey every order you give him shall be put to death. Only be strong and resolute!

IV. Outline

1-9. Yahweh’s speech to Joshua
    1. Introduction
    2-3. Imperative to conquer the land
    4. The land’s borders
    5. Guarantee of success
    6. Encouragement
    7-8. Imperative to follow the book of the law
    9. Encouragement
10-11. Joshua prepares the people for the journey
12-15. Joshua reminds Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh about their prior commitments
16-18. Reuben, Gand, and half of Manasseh affirm and encourage Joshua

V. Comment

No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used

(see “Commentaries” page)

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Nahum 3 – “An Oracle Against Nineveh”

Hebrew-English Text

I. Summary

Yahweh lists the sins of Nineveh and promises to destroy the city.

II. Photo

Yahweh warns Nineveh: “All your forts are fig trees with ripe fruit; If shaken they will fall unto the mouths of devourers!” (v. 12)

III. Select Verses

1: Ah, city of crime, Utterly treacherous, Full of violence, Where killing never stops!

3: Charging horsemen, Flashing swords, And glittering spears! Hosts of slain And heaps of corpses, Dead bodies without number — They stumble over bodies.

4-5: Because of the countless harlotries of the harlot, The winsome mistress of sorcery, Who ensnared nations with her harlotries And peoples with her sorcery, I am going to deal with you — declares the LORD of Hosts. I will lift up your skirts over your face And display your nakedness to the nations And your shame to kingdoms.

7: All who see you will recoil from you And will say, “Nineveh has been ravaged!” Who will console her? Where shall I look for Anyone to comfort you?

12: All your forts are fig trees With ripe fruit; If shaken they will fall Into the mouths of devourers.

13: Truly, the troops within you are women; The gates of your land have opened themselves To your enemies; Fire has consumed your gate bars.

19: There is no healing for your injury; Your wound is grievous. All who hear the news about you Clap their hands over you. For who has not suffered From your constant malice?

IV. Outline

1-4. Nineveh’s sins

    1-3. Warriors and death

    4a. Fornication

    4b. Sorcery

5-7. God will shame Nineveh

8-10. Even Thebes was exiled

11-15. Impending doom

16-18. Scattering of the masses

19a. A wound that has no healing

19b. All peoples rejoice

V. Comment

No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used

(see “Commentaries” page)

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Nahum 2 – “The Downfall of Nineveh”

Hebrew-English Text

I. Summary

Nahum encourages Judah to stay strong and describes the downfall of Nineveh.

II. Photo

Nineveh is sacked: “Plunder silver! Plunder gold! There is no limit to the treasure; It is a hoard of all precious objects.” (v. 10)

III. Select Verses

1: Behold on the hills The footsteps of a herald Announcing good fortune! “Celebrate your festivals, O Judah, Fulfill your vows. Never again shall scoundrels invade you, They have totally vanished.”

3: For the LORD has restored the Pride of Jacob As well as the Pride of Israel, Though marauders have laid them waste And ravaged their branches.

9-11: Nineveh has been like a [placid] pool of water From earliest times; Now they flee. “Stop! Stop!” — But none can turn them back. “Plunder silver! Plunder gold!” There is no limit to the treasure; It is a hoard of all precious objects. Desolation, devastation, and destruction! Spirits sink, Knees buckle, All loins tremble, All faces turn ashen.

12-13: What has become of that lions’ den, That pasture of great beasts, Where lion and lion’s breed walked, And lion’s cub — with none to disturb them? [Where is] the lion that tore victims for his cubs And strangled for his lionesses, And filled his lairs with prey And his dens with mangled flesh?

14: I am going to deal with you — declares the LORD of Hosts: I will burn down her chariots in smoke, And the sword shall devour your great beasts; I will stamp out your killings from the earth, And the sound of your messengers Shall be heard no more.

IV. Outline

1-3. Encouragement for Judah

    1. Message of good fortune

    2-3.  Message of strength

4-14. The fall of Nineveh

    4-11. The sack of Nineveh described

    12-13. Insult for Nineveh

    14. Oracle regarding Nineveh’s downfall

V. Comment

No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used

(see “Commentaries” page)

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Nahum 1 – “Hymn of Praise; Imprecation”

Hebrew-English Text

I. Summary

Nahum praises Yahweh’s might and describes how he destroys his enemies.

II. Photo

Yahweh is a forceful deity: “He travels in whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust on His feet!” (v. 3)

III. Select Verses

1: A pronouncement on Nineveh: The Book of the Prophecy of Nahum the Elkoshite.

2: The LORD is a passionate, avenging God; The LORD is vengeful and fierce in wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His enemies, He rages against His foes.

5: The mountains quake because of Him, And the hills melt. The earth heaves before Him, The world and all that dwell therein.

7-8: The LORD is good to [those who hope in Him], A haven on a day of distress; He is mindful of those who seek refuge in Him. And with a sweeping flood He makes an end of her place, And chases His enemies into darkness.

IV. Outline

1. Superscription

2-3a. Yahweh is vengeful

3b-5. Yahweh is fearsome in nature

6. Yahweh is unstoppable

7. Yahweh protects his followers

8. Yahweh punishes his enemies

9-11. Opposing Yahweh is futile

12-13. Oracle: the oppressors will be overthrown

14. Yahweh will destroy the enemy

V. Comment

As Kevin J. Cathcart notes, little is known about the prophet Nahum: “The superscription of the book reads: ‘An Oracle concerning Nineveh. The Book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.’ Outside the Bible, Nahum (comfort) is a well-attested NW Semitic name. However, nothing is known about the prophet Nahum, and even the place of his origin, Elkosh, has not been identified. Jerome proposed “Elcesaei,” a village in Galilee; Pseudo-Epiphanius placed it in Judea; and there have been several attempts by modern scholars to locate the site of the ancient town.” (Anchor Bible Dictionary IV:988)

VI. Works Used

(see “Commentaries” page)

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Micah 7 – “Lament, Trust, and Imprecation”

Hebrew-English Text

I. Summary

Micah laments the corrupt society around him, places his trust in Yahweh, and asks that Israel be restored and her enemies punished.

II. Photo

Micah puts his trust in Yahweh: “You will hurl all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will keep faith with Jacob, loyalty to Abraham, as You promised on oath to our fathers in days gone by.” (v. 20)

III. Select Verses

1-2: Woe is me! I am become like leavings of a fig harvest, Like gleanings when the vintage is over, There is not a cluster to eat, Not a ripe fig I could desire. The pious are vanished from the land, None upright are left among men; All lie in wait to commit crimes, One traps the other in his net.

5-6: Trust no friend, Rely on no intimate; Be guarded in speech With her who lies in your bosom. For son spurns father, Daughter rises up against mother, Daughter-in-law against mother-in-law — A man’s own household Are his enemies.

9: I must bear the anger of the LORD, Since I have sinned against Him, Until He champions my cause And upholds my claim. He will let me out into the light; I will enjoy vindication by Him.

11: A day for mending your walls — That is a far-off day.

16-17: Let nations behold and be ashamed Despite all their might; Let them put hand to mouth; Let their ears be deafened! Let them lick dust like snakes, Like crawling things on the ground! Let them come trembling out of their strongholds To the LORD our God; Let them fear and dread You!

18-20: Who is a God like You, Forgiving iniquity And remitting transgression; Who has not maintained His wrath forever Against the remnant of His own people, Because He loves graciousness! He will take us back in love; He will cover up our iniquities, You will hurl all our sins Into the depths of the sea. You will keep faith with Jacob, Loyalty to Abraham, As You promised on oath to our fathers In days gone by.

IV. Outline

1-6. Lament over an evil society

    1-2a. The pious have vanished

    2b-4a. Description of the wicked

    4b. Future punishment

    5-6. Familial defiance

7-10. Psalm of trust and imprecation

    7-8. Affirmation of confidence

    9a. Acceptance of punishment

    9b. Future salvation

    10. The enemies will see and be defeated

    11. Rebuilding the walls

    12-13. Destruction from Egypt to Mesopotamia 

    14-15. Prayer for Israel’s restoration

    16-17. Prayer for Yahweh to shock the nations

    18. Praise

    19-20. Faith in Yahweh’s loyalty

V. Comment

No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used

(see “Commentaries” page)

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Micah 6 – “Yahweh’s Punishments for Israel”

I. Summary

Yahweh convicts the people of disobedience, describes the punishments he has already brought, and vows to bring more in the future. Micah teaches the people to focus on their deeds, not their offerings.

II. Photo

Micah downplays the importance of offerings: “Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with myriads of streams of oil? … He has told you, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you: only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk modestly with your God.” (vv. 7-8)

III. Select Verses

2-5: Hear, you mountains, the case of the LORD — You firm foundations of the earth! For the LORD has a case against His people, He has a suit against Israel. “My people! What wrong have I done you? What hardship have I caused you? Testify against Me. In fact, I brought you up from the land of Egypt, I redeemed you from the house of bondage, And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. “My people, Remember what Balak king of Moab Plotted against you, And how Balaam son of Beor Responded to him. [Recall your passage] From Shittim to Gilgal — And you will recognize The gracious acts of the LORD.”

6-8: With what shall I approach the LORD, Do homage to God on high? Shall I approach Him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old? Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, With myriads of streams of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, The fruit of my body for my sins? 8 “He has told you, O man, what is good, And what the LORD requires of you: Only to do justice And to love goodness, And to walk modestly with your God.

13-15: I, in turn, have beaten you sore, Have stunned [you] for your sins: You have been eating without getting your fill, And there is a gnawing at your vitals; You have been conceiving without bearing young, And what you bore I would deliver to the sword. You have been sowing, but have nothing to reap; You have trod olives, but have no oil for rubbing, And grapes but have no wine to drink.

16: Yet you have kept the laws of Omri, And all the practices of the House of Ahab, And have followed what they devised. Therefore I will make you an object of horror And her inhabitants an object of hissing; And you shall bear the mockery of peoples.

IV. Outline

1-8. Yahweh’s lawsuit against Israel

    1. Micah’s introduction

    2-5. Oracle proper

        2. Yahweh introduces his case against Israel

        3. Assertion of Yahweh’s innocence

        4-5. Recollection of Yahweh’s kindness

    6-8. Micah’s lesson: Yahweh desires good behavior, not offerings

9-16. Yahweh’s punishments for Israel

    9a. Micah’s introduction

    9b-16. Oracle proper

        9b-12. Decision to punish the city for its sins

        13-15. Description of punishment

        16a. Continuous sinning

        16b. Future punishment

V. Comment

No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used

(see “Commentaries” page)

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Micah 5 – “Israel will Survive Exile”

Hebrew-English Text

I. Summary

Yahweh will raise up a leader from Bethlehem to bring in the exiles. Assyria will be conquered, the exiles will be strong and powerful, and Yahweh will punish the disobedient nations.

II. Photo

Israel will survive exile: “The remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of the many peoples, like a lion among beasts of the wild, like a fierce lion among flocks of sheep, which tramples wherever it goes and rends, with none to deliver.” (v. 7)

III. Select Verses

1-3: And you, O Bethlehem of Ephrath, Least among the clans of Judah, From you one shall come forth To rule Israel for Me — One whose origin is from of old, From ancient times. Truly, He will leave them [helpless] Until she who is to bear has borne; Then the rest of his countrymen Shall return to the children of Israel. He shall stand and shepherd By the might of the LORD, By the power of the name Of the LORD his God, And they shall dwell [secure]. For lo, he shall wax great To the ends of the earth!

4-5: And that shall afford safety. Should Assyria invade our land And tread upon our fortresses, We will set up over it seven shepherds, Eight princes of men, Who will shepherd Assyria’s land with swords, The land of Nimrod in its gates. Thus he will deliver [us] From Assyria, should it invade our land, And should it trample our country.

7-8: The remnant of Jacob Shall be among the nations, In the midst of the many peoples, Like a lion among beasts of the wild, Like a fierce lion among flocks of sheep, Which tramples wherever it goes And rends, with none to deliver. Your hand shall prevail over your foes, And all your enemies shall be cut down!

14: In anger and wrath Will I wreak retribution On the nations that have not obeyed.

IV. Outline

1-3. A new ruler

    1. A future ruler from Bethlehem

    2. The Israelites will return

    3. The great ruler will bring security

4-5. Eight rulers will conquer Assyria

6-14. Rebuke for the nations

    6. The exiles will not wait

    7-8. The exiles will be strong as lions

    9-14. Oracle: Yahweh will destroy disobedient nations and their idolatry

V. Comment

No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used

(see “Commentaries” page)

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Micah 4 – “A Prophecy for World Peace and Jerusalem”

Hebrew-English Text

I. Summary

The people and monarchy will return to Jerusalem and the nations will gather there for prosperity and peace. Jerusalem’s inhabitants will suffer in Babylon but will return victorious.

II. Photo

The pain of exile is necessary: “Writhe and scream, fair Zion, like a woman in travail! For now you must leave the city and dwell in the country — and you will reach Babylon. There you shall be saved, there the LORD will redeem you from the hands of your foes.” (v. 10)

III. Select Verses

1-2: In the days to come, The Mount of the LORD’s House shall stand Firm above the mountains; And it shall tower above the hills. The peoples shall gaze on it with joy, And the many nations shall go and shall say: “Come, Let us go up to the Mount of the LORD, To the House of the God of Jacob; That He may instruct us in His ways, And that we may walk in His paths.” For instruction shall come forth from Zion, The word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

3: Thus He will judge among the many peoples, And arbitrate for the multitude of nations, However distant; And they shall beat their swords into plowshares And their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not take up Sword against nation; They shall never again know war.

8: And you, O Migdal-eder, Outpost of Fair Zion, It shall come to you: The former monarchy shall return — The kingship of Fair Jerusalem.

10: Writhe and scream, Fair Zion, Like a woman in travail! For now you must leave the city And dwell in the country — And you will reach Babylon. There you shall be saved, There the LORD will redeem you From the hands of your foes.

11-13: Indeed, many nations Have assembled against you Who think, “Let our eye Obscenely gaze on Zion.” But they do not know The design of the LORD, They do not divine His intent: He has gathered them Like cut grain to the threshing floor. Up and thresh, Fair Zion! For I will give you horns of iron And provide you with hoofs of bronze, And you will crush the many peoples. You will devote their riches to the LORD, Their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.

IV. Outline

1a. The future temple in Jerusalem

1b-2. The nations will come to learn

3. Peace amongst the nations

4. Peace and prosperity for individuals

5. Each nation has its own god

6-8. The people and monarchy will return to Jerusalem

9-10. Pain and redemption in Babylon

11-14. Jerusalem’s conquerors will provide the city with its future riches

V. Comment

No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used

(see “Commentaries” page)

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Micah 3 – “Rebuke for Israel’s Leaders and Prophets”

Hebrew-English Text

I. Summary

Micah likens the leaders of Israel to cannibals, rebukes them for their corruption, and announces the end of prophecy.

II. Photo

Micah announces the end of prophecy: “The sun shall set on the prophets, and the day shall be darkened for them.” (v. 6)

III. Select Verses

2-3: But you hate good and love evil. You have devoured My people’s flesh; You have flayed the skin off them, And their flesh off their bones. And after tearing their skins off them, And their flesh off their bones, And breaking their bones to bits, You have cut it up as into a pot, Like meat in a caldron.

6: Assuredly, It shall be night for you So that you cannot prophesy, And it shall be dark for you So that you cannot divine; The sun shall set on the prophets, And the day shall be darkened for them.

8: But I, I am filled with strength by the spirit of the LORD, And with judgment and courage, To declare to Jacob his transgressions And to Israel his sin.

9-12: Hear this, you rulers of the House of Jacob, You chiefs of the House of Israel, Who detest justice And make crooked all that is straight, Who build Zion with crime, Jerusalem with iniquity! Her rulers judge for gifts, Her priests give rulings for a fee, And her prophets divine for pay; Yet they rely upon the LORD, saying, “The LORD is in our midst; No calamity shall overtake us.” Assuredly, because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field, And Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, And the Temple Mount A shrine in the woods.

IV. Outline

1-4. Rebuke for Israel’s leaders

    1. Confrontation with Israel’s leaders

    2-3. Condemnation

    4. Future punishment

5-7. Rebuke for the prophets

    5. Introduction

    6. Oracle: the end of prophecy

    7. Summary statement

    8. Micah’s divine justification for rebuke

9-12. Rebuke for Israel’s leaders

    9a. Confrontation with Israel’s leaders

    9b-11. Condemnation: financial and religious corruption

    12. Future punishment for Jerusalem

V. Comment

Micah 3 is composed of three individual units: rebuke for Israel’s leaders (vv. 1-4), rebuke for Israel’s prophets (vv. 5-8), and further rebuke for Israel’s leaders. Regarding the structure of Micah, Delbert R. Hillers writes: “Like some other prophetic books, Micah is made up of short poems. Whether a given poem is clear and pungent, or obscure and puzzling, it tends to be self-contained. It does not necessarily follow from what goes before or lead into what comes after. There is little obvious architecture to the book. Some units seem to have been grouped together on a catchword principle (e.g., the repeated initial ‘attah and ‘attah in chaps. 4 and 5)—a most superficial organizing principle!” (ABD IV:807)

VI. Works Used

(see “Commentaries” page)

Delbert R. Hillers, “Micah, Book of,” Anchor Bible Dictionary IV:807-809.

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