Hebrew-English Text

I. Summary

The Israelites are circumcised at the hill of foreskins, which is renamed Gilgal. The people celebrate Passover and Joshua is approached by the general of Yahweh’s army.

 

II. Photo

The Israelites are circumcised: “Joshua made flint knives and the Israelites were circumcised at the hill of foreskins.” (v. 3)

 

III. Select Verses

1: When all the kings of the Amorites on the western side of the Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites near the Sea, heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the sake of the Israelites until they crossed over, they lost heart, and no spirit was left in them because of the Israelites.

2-3:  At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and proceed with a second circumcision of the Israelites.”  So Joshua had flint knives made, and the Israelites were circumcised at Gibeath-haaraloth.

10-12: Encamped at Gilgal, in the steppes of Jericho, the Israelites offered the passover sacrifice on the fourteenth day of the month, toward evening. On the day after the passover offering, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the country, unleavened bread and parched grain.  On that same day, when they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased. The Israelites got no more manna; that year they ate of the yield of the land of Canaan.

13-15. Once, when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing before him, drawn sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and asked him, “Are you one of us or of our enemies?”  He replied, “No, I am captain of the LORD’s host. Now I have come!” Joshua threw himself face down to the ground and, prostrating himself, said to him, “What does my lord command his servant?” The captain of the LORD’s host answered Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.

 

IV. Outline

1. Fear amongst the Amorites and Canaanites

2. Yahweh’s call for circumcision

3. Joshua circumcises the people

4-7. History of Israel’s circumcision since Egypt

8. The people rest

9. The etymology of Gilgal

10-12. The passover and cessation of manna

13-15. Joshua is greeted by Yahweh’s general

V. Comment

No comment today. Stay tuned.

 

VI. Works Used

(see “Commentaries” page)

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Hebrew-English Text

I. Summary

Twelve stones from the Jordan are set up at Gilgal as a remembrance for the miraculous crossing of the Jordan. Joshua also sets up twelve stones within the Jordan itself.

 

II. Photo

The Jordan returns to normal: “As soon as the priests who bore the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant came up out of the Jordan, and the feet of the priests stepped onto the dry ground, the waters of the Jordan resumed their course, flowing over its entire bed as before.” (v. 18)

 

III. Select Verses

4-7:  Joshua summoned the twelve men whom he had designated among the Israelites, one from each tribe; and Joshua said to them, “Walk up to the Ark of the LORD your God, in the middle of the Jordan, and each of you lift a stone onto his shoulder — corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel.  This shall serve as a symbol among you: in time to come, when your children ask, ‘What is the meaning of these stones for you?’  you shall tell them, ‘The waters of the Jordan were cut off because of the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant; when it passed through the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ And so these stones shall serve the people of Israel as a memorial for all time.”

9: Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, at the spot where the feet of the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant had stood; and they have remained there to this day.

14:  On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, so that they revered him all his days as they had revered Moses.

18: As soon as the priests who bore the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant came up out of the Jordan, and the feet of the priests stepped onto the dry ground, the waters of the Jordan resumed their course, flowing over its entire bed as before.

 

IV. Outline

1-3. Yahweh’s command to gather twelve stones from the Jordan

4-5. Joshua relates the command to the tribal leaders

6-7. Joshua’s rationale

8. The tribal leaders act out the command

9. Joshua sets up stones within the Jordan

10-11. The people and ark complete the crossing

12-13. Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh crossed first

14. Joshua’s veneration equals Moses’

15-16. Yahweh’s command for the priests to leave the Jordan

17. Joshua relates the command

18. The waters return after the priests leave

19. Calendrical statement; Encampment at Gilgal

20. Joshua sets up the twelve stones at Gilgal

21-24. Joshua’s rationale

 

V. Comment

No comment today. Stay tuned.

 

VI. Works Used

(see “Commentaries” page)

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Hebrew-English Text

I. Summary

Yahweh promises to exalt Joshua in the eyes of the people. The Jordan river is halted and the people cross on dry land.

 

II. Photo

The priests get their feet wet: “As soon as the bearers of the Ark reached the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the Ark dipped into the water at its edge, the waters coming down from upstream piled up in a single heap a great way off.” (vv. 15b-16a)

 

III. Select Verses

5: And Joshua said to the people, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will perform wonders in your midst.”

7: The LORD said to Joshua, “This day, for the first time, I will exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so that they shall know that I will be with you as I was with Moses.

9-10: And Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come closer and listen to the words of the LORD your God.  By this,” Joshua continued, “you shall know that a living God is among you, and that He will dispossess for you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.”

14-17:  When the people set out from their encampment to cross the Jordan, the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant were at the head of the people.  Now the Jordan keeps flowing over its entire bed throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the bearers of the Ark reached the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the Ark dipped into the water at its edge, the waters coming down from upstream piled up in a single heap a great way off, at Adam, the town next to Zarethan; and those flowing away downstream to the Sea of the Arabah (the Dead Sea) ran out completely. So the people crossed near Jericho.  The priests who bore the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant stood on dry land exactly in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed over on dry land, until the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan.

 

IV. Outline

1. Waiting at the Jordan

2-4. The leaders’ order to follow the ark

5. Joshua’s order to purify

6. Joshua orders the ark to advance

7-8. Yahweh promises to exalt Joshua in the Jordan

9-13. Joshua predicts the stopping of the water

14-17. The people cross the Jordan on dry land while the ark waits in the middle

 

V. Comment

No comment today. Stay tuned.

 

VI. Works Used

(see “Commentaries” page)

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Hebrew-English Text

 

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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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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