A Journey through the Bible with Tiglath

33. Joshua Chapter 2 to Chapter 24.

The Book of Joshua contains the latter part of Joshua’s life, until his death in

Chapter 24, which is the last chapter in the book. For the most part the Book

describes all the fighting and slaughter that went on as the Israelites took

possession of the Promised Land. It is often overlooked that Palestine was

already occupied by many tribes and kingdoms when the Israelites

approached from the desert. In Chapter 2 we learn how Joshua sends out two

spies to ‘view the land, even Jericho’. Jericho, the city of palms. was the first

great obstacle that they had to overcome. Read Chapter 2 in its entirety, it is a

jolly good story.

Having learned that there are spies about the King of Jericho has a search

made for them. They were lodging in the house of Rahab. We learn how

Rahab befriends them — we also learn why. It is because the whole city is

very nervous of the approaching horde. Rahab is determined to save her

family and extracts a promise that if she helps the spies no hurt will come to

her household. The promise is made and verse 24 describes how Rahab’s

house is marked to show that it must not be attacked. It is interesting that

when the spies left Rahab they were let down to the outside of the city from

her house which was built into the walls. We can compare this story with the

way in which Paul escaped from Damascus in verse 25 of the 9th Chapter of

the Acts of the Apostles.

After hiding from those searching for them the spies return and report to

Joshua. in Chapter 3 the Israelites carrying the Ark of the Covenant with them

crossed the Jordan whose waters Joshua told them would divide to let

them through. In Chapter 4 twelve

stones are taken from the river and set

up as a memorial of the crossing. In

Chapter 5 we read of the fear of the

Canaanites as the Israelites approached.

At this point every Israelite male is

circumcised Circumcision is described

in Leviticus Chapter 12. It was

supposed to be a safeguard to health.

Chapter 6 is fascinating. It tells how

Jericho shuts itself in and how the

Israelites march round it for six days

and what happens then. Once the city

was open to attack the Israelites rushed

in and burned it capturing all the silver

and gold. This treasure was consecrated unto the Lord. The people were not allowed to keep any of it, on pain of death. Joshua made sure Rahab and her family

were safe by sending in the two spies to Bring them out of the ruins.

As I wrote earlier, much of this

book describes conquest and I am

sure you will want to read on to

Chapter 24. Before he died Joshua

assembled the twelve tribes and

reminded them of how good God

had been to them. He also

reminded them of the covenant - ‘I

shall be your God and ye shall be

my people’. Also, before he died, Joshua exhorted the people not to be led

astray and worship false gods. If they do God will turn against them. To

remind the people of all that he had told them Joshua set up a great stone

(verses 26 and 27). He then passed away at a very great age.

At about the same time Eleazar, the son of Aaron, died. He was a priest. We

now begin our journey through the Book of Judges where we shall meet

Judah, Deborah, Barak, Gideon and many other notable Israelites culminating

in the story of Samson.

The Capture of Jericho

Joshua’s Parting Advice