The Book of Joshua/Yahusha

YHWH speaks to Joshua/Yahusha after Moses/Mosheh's death and instructs him to cross the river Jordon with all the people.

This verse seems to be indicating the land their feet tread upon once they cross the river Jordon and not all the land their feet have trod upon since leaving Egypt.

The borders of the promised land are stated.

This verse seems to be referring to the time period of Joshua/Yahusha's life and not for all time or forever.

Why three (3) days?

Joshua/Yahusha tells the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh that they may leave their wives, children and possesions where they are but they must also cross the river Jordon and fight to secure the land for their brothers.

Rahab helps the spies

Joshua/Yahusha sends two spies out to scout out the land including Jericho.

The spies lodge at the house of a harlot named Rahab.

The king of Jericho hears about the spies.

Rahab hides the spies from the king of Jericho.

Rahab tells the spies how the land has heard what YHWH did at the Red Sea and what the children of Israel had done to the Amorites and the two kings Sihon and Og and that they were afraid of the children of Israel.

Rahab makes the spies swear an oath to protect her when the children of Israel come to take the city.

Joshua honors this oath in Joshua 6:22-25

They hid for three (3) days.

The two spies return to Joshua/Yahusha and give a positive report.

Israel crosses the Jordan

Joshua/Yahusha leaves Shittim and comes to the river Jordan.

Three (3) days.

The people santified themselves first.

YHWH tells Joshua/Yahusha that HE will be with him like HE was with Moses.

Seven (7) Canaanite tribes are listed.

'The ark of the covenant of the God of all the earth passes over before you into Jordan.'
Apparently, a very significant event.
A lot of potential symbolizism in this verse and/or event.

YHWH parts the river Jordan as soon as the priests carrying the ark of the covenant enter the water.
The people pass over on dry land.

The crossing of the river Jordan just like the crossing of the Red Sea.

YHWH instructs Joshua/Yahusha to circumcise the children of Israel/Yisra'ĕl a second time because the children born during the journey in the wilderness had not been circumsised.

YHWH told Joshua/Yahusha that he had rolled away the reproach of Egypt from them at Gilgal.

The children of Israel/Yisra'ĕl kept the passover at Gilgal in the plains of Jericho.

They observed passover on the fourteenth (14th) day at evening.

The manna stopped the day after passover.

Joshua/Yahusha is visited by an angel.

I wonder why you have to take your shoes off on sacred ground?
The priests also go into the holy place (temple) barefoot.
Is this a sandal covenant?

The taking and destruction of Jericho.
The concept of 'the ban' is detailed in this chapter. The Christian church tends to use the word, 'accursed' or the term 'devoted to destruction' for the Hebrew word, 'Charam'.
Devoted to Destruction (WWW.CRIVOICE.ORG) - (PDF COPY)

I noticed that Israel was told to keep the gold, silver, and bronze here at Jerico but at a different city in Joshua Chapter 9, Joshua is specifically told NOT to take the gold and silver, but rather to burn it and leave it. I suspect this depends on how the gold and silver were used. In that day, these metals would have been used either for money (coins) and/or religious artifacts. Since YHWH cannot accept that which is pagan or profane, the satanic symbology would have to be destroyed (erased). I believe the burning and abandonment of the gold, silver, and bronze was a form of cleansing ritual.

Burning these metals does not destroy them but rather destroys any pagan symbology associated with them, and returns these metals to their natural state, the shape of the earth around them.

By leaving the valuable metals behind, the Hebrews were destroying any memory of how these metals were once used. A stranger mining the area in the future would have no idea of how these metals were used in the past and would be free to take them.

This idea could also be used to explain the action taken against the other cities detailed in Joshua Chapter 9. Perhaps those cities had no symbology on their coins or religous artifacts, if they even had them at all.

YHWH specifically says it is okay to take the precious metals. Contrast this with Deuteronomy 7:25.

Joshua curses Jericho.

The Curse of Jericho  (WWW.THEBIBLE.NET)  (2012/1027)

An altar built in mount Ebal

Why the commandment to not let a body hang in a tree after sunset?

The Gibeonites'deception.
This is a significant event.
Joshua is going make a pact with the Gibeonites that will come up again in the future.

I wonder what would have happened to the Gibeonites if they had been honest about who they were?
YHWH had already told Joshua to destroy all the inhabitants of the land and to not even take their gold and silver but rather to burn it.

Gibeon is going to make pact with Israel that will be brought up again when Saul tries to kill them in the future. 2 Samuel 21:1-2

According to Joshua 10:2 '...Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.', so this was a significant event.

YHWH was very upset that Joshua made a major decision without counsulting with HIM first. This is a re-occuring sequence in Scripture. Moses was kept from entering the promised land because he did not give praise to YHWH for bringing the water out of the rock.

The sun stands still
Conquest of the south

The Gibeonites were calling on Joshua to honor the pact he made with them.
Joshua defended the Gibeonites against their enemies.
YHWH told Joshua the he would defeat the enemies of the Gibeonites before Joshua went into battle.
I find this interesting as the Gibeonites were originally slated to be destroyed and they deceived Joshua into making a pact with them in the first place. The Gibeonites were spared destruction because of the pact and were made subjects of the Israelites (hewers of wood and carriers of water). I have wondered what if the Gibeonites and not deceived Joshua, told the truth, and begged to be spared? Would YHWH have repealed HIS judgment? Now, in these verses, YHWH is showing support for Joshua defending the people HE originally slated for destruction.

YHWH stops the sun and moon for Joshua/Yahusha.
Right up there with the parting of the Red Sea.
This is most definitely a significant event!
Reference is made to the book of Jasher.

Sunset is evening.

I wonder why nations or people are referred to in the feminine gender? This is the only place in this chapter where a feminine pronoun is attached to a king or kingdom. I have also noticed where religions are also referred to in the feminine tense in prophesy.

Conquest of the north.

Jabin/Yabin king of Hazor, Jobab/Yobab king of Madon, the king of Shimron, the king of Achshaph/Akshaph, the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth/Kinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west, and to the Canaanite/Kena'anite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite/Yebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite/Hiwwite under Hermon in the land of Mizpah/Mizpeh/Mitspah came together with horses and chariots at the waters of Merom/Mĕrom to fight against Israel/Yisra'ĕl.

YHWH tells Joshua/Yahusha not to be afraid as tomorrow HE was going to deliver them up to be slain by Israel/Yisra'ĕl.

It appears that the word hough, in this context, does not mean hamstrung but rather it means gelded.

Israel/Yisra'ĕl meets them in battle, chases them to Sidon/Zidon/Tsidon, Misrephothmaim/Mitspeh Mayim and to the valley of Mizpah/Mizpeh/Mitspah and eastward and kills them all leaving none remaining.

It appears that the word hough, in this context, does not mean hamstrung but rather it means gelded.

Joshua/Yahusha takes Hazor/Hatsor and kills the king because he used to be the king of all those kingdoms.

Joshua/Yahusha burns Hazor/Hatsor.

The Hivite/Hiwwite and the inhabitants of Gibeon/Gib'on were the only ones to make peace with Israel/Yisra'ĕl.

YHWH had hardened the hearts of all but the Hivite/Hiwwite and the inhabitants of Gibeon/Gib'on so all the others would be destroyed.

The Anakim were giants. I think these people were the main targets of YHWH's wrath since HE promised Abraham the land.

The Anakims were descendants of Anak: a race of giants
There were still Anakims/Anaqim left in Gaza/Azzah, Gath and Ashdod/Ashdod. Does this verse and the next indicate that Gaza/Azzah, Gath and Ashdod/Ashdod are NOT part of the land of the children of Israel?

After Joshua took the whole land, he gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to the divisions by their tribes.

This verse mentions the remnant of the giants.

Details of the land allocation from Moses to the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.

Details about the distribution of the holy land to the children of Israel.

Mentions Og and the giants.

Mentions the Geshurites and the Maachathites who the Israelites failed to drive out of the land.

Details about the land that Reuben inherited.

Details about the land that Gad inherited.

Details about the land that Manasseh inherited.

Land west of the Jordan

Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed the land east of the Jordan river to 9 1/2 of the tribes.

Caleb asks for and receives the mountain at Gilgal for an inheritance.  The places was called Kirjatharba/Kirjath-Arba/Kirjath-ha-ArbaQiryath Arba before but was renamed to Hebron/Hebron when it was given to Caleb.

Mentions the Anakims.

Mentions the Anakims.

The borders of Judah
Judah/Yahudah's land inheritance is detailed in this chapter. I find it interesting to note that you do not hear people talking about this chapter very often.

'The wilderness of Zin is just below the southernmost shore of, what today is called, the Dead Sea.'

'Depending on the map, Kadeshbarnea is well below (south of) the southernmost shore of, what today is called, the Dead Sea.'

Speaks about 'the Jebusite' being Jerualem. Talks about the valley of the giants.

I think the city of Hebron was a main city of the Anakim.

The Anakim

Speaks about the Jebusites being the inhabitants of Jerusalem and how Judah could not drive them out.  This verse also speaks of them living there "unto this day".

Speaks about the apportioning of land to the children of Joseph, Manasseh/Menashsheh and Ephraim/Ephrayim.

They did NOT drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites lived among the Ephraimites and 'serve under tribute'.

The borders of Ephraim and Manasseh/Menashsheh
Assigning the inherited land

The lineage of Manasseh/Menashsheh is detailed.

The land inheritance of Manasseh/Menashsheh and Ephraim/Ephrayim is detailed. Also included is a case of a man who had no sons but only daughters and how they were given an inheritance according to the laws of Moses.

The land where the Canaanite/Kena'anite were NOT driven out is detailed.

There was a dispute among the children of Joseph regarding their inheritance.  I think Ephraim/Ephrayim was the one complaining but the Scriptures are a little vague on this.

Joshua says that the children of Joseph will drive out the Canaanite/Kena'anite from their land.

The land of Benjamin
The children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there.
Seven tribes remained which had not yet received their inheritance.
Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before YHWH and divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.

valley of the giants

This chapter is the end of the dividing of the land according to the tribal inheritances.

Joshua, son of Nun, is given a land inheritance.

Joshua, son of Nun, asks for and is given Timnathserah in mount Ephraim.

This is a fulfillment of a prophecy made by Jocob in Genesis 49:13 that Zebulun 'shall dwell at the haven of the sea'.

Cities of refuge.

In the book of Numbers chapter 25, Phinehas kills an unnamed man of Israel who went into a tent with a Midianitish woman named Cozbia, by stabbing them both through the belly with a javelin.
Later in the chapter she is named and her father Zur who was an important man from an important Midian family.
Interesting that they don't name the man of Israel.

Joshua's address to Israel
I noticed how YHWH is still telling HIS people to stay apart from the rest of the world. Modern religions seemed so intent on evangelizing the message they have become ensnared with Pagan and Heathen customs.

Joshua tells the Hebrew people to follow the written law of Moses.  No mention is made of any oral or spoken law.  According to Jewish tradition, the 'oral law' would have been in existence at this time.

Joshua reminds the people that YHWH has kept HIS promises and that if the people transgress the covenant of YHWH he will destroy them and they will perish from off the good land.
This prophecy was fulfilled when the Assyrians and Babylonians drove them into exile.

Joshua/Yahusha gathers all the tribes of Israel/Yisra'ĕl to Shechem/Shekem.

Terah/Terah is identified as the father of Abraham/Abrahim and Nahor/Nachor/Nahor as Abraham/Abrahim's brother.
Abraham/Abrahim's brother father and brother served other gods.
I find it interesting that people still remembered the great flood in Joshua's day.

YHWH gave mount Seir/Sĕ'ir to Esau/Esaw.

YHWH sent hornets ahead of the children of Israel/Yisra'ĕl when they faced the Canaanite tribes.

Joshua/Yahusha makes a covenant with the people to obey YHWH.

The people still remember the great flood, even after 500 years in Egypt and 40 years in the wilderness.

Joshua made a covenant with the people.
What does it mean to 'set a statute and an ordinance'?

The tradition of stones, or pillars, or cairns serving as a witness is interesting to me. I wonder if their use is merely symbolic of something eternal or if the earth is more alive than we are aware. YHWH spoke of the earth crying out over spilt blood or attrocities being committed. Mankind was created from the earth (every other creation was spoken into existance).

The people depart from Shechem/Shekem to go to the land of their inheritance.

Joshua/Yahusha dies at 110 years old.

Joshua/Yahusha is buried in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash.

Israel/Yisra'ĕl served YHWH all the days of Joshua/Yahusha, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua.

The bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel/Yisra'ĕl brought up out of Egypt, were buried in Shechem/Shekem, in the parcel of ground which Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem/Shekem. for an hundred pieces of silver

Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son, which was given to in mount Ephraim.