“I need a good lead man, where can I find one with the credentials so that he could emulate his predecessor? Moses’ steps are wide spread, he’s hailed as: ‘one whom AbbaJah spoke to face-to-face. Never has a prophet such as Moses arisen in Israel.”
Moses had died, and Joshua is there available in the year 1473 B.C.E. The scene that Joshua faced is most dramatic and thrilling. What better man could there be for this than Joshua? He had been with Moses as his assistant right from the start there in Egypt. Furthermore, some 80 years later AbbaJah had already approved Joshua as successor to Moses.
The Israelites, encamped on the Plains of Moab, are poised for their entry into Canaan, the Promised Land. Numerous petty kingdoms inhabit that territory on the other side of the Jordan, each with its own private army. An American president once said, “A nation divided against itself cannot stand”. (Abraham Lincoln)
In spite of the fact that they were divided, they had a formidable and undefeated enemy poised and armed against them, the armies of AbbaJah. Their being divided had weakened them already, through years of corrupt domination by Egypt.
This is what Joshua faced, but was this barrier insurmountable? To the nation of Israel it seemed to be so, but looks are deceiving. Sure there were the many fortified walled cities, such as Jericho, Ai, Hazor, and Lachish. They had to be taken if the land is to be subdued. A critical time lies ahead. Decisive battles must be fought and won, with AbbaJah entering in with powerful miracles in behalf of his people, in order to fulfill his promise to settle them in the land.
Unquestionably, these stirring events, so outstanding in AbbaJah’s dealings with his people, will have to be recorded, and that by an eyewitness. Who was the eyewitness?
(Joshua 1:1-6) It was Joshua who had besides the many documents left behind by the other eyewitnesses, his predecessor, Moses, plus he had Moses’ God, AbbaJah:
“Moses my servant is dead; and now get up, cross this Jordan, you and all this people. Go forth into the land that I am giving to the sons of Israel. You will do plenty of walking from henceforth, but wherever your foot will tread I shall certainly give it. Did I not promise it to Moses that he will possess from the wilderness and this Lebanon to the great river, the Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun, that is to be your territory?” Joshua is thinking while he’s listening:
“Wow, that’s a lot of territory it’s an immense body of water separating Europe and Africa, with our promised land to its east. I think I’ll give it a name, I’ll call it Mediterranean, meaning ‘in the Middle of the Land,’ for it is practically landlocked.’” Joshua is interrupted by the voice of AbbaJah:
There’s no need to panic or worry nobody will take a firm stand before you all the days of your life. I read your thoughts, and I like your name Mediterranean—make it so. I’ll never desert you, because just as I proved to be with Moses I shall prove to be with you. Be courageous and strong, for you are the one who will cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their forefathers.”
Joshua was courageous and strong, in spite of Moses’ need to remind him. Due to the magnitude of what is ahead of him he adds this advice; “the book of the law should not depart from you. You must read in it, (or have it available in your memory) to read in an undertone day and night.” The reason is obvious, to make your way successful, and in order for you to act wisely.”
(Joshua 1:7-9) Joshua’s regular reading of the Scriptures would help him to keep clearly in mind the specific commandments that AbbaJah had given to His people. Joshua also needed to understand how AbbaJah had dealt with His servants under various circumstances. As he read statements of God’s purpose, it was important for him to think about his own responsibility in connection with that purpose.
AbbaJah directed that any who later served as future kings over His people was, at the beginning of his kingship, to make a copy of God’s Law, basing it on the copy that was kept by the priests. Making a copy, or copying it verbatim would result in not mere memorizing its contents, but the objective was that “he may learn to fear Jehovah his God” and that “his heart may not exalt itself above his brothers.” This required that he meditate deeply on what he was reading. (Joshua 2:1-5) Joshua sent two men secretly as spies, saying: 
“Go, take a look at the land and Jericho.” So they went and came to the house of a prostitute woman named Rahab.
It was AbbaJah’s divine guidance that led those spies to Rahab’s house, just as angelic guidance today often leads Jehovah’s Witnesses to persons praying for spiritual help!
“The eyes of Jehovah are toward the righteous ones, and his ears are toward their cry for help.”
To protect the Israelite spies, Rahab used a weapon at her immediate disposal—her tongue. She misdirected the king’s messengers:
“Bring out the men that came to you, and that have come into your house. They are spies sent to search out all the land.”
“Yes, the men did come to me, and I did not know from where they were. I waited for a while until the closing of the gate by dark that the men went out. I have no idea where the men have gone. Hurry up, chase after them quickly, for you might overtake them since the gate is closed they’re still in the city.” Meantime the woman took the two men and concealed them. So, besides misdirecting the messengers, Rahab feigned total ignorance and gave not the slightest hint that her sympathies were with the Israelites.
Even before Israel crossed the Jordan River, AbbaJah directed attention to the city of Jericho. Joshua dispatched two spies, representing all Israel, but why spy on Jericho? It was because of its strategic position; though the city was small and was no match for the army of Israel, it commanded the approaches to Canaan. The presence of the spies had a hidden perk; it afforded some individuals in Jericho an opportunity to identify themselves clearly as being for or against AbbaJah.
Was Rahab lying? Consider the subterfuge—it evidently served to discourage any search of her house. Certainly, it took firm faith in AbbaJah’s granting success to Israel for Rahab to take a stand against the king of Jericho. Such action, if discovered, could doubtless have cost Rahab her life, besides, we are not required to divulge information to an enemy when the welfare of our brothers are at stake. So, Rahab need not lie to protect her brothers.
What kind of woman was Rahab? The men did not come to her for immoral purposes, and neither was that indicated to them that she had that in mind, no, she had information and wanted further clarification from these two spies. Upon receiving the information, that would lead her to becoming a worshiper of Jehovah.
(Joshua 2:8-11) Before they could lie down, she quietly crept to her roof room where they were hiding, but her stealth was not for the purpose to solicit, it was to obtain information that would benefit her and her family.
“I know some things about you men, because you are notorious. We have heard how AbbaJah dried up the waters of the Red Sea and what this warrior did to the two kings of the Amorites, on the other side of the Jordan, namely, Sihon and Og. Please, choose me, and my family to be on your side when we got to hear of these episodes then our hearts began to melt.”
| Reports do circulate, because how can it be kept secret, the exploits of a God who leads and fights for his people with a strong arm and a stretched out hand. The news did spread fast—news of an enslaved nation being set free. The Red Sea had parted, making it possible for these former slaves to walk across on dry land. But the pursuing Egyptian army, seeking to recapture them, was caught in the seabed when the waters came back together. The entire military host perished. For about 40 years thereafter little was heard about the freed nation, Israel. Now, enter Joshua as leader of this same victorious God, Jehovah. The news reached Canaan that the strong Amorite kingdoms east of the Jordan had fallen before the Israelites. How did the peoples west of the Jordan react? The Bible quotes a woman of Jericho as saying to two young Israelite spies: “The fright of you has fallen upon us, and . . . all the inhabitants of the land have become disheartened. |
| Could a woman be declared righteous? Possibly so, but could a prostitute woman be declared righteous by AbbaJah? Now that’s impossible one would say. Yeah but if a man can be declared righteous by works and not by faith alone, then why can’t a woman be? That depends too upon the right kind of works and of the right type, namely the way Rahab, the harlot did after she had received the messengers hospitably and sent them out by another way? (Jas 2:24,25) |
James declares that faith without works is dead. Rahab had faith and she demonstrated her faith by her works. Her faith was not a mere expression of words. Rahab had already acted in harmony with it. How so? First of all, she received the spies into her house, knowing that they were Israelites. In those times, a harlot’s house often served also as an inn. Do you see her faith in action by her works? She was under no obligation to receive the spies since she knew full well that the inhabitants of Jericho hated the Israelites. It took faith for Rahab to receive the men into her house.
(Joshua 2:12-21) Her faith was to be rewarded, Rahab pleaded, not only for her own life, but also for the lives of all those making up the house of her father. To assure her that all would be preserved alive, she requested a trustworthy sign.
This sign proved to be a solemn oath, guaranteeing that everything she had asked for would be granted her. Her house was on a side of the wall, so it was on the wall that she was dwelling. There was a window, through which she had the men descend using a rope tied to her window. She was instructed to tie a scarlet thread to this window. Scarlet, being the color of life-sustaining blood, this thread could well represent the arrangement under which Rahab and all taking refuge in her house could be preserved alive. A third condition was that safety could be found only inside Rahab’s house. If any of her relatives were to venture into the streets during the time of the conquest of Jericho, they could not expect to be spared from execution.
| “Look! We will return and. This cord of scarlet thread you should tie in the window, by which you have had us descend, and your father and your mother and your brothers and all the household of your father you should gather to yourself into the house. The noise will be deafening, and the reason for panic, but don’t panic! Stay put! Anyone who goes out of the doors of your house into the open, he will die! Plus for you there will be the showdown of whether you decided to report this matter of ours. If you do tell on us we have no need to protect you.” |
Joshua is not the new kid in town, but he is new at the game of leader and his ability is yet to be tested. The test is about to come, AbbaJah says to Joshua:
“This day I shall start to make you great in the eyes of all Israel, that they may know that just as I proved to be with Moses I shall prove to be with you.”
(Joshua 3:8-13) you should command the priests carrying the ark: ‘As soon as you have come as far as the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you should stand still in the riverbed. There they were the priests carrying the ark just before passing over the Jordan, and at the instant that the carriers of the Ark came as far as the Jordan and the feet of the priests carrying the Ark were dipped in the edge of the waters (now the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest), then the waters descending from above began to stand still.
“That’ll do it, a Miracle!”
“By this you will know that a living God is in your midst.”
Meanwhile the priests carrying the ark kept standing there in the middle of a torrent, immovable on dry ground as all Israel were passing over they too on dry ground, until the whole nation had completed passing over the Jordan.
There were to be selected twelve men, one for each tribe of the twelve tribes of Israel. In case a youngster in time should ask, why do you have these stones? Now is a chance for a true story, and youngsters love to hear a story. You answer: (Once upon a time…)
(Joshua 4:1-7) Take up from the very middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood motionless, twelve stones.
“It will serve as a monument for time indefinite of what happened there at the Jordan River, at flood stage, when the Israelites crossed over on dry ground and without getting their feet wet.”
“12 men were to pass ahead of the ark each one to carry a stone upon his shoulder, and when he gets to the place he deposits his stone—twelve of them to correspond to the number of the twelve tribes of Israel in case sons should ask in time to come, saying, ‘Why do you have these stones?’ ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off from before the ark when it passed through the waters, and these stones must serve as a memorial to the sons of Israel to time indefinite.’”
You watch your young children as the story unfolds, eyes widen as you climax your true story of AbbaJah’s exploits while making Joshua a great leader for Israel. What a name AbbaJah makes for himself. What great power tempered with love is displayed.
Our kind God wanted their trip to be successful. What was needed? Dry ground! Dry it was, on dry land Israel passed over this Jordan. It was also by AbbaJah’s power that he dried up the waters of the Jordan from before them until they had passed over. It was exactly the same as when AbbaJah had performed a similar feat at the Red Sea when he dried it up from before Israel until they had passed over the dry seabed. These remarkable events were in order that all the peoples of the earth may know AbbaJah’s hand, that it is strong; and in order that every living thing may indeed fear Jehovah our God always.’”
(Joshua 4:14-18) On that day AbbaJah made Joshua great in the eyes of all Israel. They began to fear him just as they had feared Moses. Then AbbaJah said to Joshua:
“Command the priests carrying the ark that they go up out of the Jordan.” And it came about that when the priests carrying the ark came up out of the middle of the river bed, and the soles of their feet of were drawn out onto the dry ground, then the waters began returning to their place and went overflowing all its banks as formerly.
This event, faith strengthening as it is, we read about it thanks to Joshua and others who had the events recorded. We can hear of it, we can read about it, and we can recount to our children, our grandchildren, and our great gand’s the activity that Jehovah has performed in their days, in the days of long ago. (Ps 44:1)
If an Israelite male felt some reason to feel a silent guilt, this would dominate his thinking. It reminds one of the Psalm, “From presumptuous acts hold your servant back; do not let them dominate me. In that case I shall be complete, and I shall have remained innocent from much transgression.” (Psalm 19:13)
(Joshua 5:1-9) Some presumptuous acts could cause my heart to beat me up, so this entreaty is an appeal to AbbaJah to hold me back from acting on impulse. Whatever the cause for reproach, it could vary according to circumstances. For example for an Israelite male to be uncircumcised during the period of the Law covenant would be cause for reproach. Thus when all the males born during the wilderness journey were finally circumcised just after the crossing of the Jordan, AbbaJah stated:
“Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you.” Did a male relief? Could he say: “at last, my cause for reproach has been lifted?” Most of these males had not experienced life in Egypt. Nevertheless, they had evidence that the Egyptians practiced circumcision, this may mean that now the Egyptians would have no basis for browbeating Israel because so many of its males were uncircumcised.
Recall that Jehovah had established this practice with Abraham. For him circumcision was “a sign of the covenant” between Jehovah and Abraham’s seed. (Ge 17:9-11)
Now, by this circumcision of the new generation that had grown up in the wilderness (the older generation having died there), circumcision could point to a reaffirming of their covenant relationship with God.
The 40 years of wandering having ended, God was also showing them his favor; he had introduced them into the Promised Land and would now enable them to conquer it. Therefore any past Egyptian taunts because of what may have seemed to the Egyptians to be AbbaJah’s inability to bring Israel into a land of their own were now proved false.
What miracle occurred every day of the week, except one that lasted for forty years? The miracle was about to end. Just as suddenly as it appeared when Israel exclaimed, “what is it?” Or, “Manna,” it would just as suddenly disappear.
When the Jews began to eat some of the yield of the land the day after the Passover, unfermented cakes, and roasted grains, on this same day, then the manna ceased on the following day. Manna was gone forever, just when they had eaten some of the yield of the land. (Joshua 5:10-12)
Joshua happened to be by Jericho, and as he raised his eyes suddenly, he noticed there was a man standing in front of him with his drawn sword in his hand. Joshua walks up to him and said:
“Are you for us or for our adversaries?” To this he said:
“No, but I—as prince of the army of Jehovah I have now come.”
“What are you saying?”
“Draw your sandals from off your feet, because the place on which you are standing is holy.” Without hesitation, Joshua did just so.
Imagine Joshua’s surprise when the stranger revealed his identity as prince of the army of AbbaJah. It’s little wonder that Joshua fell on his face before this exalted representative. It was no doubt the prehuman Jesus who would later become “Messiah the Leader.” Do the scriptures support this claim? Yes it does, the seventy weeks of year’s prophecy of Daniel. Take note of the words of the angel Gabriel to Daniel, the prophet:
There are seventy weeks that have been determined upon your people and upon your holy city, in order to terminate the transgression, and to finish off sin, and to make atonement for error, and to imprint a seal upon vision and prophet, while anointing the Holy of Holies. (Daniel 9:24)
(Joshua 6:1-9) Joshua made thorough preparation for Jericho’s siege. The “prince of the army of Jehovah,” no doubt the prehuman Logos, appeared to Joshua, reassuring him. And Joshua humbly acknowledged that One’s presence. Now at the scene of battle AbbaJah has called for strange tactics to be performed once each day for six days, but meanwhile Jericho was tightly shut up because of Israel’s invasion. There was no one going out and no one entering. AbbaJah addresses Joshua:
“See, I have given Jericho, its king, and the valiant mighty men into your hand. You men! Fall in! To the march; hut two, three, four—keep in step—you must march round the city, going round the city once each day. That is the way you should do for six days.”
Accompanying the troops marching will be priests carrying seven rams’ horns, before the Ark. This is to continue for the entire six days—once around—stop—do it again six times.
It was unnerving to the city dwellers to watch them with well-ordered purpose. What goes around comes around means they saw the soldiers, ark, and priests with horn blowing until the last one rounded the corner. Then—the silence followed by waiting. Waiting for what—what are they waiting for? Waiting after the silence that is deafening—the marchers up front, marchers bringing up the rear, the priests blowing the horns with the ark in between the procession. They are waiting for what went around to come around waiting can be a long time especially when you’re waiting for something to happen.
“Again, what are you waiting for?”
“I do not know, you tell me, you are the one that knows.”
“On the seventh day you will see marching, and more marching round the city, not once, but seven times and the priests should blow the horns just following the seventh time.”
You’re going to be there, and you are going to see it—the shout accompanied by a great war cry, and the wall of the city must fall down flat!”
How those Jerichoites must shudder! No need for them to get up ‘early, as soon as the dawn ascends—who likes to awaken early, in fact who did any good sleeping through the night while watching and waiting to see the outcome of this strange tactic? Does not everything good or bad happen early in the morning?
How many do the shouting? There are soldiers going in front, and soldiers bringing up the rear, plus the priests blowing the horns and the Kohathites carrying the ark.
A great war cry thunders forth. The earth shakes and—miracle of miracles—Jericho’s walls fall down flat. The Israelites obediently rush forward to destroy every living thing in the city. Nothing should be left, and so they burn it with fire.
But look! One small section of the outer wall is still standing, and in its window is a scarlet cord. Rahab and her father’s family are led out unharmed. In time, Rahab’s faith is further rewarded in that she becomes wife to the Israelite Salmon and an ancestress of Jesus Christ.
Rahab is never to be forgotten, and for some reason we are reminded of her former profession, but Rahab the harlot is honored to be an ancestress of Jesus, because within just three generations, Her son Boaz, her great grandson Jesse, and her great-great-grandson David establish the legal line of descent to Jesus.
(Joshua 6:26-7:5) Joshua oath “Cursed may the man be before Jehovah who gets up and does build this city, Jericho.
(Joshua 7:1-14) To define committing an act of unfaithfulness: It means stealing, or theft, because to take an item or items that are condemned means these goods are to be destroyed, and since the one delivering the ?? is entitled to ?? The offender is thinking all along:
“I see, I want, my eyes are full of covetousness so I take, and hide. I must secretly admire, fondle, and play with these items, that means my conscience is working, but in the wrong way.” But why the deceit, the covert meeting in the dark boon docks—an abandoned warehouse? Achan took some of these very things. It is no secret to AbbaJah who sees everything. His anger grows hot. He shows it by removing his protection since we they have broken his laws. Three thousand men go up and strike Ai. The men took to flight before Ai. Thirty-six were killed. Because of this defeat the heart of the people began to melt and became as water. Something is wrong here, why the defeat, Joshua complains?
“Oh, why did you bring this people all the way across the Jordan, just to give us into the hand of the Amorites for them to destroy us? We should have stayed on the other side of the Jordan! Oh, AbbaJah, what can I say after Israel has turned his back before his enemies?
“Get up, you! Why are you falling upon your face? Israel has sinned. They have overstepped my covenant that I laid as a command upon them by taking some of the things devoted to destruction and have also stolen and are keeping it secret. They think no one knows, but I know where it is hidden among their own articles.”
This comes as a revelation to Joshua that “a disgraceful folly” had been committed in Israel. Who did that who is the guilty one? It took some time and through process of elimination Achan of the tribe of Judah was identified as the offender. From the spoil of Jericho he had stolen a “good-looking” Babylonian garment, as well as gold and silver.
It was covert, and by night with no need to meet in a warehouse it was right there in their own dwelling all of them keeping the secret. That made the entire family accessories to a crime against AbbaJah. Did you notice how AbbaJah singled out Achan by process of elimination? All of Israel, tribe by tribe until Judah got picked, then family-by-family, household-by-household, until Achan alone is picked. Considering the size of Israel, this process of purging to eliminate must have taken some time, enough to impress upon their minds that nothing can be hidden, and that AbbaJah sees ever
ything. Finally, imagine Achan standing before Joshua, listening to his interrogation: (Joshua 7:14-23)
“My son, render, please, glory to AbbaJah the God of Israel and make confession, and tell me, please, what have you done? Do not hide it from me.”
“Yes I have sinned against AbbaJah. While I’m there after the battle, I’m looking around while I’m alone. There among the spoils are these good looking garments, and two hundred shekels of silver, one gold bar, then I wanted them! After looking around again, I’m alone there, so I took them. Look! Here they are hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent with the money underneath it.”
At once Joshua sent messengers, running to the tent, and, Yes! It was hidden in his tent with the money underneath it.
Since Achan’s deed brings ostracism upon Israel, AbbaJah brings ostracism upon Achan and his family. He and his family were pelted with stones. Then they and their possessions were burned with fire. As a lasting testimony to that execution of AbbaJah’s judgment, a big pile of stones was raised up over Achan’s place, and the location was called “Low Plain of Achor,” which name means “Ostracism; Trouble.”
One might say: “Achan was the offender, let these others go. Why punish his family for what he did?” Consider this, did his wife and children know of his offense? Did they not see him as he hid the stolen items, and did they not share in admiring the loot? Achan’s wife, by knowing of the theft and knowing the accursed items were there concealed in her home, and by her not putting pressure on her husband to want to right the wrong, that makes her an accomplice to the same crime.
They may have even played with the two hundred shekels of silver and one gold bar, can you picture them fingering, letting coins slip—fifty shekels in weight slipping through their fingers? We see here a community responsibility.
(Joshua 8:14-17) Joshua suggests a brilliant military maneuver. An ambush is set up; they would draw close to Ai with an army of 30,000. Then the army of Ai would come out to meet the aggressive army. They would feign a retreat. Note, however, Joshua had divided his army, 5,000 would hide, and lay in wait until the enemy thought Israel is fleeing, let’s chase after them. This leaves the city defenseless. The hidden army would then rise up from the ambush; take possession of Ai and AbbaJah will give the city into their hands. As soon as they have seized the city, they were to set the city on fire.
News travels no matter where, when, or how the news media is at that time to reach the citizens of Gibeon. Oh how they trembled in fear by the news, because they were plainly told that AbbaJah had commanded Moses to give Israel all the land including the land they happened to be dwelling on. Gibeon had good reason to fearful. Gibeon is in the way—their lives were in danger, because to complete the eviction meant not just to move out—find another place to live, no-but to annihilate all the inhabitants of the land before this powerful war machine—AbbaJah, Joshua, and Israel’s army.
When the citizens of Gibeon heard of what Joshua and his armies had done to Jericho and AI, they shrewdly developed a strategy, but not without some lying—if you’re going to develop shrewd strategy, then lying may be necessary, besides who will not lie to save his life? Was it a lie to back up the lying with false evidence?
The evidence certainly was false, but convincing—stocking themselves with worn-out provisions, carrying wine skin-bottles worn out and burst and tied up as if the containers had many miles on them. After a supposed long time, and miles of walking look at the patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out garments upon their weary hides.
Did they have food, and was it convincing? Yes, the bread—dry and crumby. If lying was needed, and false evidence was needed, then so be it, because the reason was to convince Joshua and the older men of Israel that they had come from a very, very distant land. They wanted to live! The evidence that they presented appeared legitimate:
“This bread of ours, it was hot out of the ovens, and out of our houses on the day of our going out to come here to you. Now look! It is dry and has become crumby. And these are the wine skin-bottles that we filled new, and, look! They have burst, and these garments and sandals of ours, they have worn out because of the great length of the journey.”
Joshua was convinced, the supposed travelers looked and acted the part like actors who knew their lines Joshua believed what he saw and heard.
“I am convinced, peace is yours, and so is the covenant. Make it so—you will live.”
Three days later, after the covenant signed, sealed, and three days have passed, that makes it valid, and binding. Then got to hear that they were near to them, and they had been deceived it was in their vicinity they were dwelling.
“Why we are practically neighbors Joshua laments after calling them:
“Why did you trick us when you live practically next door?”
Joshua, and the troops did not strike them, because the chieftains of the assembly had sworn to them by AbbaJah’s name making it binding.
“We are not allowed to hurt them. Let them live and let them become gatherers of wood and drawers of water for all the assembly.”
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