Today’s passage: Joshua 18:1-10

Helpful thoughts:

• The nation of Israel is now gathered together at Shiloh.  At this point Shiloh becomes the center for worship of the Lord (The Tent of Meeting/The Tabernacle was there).
• Joshua’s question in verse 3 sounds like a rebuke, but it may have just been asked rhetorically in order to set about the process of giving the tribes direction on where to finish taking possession.
• Several reminders are given in this passage that the Lord was present, at work, and sovereign over this process.

Questions to consider:

1. How can the inheritance of the Levites being “priesthood” or priestly service to the Lord be an encouragement to us?  How must we think about working for the Lord when He considers it a privilege and an inheritance?
2. Who did Joshua include in his discourse?  Was there anyone who was left out?  Who did Joshua continually credit with the work and wisdom of this mission and task?  To whom did he point the nation of Israel?
3. How could the answers to these questions help us as a church?  How might they help you today in your workplace and in your homes?

Today’s passage: Joshua 17:1-18

Helpful thoughts:

• The Tribe of Manasseh had land on both sides of the Jordan River.
• The request of the daughters of Zelophehad refers back to the promise from Numbers 27.
• The people of Ephraim and Manasseh were willing to ask for more land inheritances, but they did not trust the Lord for victory over the Canaanites.
  • They wanted more land for themselves…because they said God had blessed them with so many people.
  • Their acknowledgement of the blessing of God evidently did not transfer into finishing what He had commanded them to do.

Questions to consider:

1. Since God has been the one settling the land inheritances for the tribes, who were the sons of Joseph complaining about?  Just Joshua?
2. How might the fact that Joshua was an Ephraimite have impacted their lack of satisfaction?
3. If the people were able to say, “All along the Lord has blessed me.” and then not see that the Lord was able to use them, what was it that they really wanted?  Why does God bless us?  What are we to do with our new life in Christ?

Today’s passage: Joshua 16:1-10

Helpful thoughts:

• Chapters 16 and 17 will detail the land given to the tribes of Ephraim (16) and Manasseh (17), the sons of Joseph.
• Ephraim also did not drive out all of the Canaanites.  The Israelites had been instructed to only accept labor from the people in the land if there was a peaceable agreement (Deuteronomy 20:11) such as the Gibeonites.  This however was forced.  Ephraim was being disobedient to God in turning the Canaanites in Gezer into forced labor.
• The city of Gezer would eventually fall during the reign of Solomon, but in a very ironic way (1 Kings 9:16).

Questions to consider:

1. How might the end of verse 10 have looked like a victory for Ephraim?  Why was it not victory at all?
2. How would the people of Ephraim have been able to rightly discern what the right thing was to do?
3. How can we as Christians keep our perspective in alignment with the Lord’s when we measure our “successes” or “failures” in the midst of this world?

Today’s passage: Joshua 15:20-63

Helpful thoughts:

• This is the largest area and most cities given to any tribe (There will be some overlapping with the other tribes due to boundary lines).
• The list includes all cities given to Judah, but not all were taken.
  • The most info is given for those cities.
    • The cities of the Philistine people.
    • Jerusalem (Which David would eventually claim)

Questions to consider:

1. What does the listing of cities and regions that Judah already possessed and cities and regions they did not yet possess imply?  What would have been expected to continue to happen?
2. What consequences would come from the Philistines’ continued presence next to Israel?
3. Did the Philistines (Or other nearby peoples) ever make Israel do anything wrong?  Why did Israel start chasing after other gods and practices (2 Kings 17:15)

Today’s passage: Joshua 15:1-19

Helpful thoughts:

• The Tribe of Judah was given a great allotment of land at the southern end of Canaan.
• Othniel, Caleb’s nephew would later become one of the judges of Israel (Judges 3:7-11).
• Othniel and Achsah were cousins.  This is actually not unlawful according to Leviticus 18:6-18. (Not that it would be encouraged today…)
• Achsah seems to have attempted to instigate a further request through Othniel and then took care of matters herself (Maybe he didn’t agree or ask fast enough for her liking?).  No commentary is given, just honest historical record.

Questions to consider:

1. How can the honesty of the Bible (And specifically in this instance the Old Testament) be an encouragement to us as we read it?  What might we be prone to think if everything seemed perfect?
2. Why might Goliath have come from Gath and not from Kiriath-Arba?  Why would David later have precedent for believing God would give Israel victory over these great warriors?
3. How can God’s faithfulness in the past and His promised victory in the future encourage you today?

Today’s passage: Joshua 14:1-15

Helpful thoughts:

• We are reminded again that the Lord was the inheritance for the Levites.  There were still twelve allotments for the tribes of Israel because of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh (The sons of Joseph).
• Caleb and Joshua were the two spies who believed and encouraged the people to obey the Lord in Numbers 13-14.
• Caleb was successful in defeating the Anakim in Hebron, the very people those ten other spies feared.

Questions to consider:

1. Why were Caleb and Joshua still alive even thought all the rest of their generation had passed away in the wilderness?  Who had made that promise?
2. If Caleb knew that the Aniakim were in the city/region that he was asking for, what was he still confident of?  Who was he still just as confident in?
3. Why was Caleb able to claim Hebron?  What victories has God promised to to us (e.g. Romans 8, Philippians 1:6)?  Why can we be confident that the victory is secured?

Today’s passage: Joshua 13:1-33

Helpful thoughts:

• After all of the victories of the previous chapters, we see there is much to be done.
  • Joshua is older.  His final task would be to communicate to Israel their allotted lands.
  • There is more land to possess.
  • There are people who have not been driven out.
• The Lord now begins to parcel out and give the land.  First to those who would settle east of the Jordan River

Questions to consider:

1. Why is it right that God would be giving the land for certain tribes of the Israelites to settle and dwell within?  Whose land has it been all this time (Since creation…)?
2. In what way is the Lord an inheritance for the Levites?  Was their inheritance better than the rest if the tribes? And if so, in what ways?
3. How does the idea of the Lord being inheritance inform passages like 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 and Philippians 3?

Today’s passage: Joshua 12:1-24

Helpful thoughts:

• This chapter serves as a summary or appendix to the first unit of the book of Joshua (Chapters 1-12).
  • The first six verses give the description of the territory won on the east of the Jordan.
  • Verses 7-24 gives the info for the land to the west of the Jordan.
• Moses and Joshua are both named along with the portion of the land which God used the to lead Israel to obtain.
  • They are men who served the Lord.
  • The Lord was ultimately responsible.  He could use Moses and He could use Joshua.
• This point in the book almost makes it sound like the job is done, but we are going to find that it isn’t.

Questions to consider:

1. Why did God put Israel in this land (Deuteronomy 9:5)?  What did this successful campaign and Israel’s impending settlement confirm?
2. If Israel were to stop obeying the Lord once they were satisfied with what they had, what would have been the motive for their obedience?  What kind of obedience does the nature of God rightly demand?
3. Was God successful in these campaigns because He had faithful leaders like Moses and Joshua? -or- Were Moses and Joshua successful in these campaigns because God is faithful?  Who should we be most amazed by at this point in the narrative?

Today’s passage: Joshua 11:1-23

Helpful thoughts:

• After the summary of the southern campaign, chapter 11 turns to the north.
• Joshua’s role as leader and Moses’ successor is heavily reiterated.
• This chapter sums up a series of battles that took “a long time”.  These battles didn’t take place in a day.
• Remember, the death of these peoples was God’s plan for the judgment of their sin (Genesis 15:16).

Questions to consider:

1. Why did these people continue to fight against Israel?  What does it say in verse 20?
2. How is the hardening similar to the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart?  What was the purpose of the hardening?  Were these people trying to repent and trust in the Lord before their hearts were hardened?
3. In what ways does God’s perfect justice display His glory?  How can God be just and declare believers righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21)?

Today’s passage: Joshua 10:29-43

Helpful thoughts:

• The Israelites entered into Canaan in the middle and then headed south.  Today’s passage gives the summary of defeats through the southern region.
• The narrative shift from giving detailed accounts to a general overview seems to depict an ease with which Israel conquered the land.
• The summary statements of the passage reaffirm:
  • Joshua was obeying God’s commands.
  • Israel was winning because the Lord was fighting for Israel.

Questions to consider:

1. It’s good that Joshua was obeying God, but why does it specifically say Israel was winning?
2. Why would it be troubling to take away from this passage the idea that if I do right, God will have to bless me with victories?
3. What is the basis of our blessing?  God is giving us victory!  Why and on what basis? (Romans 8)