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Joshua Introduction (Part 1)

Joshua
JoshuaSteve Gregg

Join Steve Gregg as he introduces the book of Joshua in this informative session. Gregg highlights how God intended to give Israel the land they needed to rule according to His ways, even if it was already inhabited by other governments. He also explores the different boundaries of the land and the significance of Joshua's selection as Moses' successor. As the audio progresses, Gregg delves into the similarities between Joshua and Jesus as well as the timeline of events during the Babylonian captivity.

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Transcript

Introduction to the Book of Joshua The theme of this book is the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the Israelites at a later date as well when He reaffirmed the promises that He would give them the land of Canaan. The inheritance of the land of Canaan was extremely important to Israel, their history, and obviously it's important to the people of Israel even now. Whether it's biblically significant now is questionable, but the issue is the Jewish people have always been a people who are called to be apart.
At least in biblical times, they were called to be apart from the nations of people of God. Since biblical times, they've been kept apart from others by their culture, which was developed during those years when they were the people of God. They are culturally different in many respects than the Gentiles.
That's not true of course of all Jews because the Jews have integrated into all types of society and culture and many Jews don't even identify themselves with Jewish culture or Jewish religion anymore. Nonetheless, because of their cultural isolation, I suppose it's because of that, it's because of other things too, they have been persecuted in most of the lands where they've lived. When they don't have a homeland of their own, obviously they're subject to the persecution from the governing authorities where they live.
But God intended for them from the beginning to have a land of their own, a piece of property that they could govern according to the ways of God in the midst of a world that's run by pagans. The settlers in this country originally kind of felt that they were doing something similar. I don't see it as much of a parallel as some people do, but it was nonetheless the case that Christian people persecuted for some of their views in Europe once at least had the option of going to a foreign land across the ocean that was pretty much available.
I guess the Native Americans might question whether it was available or not, but there's enough room for them anyway and there was no government there to restrict them from setting up their own. And so there was some place to go where they could be separate and live by their principles and that's what Israel needed, they needed a land to live by their principles at. I often have reflected on what a sad thing it is that in our time there are no more places, there aren't any places to go.
If the government goes corrupt and persecutes Christians here, for the last couple of centuries people have come here to get away from that. And if you want to get away from here to get away from that, where do you go? Well, the planet's pretty much covered now with governments and it's not like it was. But even the land that Israel took over was inhabited and had governments, so they had to conquer it.
Now, this is one of the most objectionable things to modern sentiments in the Old Testament. And many people think the book of Joshua is very offensive because obviously they went in and committed genocide of the Canaanites. And we do have to understand what was going on there because the Bible indicates they were committed by God to do this.
And yet the God of the Bible identifies himself as a just and merciful God who loves the world and all kinds of things like that. In fact, who's like Jesus. Jesus said, if you've seen me, you've seen the Father.
So, the whole idea of going in and wiping out human populations from certain areas is something that troubles Christians and non-Christians. And needs to be understood in its proper context. And we will certainly give, I hope, sufficient attention to that question.
But we can begin by demonstrating that the purpose of the book of Joshua, or its main theme, is that God fulfilled his promises in giving them a land to call their own. In chapter 21, this is pretty much the statement of the theme of what was accomplished in this book. The last verses of chapter 21, verse 43-45.
It says, So the LORD... And by the way, we're at the very beginning of this school. Some of you know this, and some of you knew it without coming to our previous schools, and some of you have been to our previous schools. But for those of you who don't know this, the word LORD, when it is as it is here in all capital letters.
The translators, by putting the word LORD in all capital letters, are informing you that in the Hebrew, what stands there in the place of the word LORD is what they call the tetragram, or the tetragrammaton. Which is four Hebrew consonants. They can be rendered YHVH, or YHWH, or J... See, the Y and the J are kind of interchangeable, and the V and the W are kind of interchangeable.
So you can have J and V, or Y and W. So it's YHWH, or JHVH can be an alternative. And when you add certain vowels to these, this word can be pronounced Yahweh, or Jehovah, or differently still. This name, YHWH, which we could for convenience call Yahweh, in my opinion, the pronunciation is not the issue.
But where you find the word LORD in all capital letters, it is that name. Now when you find the word LORD, and it's not all capital letters in the Old Testament. When it's just L-O-R-D without the capitals.
Then it's a different word. It's the word Adonai. So when we're reading the book of Joshua, or any of the Old Testament books, we're going to encounter the word LORD sometimes in all caps, sometimes not in all caps.
When it's in all caps, it's Yahweh. When it's not, it's Adonai. Now Adonai is just a generic term for Master, or Lord, or even Sir.
The term is sometimes used in addressing men with respect. You call them Adonai. So God is sometimes called Adonai, just like a Master of a servant would be called, just like you might call him Master.
But Yahweh is more of a proper name for God. It's the name that God revealed to Moses at the burning bush. And it's the special name by which Israel identified their God from all other gods, Yahweh.
So just pointing that out at the beginning, this is the first time we've encountered it in this school. So Yahweh gave to Israel all the land of which he had sworn to give their fathers. And they took possession of it and dwelt in it.
The Lord gave them rest all around according to all that he had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them. The Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand.
Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass. In a lot of different ways, parenthesis.
But the point is made that there remained nothing more for God to do to fulfill the promises he made to their ancestors in terms of giving them the land. And that's what this book is about. It shows how that happened.
And this is sort of the end of the book. It shows how this is what was accomplished. And it's very important.
It's very important, of course, practically speaking, for the Jews, because they needed a land. And calling them Jews at this point is anachronistic. They were called Israel.
They weren't called Jews yet.
Until after the Babylonian exile, they weren't called Jews. But sometimes it's a slip of the tongue I make.
We should say Israel. Israel needed a homeland. This is the homeland that God picked for them.
And one reason he picked that land was because it was already inhabited by people that God intended to get rid of. They were wicked people that had to be removed. And so he thought, well, this is good land.
I'm flowing with milk and honey. Let's just give it to my people. And get rid of the people who've got to go anyway.
But I would say it's also important, this passage is, for another reason. And that is that there is a theological controversy in our time as to whether God has ever really given Israel all the land that he promised. There are many people who say that there are yet unfulfilled promises that God has to fulfill to Israel in this respect.
For example, if you look back at Joshua chapter 1. Right at the beginning. When Joshua is called and commissioned here. It says in verses 3 and 4. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you as I said to Moses.
From the wilderness and this Lebanon. This is the northern region. As far as the great river.
The river Euphrates.
Now most people consider that the river Euphrates is being referred to as the eastern boundary. All the land of the Hittites and to the great sea.
That would be the Mediterranean.
Toward the going down of the sun. Meaning toward the west.
Shall be your territory. So we've got three boundaries mentioned here. We've got the Lebanon wilderness to the north.
We've got the Mediterranean on the west. And we've got the Euphrates river on the east. Now in maps of Israel you're not going to see the Euphrates river there.
There is definitely a river on the eastern boundary of what's usually called Israel. But that's the Jordan river. If you want to see the Euphrates you need a map that shows much more territory.
And of course the nation of Israel has not generally been associated with the territory that far east. I mean the Euphrates river that's where Babylon was. This is like hundreds of miles east of Israel.
And so because of this reference to the Euphrates as the eastern boundary. And it is also stated in Genesis when God speaks to the patriarchs about this. There are people who say well Israel never inhabited all that land.
And therefore there must be a future time when God will fulfill that promise. Yet interestingly Joshua at the end of the book says God did give them all the land that he promised. Now we either have to say they did inhabit the land all the way to the Euphrates.
Or that the promise was somehow conditional upon their obedience. And he gave them as much as their foot would tread on. He said every place you set your foot I've given it to you.
That's the promise. Maybe they could have kept going to the Euphrates and said this is the boundary I'll give to you. But if they didn't go that far then the boundary changed to where they did put their feet.
And they didn't maybe have such ambitions. It's hard to know exactly what to say about that. However it is true that the Bible says elsewhere that Israel had holdings at the Euphrates.
Both David and Solomon. In 2 Samuel 8.3 speaking about David. Chapter 8 verse 3 it says David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob king of Zobah.
As he went to recover his territory at the river Euphrates. Now he could be Hadadezer but it's more likely it's David. I don't know why David would interfere with Hadadezer.
If it was Hadadezer trying to recover his territory at the Euphrates. That's far enough from Israel that David shouldn't be concerned about that. It sounds more like David was going to recover his territory at the Euphrates.
And this man resisted him and David defeated him. Which would suggest that David not only recovered on this occasion that territory. But had had it before.
You don't recover something unless you had it before and it was taken from you. So at some point prior to David's time it would appear that David and Israel's king. Had holdings as far as the Euphrates river.
Which is agreeable with what the promise of God was. If you look at 1 Kings chapter 4. In verse 21 it says. So Solomon, obviously the king of Israel after David.
Reigned over all the kingdoms from the river to the land of the Philistines. As far as the border of Egypt. They brought tribute to and served Solomon.
Now the river when spoken of that way without modification is the Euphrates. And I think if you have a marginal reference it should say so. Yeah mine does.
The Euphrates. Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the east. To the Philistines land which is on the Mediterranean coast.
So again we have the east and the western boundaries mentioned. This time it doesn't talk about the northern but it talks about the southern boundary. The river of Egypt.
But if you look at the places where God promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob land. Or even in Joshua chapter 1. Where Joshua hears again from this Lebanon. To the river Euphrates.
To the great sea going down to the sun. This is the land. The Euphrates is mentioned as the ultimate eastern boundary.
And we read at least twice of Jewish kings ruling over that region. So for someone to say that Israel never possessed that land. Is I think going to have to go against what the Bible actually says specifically.
Now it's true that that region never was all called Israel. But God had delivered it to Israel. If they ruled over it God had given it to them.
They may not have ever incorporated it or annexed it as part of the country per se. But if they were all bringing tribute to them. Then Israel essentially possessed it or ruled it.
And so I don't think we have any problem with the statement that God fulfilled. His entire promise is to give Israel all the land that he promised them. Now as with any book the authorship is an issue.
And the authorship of the book is not stated outright. Although the implication is probably that Joshua is the author. That is certainly what the Jewish tradition says.
The Jews believe he was the author. That doesn't make it right because the Jews are just making their best guess too. But there's good reason for them to think so.
Because as all of you I think observed in your self study. In chapter 24 verse 26 we know he wrote at least part of it. Near the end of the book chapter 24 verse 26 it says Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God.
Now the book of the law of God was written by Moses. But Joshua apparently added to it. Now these words does this mean just the speech he had just given? That's recorded in this chapter? Or does this mean all the words that we've just read in the whole book? We don't know.
But if he's the writer of the speeches he might well be the writer of the history too. At least he's the best candidate. We know it was written in his lifetime.
Or at least very early in the period. Because we are told in chapter 6 that Rahab who was saved from Jericho. At the time that Joshua led the first campaign there.
And she still lives with the children of Israel to this day. So the book was written during the lifetime of Rahab. Which would be of course the earliest part of this period.
So the author was writing within that generation. The same generation that Joshua was making these conquests. And so the timing is right for Joshua.
We know he wrote part of it. And since he was Moses' successor. And Moses the author of the previous works.
At least it's reasonable to assume that he took over Moses' duties. Not only as the leader of the nation. But also as the chronicler of their activities.
So we can't be 100% sure that Joshua is the author. But we can say it's somebody apparently contemporary with the situation. In fact there's a really interesting textual variant.
At Joshua chapter 5 verse 2. Or maybe it's not 5.2. I may be having this wrong. There's a reference where it actually says we. 5.1 says we.
Ok I was just a verse off. Sorry about that. Thank you.
So it was when all the kings of the Amorites who were on this west side of the Jordan. And all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea. Heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan.
From before the children of Israel until we. Yeah I'm sorry I should have been looking at verse 1. Until we had crossed over. This is the author describing.
Until we had crossed over. But the we there is found in the Hebrew text. It's they in some of the other manuscripts like the Septuagint.
So it's not clear which it was originally. But if we is correct. Then it was written by somebody who participated in crossing over the Jordan.
Either Joshua himself or somebody contemporary. Who would be writing under his supervision with his approval. So in any case we can see Joshua's authority behind the book.
It's his generation in which it was written. And he's as likely to be the one who wrote it as anyone else. Now if Joshua wrote it.
Does he have the authority of a prophet? Well he does prophesy. Actually in his speeches at the end of the book he says. Thus saith the Lord.
And he actually prophesies. He's also like Moses. Moses is the one who put his authority on Joshua.
And Moses was certainly recognized as a prophet. And Numbers chapter 27 verse 18 and following says. Yahweh said to Moses.
Take Joshua the son of Nun with you. A man in whom is the spirit. And lay your hand on him.
Set him before Eliezer the priest. And before all the congregation. And inaugurate him in their sight.
And you shall give some of your authority to him. That all the congregation. Children of Israel may be obedient.
And he shall stand before Eliezer the priest. Who shall inquire before the Lord for him. And so forth.
Now we see that God selected Joshua. To be. Take over the position Moses is in.
Moses put his hand on him. To signify transfer of authority to him. Now Moses was authoritative to write scripture.
As a prophet. And therefore Joshua of course would. Have authority of a similar sort.
At least in the same category. So anything that Joshua wrote. Or that was written with his approval.
Would be authoritative. And therefore belong in the scriptures as we say. Now some parts of it were obviously.
Written after he died. Especially the last few verses. His own death is mentioned in chapter 24.
Verses 29 through 32. Jewish tradition says that Eliezer the priest. Wrote those verses.
But then the death of Eliezer is also mentioned. In the next verse. Chapter 24, 33.
And they say well. Eliezer's son Phineas. Wrote that.
We don't know if that's true or not. But it doesn't really matter who wrote the death. So just last three verses.
It's like the end of Deuteronomy. It records the death of Moses. Somebody wrote that other than Moses.
And it doesn't matter who it was. It's just a record of their death. Not too concerned about the qualifications.
Of the person who noted that he died. Because we would know that anyway. Of course he died.
Now the man Joshua is the one who dominates this. Thomas Carlyle said that the history of the world. Is the biography of great men.
And that's really interesting to think about too. I mean there's billions of people on the earth right now. But the history of this period.
We remembered because of certain individuals. Who are prominent. The mistakes they make.
Or the good things they do. And what historians will record. And what later generations will read.
About our period of time. Certainly the history of Israel. At its various times.
Is really the biography of people like Moses. And Joshua. And various judges.
And David and so forth. Because although there were millions of Jews. The fate of all of them.
Was kind of following like sheep. After one particular leader that God raised up for them. And that's how the history progressed.
So Joshua was the man of the hour. The man of the nation. He had first been seen.
Way back in Exodus 17. Apparently as a fairly young man. Leading the children of Israel against the Amalekites.
When they came out of Israel. The first people who attacked the Israelites. When they came out of Israel in the wilderness.
Were the Amalekites. They actually attacked them from the rear. Trying to pick off the stragglers and the weak.
Kind of a nasty way to do it. And so Moses. Went up on a hilltop.
With Aaron his brother. And another man Her. Who tradition says that was Miriam's husband.
So brother-in-law. And Moses put his hands in the air. And sent Joshua to lead the armies down.
To fight the Amalekites. And while Moses hands were in the air. The Israelites prevailed against the Amalekites.
And when Moses hands grew weary. And came down. The Amalekites tended to prevail.
So Moses sat down on a rock. And Aaron and Her. Stood on each side.
And they were not given that. We're given no earlier knowledge about Joshua. Before that.
And we're not given any indication. Why he was selected. As the one to lead the armies.
But he was. And that's the first time we become aware of him. He's a hero.
He's a military hero. And remember he was born a slave. He was born in Egypt.
As a slave like the rest of them. He wasn't born a military man. He didn't have military training.
But he acquired their weapons. From the dead Egyptians that washed ashore. After the Red Sea closed up on him.
And that was probably the first time. He ever held a sword in his hand. And yet he became a warrior.
And a general. And a leader. Obviously he was anointed by God.
For those particular roles. And he was very successful in them. But his success was due to the prayer.
And the intercession of Moses. On the mountaintop. With his hands in the air.
That's what he was intercessing. At the end of his life. When he's giving his speeches.
He talks to the Israelites. To remind them of all that the Lord has done. And all that the Lord has given them.
He never mentions his own role in that. He doesn't say. And I was your hero.
You should remember me. I should go down in history as the one who led you to victory. I was telling someone yesterday.
As I read those words from Joshua. Not long ago. What Nebuchadnezzar did for Israel.
What Nebuchadnezzar did for Babylon. Took just a bunch of. Not such a significant group.
It would turn into a major world power. And Israel did become a world power. Eventually under David especially.
But the founding of the nation. The new Babylon was founded under Nebuchadnezzar. And the new Israel was founded under Joshua.
In both cases by exploits and war. Nebuchadnezzar was the general who led his armies. And made the empire his.
And in Daniel chapter 4. Nebuchadnezzar is out looking at his conquests. This is the great Babylon that I have built. From a human standpoint that was true.
But then. God struck him mad for seven years. Till he would learn that the heavens reign.
And that God gives the nations to whomever he wills. Joshua knew that apparently instinctively. He could take as much credit.
For the establishing of Israel. As Nebuchadnezzar could take. For the establishing of Babylon.
But he didn't try. He didn't want to. He always acknowledged that it was the Lord.
He was very humbled by his own role in the whole situation. And even his first victories. Over the Amalekites.
Were due to the Lord. As is indicated by Moses hands in the air. In a position of petition and intercession.
That's why when the hands were up. The battle went well. When the hands went down.
The battle didn't go well. So was the deliverance. Now.
He is later seen. When Moses is going up on the mount. To receive the law.
As the man who stayed close to Moses. Moses went alone up on the mount Sinai. And disappeared into a cloud.
But Joshua went halfway up the mountain with him. And camped there for forty days. Waiting for Moses to come down.
Joshua then was isolated from the community. Just to be available. When Moses would come down.
He didn't know how long it would be. It was over a month. He sat there on the side of the mountain.
Waiting for Moses to come down. And he served as Moses personal servant. Or aid to camp some would say.
And his role with Moses is a lot like that. Which Elisha had with Elijah. Later on.
In the books of first and second Kings. Elijah was a great prophet like Moses was. And Elisha started out just being his servant.
In fact the way that Elisha was described. By someone in his time. Was that he's the man who poured water.
Over the hands of Elijah. He was like a servant to Elijah. But when Elijah went up into heaven.
Elisha became his successor. And a double portion of Elijah's spirit came on him. And he continued as the successor to Elijah.
Joshua was the same way. He started out just as a servant of Moses. But then ended up being of course his successor.
In Exodus 24. Verse 13. He is referred to as Moses servant.
He was the man from Ephraim. Who was chosen to go with the other spies. One from each of the tribes.
To spy out the land of Canaan. Forty years before this. And while ten of the twelve spies.
Brought back a discouraging report. That turned the people's faith away from God. And brought judgment on the nation.
Only he the Ephraimite. And Caleb the Judahite. They were the only two spies that came back.
After the scouting mission. And they believed that. Though there was a challenge.
They could do it through faith in God. He was a man who had faith in God. When the whole nation did not.
I mean when you've got three million people. Who have reason to have faith in God. Because they've seen the Red Sea part.
And they've walked through. And they've seen miraculous man a day by day. These are people who have reason to be believers.
And yet. Out of three million people who should be believers. Only three guys really are believers.
Moses and Joshua and Caleb. They're pretty exceptional person. To have faith at a time when no one else does.
And he was one of those guys. Which is no doubt why he was selected. To be the successor.
To Moses. And we read in Numbers 27 how that happened. And so.
At the beginning of Joshua. God says to Joshua. As I was with Moses.
I'll be with you. And so he is now the leader in Moses shoes. And has that authority.
The people needed to know who was going to succeed Moses. And that's why the laying on of hands was important. It was like a visible ceremony.
That Moses was authorizing him. And that when Moses was dead. There wouldn't be a power vacuum.
As I mentioned before. In our introduction to history books. What's strange is that Joshua didn't do the same thing.
When he died. He didn't appoint a successor. And there was a power vacuum.
But apparently God didn't think there was need for one. For a leader to succeed him. Once the wars were essentially over.
There would be no need for a military leader. Or political leader again. Until there was a trouble.
And the trouble wouldn't have come if they didn't depart from God. In the book of Judges. They were invaded again.
And needed to fight more wars. But that's only because they rebelled. If they hadn't rebelled.
God would have kept them safe. And they could have had a peaceful life. And they wouldn't need rulers or military leaders.
But Joshua was the last guy that God appointed. In this particular series. Now Joshua.
You'll find that he's mentioned by more than one name. In the Bible. As several characters are.
But he has more names than most. He is mentioned in Numbers chapter 13. Verses 8 and 16.
As Oshea. And then Moses gave him the longer name Jehoshua. Now Jehoshua.
Jehoshua. Is taken from the name Yahweh or Jehovah. And Shua.
Shua means salvation. In Hebrew. And Jehovah means Jehovah.
And so the name Jehoshua. Means Jehovah is salvation. Joshua or Yeshua.
A probably more authentic pronunciation. Is a shortened form of Jehoshua. Just kind of abbreviating it.
Jehoshua was his name. As Moses gave it to him. Went more often by Joshua.
He is sometimes called Hoshea. Which is like Oshea. In Deuteronomy 32.44. He's called Hoshea.
And of course you probably knew this. But some may not. Is that the Greek form of Joshua or Yeshua.
Is Jesus or Jesus. And so Jesus is named Joshua. And it's interesting too.
Because in a sense Joshua is a type of Christ. And his function. In the story.
Has many ways in which. They said that Moses is a type of Christ. And in relation to Moses.
Joshua is a little bit like the apostles. The successors. But seen in another framework.
Joshua in his own right. Has some role as a type of Christ. Now I've been used the word type a few times.
Again I hope you know these words. They're not really unusual words. Christians use them all the time.
But I have to realize that some people may not know what we mean. By a type of Christ. This is a term theologians use.
But they got it right from the Bible. The word is used in the Bible. A type.
It's the Greek word Tupos. You might spell it T-U-P-O-S. The second letter in that in the Greek.
Is the Upsilon. Which can be represented by the English Y. Or the English U. Upsilon can be a U or a Y. When you transliterate it. So Tupos could be typos.
And the word Tupos is used. In the New Testament. For example of Adam is a type.
Of Christ. According to Romans 5. The wandering of the Israelites in the wilderness. And their experiences are said to be a type of us.
Tupos. In the Greek. In 1 Corinthians chapter 10.
Verse 6 and also verse 11. Twice. The Israelite experiences a type of us.
It says. Now what the word Tupos means is a pattern. And when we speak of.
Something in the Old Testament. Being a type of something in the New Testament. That the thing in the Old Testament.
Is a pattern. For something that's more important. That's coming up later in the New Testament.
And so. The sacrifices in the Old Testament. Are types of Christ's sacrifice.
On the cross. Paul says that Adam is a type of Christ. In the sense that both of them are the founders.
Of new humanities. Adam was the founder of the original humanity. And a new humanity or new man.
Was founded in Christ. And so forth. And we usually say that's sort of a type.
Of God the Father offering Christ. And there's some reason to think so. Lots of things in the Old Testament.
Are said to be types. Of things in the New Testament. And so when we say Joshua is a type.
Of Christ. We mean in his role as a leader of the children of Israel. It's like Israel is a type of us.
And Joshua himself. Is a type of our leader Christ. And there are ways that that can be.
Pointed out to be significant. In helping us understand. As we look at the typology of the Old Testament.
So. From now on you'll know what I mean when I say a type. You probably already did.
But some might not have. Now the historical setting. We would date the entering of Canaan.
At the very beginning of the book of Joshua. In the year 1451. Or 1452.
We know. That Judah fell to Babylon in 586 B.C. Now from that starting point. We can calculate other dates.
We know from secular history. That Judah fell. To Babylon in 586 B.C. So starting from that date.
We are told in Ezekiel 4. Verses 4 through 5. That the history of the kings of Judah. Which is from the splitting of the kingdom. In Rehoboam's day to the fall of Babylon.
Is 390 years. Now if you lose me here. That's okay.
But I mean this is mathematical stuff. If it's 390 years from Rehoboam's reign. When the kingdom split.
To the fall in 586 B.C. That means that the kingdom split. At the beginning of Rehoboam's reign. In 975 B.C. That's just simple math.
But before that. Was Solomon's reign. Which was 40 years.
Solomon's reign. Would have begun in 1015. By this reckoning.
The kingdom split in what? 975 B.C. That was at the end of a 40 year reign of Solomon. Solomon then began to reign in 1015 B.C. But the temple was built. In the fourth year of King Solomon.
Which would be of course 1012 B.C. We are calculating three years. Space of time. It was in the second month of the fourth year.
Which means it was just after the end of three years. That's what I meant. We go from the year 1015 to the year 1012 B.C. So the temple was built in 1012 B.C. By that reckoning.
And we are told in 1st Kings 6.1. That that was 480 years after the exodus. So we have these time markers. At various places scattered around.
But enough of them to figure it out. The temple was built in 1012 B.C. And that was 480 years after the exodus. So that brings us back to about 1452 B.C. 1451 B.C. That general time for the entering to Canaan.
Now the time covered in the book. Is thought by most to be about 25 years. That can't be proven beyond question.
But Josephus the Jewish historian. Believed that Joshua was 85. When he entered the land of Canaan.
And that is possibly true. That would have made him 45. When they came out of Egypt.
And this is 40 years later. So he led these armies when he was 85 years old. He lived to be 110 though.
And he is 110 at the end of the book. So if he is 85 at the beginning. Which is somewhat speculative.
Because there is nothing in the Bible that tells us he was 85 at that time. But that is what Josephus said. And it is a realistic number we can take as a default.
Until we know otherwise. Then that would mean 25 years are occupied. By the book.
Of which the first six or so. Are used conquering the land. And then there is a long gap.
Until the end of Joshua's life. So we got a total of about. Probably 25 years covered in the book.
That is not something that. Could not be disputed. It could be disputed.
We know this that at the beginning. It is the second generation after the Exodus. There is no one still living.
Except Joshua and Caleb. Who was over 20 years old at the time of the Exodus. Everyone who was 20 and under 40 years earlier was now dead.
So everyone was under 60. No one was over 60 except Joshua and Caleb. It is a young population in other words.
I mean 60 is really young. I am 58. I am not old.
Think of it. A nation where the oldest people alive are 60 years old. Or less.
Except for two guys. Who were in their 80s. And so this is the demographic we are looking at.
You know 40 years earlier. When Joshua had come back with the report. That yeah we can take this land.
I don't think he knew. That someone was going to hand him the keys. And say okay do it.
You think we can do it? You got the faith? You are the man. You lead them against these giants. And so at this point we see that Joshua.
Has to put his works where his faith is. Put his money where his mouth is. And so he does.
And he does a good job. He is a real hero. To my mind he has never been as colorful or prominent.
Of course as someone like Moses. Or David. But in many respects he is just as important.
I mean Moses of course is the most important man. In the Old Testament. But what Joshua accomplished.
Was as great in many respects. And certainly extremely important. Because entering the land.
Was the way that the ultimate fulfillment. Of God's promises would take place. And it was the biggest challenge.
Moses didn't have to lead them. Against these nations of the Canaanites. And fight them.
So he just had to put up with them. In the wilderness. Which was a challenge enough I'm sure.
Now the outline of the book. The main divisions of the book. Are right down the middle.
The first twelve chapters. Are the period of the conquest of the land. And the last twelve.
Are the time of them being. Occupying. They've received their inheritance.
They're occupying the land. Now these two sections. Themselves can be divided.
Into smaller bits. Because the first five chapters. Really are a description of them.
Entering the land. And preparing to go to war. And chapters six through twelve.
Are them actually fighting those wars. Actually conquering the land itself. Now then after that.
Chapters thirteen through twenty two. Perhaps the most difficult. Chapters to wade through.
Because of the nature of their contents. Is simply a description. Of how the land was divided up.
Among the different tribes. Primarily it's just the division of the land. And then the last chapters.
Twenty three and twenty four. Are the farewell addresses of Joshua. And so that's how the book is.
Most naturally divided. Into smaller parts. It's helpful when you take a book.
That's rather large-ish. To divide it into smaller parts. So you can take it piece by piece.
So you can just get more of a handle. On the book. It's not quite so daunting.
If you have something that you're looking at. Twenty four chapters. And it's just all a blur.
It helps to say well this little section. Is about this little section. Is about that.
It makes it more manageable. And helpful I think. Genocide.
First question we have to ask. Because it comes up a lot these days. With the prominence of terrorism.
And you know. Islamic radicals and so forth. Is many times people say well.
You know sure. It's wrong for the jihadists. To kill innocent populations.
But isn't that just the same thing. That God had the Jews do in the old times. What's the difference? God is telling them to go out and kill the infidels.
Didn't God of the Jews. And God of the Christians. Tell the Israelites to go.
And kill the infidels too. I mean how is that any different. And they were killing men women and children.
Well. There are some differences. That doesn't make it all together.
Unobjectionable to us. To our sensitivities. But there are definitely differences.
For one thing. A jihad. Is a form of Islam.
To convert the world. And in the early days. In Mohammed's day.
When for example he. Conquered Mecca and so forth. He had to fight wars against people.
To convert them. The idea of the jihad is. If you convert.
We'll keep you around. If you don't you'll die. So that basically it's conversion.
On the threat of death. And if you refuse to convert. Nothing like that ever existed in the Old Testament.
First of all. God wasn't offering the Canaanites. The option of conversion.
He wasn't trying to convert them. It was a judgment on a society that was doomed. Because of its wickedness.
To be destroyed. It looks like jihad. To somebody who's not discerning the different reasons.
But they're not trying to convert these people. They're seeking to eradicate them. From the face of the earth.
And it's not because they're not Jewish. Because the world was full of non-Jewish people. God never sent the Jews to go and fight.
It's not that God's saying. Everyone has to become Jewish or die. It's that the Canaanites.
Had to be judged. Period. They were a society under God's judgment.
Just like Sodom and Gomorrah were. At an earlier period of time. Or the whole world was in the time of Noah.
God judged the whole world at one time. He judged whole cities at other times. In this case he judged the whole.
Society of the Canaanites. Because of their horrible wickedness. It's not really at all like.
Going out and using war to convert people. They weren't sent out against all the pagans. It's not like Israel had a mission.
To go out and convert the Babylonians. And the Syrians. And the Edomites.
And the Egyptians. And you know if they don't convert. Kill them.
They weren't even sent to make war with them. It was not God's intention to go out. And convert everyone to Judaism.
It was his intention to give the Jews a piece of land. And that's really all it was. It still is an ugly situation.
But it's not a similar situation. To Jihad. Another thing is we know that God is not bloodthirsty.
The Bible makes that very clear. He reveals his character. To Moses on the mountain.
In chapter 34 of Exodus. In a way that we still recognize in the New Testament. As an accurate description of the way that God is.
In chapter 34 of Exodus. Verses 6 and 7. It says. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed.
Yahweh. Yahweh Elohim. Merciful and gracious.
Longsuffering and abounding in goodness and truth. Keeping mercy for thousands. Forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.
By no means clearing the guilty. Visiting the iniquity of the fathers. Upon the children.
And the children's children. To the third and fourth generation. Longsuffering.
That means patient. Merciful, gracious, abounding in goodness and truth. Keeping mercy for thousands of generations.
But also a God who punishes wickedness. And that's the character of God. That's the way justice is.
But he doesn't have any delight in the punitive side of his activities. In Ezekiel 33.11. God says he has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. So it's not like he's bloodthirsty.
And just hates people. And if anyone just bugs him. He just wants to go smear their blood all over the land.
So that they learn a lesson. He has to judge wickedness. And he does.
And the Canaanites were very wicked. And we'll see more about that later on. Unfortunately, it looks like we're going to have to take a break here.
Because it is actually time. So we'll stop here. And we'll come back.

Series by Steve Gregg

Jude
Jude
Steve Gregg provides a comprehensive analysis of the biblical book of Jude, exploring its themes of faith, perseverance, and the use of apocryphal lit
Genesis
Genesis
Steve Gregg provides a detailed analysis of the book of Genesis in this 40-part series, exploring concepts of Christian discipleship, faith, obedience
2 Timothy
2 Timothy
In this insightful series on 2 Timothy, Steve Gregg explores the importance of self-control, faith, and sound doctrine in the Christian life, urging b
Strategies for Unity
Strategies for Unity
"Strategies for Unity" is a 4-part series discussing the importance of Christian unity, overcoming division, promoting positive relationships, and pri
Introduction to the Life of Christ
Introduction to the Life of Christ
Introduction to the Life of Christ by Steve Gregg is a four-part series that explores the historical background of the New Testament, sheds light on t
2 John
2 John
This is a single-part Bible study on the book of 2 John by Steve Gregg. In it, he examines the authorship and themes of the letter, emphasizing the im
Word of Faith
Word of Faith
"Word of Faith" by Steve Gregg is a four-part series that provides a detailed analysis and thought-provoking critique of the Word Faith movement's tea
Church History
Church History
Steve Gregg gives a comprehensive overview of church history from the time of the Apostles to the modern day, covering important figures, events, move
When Shall These Things Be?
When Shall These Things Be?
In this 14-part series, Steve Gregg challenges commonly held beliefs within Evangelical Church on eschatology topics like the rapture, millennium, and
Content of the Gospel
Content of the Gospel
"Content of the Gospel" by Steve Gregg is a comprehensive exploration of the transformative nature of the Gospel, emphasizing the importance of repent
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