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TRHCK THROUGH THE RIBLE
JOSHUA—THE BOOK OF POSSESSION.
A. The Conquest cf the Land. I. —xii.
I. Mobilization. i.—ii.
i. The call to arms. i.
a. God’s call to Joshua. 1-9
b. Joshua’s call to the people.
10-18
ii. The mission of the spies. ii.
11. Advance. iii.—v.
i. Crossing of the Jordan, iii.—iv.
a. The crossing. iii.
b. The final movements. iv.
ii. Ceremonies of consecration, v.
111. War. vi.—xi.
i. Jericho. vi.
ii. Ai. vii., viii.
a. Defeat. vii.
b. Victory. viii.
iii. Beth-horon. ix., x.
a. The deceit of the Gibeon-
ites. ix.
b. The defeat of five kings.
x. 1-27. ’
c. The following conquests. 28-43 '
iv. The northern kings. xi.
IV: Extent of the Conquest. xii.
JOSHUA.
- N the ancient Hebrew Scriptures the
< second division was known as “The
Prophets.” In this division the first
section included Joshua, Judges, First
and Second Samuel and First and Sec
ond Kings, and was called “the earlier
Prophets.” Os this division Joshua was
_ the first book. It derives its name
■ from the great leader, the story of
whose work is chronicled therein.
Os its authorship nothing definitely is known. In
all likelihood it was largely the work of Joshua
himself, subsequently added to, and completed, by
some one or more of the elders of Israel. Its con
tent is a continuation of the history of the chosen
people. The nation led out by Moses is led in bv his
successor. This book tells the story. It is the book
of possession, and may be broadly divided into three
parts. The conquest of the land (1-12); the set
tlement of the people (13-21); Joshua’s farewell
(22-24).
A. THE CONQUEST OF THE LAND.
In this first division there are four sections deal
ing with mobilization, advance, war and the extent
of conquest.
The first fact chronicled is that of the call to
arms, and therein God’s call to Joshua. His right
of entrance to the land was that God had given it
to His people. His power of entrance was that
of the divine presence. The conditions of his suc
cess were that he should be strong and courageous;
and in order to this he was charged to be obedient
to the law. Thus commissioned, Joshua issued his
call to the people. It was characterized by urgency
and despatch. Within three days the hosts were to
move forward. Forty years before spies had been
sent. Os these Joshua had been one of the few
who had brought back a report true to God. He
now sent them again. The principle of sending was,
however, quite different. It was now the action of
that faith which was characterized by caution. The
spies returning made it evident that the promise
of God that no man should be able to stand before
Joshua, was being fulfilled, for, according to Rahab,
“their terror was fallen upon the people.” Rahab’s
action was that of faith The men of Jericho shared
her conviction, but rebelled against it. She recog
nized the activity of God, and yielded.
The first movement of the people forward was
of such a nature as to impress them with the truth
By G. CAMPBELL MORQAN, Westminster Chapel, London, “England.
Appearing Hbery Week 'During 1907. {Copyright American Serial Hights applied Tor by The Golden Hge Publishing Co. All Hights Heserbed.)
B. The Settlement of the People,
xiii.—xxi.
1
I
I. Settlement according to Mosaic
Promise. xiii., xiv.
i. The two and a half tribes, xiii.
ii. The possession of Caleb. xiv.
11. Settlement of nine and a half
Tribes. xv. —xix.
i. Judah. xv.
ii. Ephraim. xvi.
iii. Manasseh. xvii.
iv. Benjamin. xviii.
a. The tabernacle at Shiloh.
1-10
b. Territory of Benjamin. 11-28
v. The Rest. xix.
a. Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar,
Asher. 1-31 1
b. Naphthali, Dan, Joshua.
32-51
>lll. Settlement of Cities of Refuge and
Levites. xx., xxi.
i. Cities of Refuge. xx. j
' ii. The Levites. xxi
a. Cities of the Kohathites. 1-26 I
b. Cities of the Gershonites and
Merarites. 27-45
The Golden Age for February 21, 1907.
of their positive relation to God. They came on
to the actual soil of Canaan, not by deflecting the
course of the river, nor by bridging it, but by di
rect divine intervention. While obedience demand
ed haste, haste was not allowed to cause neglect of
religious observance. Safely over Jordan the hosts
paused while stones were gathered out of the river
‘bed, and a ceremony of worship was observed. This
miraculous crossing of the river produced a remark
able effect upon the surrounding people. “Their
hearts melted,, neither was there any spirit in them
any more.” Before the actual march commenced,
the Captain of the hosts of the Lord appeared to
Joshua, and he was thus made to recognize that his
authority and leadership depended upon his sub
mission and obedience.
Preparations being thus complete, the hosts of
Israel became the scourge of God, moving forward
in judgment upon the corrupt peoples of the land.
It is impossible to imagine anything more calculated
to impress upon them their absolute weakness than
the method of their first victory. Marching priests,
and blatant horns are utterly inadequate to the
capture of a city, and represent foolishness judged
by all ordinary methods of human warfare. The vic
tory was theirs, but they were taught that it came
not by might, and not by power, but by their being
obedient to the government of God. Suddenly the
triumphant people were defeated. The reason was
the sin of a man which was also the sin of a nation.
Israel had now become a nation, and no one person
could act alone. Thus the individualism is seen to
become a far greater responsibility when it has ceas
ed to be isolation. The sin of the one became the sin
of the community. The evil thing was judged and
punished, and through this return to obedience on
the part of the nation, the campaign moved vigo
rously forward. The story of the taking of Ai is
one of acute military strategy. Thus the truth is
brought into prominence that in prosecuting the
work of Jehovah there must ever be a recognition
ot the value of the use of the best in human reason.
Strategy without obedience is useless. Obedience
includes the use of reason, the employment of
common sense. The fame and dread of the peo
ple were spreading far and wide. The kings of
Canaan formed a league against the incoming hosts.
Before they had time to take action, a new peril
threatened Israel in the strategy of the Gibeonites.
The deceit being discovered, the action of Joshua
was immediate and decisive. He felt bound by the
letter of his cover.anf, but condemned the Gibeonites
C. Joshua’s Farewell.
i
xxii.—xxiv.
i
> ■ —
I. The two and a half Tribes.
xxii.
11. Farewell Addresses.
xxiii.—xxiv. 15
i. First address. xxiii.
ii. Second address.
xxiv. 1-15
111. Final Things, xxiv. 16-33
Q
I
to perpetual servitude, making them hewers of wood,
and drawers of water. This action of the Gibeon
ites aroused the anger of the confederate kings. In
their peril the men of Gibeon appealed to Joshua.
By forced marches he reached the scene of action.
The rout of the kings was complete.
Joshua followed up his advantage, immediately
moving forward until the whole of southern Canaan
was in possession of Israel. A new confederacy
had now to be faced and fought. The northern
kings joined in an attempt to break the power of
the conquering hosts. Turning swiftly north, Joshua
routed them, and then turned back to Hazor, where
victory still attended him. All this did not happen
immediately. Indeed we are told in the text that
it had occupied “a long time.” The division ends
with a detailed summary of the extent of the
conquest.
B. THE SETTLEMENT OF THE PEOPLE.
Dean Stanley says: “In the book of Joshua we
have what may, without offense, be termed ‘The
Doomsday Book of the Conquest of Canaan.’ Ten
chapters of that book are devoted to a description
of the country in which not only are its general
features and boundaries carefully laid down, but
the names and situations of its towns and villages
enumerated with the precision of geographical terms
which encourages, and almost compels a minute in
vestigation.” Joshua, was now about ninety years
old, ami was reminded that the conquest was by no
means complete. There remained “much land to
be possessed.” In order that the chosen people
might be able to complete the conquest and per
fectly possess the land, it was now to be divided
amongst them. Toward this end the provision made
for the two ami a half tribes on the east of Jordan,
was ratified.
Then followed provision for Caleb, who, after
forty-five years of waiting, claimed a definite pos
session in the land. Joshua’s recognition of his
friend, and of his right to a choice of possession,
was quick and generous. He granted him the moun
tain which he asked, and blessed him.
In the settlement of the nine and a half tribes
Judah stood first as being the kingly and imperial
tribe. The possession allotted to it was that of the
fighting front. It remained loyal longer than the
rest, but subsequently became contaminated with
the abominations of the heathen. God’s hosts are
never overcome in fair and open fighting with His
toes. It is the friendship of the world which is
enmity against God. The inheritance of Joseph
was divided between Ephraim and Manasseh. To
Ephraim was alotted a fertile and beautiful dis
trict, nevertheless a place of difficulty because it
still lay in the power of the Canaanites. The terri
tory of Manasseh was indicated, and then Ephraim
and Manasseh being discontented complained to
Joshua. His answer was characteristic. He knew
the weakness of these tribes, and that they would
became strong only by conflict. He instructed them
to go up to the mountain and cut down the trees,
amt drh e out the foes, and so enlarge their borders
by cultivating their possession, rather than by seek
ing new ground. After rebuking’ the seven tribes
foi being slow to possess the land, Joshua erected
the tabernacle at Shiloh. He then appointed three
men from every tribe to divide the land into seven
parts. One of these portions was alloted to each
of the remaining tribes. The first of the seven fell
to Benjamin. Then followed an account of the por
tions of the rest, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher,
Aapthali and Dan. When all had been provided
Joshua asked and obtained his portion.
Having thus come into possession of the land,
the cities of refuge were provided according to
the arrangements already made. Following these
the Levites made application for their cities and
pasturage, and the rulers and the people made ready
response.
Jacob’s prophecy concerning Simeon and Levi
“l will divide them in Jacob, And scatter them iii
(Concluded op Page 12.)