|
Chapters 15-19 detail the distribution of the land for the tribes that settled west of the Jordan river. Chapter 15 deals with just the tribe of Judah. It begins by describing the borders of Judah’s land (v.1-12) and then proceeds with a lengthy list of all the cities conquered and settled within those borders (v.20-63). Once again, passages like this may seem redundant and tedious to readers today, but remember that 1) this is God’s word, and He chose every single word for a good reason; and 2) the Bible is a book of world history, specifically that of the Jews, God’s chosen people. In keeping with tradition of the ANE at this time period, records such as this chapter were important for posterity. Not only that, but some of the cities mentioned here are sites of major events for Israel later on in the time of the judges and then the kings.
Verses 1-12: The eastern border of Judah is the Dead Sea, a.k.a. the Salt Sea (v.4-5), and the western border is the Mediterranean Sea, a.k.a. the Great Sea. (v.12) The southern border starts at the Dead Sea, following the course of “…the river of Egypt…” (v.4) to the point where it empties into the Mediterranean. The northern border starts at the Mediterranean and follows an arc that connects to the Jordan River and then follows that south of Jerusalem and Jericho to the northern tip of the Dead Sea. (Refer back to the map in chapter 13.) The mention of the Jebusites and Jerusalem in verse 8 is important, as we will see later in verse 63. Verses 13-19: This passage details Caleb’s successful victories against the Anakim, starting with the conquering of the city of Hebron that was mentioned in chapter 14. Now, Caleb leads a campaign against the city of Kirjath-sepher, which is then renamed Debir. Caleb promises his daughter, Achsah, as wife to the man who will successfully conquer that city. (v.16) His nephew, Othniel, answers the call, and is victorious in battle. (v.17) Later, Achsah makes a specific request of her father for the upper and lower springs of fresh water that are adjacent to the land conquered by Othniel. (v.18-19) Caleb is more than willing to honor the request. The fact that Caleb, at 85, has a daughter who is still young and, presumably, has just reached marrying age, is also a testament to God’s blessing on Caleb because of his faithfulness and obedience. Like Abraham, Caleb and his wife were blessed with children in their old age, and this should be a source of inspiration and hope for older believers today. Nothing is impossible with God! Verses 20-32: This lengthy list of Judah’s cities are grouped according to the region of the land where they are located. The first section is the southern region (the Moody Bible commentary refers to each region as a “district”), and of the cities listed here, there are a few names that stand out. The first is Ziph (v.24) which is mentioned in 1 Samuel 23:14 as one of the hiding places where David flees during Saul’s manhunt for him. Later in that same chapter it’s revealed that the Ziphites betray David to Saul. Beer-sheba (v.28) is the same region that was once occupied by Abraham and Isaac. (Genesis 21:32-34, 26:23-25) Ziklag is also apportioned to Simeon (Joshua 19:5), but it’s clear from 1 Samuel 27:6-7 and 30:1 that it’s never fully conquered and settled by Israel. Verses 33-44: The second region is the western foothills. The cities of Eshtaol and Zoreah (v.33) are key sites in the story of Samson. (Judges 13:25, 16:31) Adullam (v.35) is another of David’s hiding places from Saul. (1 Samuel 22:1) Socoh and Azekah (v.35) are where David defeats Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:1) Lachish is mentioned in 2 Kings 14:19 and Jeremiah 34:7. Verses 45-47: The third region contains cities that border Philistia: Ekron, Ashdod, and Gaza. These locations figure prominently in the story of Samson (Judges 13-16) as well as the narrative of the theft of the Ark of the Covenant by the Philistines during Samuel’s reign as judge of Israel (1 Samuel 4-6). Ashdod is also home to the last of the giants of the Anakim. (Joshua 11:22) Another of the Philistines’ principal cities near this region is Gath, home to the giant Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:4) While these cities and lands are apportioned to Judah, the Philistines are never completely driven out and conquered by Israel. In fact, many Israelites intermarried with the inhabitants of Ashdod following their return from the Babylonian captivity. (Nehemiah 13:23) Verses 48-60: The fourth region is the hill country, which includes Debir, the city conquered by Othniel. As already noted in the previous chapter, Hebron was rewarded to Caleb, and it eventually becomes a city of refuge. It’s also where David establishes his royal house in the wake of Saul’s death and is anointed king of Israel. (2 Samuel 2:1, 4) Later, Absalom uses Hebron to stage his insurrection against David. (2 Samuel 15:7, 10) Maon, Carmel, and Jezreel are also key sites in the saga of King David’s reign. (1 Samuel 25) Kirjath-jearim is mentioned in Judges 18:12, and it’s also where the ark of the covenant remains for a time after it’s recaptured from the Philistines. (1 Samuel 6:21, 7:1-2) Verses 61-62: The last district is the desert region. En-gedi is yet another refuge site for David during his years of hiding from Saul. (1 Samuel 23:29) Verse 63: Although Jerusalem is in the region allotted to the tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:21, 28), that territory shares a border with Judah (Joshua 18:11). As already mentioned earlier in this chapter (v.8), the southern part of Jerusalem is located on Judah’s side of the border. That verse also mentions the Jebusites and now Joshua confirms that those people are never fully driven from their land. Not even in the era of the judges or the reign of King David are those native people completely wiped out. (Judges 1:8, 21, 2 Samuel 5:6, 24:18) The reason for this is not made clear in any of the texts, but given God’s command to both Moses and Joshua regarding His judgment against the Canaanites, the logical conclusion if that the Israelites failed to completely follow through on the Lord’s directive to wipe out all inhabitants of the promised land. This could also be a clue as to why the land purchased by King David for the site of the temple that Solomon eventually built is so revered and so fiercely contested even up to our present day. Araunah’s property that David bought is regarded as sacred by modern day Jews, Christians, and Muslims. This is the same site that contained the Mosque of Omar (a.k.a. the Dome of the Rock) in the medieval era, so it's very likely that the Jebusites are connected to the lineage of Muhammed, the founder of Islam, who was born in the 6th century.
0 Comments
 CHAPTER 13:
Verses 1-6: Despite all of the victories in the military campaign thus far, there still remains for Israel much of the promised land left to conquer and subdue. (v.2-6) But Joshua is now old and close to the end of his life. (v.1) God promises him that He will drive out of the remaining land Israel’s enemies, but Joshua’s only responsibility now is to properly divide the land Israel has conquered thus far among the twelve tribes as originally instructed by God to Moses. (v.6) (Refer to the map above, courtesy of the Thomas Nelson KJV Study Bible.) Verses 7-14: This is a summary of the land east of the Jordan river that Moses granted to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh. (Numbers 32:33, Deuteronomy 3:12-13) However, the Israelites failed to completely drive out the Geshurites and the Maachathites, as noted in verse 13. There’s also a reminder in verse 14 that the Levites are excluded from any land allotments and inheritance because of God’s decree to Moses that their service in the tabernacle is their unique privilege and inheritance from the LORD. (Numbers 18:20, 23-24, Deuteronomy 18:1) Verses 15 – 33: Now the author of Joshua goes into detail regarding the land given to Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh. This may seem tedious to modern readers, but remember that the point of the book of Joshua is the conquering and settling of the promised land by Israel. As such, passages like this one are designed to be an official record for future generations. Remember also that this was a custom for the people of this time living in the ANE, so while it may seem repetitive and somewhat dull to us today to read what has already been recorded in earlier books, it’s written here for good reasons. CHAPTER 14: This chapter is divided into two parts: a summary of the division of the newly conquered promised land among the rest of the tribes on the western side of the Jordan River (v.1-5); and the special request by Caleb for the land of Hebron (v.6-15). Verses 1-5: The author gives a summary of the division of all the land west of the Jordan among the remaining nine and a half tribes. He confirms that Israel divides up the land according to lot, “…as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses…”. (v.2) The same phrase is repeated in verse 5, affirming Israel’s obedience to all that Moses had instructed them, according to the word of the Lord. There’s also yet another reminder in verse 3 that the Levites have no land inheritance, and this is partly because of the two tribes that came out of the lineage of Joseph. (v.4) Only twelve tribes divided up the land, although there are technically thirteen tribes because of Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, hence the additional explanation for the reader in verses 3-4. The Levites have no land inheritance because God had set apart their men for the priesthood and full time service in the tabernacle as their inheritance. Instead, that tribe would be given specific cities and pastures for their dwelling and habitation as they served in the tabernacle. (v.4) (Numbers 35:2) Verses 6-15: Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, a Kenezite, (v.6) now appears on the page for the first time in the book of Joshua. Caleb’s heritage was first mentioned in Numbers 32:12, and the name “Kenizzite” first appears in Genesis 15:19 where God lists the foreign nations and peoples that are currently occupying the promised land which He will give to the descendants of Abraham. That means that Caleb is not a direct descendant of the twelve sons of Jacob, but because he is listed as a member of the tribe of Judah (Numbers 13:6) when Moses is naming and commissioning the twelve spies, we can logically infer that Caleb’s father or grandfather must have been absorbed into Israel at some point after the exodus from Egypt; or possibly even his great grandfather, at some point during the four hundred and thirty years of Israel’s slavery. There is continual mention throughout Exodus and Leviticus of the strangers that are not Israelites, many of whom came with them out of Egypt. It appears that Caleb and his ancestry fall into that category. Caleb comes to Joshua with a special request. He reminds Joshua of God’s promise to the two of them because of their faithfulness in the aftermath of the scouting mission that doomed all of Israel to wander for another thirty-eight years in the wilderness. All of that first generation, except for Caleb and Joshua, died because of their disobedience to God and their unfaithfulness. (v.8) But “…because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God…” (v.9), Caleb was promised by Moses a portion of the promised land. In verse 7 Caleb states that he was forty years old when he was selected by Moses as one of the twelve spies. In verse 10, Caleb is now eighty-five years old, which means the conquest of the promised land took seven years. (Thirty-eight years total of wandering in the wilderness following the mission of the twelve spies.) Caleb affirms to Joshua that “…I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me…”. (v.11) He goes on to say that he is even ready for war today, just as he was forty-five years ago! The phrase “… to go out, and to come in…” means that he had returned from all his battles unharmed. It’s hard for us today to imagine an eighty-five year old man as healthy, fit and robust enough to lead an army into battle, but this is clearly the case as we will see in the coming verses. It also helps to keep in mind that this period in history was a much different time than our modern era today. Even with so many generations now come and gone since the global flood of Noah’s day, men and women still lived to be well over a hundred years old, primarily by the grace of God. It’s even one of His promises for all those that honor and obey their parents. (Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16, Ephesians 6:1-3) So it shouldn’t be that surprising that both Caleb and Joshua were still mighty men of war even though they were both pushing ninety! Caleb’s request is for the land containing the city of Hebron (v.14) that is still currently occupied by the Anakim. (v.12) (Numbers 13:28, 33) (Refer back to the map at the top of this post.) Caleb’s faith is just as great as it was forty-five years earlier. He has no doubt that God is with him, and He will give Caleb and the army of Israel victory over the heathen giants that currently occupy that city. This is confirmed in verses 14-15. Hebron was originally named Kirjath-Arba after one of the giants that lived there. (v.15) Following Caleb’s victorious conquest of that city “…the land had rest from war.” Caleb’s faith and patience should be an example for all believers today. Sometimes we must wait several years – or even decades – for God’s promises in our lives to be fulfilled, and that is often a test or trial in and of itself. Our timing is rarely God’s timing, and we should never try to rush ahead nor lag behind. Instead, as we see with Caleb in this passage, we are to simply go where the LORD leads us, serving him faithfully and consistently each day wherever He has placed us until such time as He deems fit to fulfill His ultimate plan for our life. Waiting on God and His timing will always be worth the years of pain, struggle, and – often – tears! There is always joy in the morning, and God always rewards the faithfulness of His children, and always more bountifully than we could have imagined!  CHAPTER 11:
Verses 1-5: During the various battles between Israel and the southern cities of Canaan, news of Israel’s victories reaches the northern cities and their kings. (v.1) According to the notes in my study Bible, Hazor is a heavily fortified city located on the main road between Egypt and Mesopotamia, about 10 miles northwest of the Sea of Galilee (or Chinneroth, as it was known before Israel conquered the promised land) in northern Palestine. As did King Adoni-zedek in the previous chapter, King Jabin of Hazor forms an alliance with his fellow rulers of the nearby cities of Madon, Shimron, and Achshaph, as well as the regions of Chinneroth and Dor. (v.2) Verse 3 makes it clear that he even sends word to the Amorites, Hittites, and the Perizzites, all of whom are currently engaged in battle against the Israelites as described in the previous chapter. Verse 4 states that the army which Jabin assembled at Merom (v.5) is as great in number “…as the sand that is upon the sea shore…with horses and chariots very many.” The Moody Bible Commentary quotes the renowned Roman historian Josephus as saying, “…the number of the whole army was three hundred thousand armed footmen, and ten thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand chariots…”. That is a mighty and powerful force indeed! It very likely outnumbers the Israelite forces at least two to one, else God would not have spoken encouraging words to Joshua in verse 6. Verses 6-15: Once again, God promises the victory to His chosen people. He tells Joshua to not be afraid of the enemy, “…for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel…”. (v.6) The word “hough” is found four times in scripture, the first two being here in Joshua 11. (The other passages are 2 Samuel 8:4 and 1 Chronicles 18:4.) The term refers to the severing of the tendons in the horse’s hind legs, thus permanently crippling it. Horses and chariots were the primary symbols of military might and power in the ANE. Thus, when God tells Joshua that the Israelite army will easily hamstring the enemy’s horses and then burn their chariots, this is indeed a great promise and encouragement! Emboldened by the word of the LORD, the Israelite army descends upon the enemy camps at Merom with sudden ferocity and soundly defeats all of the kings’ forces. (v.7-9) Just as he did with the five southern kings, Joshua executes all of the northern kings, and then burns the city of Hazor. (v.10-13) King Jabin of Hazor was the ringleader and orchestrator of the alliance against Israel (v.10), so that’s why Hazor is destroyed. All the other cities, however, are left standing, and all their spoil is plundered by Israel. (v.14) As Moses had commanded by God’s word (v.15), the Israelites “…smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe…”. (v.11) This is confirmed again in verse 14. Verses 16-20: With the exception of Achan’s sin and the alliance with the Hivites, the Israelites had done all that God had commanded them in regards to conquering the promised land. (v.16-17) Verse 20 confirms that God had hardened the hearts of the Canaanites, just as He did with Pharoah and the Egyptians, in order that His judgment against them for their rebellion and wickedness would be fulfilled. (Genesis 15:16) Like the Egyptians, it was the choice of the Canaanites to reject God first, and because of that God hardened their hearts. Now His judgment against them is complete. (v.20) Verses 21-22: There is a footnote here regarding the Anakim, the giants that the ten spies were so fearful of. (Numbers 13:32-33) Joshua and Caleb had, of course, been right in their defense of God’s power and ability to deliver even these into Israel’s hand, as proven in this chapter. The author notes that the only giants now left alive are in the Philistine cities of Gath and Ashdod. Gath, as we already know, is the home of the giant named Goliath whom David, the future king of Israel, will slay with a single stone. (1 Samuel 17:4, 49) Verse 23: All of the land that was promised to the descendants of Abraham is now under the dominion of Israel, “…according to all that the LORD said unto Moses…”. (Exodus 33:2, Numbers 34:2) The next step is for Joshua to divide up the land among the twelve tribes as instructed by Moses. (Numbers 26:53) “And the land rested from war.” God had promised to deliver this land into the hands of His chosen people as the inheritance of Abraham, and He had made good on that promise. Now, as a reward for this generation’s obedience, He gives the Israelites rest from all their enemies. (Deuteronomy 12:9-10, 25:19, Hebrews 4:8) CHAPTER 12: As is common with oral and written records of the ANE, this chapter is a closing summary/recap of Israel’s victorious conquering of the promised land. The Moody Bible Commentary puts it this way: Chapter 12 “…has the feel of a formal, holy convocation, a stately march through the fraternal graveyard of deceased kings sharing alike in a failed attempt to thwart God’s purposes.” Verses 1-6: These are a summary of the victories led by Moses before the Israelites crossed the Jordan into the promised land. (v.1) Sihon and Og were the kings defeated there, and the dimensions of all their land and kingdoms is stated again in verses 2-5. Their land is what was given to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh. (v.6) (Numbers 32:29, Deuteronomy 3:12, Joshua 13:8) There is mention again of Og being related to the Anakim. (v.4) Verses 7-24: The remainder of the chapter is a list of the kings conquered on this side of the Jordan, starting with Jericho. The only people missing from the list in verse 8 are the Gibeonites. The total number of conquered kings and armies is thirty-one (v.24), and they are listed in the order of the battles from south to north. (v.9-24) (Deuteronomy 7:24) It’s necessary to note here that while the kings and their armies were defeated, not all the cities were actually conquered by Israel in this initial campaign. Jerusalem and Gezer, for example, will not be taken for many centuries yet. (2 Samuel 5:6-9, 1 Kings 9:16) Verse 14 mentions the kings Hormah and Arad, two victories that were actually achieved first under Moses. (Numbers 21:1-3) A possible explanation of this is that in the time between those initial battles and the campaigns led by Joshua, some of the Canaanites had re-settled in those two cities, thus requiring the Israelites to conquer them a second time. Also, the fact that Beth-el is not listed as being conquered until after the battle at Makkedah indicates that, while its armies had initially assisted the King of Ai, the king of Beth-el and his city was not actually defeated by Israel until later on. |
Click here to get back to the chapter links on the Bible study homepage.
Archives
February 2026
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed