THE BOOK OF JOSHUA God speaks to Joshua

THE BOOK OF JOSHUA

§ God speaks to Joshua § Joshua speaks to the people § The people submit to Joshua

Two spies enter Jericho and they meet a harlot named Rahab hides the spies and deceives her townspeople, because she has faith in the God of Israel.

§ She lowers them down by a rope from her window in the city walls. § She tells them to go hide in the hills for 3 days. § They make a pact with her that when they conquer Jericho they will save her and her family.

§ The priests and Levites take the ark of the covenant into the middle of the river. Just like the Red Sea split, the Jordan River splits. The water started to make a mound upstream. Israel passes over the river on dry land.

Gather 12 large stones from the riverbed. 1 stone for each tribe of Israel. Create a memorial of stones. Your children will ask you, “what do theses stones mean? ” You will tell them what happened here. After the miracle of the river, everyone was in awe of Joshua.

§ Ch. 5: Israel Prepares to Conquer the Land § Nations Tremble: God was setting up Israel for success. God is also trying to draw the Canaanites into repentance. § New Generation Circumcised § First Passover in the Promised Land (the manna stopped; they ate from the produce of the land. This is a fulfillment of God’s promise) § Commander of the Lord’s Army § Joshua: Are you for us of against us: § Angel: No! I’m on God’s side. § Joshua: What does God command? § Angel: Take off your shoes!!!! § Like Moses at the burning bush

CHAPTER 6: THE BATTLE OF JERICHO § Ch. 6: Battle of Jericho § Battle strategy: § 1 st Day- walk around the city in silence, priests blow on 7 trumpets § 2 nd Day- walk around the city in silence, priests blow on 7 trumpets § 3 rd Day- walk around the city in silence, priests blow on 7 trumpets § 4 th Day- walk around the city in silence, priests blow on 7 trumpets § 5 th Day- walk around the city in silence, priests blow on 7 trumpets § 6 th Day- walk around the city in silence, priests blow on 7 trumpets § 7 th Day- walk around the city seven times, priests blow the 7 trumpets. The whole army gives a big shout. The walls come tumbling down § (HW: You. Tube Joshua fought the battle of Jericho) § Israelites defeated Jericho, but they saved Rahab and her family.

§ Ch. 7: Achan’s sin § Achan stole the devoted goods and buried them under his tent. § Broke faith with God, for the whole Israelite community. § Israel was unable to stand in battle because of the sin in their midst. § They went up to Ai and tried to fight, but they lost. § Joshua goes before the Lord and he is very distraught. § God speaks and says, there is sin in Israel and you cannot stand in battle until it is taken care of. § Tribe by tribe: Picked Achan’s tribe § Clan by clan: picked Achan’s clan § Family by family: picked Achan’s family § Household by household: Achan’s household § Person by person: Achan was chose. § § Achan admits everything and tells Joshua where he hid the stolen items. § Achan’s actions were high treason. They were a capital crime. Achan was put to death.

§ Ch. 8: Battle of Ai and Covenant Ceremony § They fight against Ai one more time and win.

The Israelites go to Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal Mt. Gerizim represented the blessings of the covenant. Mt. Ebal represented the curses of the covenant. 6 tribes go up one and 6 tribes go up the other. Here they ratified their covenant with God.