It Didn’t Seem That Important

 God had specifically commanded the Israelites they were to drive the former occupants completely out from among them so that they would not begin to adopt those groups customs and religion, and not to make any treaties with them.  Wanting to get about living a normal life, Israel did not drive them completely out, choosing instead to negotiate treaties with them, as Judges 1:28- 33 describes.  “And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.  Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.  Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.  Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob: But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out.  Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them.”

 

God was not pleased with their disobedience and warned them that because they had disobeyed him, he would no longer drive out their enemies before them like he had done at first.  Instead they would have to physically defeat their enemies in the future. As the angel told them in Judges 2:1-3.  “And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.  And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?  Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.”

 

The angel warned them that the presence of the former inhabitants would be a constant source of conflict, and that their worship of other Gods would be a constant source of temptation to turn away from God.  The people were quite upset at learning God would no longer drive out their eemies the way he had, as Judges 2:4-6 tells us.  “And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.  And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.  And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.”

 

It was probably at this point Joshua called the people together, insisting the commit to following only God, as was described in Joshua 23-24.  As a result of Joshua’s efforts to get such a commitment, Judges 2:7 tells us, “And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.”

 

The people who had grown up under Moses’ leadership and remembered what God had done for them stayed faithful to God.  Unfortunately, the younger generation did not have those memories, and began to copy the lifestyles of the former occupants of the land, as Judges 2:11-13 tells us.  “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.  And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.”

 

I’m sure the command to completely drive out the former occupants seemed a little harsh and excessive in light of the treaties, but failure to obey it led the next generation into sin.  I have no idea how many dedicated Christians have exposed their children and grandchildren to temptation and sin because they didn’t realize how important some seemingly minor command from God was.  Israel’s failure to follow God’s command completely would have serious consequences for their children and grandchildren, as Judges 2:14-15 describes.  “And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.  Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.”

 

We need to realize God always has a reason for his commands, and obey him implicitly, even when the commands seem pointless or excessive. 

Making Sure Of The People’s Commitment

Based on Caleb’s statement of his own age, it is probable Joshua was around eighty years old when he became Israel’s leader.   After many years as their leader, he realized he would not be able to continue indefinitely, and began to prepare the nation for when he would no longer be able to lead them.  He started by reminding them what God had done for them while he led them, in Joshua 23:1-4.  “And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.  And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age: And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.  Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.

 

They could expect God to continue to bless them if they would trust him and follow his commands, as he told them in Joshua 23:5-12.  “And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.  Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left; That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.  For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.  One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.  Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.”

 

He also warned them that if they turned away from God’s directions, following the example of the world around them, God would cease to bless them, in Joshua 23:13-16.  “Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

 

And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.  Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.  When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.”

 

Whether God blessed them or cursed them would be dependent on whether they chose to serve God or not.  After giving them some time to think about what he had told them, Joshua called them together again, reminding them in detail how Gd had blessed them, in Joshua 24:1-13.  “And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.  And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

 

And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.  And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.  I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out.  And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea.  And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season.

 

And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before you.  Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you: But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.  And ye went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand. And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow.  And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.”

 

Based on what God had done for them in the past, Joshua asked the people to commit to whether they would follow God or not, In Joshua 24:14-15.  “Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.  And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

 

When Paul wrote, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation,” in Romans 10:9-10, he was referring to this kind of a commitment.  He was not simply talking about simply saying you believed but actually committing to that belief. 

 

Like many people today, the Israelites were quick to make an emotional decision, in Joshua 24:16-18.  “And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods; For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed: And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God.”

 

Joshua was quick to point out that they needed to make an actual long term commitment, not just not just jump in for the short term benefits, in Joshua 24:19-20.  “And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.  If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.”

 

Joshua warned them that God would not be satisfied with just saying the words, but would expect them to follow through on their promise.  The people insisted that was their intention, in Joshua 24:21-22.  “And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.  And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.”

 

Joshua then insisted that if they were sincere they would make some changes in their lifestyle, in Joshua 24:23-24.  “Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.  And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.”

 

Convinced of their sincerity, Joshua made a covenant or contract with them, setting up a memorial to remind them of their covenant or contract with God, in Joshua 24:25-28.  “So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.  And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.  And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.  So Joshua let the people depart, every man unto his inheritance.”   What happened to Israel from that point on would be up to them.  Joshua had done everything he could to ensure they followed God.

Making a False Assumption

 God had blessed Israel mightily in their effort to occupy the land, as Joshua 21:43-45 describes.  “And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.  And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.  There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.”

 

With the land subdued, the Trans-Jordanian tribes, Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh were allowed to return to the land they had conquered before crossing the Jordan, as Joshua 22:7-9 describes.  “Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan: but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them, And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.  And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.”

 

One of the first things the Trans-Jordan tribes did upon their return as to build a huge altar on the east side of the Jordan, as Joshua 22:10 tells us.  “And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to.”

 

Seeing and hearing about the altar, the other tribes assumed it was because they wanted to split off from Israel and start their own country and religious sect, as Joshua 22:11-20 describes.  “And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel.  And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them.

 

And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, And with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one was an head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel.  And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and they spake with them, saying, Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LORD? Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD, But that ye must turn away this day from following the LORD? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to day against the LORD, that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.  Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD'S tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar beside the altar of the LORD our God.  Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.”

 

The other tribes were remembering what had happened when some of the people got involved with the Moabite and Midianite women and their religion resulting in the deaths of twenty four thousand people in Numbers 25.  Others remembered how Achan’s disobedience at Jericho had caused the deaths of thirty six men.  They were afraid this would cause similar results. 

 

As the trans-Jordan tribes explained, they had no intention of breaking away or starting their own religion.  They were concerned that the Jordan river might be seen as a boundary separating them and they would be discriminated against or excluded from Israel.  They had built the altar as reminder they served and worshipped the same God.  They had no intention of using it for worship, as they explained in Joshua 22:21-29.  “Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel, The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,) That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the LORD himself require it; And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the LORD God of Israel?  For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD.

 

Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice: But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.  Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you.  God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle.”

 

Both sides had made false assumptions, which almost led to war.  Fortunately the main group took the time to talk with the Trans-Jordan tribes before attacking and learned the reason for their actions.  When they learned the reason they realized there was no reason for conflict, as Joshua 22:30-34 explains.  “And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them.  And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the LORD: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD.

 

And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again.  And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt.  And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God.”

 

Many of the conflicts between Christians are the result of similar false assumptions.  Walking by faith requires learning to let God lead others as he sees fit, as Romans 14:1-4 tells us.  “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.”  It is important to understand this is about things which are questionable.  We are to warn them they are wrong, if they are doing something that is clearly contrary to God’s command, but we are not to impose our own standards or ideas on them.

Sometimes The Rewards Of Faith Are Delayed

When Israel began dividing up the land, Caleb approached Joshua, reminding him of Moses’ promise that he would receive the land he helped spy out, as described in Joshua 14:5-12.  “As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.  Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.  Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.  Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.

 

And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.  And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.  As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.  Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.”

 

Caleb reminded Joshua that forty years before he and Joshua had been the only spies encouraging the people to go into Canaan.  The rest of the spies had been afraid of the giants and discouraged the people.   Their fear campaign was so successful Israel was prevented from going into Canaan for forty years, till all those who refused to trust God died.  For forty years, Caleb had waited to receive the land he had been promised because other people would not obey the Lord.  He specifically requested the area where the giants lived that the entire army had been afraid of.   Joshua fulfilled that promise, giving Caleb the land he requested as Joshua 14:13-14 tells us.  “And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.  Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.

 

Although he had been forced to wait forty years to receive the promise, Caleb received it as promised because he wholly trusted God even when the others did not.  Like David, some six hundred years later, he defeated the giants that had terrified the entire army, as Joshua 15:13-14 tells us.  “And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron.  And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.”

 

Though he was eighty years old, when he received the land, Caleb was able to drive out the giants and claim the entire area, giving the city of Hebron to the Levites as one of the cities of refuge, while retaining the land around it.  He was the only one who completely drove out the original inhabitants of the land, because he was still obeying God completely. 

 

Like Caleb, when we live by faith, we don’t always get the rewards right away.  Sometimes the actions of others hinder our receiving them, while other times God has a bigger plan that prevents our receiving them immediately.  Hebrews 11:39-40 tells us that none of the Old Testament saints received all the things they expected because God had a greater plan.  “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”  As Paul advised the Galatians, we mustn’t get discouraged when the rewards are delayed.  Galatians 6:9 advises, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Completing His Job

 Reading about the victories in Canaan, one gets the sense that this all happened very rapidly.   Living in our modern world with modern means of transportation we forget how long it took to move their armies from one city to the next and how they were forced to take the availability of water into account in every move.  While they had been able to rapidly defeat the large alliances in the north and south, conquering the individual cities required several years. 

 

Joshua was about eighty when he assumed leadership of Israel. I         f he was to divide the land and enable the people to settle it, he could not wait until the occupation was complete.  God directed him to focus on dividing the land and let future leaders complete the conquest, in Joshua 13:1-6.  “Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.  This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri, From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites: From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites: And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.  All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.”

 

While they had only conquered a small part of what God had promised them, they had more than enough to meet their present needs, and God told them to focus on utilizing what they had.  He had promised to expand their landholdings as they needed them, in Exodus 23:28-30.  “And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.  I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.  By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.” 

 

A common mistake in Christian circles is to hold off starting until we have all the funds raised or all the pieces are in place as a way of being sure we have God’s blessing on the project.  God was directing Israel to go ahead even though everything was not in place and trust him to bring it in when needed.  He had given them assurance of his approval by fulfilling the promise in Exodus 23:27, “I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.”  They could trust him to keep the rest of the promise, and if we were really following God’s leadership, we can trust him to enable us to accomplish the next step when it is needed.  We don’t need to keep asking for additional signs. 

 

Israel never occupied all the land God promised them, but that was not Joshua’s problem.  He had done what God wanted him to do in leading them into the land and dividing it up.  Their failure to complete the occupation would be future generations’ fault, not Joshua’s.  God may give us a vision of what he intends so that we know how to start, but he may intend for someone else to finish it.  We can concentrate on doing what is needed right now and trust him to take care of the next stage. 

Taking Control of Northern Canaan

 The kings in northern Canaan had formed an alliance, in Joshua 9:1-2, resulting in the treaty with Gibeon which led to the south’s forming a coalition to attack Gibeon.  This led to Israel’s defeating the souther coalition and seizing the entire southern half of Canaan.  Learning of the defeat of the southern coalition, the Northern kings decided to make a preemptive strike, as described in Joshua 11:1-5.  “And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph, And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west, And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.  And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.  And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.”

 

It was a huge army, much larger than that of the southern coalition, who had planned to destroy Gibeon first.  God Told Israel not to fear becase he would give them the victory.  He instructed them to burn the chariot and destroy the chariot horses.  Joshua followed God’s instructions, in Joshua 11:6-9.  “And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hock their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.  So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.  And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.  And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he hocked their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.”

 

The city of Hazor had been the main force in forming the Northern alliance, and Joshua wiped the city out, in Joshua 11:10-12.  “And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.  And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire.  And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded.”

 

In their attack on Israel, the alliance had pulled in all the fighting men from the various cities, leaving them undefended.  Israel did not burn the cities, just killing the inhabitants and keeping their belongings, as Joshua 11:13-18 tells us.  “But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.  And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe.

 

As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.  So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same;  Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.”

 

It took a long time to take complete control of those cities, but Gibeon was the only one who made any effort to make a treaty with Israel.  God caused them to harden their hearts and decide to fight to the finish, as Joshua 11:18-20 describes.  “Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.  There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle.  For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.”

 

Forty some years before, the Israelites had refused to go into the land because of the giants they saw, who were descendants of Anak.  In the process of conquering Canaan, the Israelites wiped out all the Anakims except a few who lived among the Philistines, as Joshua 11:21-22 tells us.  “And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.  There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.”

 

When they finished the northern campaign, Israel was in control of all the land from Egypt to Lebanon between the Mediterranean Sea and the Euphrates River, according to Joshua 11:23.  “So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.”  The coalitions of the northern and southern groups enabled Israel to break the main power so that they could defeat individual cities as needed.  Unfortunately, none of the tribes would completely drive out the former occupants, leaving a a constant source of conflict, as we will see in future posts.  No effort was made to settle in the Midianite lands they had conquered,

Additional Results of God’s Blessing

 God had used the treaty with Gibeon to unite the various groups in southern Canaan.  When they attacked Gibeon, God worked miraculously to break the power of the alliance, killing a large number of the troops, and executing the leaders, and weakening the defenses in all the cities.  With the leadership destroyed, Israel was able to pick off the cities one at a time, as we see in Joshua 10:28-32.  “And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho.  Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah:  And the LORD delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho.  And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it: And the LORD delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah.

 

There were efforts to unite and fight Israel but in their weakend state the those efforts failed, as Joshua 10:33-41.  “Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.  And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it, and fought against it: And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.  And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron; and they fought against it:  And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein.

 

And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it: And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.  So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded.  And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.”

 

Thanks to God’s intervening in the battle at Gibeon, Israel was able to conquer the entire southern half of what would become Israel in a single campaign, as Joshua 10:42-43 describes.  “And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.  And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.”  In just a few days or weeks, Israel was able to destroy all the fortified cities and organized resistance.  Once they completed the campaign, they returned to their families encamped at Gilgal. 

 

The death of Pharaoh and the Egyptian army destroyed Egypt’s power, and other groups of slaves united and revolted, taking control of northern Egypt.   This alliance of former slaves, known as the Hyksos, or “foreigners” would hold power for over a hundred years.  In this campaign against the southern tribes, Israel even captured Goshen, the area where they had been held as slaves, along the northeastern edge of Egypt.