In chapter 9 of the book of Joshua, we are told the tale of the Hivites from Gibeon.
They heard all of what Joshua and the Israelites did at Ai, and set out to decieve Joshua. They took some old food, moldy bread, and worn-out clothes and travelled to where Joshua and the Israelites were. They presented themselve as from far off, and demanded that a treaty be set up with them for protection.
Joshua was reluctant, but eventually agreed. It was soon known that the Hivites' deception and the Israelites wants them killed.
Joshua refused, saying they had a treaty. Instead, he made the Hivites slaves. Even though the Hivites were not defeated, they still lived the life of a slave--all under the God's watch.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Entering God's Temple
Psalms 15 is short, yet powerful. In short--no pun intended--it starts by asking the question: who may enter God's Temple?
The person who enters:
The person who enters:
- obeys God and always does what is right
- does not slander others
- does not spread rumors
- dislikes those who reject God
- honors those who also obey God
- always does what he/she promises, no matter the cost
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Troubles and triumph at Ai
In chapter 7 of the book of Joshua, we meet Achan. Achan did a very bad thing: against the Lord's command, he kept some "souvenirs" from Jericho, despite the explicit instructions by God not to do so.
Because of this, the initial attack on the city of Ai went poorly. As the defeated Israelites came back and told Joshua what had transpired, he threw himself before the altar and cried out to the Lord. Then, God told Joshua about Achan.
Achan was then immediately confronted. He confessed, and was then stoned, along with his entire family.
God was no longer angry.
In chapter 8, the Israelites perform a bit of trickery to lure the soldiers out of the city of Ai. It worked beautifully, and Ai was defeated once and for all.
Afterwards, Joshua had an altar built and read the Laws that Moses had written down, from the Lord.
Because of this, the initial attack on the city of Ai went poorly. As the defeated Israelites came back and told Joshua what had transpired, he threw himself before the altar and cried out to the Lord. Then, God told Joshua about Achan.
Achan was then immediately confronted. He confessed, and was then stoned, along with his entire family.
God was no longer angry.
In chapter 8, the Israelites perform a bit of trickery to lure the soldiers out of the city of Ai. It worked beautifully, and Ai was defeated once and for all.
Afterwards, Joshua had an altar built and read the Laws that Moses had written down, from the Lord.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
The fall of Jericho
In chapter 5 of the book of Joshua, the Israelites prepare for their march on Jericho. All of the men were circumcised, and once they were healed, they set out to Jericho.
As they neared the walled city, a man holding a sword appeared before them. Joshua asked him if he was friend or foe. The soldier answered that he was neither, for he was there as the Lord's commander.
Joshua fell to his knees.
And the march began.
Chapter 6 deals with the fall of Jericho. The Lord requested that Joshua had his soldiers go around the city, each day, for seven days. Then, once the march was done on the seventh day, they were to blow a trumpet and the walls would crush down.
In the end, Jericho was completely destroyed--save for the prostitute who helped house the Israelite spies earlier. Her family and her were spared. Then, there was a grave warning for anyone who wanted to rebuild Jericho, that they would meet with a very unpleasant fate.
As they neared the walled city, a man holding a sword appeared before them. Joshua asked him if he was friend or foe. The soldier answered that he was neither, for he was there as the Lord's commander.
Joshua fell to his knees.
And the march began.
Chapter 6 deals with the fall of Jericho. The Lord requested that Joshua had his soldiers go around the city, each day, for seven days. Then, once the march was done on the seventh day, they were to blow a trumpet and the walls would crush down.
In the end, Jericho was completely destroyed--save for the prostitute who helped house the Israelite spies earlier. Her family and her were spared. Then, there was a grave warning for anyone who wanted to rebuild Jericho, that they would meet with a very unpleasant fate.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
River and stones
In the book of Joshua, chapter 3, the Israelites prepare to cross the Jordan River. The priests carrying the Covenent Box--containing the tablets of the Ten Commandments--went ahead of everyone. They stopped at the mighty river, and when they did the river stopped flowing. This was done in much the same way as the Israelites did at the Red Sea with Moses.
Once the Covenent Box was across, the rest of the people went afterwards, prepared for war.
In chapter 4, much emphasis is made on twelve stones to be placed where the priests stood as the river stopped flowing. Twelve stones, representing the twelve tribes that make up the Israelites, were gathered by the leaders of the twelve tribes. They were to be set up as a reminder of what the Lord did for the Israelites that day as they crossed the river into the land God promised them so long ago.
Once the Covenent Box was across, the rest of the people went afterwards, prepared for war.
In chapter 4, much emphasis is made on twelve stones to be placed where the priests stood as the river stopped flowing. Twelve stones, representing the twelve tribes that make up the Israelites, were gathered by the leaders of the twelve tribes. They were to be set up as a reminder of what the Lord did for the Israelites that day as they crossed the river into the land God promised them so long ago.
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