Joshua 7
Notes
Transcript
How to Read the Bible:
1. Reading Holistically- Reading the larger narrative.
2. Reading Particulars- Reading specifics and finding their meaning within the story.
3. Recapitulation:
an act or instance of summarizing and restating the main points of something. To recap or revisit.
The purpose of recapitulation is to understand from the past what is taking place in the present narrative. It provides a lens for us to see what is taking place.
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
God declares Holy War and Items of the Ban. Israel has cleansed themselves with circumcision which distinguishes them from those things that are defiled and banned. They march around Jericho, its walls come straight down and they enter the city with sword and burn everything except that which belongs to God. Then Achan covets and takes that which belongs to God and brings it back into camp in his tent. This act defiles Israel and brings the same judgment upon his family as that of Jericho and His family is brought to God and stoned and burned. Now Israel has dealt with the defilement and has once against been distinguished by removing sin from themselves.
Terms.
Ai- “Ruin.” Israel is ruined at Ai.
Beth-aven-“house of iniquity.”
1. Ban and Burning v.1
1. Ban and Burning v.1
During a declaration of “herem” consuming defiled things through fire is the appropriate action. Fire represents God’s all consuming fire manifest in his wrath for against sin. The fire consumes and then it becomes refined and good again. The Lord anger is kindled against his people who have become banned themselves for breaking covenant.
2. A Game of Numbers (v. 2-5)
2. A Game of Numbers (v. 2-5)
About 40,000 equipped for war (Joshua 4:15)
sent 3,000 to Ai- 36 were destroyed then their hearts melted. Ai had 12,000 total (Josh 8:25)
Joshua 5:1 “1 Now it came about when all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard how the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the sons of Israel until they had crossed, that their hearts melted, and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the sons of Israel.” Joshua 2:11 “11 “When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.”
Hearts melting signifies that Israel has become like their enemies in that they are fearful of God as his anger is upon them. “It vividly expresses the fact that Israel has become the enemy rather than the people of God” (cf. 2:11; 5:1).11 Trent C. Butler, Joshua, vol. 7 of Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1984), 84.
3. Joshua goes to see the Commander v.6
3. Joshua goes to see the Commander v.6
Joshua goes to the ark of the Covenant in the tent of meeting and we are told that he fell on his face just like he did in Joshua 5:14 “14 He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?”” This may indicate that he is speaking to the commander of the host of the Lord or to the cloud of God’s presence either way we understand it as God. This may be implying that Jesus is still present with them during this matter but isn’t outside among them due to their breach of covenant. He is the his tent and isn’t commanding them in their seige of Ai.
4. What’s in a Name? v.9
4. What’s in a Name? v.9
The name of the Lord represents his presence where his name dwells. If his name is cut off then his presence will depart. The level of his fame indicates the level of his presence among the people.
There is power in His name, even the name of Jesus because presence and power run hand and hand. You speak the name of Jesus and his authority is executed on the situation.
5. Covenant Community v.11
5. Covenant Community v.11
It should be noted that God deals with community as a whole despite this “sin” being committed by the Individual. The defilement was all over camp because sin resided in camp. The consequence was issued to the particular person (with his clan) and that sin was removed. Then the rest of the community was consecrated again.
God takes sin seriously and sin within the community of believers has community wide impact. God doesn’t view his people as a bunch of individuals but as a family. What happens to one impacts the whole. In modern times we always think individualistically. But the Bible is directing us to think and act corporately.
Theology behind this is multi-faceted. 1) Loving others incorporates looking out for the interests of others, 2) not forgiving others impacts your individual forgiveness 3) God would have you pause your worship of him in order to be right with each other. 4) Each are a part of a body and one cannot do without the other 5) Christologically, we understand how what one person does impacts the whole. Its a two way street. we were created for community and God is maintaining that order throughout scripture. we are the only ones who see things more individualistically. 6) we are our brother’s keeper. We share in the sufferings of Christ and in the suffering of each other.
Practically, this is why we reach whole families, and baptize babies, and invite the whole family to communion. It mimics what happens at passover with the whole family involved. God deals with families which often begins with deal with individuals. It is assumed that if a husband is saved then his family should follow. The sooner we come around to thinking more communally then closer we are to thinking the way God thinks.
6. Rise or Fall v. 12-13
6. Rise or Fall v. 12-13
Context- Joshua 3:5 “5 Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.””
Joshua 7:12–13 (NASB95)
12 “Therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies, for they have become accursed. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from your midst. 13 “Rise up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for thus the Lord, the God of Israel, has said, “There are things under the ban in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you have removed the things under the ban from your midst.”
Consecration is the act of setting apart, to make holy, to become distinguished from everything else. God is telling Joshua to once again distinguish themselves from that which is banned. Then the Lord directs them how to do this. The Lord not only commands towards victory over our enemy but also commands us towards our resurrection- the way to live consecrated, holy lives by pointing out the sin in our lives and getting rid of it.
7. Parade for judgment v.14-18
7. Parade for judgment v.14-18
A. Adam & The parade of animals.
A. Adam & The parade of animals.
18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” 19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. 22 The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.”
B. Jesse’s Son Pass by Samuel:
B. Jesse’s Son Pass by Samuel:
10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” 12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
C. The Tribes and Families brought near Joshua:
C. The Tribes and Families brought near Joshua:
14 ‘In the morning then you shall come near by your tribes. And it shall be that the tribe which the Lord takes by lot shall come near by families, and the family which the Lord takes shall come near by households, and the household which the Lord takes shall come near man by man. 15 ‘It shall be that the one who is taken with the things under the ban shall be burned with fire, he and all that belongs to him, because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he has committed a disgraceful thing in Israel.’ ” 16 So Joshua arose early in the morning and brought Israel near by tribes, and the tribe of Judah was taken. 17 He brought the family of Judah near, and he took the family of the Zerahites; and he brought the family of the Zerahites near man by man, and Zabdi was taken. 18 He brought his household near man by man; and Achan, son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, was taken.
8. The Fall v. 19-21
8. The Fall v. 19-21
A. The Fall & Sin of Adam and Even
A. The Fall & Sin of Adam and Even
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.
B. The “Fall” of Achan
B. The “Fall” of Achan
19 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I implore you, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and give praise to Him; and tell me now what you have done. Do not hide it from me.” 20 So Achan answered Joshua and said, “Truly, I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel, and this is what I did: 21 when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold fifty shekels in weight, then I coveted them and took them; and behold, they are concealed in the earth inside my tent with the silver underneath it.”
1. The “Sin” of Achan
1. The “Sin” of Achan
Joshua 7:21 “21 when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold fifty shekels in weight, then I coveted them and took them; and behold, they are concealed in the earth inside my tent with the silver underneath it.””
Achan specifically the desire (covet) of the cloak of Shinar which was signifies the rule of Nimrod and puts Achan in kind with those who want to position themselves upon a throne in the heavens.
2. The “Sin” of Nimrod.
2. The “Sin” of Nimrod.
8 Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
1 Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words. 2 It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3 They said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.” And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. 4 They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
9. Double Trouble (Achor/Achan) v. 24-26
9. Double Trouble (Achor/Achan) v. 24-26
Prophecy:
18 “But as for you, only keep yourselves from the things under the ban, so that you do not covet them and take some of the things under the ban, and make the camp of Israel accursed and bring trouble on it.
A. From Achan To Achor (Trouble/Trouble)
A. From Achan To Achor (Trouble/Trouble)
24 Then Joshua and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the mantle, the bar of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent and all that belonged to him; and they brought them up to the valley of Achor. 25 Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? The Lord will trouble you this day.” And all Israel stoned them with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones. 26 They raised over him a great heap of stones that stands to this day, and the Lord turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the valley of Achor to this day.
B. Like City (Jericho) Like Clan (Achan)
B. Like City (Jericho) Like Clan (Achan)
1. Jericho.
1. Jericho.
Joshua 6:20 “20 So the people shouted, and priests blew the trumpets; and when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight ahead, and they took the city.”
Joshua 6:24 “24 They burned the city with fire, and all that was in it. Only the silver and gold, and articles of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord.”
2. Achan’s Clan.
2. Achan’s Clan.
24 Then Joshua and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the mantle, the bar of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent and all that belonged to him; and they brought them up to the valley of Achor. 25 Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? The Lord will trouble you this day.” And all Israel stoned them with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones.