Joshua 5-6
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The Battle that Wasn’t
The Battle that Wasn’t
What have we covered so far in the book of Joshua?
We introduced the book covering the background of Joshua and his transition to take over for Moses
He was commissioned in Joshua 1 to take over and what commandment was he given? Be strong and courageous.
The Israelites then get up and begin their trek into enemy land.
They cross the Jordan
Last time what did Geoff cover? They were to memorialize where they had come from and then press on.
1 As soon as 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 that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.
We enter into our story today with that in mind.
Let’s begin with this question at your table:
Think of a movie you have watched, come up with one at your table. Think of a movie with a battle scene in it. How is this typically portrayed/what typically happens.
You have a build up, preparing the soliders, prepping and outfitting the troops. They might prep their weapons.
Typically then at least pre-1940s battles they would come face to face. Two lines of opposing troops in opposition of one another getting closer and closer.
And then chaos—people everywhere. Dead bodies everywhere. At much strategy as their is there is a amount of “luck”. You are battling it out and just hoping to survive.
Pure chaos and then there is a winner, but really does anybody win?
Many big movies culimnate with the head guy from each side going one on one with an intense fighting scene to find the winner.
Now imagine all of that—without any of the fighting or a single weapon being drawn?
Imagine an entire city being wiped out with some horns and shouts. That is what happens in this story.
Turn to Joshua 5.
Joshua 5 is them preparing for battle. While we think of preparing for battle as cleaning our guns and sharpening our swords, God was looking for something different.
Verses 2-9 God commands Joshua to circumcise the people. Why? Simple—they had not been circumcised yet. While in Egypt they were, but that group of men, those warriors, had died off and the people who were going to fight now were born in the wilderness. They had not had that physical symbol of commitment to the Lord yet as their fathers did.
For the Israelites this was not only an act of obedience but a symbol of their allegiance to the God of the Bible. Much like we are baptised not as a saving act but a symbol of our saving faith and as a public declaration that we are different—we are God’s people.
To remember this process the place is actually renamed to Gilgal to commerate this process of aligning with Abraham.
The preparation doesn’t stop there. In verses 10-12 they celebrate Passover together. Again they are celebrating together and remembering what the Lord has done.
What was the Passover? Literally the Lord, the angel of death, passing over the houses of the Isrealites in Egypt. The firstborn from every house died except those who obeyed and slaughtered a lamb and put the blood on the doorframe.
In a time of death, they were spared. Remember again the people celebrating this were not there. That generation had died and the people celebrating passover were celebrating what the Lord had done for their fathers and forefathers.
The Israelites were celebrating in worship the faithfulness of their God in preparation for battle.
At your table read verses 13-15
And answer a couple questions:
What did Joshua stumble upon?
What question did he ask?
Who was the man he was talking to?
13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” 15 And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Joshua stumbles upon a man, with his sword in hand.
He asks him what? Are you for us or against us?
The man replies—”I am the commander of the army of the Lord”
Now let me ask you this—does this encounter remind you of anything?
Abraham, Jacob, Moses and Joshua now all have something in common.
A Theophany spurs them into action.
1 And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day.
This is when God tells Abraham that him and Sarah would have a son, even though they were advances in age.
Genesis 32 Jacob wrestles with God and dislocates his hip.
Exodus 3 what happens with Moses? He is out wandering and comes across the burning bush.
and now Joshua comes across the commander of the army of the Lord.
This passage is actually better translated with a chapter break as chapter 6:1 is comment that interrupts the flow of the encounter with God.
1 Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in
Jericho shut its doors and no one was allowed in or out. These cities were city walls with the gate being the only entrance. Once it was shut off it would be next to impossible to get in. Remember the spies were lucky to get out via the basket but that was two guys not an entire nation.
And so with that in mind they are given the instructions on what to do to take this city.
The Lord gives Joshua the commands and then he gives them to the people.
Read Joshua 6:7-15
7 And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord.” 8 And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the Lord went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the Lord following them. 9 The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually. 10 But Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.” 11 So he caused the ark of the Lord to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp. 12 Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets blew continually. 14 And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days. 15 On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times.
What were the people to do?
What were the priests to do?
How many times were they to do this?
What was unique about the 7th day?
20 So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.
But there was one more thing to do, right?
22 But to the two men who had spied out the land, Joshua said, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, as you swore to her.” 23 So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel. 24 And they burned the city with fire, and everything in it. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. 25 But Rahab the prostitute and her father’s household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
Joshua remembered the promise they gave to Rahab to be spared and they go and save her and her family.
This chapter finishes with a prophetic statement.
26 Joshua laid an oath on them at that time, saying, “Cursed before the Lord be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho. “At the cost of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son shall he set up its gates.” 27 So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land.
34 In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.
God’s promises are kept. And Joshua was known throughout all the land.
The kingdoms were already fearful after they crossed the Jordan but after hearing this they are utterly terrified and afraid of this man Joshua and his army.
Close with the following at your tables:
How has God displayed his glory in uncommon ways to you?
What are ways that we prepare ourselves for “battle”?
How has victory in your life also led to temptation?
We are going to see next time that it doesnt stay all fine and dandy. Israel does not remain the undefeated army and we will see why.
