Joshua 11-21 Inheriting the Land

Intro:

This section of scripture

Read Joshua 11:1-5

I. Chap 11-12 Conquering Kings

Last week saw how Israel was able to defeat the southern tribes

God used large hailstones to defeat most of them

Then he made the sun stand still so that Israel could finish off the rest

It was one of the most incredible stories of God working through an army

After the northern nations see this they gather in greater numbers than the south

They are described as many as the sands of the sea with chariots and horses

vs. 18 says that they made war with them for a long time

The estimated time was around seven years

II. Chap 13 Land Still to be Possessed

Even though Israel has conquered the land there are still areas and small city nations that need to be possessed

Unfortunately Israel never conquers them and it causes major problems in Judges and 1 Sam

But Joshua is getting old

His time of leading the army is coming to a close

He was 40 as a spy

In his 80’s when he took over leadership

Now he is in his 90’s and ready to retire from being the judge of Israel

It’s time to divide the land up by inheritance

The 2.5 tribes east of the Jordan were already given their land by Moses

Their troops came over the Jordan to fight in battle

Now it is time to give out the land west of the Jordan

III. Chap 14-15 Caleb’s Request

vs. 14:6-15 Give Me the Hill Country

Before we get to the tribes getting their land there is some unfinished business

Two people who left Egypt entered the promised land: Caleb & Joshua

Moses promised to give him the land his foot walked on

He asks Joshua for the hill country of Judah

This is an interesting request of a man 85 years old

First, it was steep country

Second, it was the land of the Anakim, or Giants

Yet, Caleb says that he is strong today as he was when he was 40

At his old age he was still looking to trust the Lord

vs. 12 Give me the hill country with the Anakim in their fortified cities

It may be that the Lord will be with me and I will drive them out

Joshua blessed them

vs. 15:13-19 Give My Daughter in Marriage

Even though Israel inherited the land the individual tribes needed to push the people out

Caleb went to the hill country of Hebron

He drove out the three sons of Anak and there was a city named Kiriath-sepher

Caleb decides to give his daughter in marriage to the guy who can defeat it

“Whoever strikes Kiriath-sepher and captures it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter as wife.”

Othniel took up the challenge and won his bride

Achsah, being the opportunist asks her dad for a spring of water along with the land given to them

IV. Chap 16-19 Inheritance Given Out

Ch 16 Northern & Southern Borders

Judah and Joseph (Ephraim & Manasseh) made up the southern and northern borders

You must remember that this land was inherited by Israel

They didn’t conquer or purchase it

Judah inherited the land which includes Jerusalem

This is important because the Messiah is promised out of Judah and they need the land in which He will rule

Judah didn’t conquer Jerusalem until the time of David, which shows you that much of Israel lived with other nations in their land

This presented problems on many fronts

Those nations would raid Israel when it was harvest time

They would tempt them with their gods like baal

They would also marry their children to their children

Ephraim and Manasseh would make up the northern section of Israel

Ch 18 Remaining Land

The whole nation gathers to set up the tabernacle in Shiloh

The land has been subdued but there is one issue

Seven tribes haven’t gotten their land

Joshua puts it back on them

How long are you going to sit around before you go home

Appoint 3 men from each tribe to map out the land

Divide it into seven sections and Joshua would cast lots for who got what land

Benjamin got his first

Simeon followed him

The last tribe was Dan

What’s interesting is that Dan ended up moving north because the Philistines terrorized them

V. Chap 20-21

Ch 20 Cities of Refuge

Ch 21 Cities for Levites