Tag Archives: Joshua

Joshua 20:1-6

A.(1) The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying, (2) Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:

B.(3) That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither:

C. and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

D.(4) And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities

E. shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city,

D’. they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.

C’.(5) And if the avenger of blood pursue after him,

B’. then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.

A’.(6) And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.

Joshua 8:14-23

RS

A.(14) And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain;

B. but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.

C.(15) And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.

D.(16) And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city. (17) And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel:

E. and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.

F.(18) And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai;

G. for I will give it into thine hand.

F’. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city. 

E’. (19) And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire.

D’.(20) And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way:

C’. and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.

B’.(21) And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai. (22) And the other issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.

A’.(23) ¶ And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.

Joshua 24:29 – Judges 2:9

This post is stimulated by Joe’s comment on Joshua 1. Here is a chiastic structure that straddles Joshua and Judges.

Notice first that there is repetition with inversion in the following passages.

Joshua 24:29-31

A. (29) And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. (30) And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash.

B.(31)  And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.

Judges 2:7-9

B’. (7) 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.

A’. (8) And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. (9) And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.

Is it possible that there is a grand chiasm including these passages?

A. Josh 24:29-30 Death and burial of Joshua.

29) And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. (30) And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash.

B. Josh 24:31 worship continues in those who remember Joshua.

(31) And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.

C. Joshua 24:32  the inheritance of the children of Joseph.

And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver:and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.

[v33. death of Eleazar and burial in Joseph’s territory]

D. Judges 1:1-3 Judah asks Simeon for help.

… (3) And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot

E. Judges 1:4-9 Judah possesses the south.

… (9) And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley.

F. Judges 1:11-15 Achsah daughter of Caleb.

E’. Judges 1:16 Judah possesses the south.

And the children of the Kenite, Moses ‘father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.

D’. Judges 1:17-21 Simeon helps Judah.

(17) And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites

C’. Judges 1:22-35 The inheritance of the children of Joseph.  

(22) And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel:and the Lord was with them. (23) And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel … (35) yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries. And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.

[2:1-6 Angelic warning to Israel]

B’. Judges 2:6-7 Worship continues in those who remember Joshua.

… (7) 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.

A’. Judges 2:8-9 Death and burial of Joshua.

(8) And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. (9) And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.

(Note: The centre of this pattern, Judges 1:11-15, is  the strange account of Achsah the daughter of Caleb. The passage is an exact repeat of Joshua 15:15-19.  What is the spiritual lesson? My suggestion is that women are vital to the survival of a faithful remnant in Israel during the time of the Judges, and Achsah’s desire for a blessing of spring’s of water speaks of thirst for the word of God.)

Joshua 4:3-9

A. (3) And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests ‘feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you,

B. and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.

C. (4-5) Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:

D.(6) That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?

E. (7) Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off 

F. before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan,

E’. the waters of Jordan were cut off:

D’. and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.

C’. (8) And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the Lord spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel,

B’. and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.

A’. (9) And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.

Joshua 11:4-8

(From RichardS)

A  (4)  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.

B  (5)  And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.

C  (6a)  And the LORD said unto Joshua,

D  (6b)  Be not afraid because of them:for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.

C’  (7a)  So Joshua came,

B’  (7b)  and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.

A’  (8)  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.

Joshua 10:12-14

A. Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,

B. Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon;
and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.

C. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed,
until the people had avenged themselves upon their ene mies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher?

B’. So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven,
and hasted not to go down about a whole day.

A’. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.

Joshua 9:3-14

A  (3-4a)  And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors,

B  (4b-5)  and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.

C  (6)  And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.

D  (7-8)  And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you? And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?

E  (9-10)  And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come be cause of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.

D’  (11a)  Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants:

C’  (11b)  therefore now make ye a league with us.

B’  (12-13)  This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy: And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.

A’  (14)  And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.

Joshua 8:31-35

A  (31)  As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.

B  (32)  And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.

C  (33a)  And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges,

D  (33b)  stood on this side the ark and on that side

E  (33c)  before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them;

D’  (33d)  half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal;

C’  (33e)  as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.

B’  (34a)  And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings,

A’  (34b-35)  according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them

Joshua 5:2-7

(Becky)

A  (2-4a)  At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.  And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise:

B  (4b)  All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males,

C  (4c)  even all the men of war,

D  (4d)  died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.

E  (5a)  Now all the people that came out were circumcised:

E’  (5b)  but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.

D’  (6a)  For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness,

C’  (6b)  till all the people that were men of war,

B’  (6c)  which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

A’  (7)  And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.

Note:  The circumcised died in the wilderness, the uncircumcised entered the land through faith!

Deuteronomy 34:9- Joshua 1:17

Note: earlier post edited as per comments.

A. 9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.

10 And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 In all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, 12 And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.

B. Joshua 1:1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, 2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

C. 5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

D. 6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous,

E. that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

F. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night,

E’. that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

D’. 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed:

C’. for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

B’. 10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.12 And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying, 13 Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land. 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them; 15 Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD’s servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.

A’. 16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go. 17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses. 18 Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.