Joshua 13-Judges 8/Luke 11-13

Joshua

13-21: How the conquered land is divided up. There are a lot of confusing geographic references here, so skim that part and check out the ugly but informative map here: http://members.aol.com/Wisdomway/twelvetribes.htm

Here's the map of where the Canaanites were.

There are a couple of interesting narratives here, so don't skip those. You'll notice that Judah (the tribe of King David) gets a special mention. Recall that Caleb was one of the early scouts who thought they could take the land from the beginning. Because of his faith, he and Joshua were the only survivors of the 40 year wandering.

An important thing to notice in these sections is that the Israelites were still having trouble with some Canaanite tribes. They had not completely conquered the land. Tribes which Joshua had defeated were still causing trouble. The Philistines are mentioned. Notice that the Jebusites hold Jerusalem. It will not be until the time of King David that they will be defeated and Jerusalem made the capital of Israel.

22: Addresses the potential problems with the tribes in the Transjordan. They are worried about being the red-headed step-child. They live on the other side of the river, so the potential of being left out or marginalized is addressed in this chapter.

23-24: Joshua's final words, like Moses. Again they are exhorted to have faith in God and to follow his Law. If they do not, they will fail. There is a covenant renewal ceremony in which Joshua places a copy of Law in the sanctuary. The book ends by tying up three loose ends: Joshua dies and Eliazar dies - the two leaders of the people who brought them to the land and led its conquering. Finally, as almost a footnote we get the burial of Joseph's bones in the place he had purchased from the children of Hamor all those years ago as the patriarchal burial plot (Ge 50.25; Ex 13.19).

Judges
Judges tells the story of the life of the tribes of Israel after the death of Joshua. Much of the land had been conquered, but, as noted in Joshua and the beginning here, there were still Canaanite peoples in the land.

The book gets it's name from the people who are seen to succeed Joshua, who is technically the first judge. They are not judges in the judicial sense, but leaders of the people, usually who are seen to posses authority over more than just their own tribe. They tended to be military leaders; but usually this is not their only role.

More than anything else, however, the book of Judges recounts the downward spiral of the culture and people of Israel. After the successes of Joshua and the general cohesiveness of the people, by the end of Judges we have a people divided and scattered. In deep irony, the book of Judges concludes in lawlessness. It is an ugly story.

1: Judah, the tribe of David, is the most successful of the tribes, though even they cannot conquer the plains in their tribal area because the Israelites do not have a sufficient tactic to defeat chariots (they only have infantry). The other tribes are less successful and dwell with the other tribes in the land. When it says "Judah said to his brother Simeon," it is not describing two people, but two tribes....As in, "The US said to the UK."

2-3: We have the judgment of Israel, based on the previous chapter. They will not have an easy time in the land. We are also introduced to the judge's stories we will find in the book of Judges. The typical format of these stories in some way echoes the wandering stories we have previously read:
• The people wander from their loyalty to God.
• God's anger and judgment comes to them, usually in the form of oppression and slavery.
• God has pity on the people and raises a judge to liberate them.
• The judge fights for the people and establishes a time of peace.
• The judge dies and the people wander from their loyalty to God.

The story of the first Judge, Othniel follows the standard format and serves as a kind of archetype for the others.

The story of Ehud is filled with iron and sarcasm. When he stabs Egon "and the dirt came out," it is the obvious scatological reference you're thinking. Ehud escapes. Meanwhile, the servants, who can smell the odor from the private chamber, do not disturb their lord until it is too late. The Moabites are in disarray when the Israelites attack. The land rests.

We also have a minor judge, Shamgar, who may not have been an Israelite in the strictest sense. There will be a few one-liner judges in the stories.

4-5: Here is the longer story of the Judges Deborah (the only female judge) and Barak. They defeat Sisera who may have been from the north or a Philistine. Deborah not only had a keen military mind, but was a prophetess as well; she also decided disputes for the people in the area. For those who have seen the documentary we watched, this is one of the battles described.

5 is the poetic retelling which also remembers the tribes who did and did not come to the aid of Deborah. It tells of a sudden downpour, which would have flooded the Wadi, leaving the chariot's wheels and horses hooves stuck in the mud.

You will see the valley of Jezreel coming up fairly often. It was part of an important pass through the central hills between the valley of the Jordan river and the plains and sea to the west. It was of great strategic value.

6-8: The story of Gideon. Gideon means "hacker," and that is what we find him doing. The people have to be careful about their harvest because of Midian and Amalekite raiders. A prophet accuses the people of disloyalty, but before there is a reply, we find 'Hacker,' who is characterized by disbelief and cowardice.

Gideon does what God tells him, but only after sign after sign, and in the way which has the least risk - so he cuts down the pole and altar at night. He does, however, at least do that.

When Gideon goes out against the Midianites, God makes him take only 300, so that no one ascribes the victory to anyone else but God. Gideon uses guerrilla tactics to defeat the larger force of Midianites. He attacks at night, when battles at that time where in the day. He uses 300 horns, which probably convinced the enemy they were surrounded by a great army. The fire pots might have been used to start fires in the camp. The Midianites flee in disarray and are set upon by the larger forces as they retreat.

Gideon pursues the leaders of the Midianites across the Jordan along the river Jabbock. Succoth and Penuel do not give him aid, for which he takes revenge. He finally catches the Midianite kings and kills them - avenging his brothers.

Gideon refuses to become king, telling the people that Yahweh is their king. Then there is the strange account of the ephod. Usually an ephod was a special breastplate worn by the high priest. It seems likely that Gideon set up some kind of priesthood in his local town, rather than worshiping at the tabernacle with its Levitical priesthood. Some believe this refers to some kind of idol worship.

After Gideon's death, Israel falls into disloyalty once again. His son, Abimilech will be succeed him in the next story.


Luke
11: Jesus teaches on prayer. He teaches them what to say and how to pray. God does not give us a stone if we ask for bread. At the same time, if we ask for a snake, I don't know if he would give us that either.

There is conflict with some people who distrust his exorcisms. Jesus makes it clear that when it comes to him and the devil, there is no middle ground.

Constantly asking for a sign makes me think of Gideon.

Jesus pronounces his woes, much as in Matthew, on the religious leaders. Not unsurprisingly, this intensifies the conflict between them.

12: Several sayings of Jesus: Bewared of hypocrisy. Do not be afraid to acknowledge Jesus. Do not assign the work of the Spirit to evil.

Beware of money. The rich fool's soul is demanded by the things he is building. Rather than taking joy at the abundance of his crop, he sees it as a problem.

Then Jesus gives two, in some ways, conflicting messages: Don't worry, God will provide. Be vigilant, for Jesus message is controversial, it will rend even families apart. We might ask ourselves how we can understand this message today.

13: First - not all those who suffer deserve it. Second - salvation is still possible; indeed it is at hand. Third - people are what is important; the law was made for people, not people for the law. Fourth - the kingdom's growth cannot be stopped; it starts small and gathers strength. Fifth: the gate is narrow, but people come from all over to the feast of the kingdom of God. Fifth: I'm not afraid of Herod; how I wish I could gather Jerusalem to myself.