The Book of Joshua - Lesson 2 - Study Guide
The Book of Joshua - Lesson 2 - Study Guide
The Book of
Joshua
Study Guide
LESSON
TWO VICTORIOUS CONQUEST
CONTENTS
HOW TO USE THIS LESSON AND STUDY GUIDE ................................................. 2
NOTES ............................................................................................................................... 3
I. INTRODUCTION (0:20) .......................................................................................... 3
II. PREPARATIONS FOR VICTORY, 1:1-18 (2:50)................................................... 3
A. Structure and Content (3:06) ........................................................................................... 3
1. Gods Commands, 1:1-9 (4:13).................................................................................. 3
2. Joshuas Commands, 1:10-15 (4:48).......................................................................... 4
3. Israels Obedience, 1:16-18 (5:17) ............................................................................. 4
B. Original Meaning (5:37) ................................................................................................. 4
1. Divine Authority (6:27).............................................................................................. 4
2. Gods Covenant (7:43) ............................................................................................... 5
3. Standard of Moses Law (9:06) .................................................................................. 5
4. Gods Supernatural Power (9:51) ............................................................................... 6
5. All Israel (12:25) ........................................................................................................ 6
III. VICTORIES OVER TWO CITIES, 2:18:35 (13:19) .............................................. 7
A. Structure and Content (14:19) ......................................................................................... 7
1. City of Jericho, 2:16:27 (15:08) ............................................................................... 7
2. City of Ai, 7:18:29 (21:37)....................................................................................... 9
3. Covenant Renewal, 8:30-35 (24:59) ........................................................................ 11
B. Original Meaning (25:38) ............................................................................................. 11
1. Divine Authority (26:22).......................................................................................... 11
2. Gods Covenant (28:27) ........................................................................................... 12
3. Standard of Moses Law (29:35) .............................................................................. 12
4. Gods Supernatural Power (33:21) ........................................................................... 13
5. All Israel (36:23) ...................................................................................................... 14
IV. VICTORIES OVER TWO ALLIANCES, 9:1-12:24 (38:21) ................................. 14
A. Structure and Content (39:36) ....................................................................................... 14
1. Overview of Alliances, 9:1-2, part 1 (39:54) ........................................................... 14
2. Overview of Victories, 11:16-12:24, part 4 (40:35)................................................. 15
3. Victories over Southern Alliance, 9:3-10:43, part 2 (41:36) .................................... 15
4. Victories over Northern Alliance, 11:1-15, part 3 (43:09) ....................................... 16
B. Original Meaning (44:00) ............................................................................................. 16
1. Divine Authority (44:46).......................................................................................... 16
2. Standard of Moses Law (45:42) .............................................................................. 17
3. Gods Supernatural Power (47:33) ........................................................................... 17
4. All Israel (51:30) ...................................................................................................... 18
V. CHRISTIAN APPLICATION (53:10) .................................................................... 18
A. Inauguration (54:02)...................................................................................................... 18
B. Continuation (1:00:40) .................................................................................................. 20
C. Consummation (1:04:24) .............................................................................................. 21
VI. CONCLUSION (1:08:44)........................................................................................ 22
REVIEW QUESTIONS ................................................................................................. 23
APPLICATION QUESTIONS ...................................................................................... 29
GLOSSARY..................................................................................................................... 30
Notes
I. Introduction (0:20)
The book of Joshua was written about Israels victorious conquest, tribal
inheritances and covenant loyalty in Joshuas day to address similar challenges
facing later generations.
The first major division addresses the original audiences challenges associated
with warfare by drawing attention to Israels victorious conquest over Canaan.
The book opens with God commanding Joshua to prepare to lead Israel
westward into victory over the land of Canaan.
Arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people (1:2).
Only if God fought alongside and for Israel could they hope
to succeed.
Joshua led Israel to victory over both Jericho and Ai, but the paths to
victory were very different.
By starting and ending with Rahab and the spies, everything that
occurs in Joshua 2:16:27 becomes part of the battle for Jericho.
The priests stepped into the river with the ark of the
covenant, and the Jordan parted.
The original audience was to apply the lessons of Jericho and Ai in ways
that were appropriate for their own day.
When only some went to Ai, they were defeated, but with
all Israels participation, they had victory (7:3, 23-25).
Alliances formed against Joshua from all over Canaan, first in the south and then
in the north.
All the kings who were beyond the Jordan gathered together as
one to fight against Joshua and Israel (9:1, 2).
Joshua destroyed all that God had commanded him to destroy, and
God gave Israel rest from war (11:16-23).
This division ends with a list of kings and lands that Israel acquired
through victories (12:1-24).
The original audience faced enemies with sizable armies, so the author of
Joshua focused on Joshuas large-scale victories.
made the sun stand still so that Israel could win the battle
(10:13)
Israels hope for victory against their foes was that God would
intervene on their behalf with supernatural power.
A. Inauguration (54:02)
With Jesus first advent, he and his apostles and prophets accomplished
even more than Joshua did in Gods ongoing conflict against Satan:
Jesus inauguration was not Gods time for him to take up arms against
sinful human beings. Instead, Jesus:
All Israel
o Jesus called people throughout Israel to join with him.
o At Pentecost, Jews from all over the world joined with him
in his battle against evil.
B. Continuation (1:00:40)
The New Testament calls on the church, despite its failures, to advance the
cause of Christ in the power of his Spirit day by day. We are to:
o oppose those who resist the ways of Christ, but not with
physical attacks
All Israel We are to fight our battles today as one people from
every tribe and language and nation.
C. Consummation (1:04:24)
The record of Joshua strengthens our hopes for the day when Christ
returns at the consummation of his kingdom.
Jesus final victory will bring to fruition the ultimate hope of Christs
worldwide conquest:
Divine authority Gods authority will direct the great and terrible
day of Jesus return.
All Israel When Christ returns, Gods people from every tribe
and nation on earth will be one in celebration of his great victory.
Review Questions
1. The account of Israels preparations for victory introduces the appropriate chain
of command for every upcoming battle in the book of Joshua. Describe this chain
of command, and cite some commands and responses that appear in this part of
the book.
2. What five main themes appear throughout the book of Joshua? Give an example
of each theme in relation to Israels preparations for victory. Use specific
Scripture references to support your examples.
3. Describe the battle for Jericho starting and ending with Joshuas spies and Rahab
and including the miraculous events that occurred between these two bookends.
What does it mean that the city and everything in it were devoted to
destruction?
4. Describe the events leading up to Israels victory over the city of Ai. Why was
Israels first attempt to take the city unsuccessful?
5. What event followed the victories over Jericho and Ai? Where did this event take
place, and what did the Israelites do there?
6. The same five themes appear in the account of Israels victories over two cities
that appeared in the account of Israels preparations for victory. Give an example
of each theme in relation to Israels victories over Jericho and Ai. Use specific
Scripture references to support your examples.
7. Describe both the southern and northern alliances that formed against Israel in
Joshuas day. How did the Gibeonite treaty lead to Israels conflict with a
southern alliance?
8. Four of the five main themes in the book of Joshua are highlighted in the account
of Israels victories over two alliances. How do we see these four themes reflected
in the events of this section?
9. During the inauguration of his kingdom, how did Jesus and his apostles and
prophets extend Gods victory over Satan and those who follow him? How did
this approach differ from Joshuas victorious conquest?
10. What two general strategies does the New Testament call the church to engage in
as we advance Christs worldwide conquest during the continuation of his
kingdom?
11. What will happen in the final victorious conquest at the consummation of Christs
kingdom? How will this compare to the conquest of Joshuas day?
Application Questions
1. One of the biggest objections modern people have to the book of Joshua is Gods call
to completely destroy every living thing in Canaan. How might you answer someone
who is struggling to reconcile a good God with the God who ordered the Canaanites
total destruction?
2. Read Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25. How does the New Testaments reflection on
Rahabs life encourage you as a Christian today?
3. Obeying the standard of Moses law was essential for Joshua, Israel and even Jesus.
What does this mean for us? Why do we need to obey God if hes already given us
grace and forgiveness?
4. God saved Israel time after time by his supernatural power. Do you believe he still
uses this supernatural power today? If so, how?
5. How does the theme of all Israel relate to Christians today? How should this shape
the way we view the worldwide church, particularly the persecuted church?
6. Because of his sin, even the Israelite Achan was devoted to destruction. What are
some of the consequences for deliberate sin in the Christian life today?
7. Jesus didnt bring the final victorious conquest at his first advent. How can someone
who is suffering or mourning take real comfort in an incomplete, but promised,
victory?
8. As we live in the continuation of Christs kingdom, what does spiritual warfare look
like in the following three realms: your life, your country, the world?
9. Jesuss return will at once be joyous and terrifying, and he will enact perfect justice.
If you knew Jesus would return tonight, how would you spend the rest of the day?
What does this choice say about how you should spend the remainder of your life?
10. What is the most significant thing you learned in this lesson?
Canaanites People descended from Canaan, the Moses Old Testament prophet and deliverer who
son of Ham, who lived in the land of Canaan before led the Israelites out of Egypt; man with whom God
Joshua's conquest made a national "covenant of law" and who
administered the Ten Commandments and the Book
charam Hebrew verb (transliteration) meaning of the Covenant to the Israelites; also appeared with
to devote wholly to the Lord or to destroy in Elijah at Jesus' transfiguration
devotion to the Lord
Mount Ebal Mountain in the heart of the
cherem Hebrew noun (transliteration) meaning Promised Land near Mount Gerizim and Shechem
devoted or dedicated thing or utter destruction where Israel renewed their covenant with God in
the days of Joshua
Cisjordan The lands to the west of the Jordan
River (lit. beside the Jordan) that God promised Mount Gerizim Mountain in the heart of the
to Israel as an inheritance Promised Land near Mount Ebal and Shechem
where Israel renewed their covenant with God in
consummation Third and final stage of the days of Joshua
inaugurated eschatology when Christ will return
and fulfill God's ultimate purpose for all of history nachal Hebrew verb (transliteration) meaning to
inherit
continuation Second or middle stage of
inaugurated eschatology; the period of the kingdom new covenant The covenant of fulfillment in
of God after Christ's first advent but before the final Christ; first mentioned in Jeremiah 31:31
victory
Promised Land The land that God promised to
covenant A binding legal agreement made give as an inheritance to Abraham and his
between two people or groups of people, or descendants
between God and a person or group of people
Rahab Gentile woman who helped the spies
false brothers Unbelievers within the church when they entered the Promised Land; included as
a part of the people of Israel after the conquest of
Gibeonites Inhabitants of the Canaanite city of Jericho
Gibeon who tricked the Israelites into making a
treaty with them Transjordan The lands to the east of the Jordan
River (lit. across the Jordan) where the tribes of
Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh
received permission to settle