Theme: Four threats to your devotion to Christ alluded to in the distribution of the promised land so that you will remain vigilant with your joy in Him.
I. Spiritual Apostasy: The requirement of ongoing faith and obedience is vitalto receive all God has promised us in our lives 13:6-7
II.Allure of the World: The potential, destructive influence of the world is vigorouslyopposed to our lives 13:13
III. Earthly Blessings: The LORD is more valuablethan the blessings He gives in our lives 13:14, 33
IV. Neglect of God’s Word: The Word of the LORD is validatedwhen it is acknowledged and honored in our lives 14:3, 6-7
12 Now these are the kings of the land whom the sons of Israel defeated, and whose land they possessed beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise, from the valley of the Arnon as far as Mount Hermon, and all the Arabah to the east:2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, both the middle of the valley and half of Gilead, even as far as the brook Jabbok, the border of the sons of Ammon;3 and the Arabah as far as the Sea of Chinneroth toward the east, and as far as the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, eastward toward Beth-jeshimoth, and on the south, at the foot of the slopes of Pisgah;4 and the territory of Og king of Bashan, one of the remnant of Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,5 and ruled over Mount Hermon and Salecah and all Bashan, as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and half of Gilead, as far as the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.6 Moses the servant of the Lord and the sons of Israel defeated them; and Moses the servant of the Lord gave it to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh as a possession.
7 Now these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the sons of Israel defeated beyond the Jordan toward the west, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even as far as Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir; and Joshua gave it to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their divisions,8 in the hill country, in the lowland, in the Arabah, on the slopes, and in the wilderness, and in the Negev; the Hittite, the Amorite and the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite:9 the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one;10 the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;11 the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;12 the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;13 the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;14 the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;15 the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;16 the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;17 the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;18 the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one;19 the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;20 the king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;21 the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;22 the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one;23 the king of Dor in the heights of Dor, one; the king of Goiim in Gilgal, one;24 the king of Tirzah, one: in all, thirty-one kings.
Theme: Five fruitful lessons learned from Canaan’s fallen kings to encourage you to live in greater dependence upon Christ.
Important Observations:
A distinction is noted between the kings defeated.
The east side of the Jordan was ruled by two kings.
Moses & Joshua defeated the kings.
Nearly half the kings are mentioned for the first time.
The list of kings follows the order Israel took the land.
I. The Lord is faithful to fulfill His covenant with Abraham.
II. The twelve tribes are united in taking the land.
III. The summary testifies to God’s unfailing power.
11 Then it came about, when Jabin king of Hazor heard of it, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon and to the king of Shimron and to the king of Achshaph,2 and to the kings who were of the north in the hill country, and in the Arabah—south of Chinneroth and in the lowland and on the heights of Dor on the west—3 to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Jebusite in the hill country, and the Hivite at the foot of Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.4 They came out, they and all their armies with them, as many people as the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots.5 So all of these kings having agreed to meet, came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.
6 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow at this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel; you shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.”7 So Joshua and all the people of war with him came upon them suddenly by the waters of Merom, and attacked them.8 The Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel, so that they defeated them, and pursued them as far as Great Sidon and Misrephoth-maim and the valley of Mizpeh to the east; and they struck them until no survivor was left to them.9 Joshua did to them as the Lord had told him; he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire.
10 Then Joshua turned back at that time, and captured Hazor and struck its king with the sword; for Hazor formerly was the head of all these kingdoms.11 They struck every person who was in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was no one left who breathed. And he burned Hazor with fire.12 Joshua captured all the cities of these kings, and all their kings, and he struck them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed them; just as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded.13 However, Israel did not burn any cities that stood on their mounds, except Hazor alone, which Joshua burned.14 All the spoil of these cities and the cattle, the sons of Israel took as their plunder; but they struck every man with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them. They left no one who breathed.15 Just as the Lord had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord had commanded Moses.
16 Thus Joshua took all that land: the hill country and all the Negev, all that land of Goshen, the lowland, the Arabah, the hill country of Israel and its lowland17 from Mount Halak, that rises toward Seir, even as far as Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon at the foot of Mount Hermon. And he captured all their kings and struck them down and put them to death.18 Joshua waged war a long time with all these kings.19 There was not a city which made peace with the sons of Israel except the Hivites living in Gibeon; they took them all in battle.20 For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, to meet Israel in battle in order that he might utterly destroy them, that they might receive no mercy, but that he might destroy them, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
21 Then Joshua came at that time and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab and from all the hill country of Judah and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities.22 There were no Anakim left in the land of the sons of Israel; only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod some remained.23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses, and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. Thus the land had rest from war.
Theme: Four fingerprints of Moses in Joshua’s victory so you will revere the written revelation of the Lord.
Background:vv.1-5
The Initial Battle Detailsvv.6-11
FP#1 Total obliteration of the enemy vv.12-14
FP#2 Total obedience of Joshua v.15
FP#3 Total outworking of the LORD’s purpose vv.16-20
FP#4 Total occupation of Israel in the land vv. 21-23
28 Now Joshua captured Makkedah on that day, and struck it and its king with the edge of the sword; he utterly destroyed it and every person who was in it. He left no survivor. Thus he did to the king of Makkedah just as he had done to the king of Jericho.
29 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Makkedah to Libnah, and fought against Libnah. 30 The Lord gave it also with its king into the hands of Israel, and he struck it and every person who was in it with the edge of the sword. He left no survivor in it. Thus he did to its king just as he had done to the king of Jericho.
31 And Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Libnah to Lachish, and they camped by it and fought against it. 32 The Lord gave Lachish into the hands of Israel; and he captured it on the second day, and struck it and every person who was in it with the edge of the sword, according to all that he had done to Libnah.
33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish, and Joshua defeated him and his people until he had left him no survivor.
34 And Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Lachish to Eglon, and they camped by it and fought against it. 35 They captured it on that day and struck it with the edge of the sword; and he utterly destroyed that day every person who was in it, according to all that he had done to Lachish.
36 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron, and they fought against it. 37 They captured it and struck it and its king and all its cities and all the persons who were in it with the edge of the sword. He left no survivor, according to all that he had done to Eglon. And he utterly destroyed it and every person who was in it.
38 Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to Debir, and they fought against it. 39 He captured it and its king and all its cities, and they struck them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed every person who was in it. He left no survivor. Just as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir and its king, as he had also done to Libnah and its king.
40 Thus Joshua struck all the land, the hill country and the Negev and the lowland and the slopes and all their kings. He left no survivor, but he utterly destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded. 41 Joshua struck them from Kadesh-barnea even as far as Gaza, and all the country of Goshen even as far as Gibeon. 42 Joshua captured all these kings and their lands at one time, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel. 43 So Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp at Gilgal.
1 Now it came about when Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai, and had utterly destroyed it (just as he had done to Jericho and it king, so he had done to Ai and its king), and that the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were within their land,
2 that he feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.
3 Therefore Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem sent word to Hoham king of Hebron and to Piram king of Jarmuth and to Japhia king of Lachish and to Debir king of Eglon, saying,
4 “Come up to me and help me, and let us attack Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and with the sons of Israel.”
5 So the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered together and went up, they with all their armies, and camped by Gibeon and fought against it.
6 Then the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, saying “Do not abandon your servants; come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites that live in the hill country have assembled against us.”
7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him and all the valiant warriors.
8 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands; not one of them shall stand before you.”
9 So Joshua came upon them suddenly by marching all night from Gilgal.
10 And the LORD confounded them before Israel, and He slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and pursued them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon, and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah.
11 And it came about as they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, that the LORD threw large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died from the hailstones then those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword.
12 Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
“O sun, stand still at Gibeon
And O moon in the valley of Aijalon.”
13 So the sun stood still, and the Moon stopped,
Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies.
Is it not written in the Book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.
14 And there was no day like that before it or after it when the LORD listened to the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel.
15 Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp at Gilgal.
16 Now these five kings had fled and hidden themselves in the cave at Makkedah.
17 And it was told Joshua, saying, “The five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Makkedah.”
18 And Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and assign men by it to guard them,
19 but do not stay there yourselves; pursue your enemies and attack them in the rear. Do not allow them to enter their cities, for the LORD your God has delivered them into your hand.”
20 And it came about when Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished slaying them with a very great slaughter, until they were destroyed, and the survivors who remained of them had entered the fortified cities,
21 that all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace. No one uttered a word against any of the sons of Israel.
22 Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring these five kings out to me from the cave.”
23 And they did so, and brought these five kings out to him from the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.
24 And it came about when they brought these kings out to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to he chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came near and put their feet on their necks.
25 Joshua then said to them, “Do not fear or be dismayed! Be strong and courageous, for the LORD will do to all your enemies with whom you fight.”
26 So afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hung them on five trees; and they hung on the trees until evening.
27 And it came about at sunset that Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and put large stones over the mouth of the cave, to this very day.
Theme: Three phases of Israel’s battle in which the LORD proves His faithfulness, so we might learn Christian principles for our lives today.
The Setting. vv 1-5
I. The entrance of Israel into the Battle. vv 6-8
Principles for Christians
1. Obedience to God is our priority
2. Assurance of God’s blessing is our comfort
II. The battle summarized. vv. 9-14
Principles for Christians
1. God answers prayer offered in faith
2. God displays His power on our behalf
III. The battle expanded. vv. 16-27
Principles for Christians
1. The enemies of Christ will not prevail
2. The followers of Christ will prevail
16 And it came about at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were neighbors and that they were living within their land.
17 Then the sons of Israel set out and came to their cities on the thrid day. Now their cities were Gibeon and Chephirah and Beeroth and Kiriath-jearim.
18 And the sons of Israel did not strike them because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders.
19 But all the leaders said to the whole congregation, “We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.
20 “This we will do to them, even let them live, lest wrath be upon us for the oath which we swore to them.”
21 And the leaders said to them, “Let them live.” So they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the whole congregation just as the leaders had spoken to them.
22 Then Joshua called for them and spoke to them saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you are living within our land?
23 “Now therefore, you are cursed, and you shall never cease being slaves, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.”
24 So they answered Joshua and said, “Because it was certainly told your servants that the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you; therefore we feared greatly for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
25 “And now behold, we are in your hands; do as it seems good and right in your sight to do to us.”
26 Thus he did to them, and delivered them from the hand of the sons of Israel, and they did not kill them.
27 But Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to this day, in the place which He would choose.
Theme: Five reasons why believers should always seek the Lord’s counsel and avoid unpleasant consequences.
The first three reasons were covered in last week’s sermon.
IV. God’s people are directly impacted by their leaders’ decisions. vv. 16-21
A. The discovery of the Israelites. vv. 16-17
B. The complaint of the congregation. v. 18
C. The concession of the leaders. vv. 19-21
V. Fulfilling God’s commands often depends upon seeking His counsel.
vv. 22-27
1 Now it came about when all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill-country and in the lowland and on all the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard of it,
2 that they gathered themselves together with one accord to fight with Joshua and with Israel.
3 When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,
4 they also acted craftily and set out as envoys and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended,
5 and worn-out and patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes on themselves, and all the bread of their provision was dry and had become crumbled.
6 And they went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us,”
7 And the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you are living within our land; how then shall we make a covenant with you?”
8 But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?”
9 And they said to him, “Your servants have come from a very far country because of the fame of the LORD your God; for we have heard the report of Him and all the He did in Egypt,
10 and all the He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan who was at Ashtaroth.
11 “So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them and say to them, “We are you servants; now then, make a covenant with us.”‘
12 “This our bread was warm when we took it for our provisions out of our houses on the way that we left to come to you; but now behold, it is dry and has become crumbled.
13 “And these wineskins which we filled were new, and behold, they are torn; and these our clothes and our sandals are worn out because of the very long journey.”
14 So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the LORD.
15 And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.
Theme: Five reasons why believers should always seek the Lord’s counsel and avoid unpleasant consequences.
I. Men are skilled at Deceiving one another – vv. 3-6, 9-13
A. Deceptive Actions – vv. 3-5
B. Deceptive Words – vv. 6, 9-13
C. Determined Request – v. 6b, 11d
II. The suspicion of the leaders should never be ignored – vv. 7-8
30 Then Joshua built an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel in Mount Ebal,
31 just as Moses, the servant of the LORD had commanded the sons of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, an altar of uncut stones, on which no man had wielded an iron tool; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.
32 And he wrote there on the stones a copy of the Law of Moses, which he had written, in the presence of the sons of Israel.
33 And all Israel with their elders and officers and their judges were standing on both side of the ark before the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, the stranger as well as the native. Half of them stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had given command at first to bless the people of Israel.
34 Then afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law.
35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Jushua did not read before all the assembly of Israel with the women and the little ones and the strangers who were living among them.
Theme: Two Elements of Israel’s worship in the land which parallel our priorities in corporate worship so we might properly enter into it.
I. The worship in offerings – vv. 30-31
a. Joshua builds the altar to the LORD
1. To the LORD, the God of Israel – v. 30a
2. Location is “in” or “on” Mount Ebal – v. 30b
3. According to the command of Moses – v. 31a
4. Of uncut stones – v. 31b
b. Israel makes the offerings to the LORD
1. Burnt offerings – v. 31c
2. Peace offerings – v. 31c
II. Worship in receiving God’s Word: Three critical parts – vv. 32-35
a. Copying the Law – v. 32
b. Centrality of the ark – V. 33
C. Covenant renewal – priority of reading the Law – vv. 34-35
1 Now the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear or be dismayed. Take all the people of war with you and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.
2 You shall do to Ai and its king just as you did to Jericho and its king; you shall take only its spoil and its cattle as plunder for yourselves. Set an ambush for the city behind it.”
3 So Joshua rose with all the people of war to go up to Ai; and Joshua chose 30,000 men, valiant warriors, and sent them out at night.
4 He commanded them, saying, “See, you are going to ambush the city from behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready.
5 Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out to meet us as at the first, we will flee before them.
6 They will come out after us until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, ‘They are fleeing before us as at the first.’ So we will flee before them.
7 And you shall rise from your ambush and take possession of the city, for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand.
8 Then it will be when you have seized the city, that you shall set the city on fire. You shall do it according to the word of the Lord. See, I have commanded you.”
9 So Joshua sent them away, and they went to the place of ambush and remained between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua spent that night among the people.
Introduction:
Review:
Theme: Four blessings of obedience to the LORD so you might recognize the joy of His help.
I. Encouragement from the LORD v. 1
The LORD’s prohibition
The LORD’s provision
The LORD’s promise
II. Direction from the LORD v. 2
Regarding the city and its king
Regarding the spoils of war
Regarding the battle plan
III. Confidence in the LORD vv. 7b-8
Communicating the LORD’s promise v. 7b
Communicating the LORD’s commandment v. 8
IV. Victory from the LORD v. 18
The LORD commands Joshua to signal for the attack v. 18a
The LORD restates His promise to deliver over Ai v. 18b
1 But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban, for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some of the things under the ban, therefore the anger of the Lord burned against the sons of Israel.
2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.
3 They returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up; only about two or three thousand men need go up to Ai; do not make all the people toil up there, for they are few.”
4 So about three thousand men from the people went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai.
5 The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of their men, and pursued them from the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them down on the descent, so the hearts of the people melted and became as water.
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, both he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.
7 Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord God, why did You ever bring this people over the Jordan, only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had been willing to dwell beyond the Jordan!
8 O Lord, what can I say since Israel has turned their back before their enemies?
9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will You do for Your great name?”
10 So the Lord said to Joshua, “Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face?
11 Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived. Moreover, they have also put them among their own things.
12 Therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies, for they have become accursed. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from your midst.
13 Rise up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for thus the Lord, the God of Israel, has said, “There are things under the ban in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you have removed the things under the ban from your midst.”
14 In the morning then you shall come near by your tribes. And it shall be that the tribe which the Lord takes by lot shall come near by families, and the family which the Lord takes shall come near by households, and the household which the Lord takes shall come near man by man.
15 It shall be that the one who is taken with the things under the ban shall be burned with fire, he and all that belongs to him, because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he has committed a disgraceful thing in Israel.’”
Review:
Theme: Six consequences of un-confessed sin in the community of believers so you will be deterred from deliberate disobedience to the Lord.
Setting: The Prohibition for Victory Violated v. 1
