SERIES G --- THE PROMISED LAND --- LESSON 22

JOSHUA’s FAREWELL

WISE WORDS FROM AN OLD SOLDIER

From Joshua 23

As the years passed, Israel successfully completed its conquest. One day, when Joshua was an old man, he called together the people of Israel, with their leaders; elders, heads of tribes, judges and officers. ‘I am old now,’ Joshua told them. ‘We have seen what Adonai has done for your sake during these past years, for He has fought for you. I have divided the land among your tribes for an inheritance, both the land unconquered and the land that has been conquered, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. Adonai will drive out the people before you, so that you may possess the land for your homes, as He has promised to you. But you must be determined that you will observe and practice every Command in the Book of the Law of Moses. You must not turn away from them, even in the least. You must never mix with the nations which are yet unconquered. Do not mention the names of their gods and certainly, do not swear by their names or worship them or serve them but keep close to Adonai your YHVH as you have done until this time. Adonai has driven out before you some great and powerful nations and no one has been able to stand up against you. Each of you has made a thousand enemies run away. Never forget that Adonai fights with you, as He promised that He would do. Be sure then to love Him, for if you turn away from Adonai to join these nations left among you and marry their women and permit your women to marry them, know for certain that Adonai will not continue to help you drive out those nations. They will become a snare or trap, a sore in your side and thorns in your eyes, for as long as you live in this good land which Adonai has given you. Now I am about to die, to return to the earth. Deep in your hearts and souls you all know that not one of Adonai’s good Promises has failed. But just as He has kept all His Promises to you, so He will in the same way bring evil upon you if you break your Covenant with Him and if you go off to serve other gods. At that time, Adonai’s anger will blaze up against you and you will perish quickly from the good land which He has given to you.’

COMMENTARY

THE YHVHS OF CANAAN

For years Joshua had led Israel to many victories. Joshua now reminds them of the YHVH who fought for them and the pathway to future victory. [You must be determined that you will observe and practice every Command in the Book of the Law of Moses.] This is what YHVH had told Joshua when he first became leader and he repeats this to all the people. In late summer all across Canaan the parched fields were often hard and cracked, impossible to plough. Every day anxious eyes searched for signs of the first winter rains. Without rain to soften the earth, the new crop could not be planted in time. The following summer harvest would be burnt to straw by hot dusty winds sweeping in from the south. The people went to the high places of worship to offer wine, fruit and young sheep to Baal, the god of fertility. They believed they must please him and persuade him to bring the rain. But some feared that Mot, the god of drought, sterility and death, held Baal in his power. They believed that years ago the god of death captured Baal in the underworld, causing the earth to stay barren for months. Nothing grew until Anat, the goddess of passion and war, slashed Mot into pieces, scattering his body to the wild animals. They hoped less important gods like Dew, Rain and Fatness would aid Baal in his struggle against chaos. He had many such attendants, including his messengers Vine and Field and a craftsman who could prepare magical incantations. The people recalled ancient battles when Baal’s great power triumphed over enemy gods. Prince Yam, ruler of the unruly ocean currents, once challenged Baal’s control of the earth by dashing huge waves upon the shore. But Baal destroyed the god Sea and the fearful seven-headed monster that lived in the depths. With mixed fear and hope the people waited for Baal to again bring the life-giving rain.