The Promise Land
Joshua Assumes Command
• The commanding officers were ordered to
pass through the camp and have everyone
prepare PROVISIONS.
• These supply provisions would probably
include FOOD as the God’s provision of Manna
would finally cease as Israel enters the
promise land (Joshua 5:12)
• Instruction were given to the tribes of Reuben,
Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh
Joshua Assumes Command
• Your wives, little ones, and livestock will remain
on the EAST side of the Jordan river. (1.12 -13)
• All the men of VALOR will join the rest of Israel as
armed brothers to fight in war.
• They shall remain until the LORD gives them REST
and then they shall take POSSESION of their land.
(1.14-15)
• These 2 ½ tribes wholeheartedly agree to help
the other tribes find rest across the Jordan
• They affirm complete LOYALTY to Joshua and by
extension the LORD. (1:16 – 18)
And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men
secretly from Shittim as spies, saying “Go,
view the land, especially Jericho” (2.1)
Abel-Shittim
• The name means, “brook of the
acacia trees”
• Located 8miles from the Jordan
River, opposite Jericho, in the plains
of Moab.
• Area offers strategic locations
overlooking plains of Moab.
Jericho
• Key CITY because it controlled the
ROUTES into the heart of Canaan.
• It was near the main fords across the
southern Jordan, and it CONTROLLED the
fresh spring water vital to the area
• To take Jericho would be the FIRST step
in taking the heart of Canaan
RAHAB and The Spies
• The PURPOSE of going to Rahab is to gather
information.
• Rahab’s house may have served as an inn and
was an ideal place for soaking up information
on Jericho and the area.
• Because the house was BUILT into the city wall
(v. 15), a quick escape from the city would be
possible.
• Ultimately, the LORD’s GRACE leads them to
this house so that God may rescue Rahab for
eternal salvation.
Then then King of
Jericho sent guards
to Rahab, saying,
“Bring out the men
who have come to
you, who entered
your house, for they
have come to search
out all the land”
(2:3)
King of Jericho
• Canaan at this time consisted of city-states
• Each state had their own KING
• Chapter 12 names 31 kings in Canaan at the
time of the Conquest
• The Amarna Letters, written about the time
of Joshua, show that these Canaanite kings
thought of Egyptian pharaohs as their
OVERLORDS and PROTECTORS
But Rahab had taken the two men and had
hidden them up on the roof and covered them
with stalks of flax. (2.4,6)
Rahab’s Motive for Hiding the Spies
• The LORD has GIVEN you the land (2.8)
• That all of Canaan FEAR you and their HEARTS
have melted away (lack courage) (2.9)
• We know about the Red Sea (2.10)
• We know about your VICTORIES over the
Amorite Kings Shion and Og (2.10)
• Rahab knows that DESTRUCTION is at her
doorstep so she pleads for MERCY and makes
a deal with the spies (2.11 – 14)
Then she let them down by a rope through the
window, for her house was built into the city wall,
so that she lived in the wall. (2:15)
ESCAPE PLAN
• Go into the hills, or the pursuers will
encounter you, and hide there for three
days…then you may go on your way.
• Ancient Hittite documents stipulate that an
enemy invader must be TRACKED for three
days.
• Therefore Rahab devises a plan to ensure
the safety of the two Israelite spies.
CONDITIONS OF THE PROMISE
• We will be guiltless with respect to this oath
of yours… (2.17)
• Tie a scarlet cord in the window and gather
your whole household (2.18)
• No one can leave the house (2.19)
• If you tell anyone of this pact it will be
rendered void (2.20)
• Rahab agrees to the terms of the deal (2.21)
They departed and went into the hills and
remained there three days until the pursuers
returned and found nothing. So they went home
and told Joshua everything. (2.22 – 24)
GOD’S PROMISES (chapter 3-4)
• To exalt Joshua (3:7; 4:14)
• To show that the Lord is with Joshua
(3:7)
• To assure Israel that the Lord is
among them (3:10)
• To show the Lord’s resolve to drive
out the enemies of Israel (3:10)
GOD’S PROMISES (chapter 3-4)
• To provide a teaching tool for the
future generations (4:6-7; 21 – 22)
• To lead all the peoples of the earth
to know the Lord’s strength to save
(4:24)
• To lead people to fear and worship
the LORD (4:24)
As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the
LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests,
then you shall set out from the place and follow
it…but keep about a ½ mile distance between you and
the ark (3:3 - 4)
When you come to the brink of the waters of the
Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan…the waters
of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the
waters coming down from above shall stand in a heap
ISRAEL CROSSES JORDAN
• Joshua brings together the people of Israel,
“Come here and listen the LORD” (3.9)
• Here is how you shall know that you that the
LIVING God is among you… (3.10)
• The ark of the covenant is passing over before
you into the Jordan (3.11)
• When the soles of the FEET of the priests
bearing the ark of the LORD rest in the Jordan,
the waters coming down from above shall stand
in one heap.(3.12 – 13)
ISRAEL CROSSES JORDAN
• Joshua speaks like a prophet, as one to
whom the LORD has spoken directly
• “living God” – Hebrew for God “mighty one”,
to emphasize God’s power in this context
• He is “living”, in contrast to the dead,
worthless idols of the nations named in this
chapter.
• Peter when asked who Jesus is refers to him
as the “son of the living God”