Joshua 5-8

We learn that during the forty years the Israelites traveled through the wilderness, none of those born after the Exodus had been circumcised. Joshua remedies that by circumcising all of the males. Of course, they did not go immediately into battle. Healing had to take place.

The manna stopped being available as soon as the people were able to harvest their grain from the land they entered.

Did you find it puzzling that the commander of the Lord’s army would not identify himself as either friend or foe, but told Joshua he was the commander of the Lord’s army? Joshua couldn’t see the Lord’s army so we have no way of knowing what it looked like or how big it was. I expect Joshua was encouraged by the commander’s presence, don’t you?

We know from the spies that Jericho is a walled city and we read in chapter 6 that the gates were shut tightly. Let’s face it: the people of Jericho had heard the stories of how God had rescued the Israelites from Egypt and how the Israelites had beaten Og and Sihon.

The plan to take Jericho was simple:

• Seven priests were to walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn which they would blow continually
• The fighting men followed the priests with the ark with no one talking, although some of them marched in front of the priests
• This was to be done for six days.
• On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times with the priests blowing the horns they carried
• When the people heard the priests give one long blast of the hrons, all of the people were to shout as loud as they could
• When the walls fell down, everything in Jericho was to be completely destroyed as an offering to the Lord
• Only Rahab and those in her house were to be spared

The walls fell down. The silver, gold, bronze, and iron objects were sacred to the Lord and were to be brought into his treasury. Everything else and everyone except Rahab and those in her house were utterly destroyed. Joshua placed a curse on Jericho. His reputation spread.

Unfortunately, there was a fly in the ointment whose name was Achan. His actions cost the lives of 36 Israelite warriors when the people attacked Ai. Joshua soon found out why they were defeated – a warrior had stolen some of the Lord’s treasure. The drama of finding the evildoer must have made quite an impression on the people. You can’t hide from God; He sees everything. He saw the things Achan had stolen.

What a harsh punishment was allotted to Achan: not only was he stoned, but his whole family, after which they were burned.

After that, Ai was not long for this world. The army of Israel, 30,000 in all, went up and possessed the land through stealth. This time, though, the Israelites were allowed to keep the plunder – the livestock and the treasures of the town.

Once again, Joshua has the people divide into two groups, one in front of Mount Gerizim and the other in front of Mount Ebal. All of the blessings and curses Moses had written in the Book of Instructions were read to the people by Joshua. There was no excuse for anyone not to know what was expected of them.

What a sight it must have been: hundreds of thousands of people divided between the two mountains listening intently to Joshua read.

Tomorrow, it’s Joshua 9-11.

Until next time…