Joshua chapter 22

After reading chapter 22:

*So, now that the conquest of Canaan is over, kind of, Joshua told the Reubenites, Gadites, and Manassehites, who had land on the east side of the Jordan, that they could go home. These were all the men of fighting age. One wonders who had been maintaining the land for the approximately 5 years of their absence, women and children? They were sent back with Joshua's blessing and a load of plunder: livestock, silver, gold, bronze, iron, and clothing (from the bodies of the slain?). Funny thing about the plunder....after Achan's plunder blunder and his execution, the prohibition  against plunder was mysteriously ignored or rescinded without any ill effects.

*The three tribes travelled back east with all their stuff. When they got to the Jordan River, they built a large altar. When the rest of the Israelites heard about this altar they were infuriated and gathered at Shiloh to go to war with the three tribes. The priest Phineas and ten tribal leaders went to the three tribes and accused them of breaking faith with Yahweh and attempting some other kind of worship. They informed the three tribes that if this was the case, they would incur the wrath of the entire community of Israelites. There was to be only one altar to Yahweh and that location had already been determined.  It was at Shiloh. Then they were reminded of what had happened to Achan. How ironic.

*The three tribes did some awesome back peddling. Oh, no, we weren't planing on actually using this altar. It's just a witness, a reminder to the west side of the river that we on the east side have a share in Yahweh. This is so that in the future the west side cannot try to tell the east that they don't also belong to Yahweh. We wouldn't rebel. No siree, not us. So, Phineas announced Yahweh must be with them and they had escaped his wrath. The priest and the elders returned to Canaan to report to the Israelites, who rejoiced at the news. The altar was named "A Witness that Yahweh is God."

*Some thoughts that always come to mind when I read these stories:

1. The action happens in a few paragraphs that take minutes to read. In actuality events like these would have taken weeks if not months. That is taking into account the distances individuals had to have travelled on foot or slow footed animals. There is no indication the Israelites were horsemen. In fact they hamstrung the enemies' horses.

2. Plus, supposedly the Israelites had taken over the land. How can they be spread over the land and yet gathered in one place at Shiloh? Do you realize how long it would take to muster all the Israelite troops if they were spread out the length and breadth of Canaan?

3. When they conquered one area, how did they keep it free and clear of "enemies" when they had to go fight elsewhere?

4. How quickly this became an "us and them" situation once the three tribes separated from the rest of the Israelites.

Joshua chapter 20 and 21

After reading chapter 20:

*Here we are told which cities are assigned to be cities of refuge for those who kill by accident, as described back in Numbers 35. The person who is responsible for avenging the death cannot harm a person who has fled to one one of these cities. The designated cities were: Kadesh in the land of Naphtali, Shechem in the land of Ephraim, Hebron in the land of Judah, Bezer in the land of Reuben, Ramoth in the land of Gad, and Golan in the land of Manasseh.

After reading chapter 21:

*Now the tribe of Levites come to Joshua and ask for their allotted towns with pastureland, prime real estate, as promised by Moses. Yahweh, through Joshua, gave the Kohathite levites who were descended from Aaron 13 towns in the lands of Judah, Bejamin, and Simeon. The rest of the Kohathite Levites were given 10 towns in the lands of Ephraim, Dan, and Manasseh. The Gershon Levites were given 13 towns in the lands of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh. The Merari Levites were given 12 towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. So, all twelve non-Levite tribes had Levites living among them to keep an eye on things and make sure they, um Yahweh,  was obeyed.

*The second half of the chapter seems to repeat the first half but with more detail. The Levites were apparently given the cities of refuge as part of their allotments. This could be very convenient. Imagine the opportunities for exploitation of the law and of those who were seeking refuge.

*Last we are told that Yahweh gave the Israelites rest and not one of their enemies withstood them. This is an odd statement, considering it was admitted in previous chapters that they could not control certain parts of the land. However, it is an opportunity to claim that all of Yahweh's promises have been fulfilled, if you overlook a few pesky details.

Joshua chapter 17

After reading chapter 17:

*Here we are told what part of the land was allotted to the rest of the tribe of Manasseh and the tribe of Ephraim, the descendents of Joseph. In the Wikipedia articles, you can see a map of the distribution of tribal territory. Remember, half of the Manassehites recieved land east of the Jordan. This was called the land of Gilead  What makes it a little confusing is that the land of Gilead is named after a descendant of Manasseh. We are also reminded of the story of the daughters who were promised an inheritance back in Numbers chapters 27 and 36. The land allotted to Ephraim lies partially within the boundaries of Manasseh.

*We are also told that the Manassehites were unable to drive all the Canaanites out of their allotted land, instead they subjected them to forced labor. This is becoming a familiar refrain. What happened to Yahweh's strength and might? What happened to the order to anihilate all the Cannanites? If you can enslave people, why can't you destroy them? Something fishy is going on here. Could it be that the authors of Joshua needed an explanation for why there were Canaanites living in the land when the book was written? Also, remember way back in Genesis chapter 9 when the descendents of Canaan were cursed and told they would become slaves of the descendents of Shem? Justification! All this happened because Ham saw his father Noah naked and drunk, imagine that.

*In the second half of the chapter, the Ephraimites and Manassehites complain that their share of land is too small because they are very numerous. Joshua allows them a bit more. Then they complain because the Canaanites in that land have iron chariots. Aha! Yahweh is no match for iron chariots. Joshua admits those Canaanites are strong, but says,"you can drive them out." Will the Canaanites with the iron chariots be driven out? Stay tuned for continuing episodes...

Genesis chapter 48

After reading chapter 48:

* Later, Jacob became ill. So, Joseph took his two sons to visit Jacob. Jacob told Joseph how God had appeared to him in the past and told him the land of Canaan would be given to his descendants. He claims Joseph's sons as his own, so that they will inherit part of the territory promised. Then Jacob does something strange and asks who Joseph's sons are, which historians  think is because of the meshing of two traditional stories into one, which also accounts for the names Jacob and Israel not being consistently used.

*Israel can hardly see,like Isaac of old.  So, Joseph brings his children to his father and he kisses and hugs them. Joseph led Manasseh, the oldest,   to Israel's right hand. He put Ephraim at Israel's left. These were the proper birth order blessing places. (These things don't work right unless you do them properly.) However, Israel crossed his arms, putting his hands on the opposite heads, the younger brother receiving the blessing of the first born. Joseph was displeased and tried to correct his father, but Israel said the younger would be greater than the older. In this manner, he continued the younger brother theme that we will see again. Why can't we still give our children prophetic blessings with our hands that will come true?

*Israel says God will be with Joseph  and will take him back to Canaan. The ridge of land that Jacob took from the Amorites would belong to Joseph.