Consecration Renewed (Joshua 8:30-9:27) After all that Joshua and the people of Israel had gone through at Jericho and Ai, Joshua felt compelled to return to Mount Ebal and renew their consecration as a nation to God. This was the place where Moses had first consecrated the people to God. So they traveled back to the other side of the Jordan to the valley between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizion. The people stood there between the two mountains as the Levites recited the warnings of what would bring blessings and what would bring curses. This was followed by Joshua giving a complete reading of the writing of Moses for all the people to hear. A new beginning was needed, and hearing God's Word and reaffirming their shared commitment was the best way for that new beginning. Added to this renewal under the influence of God's Word, they also offered burnt offerings to God as a sign of consecration. It was the only sacrifice where the entire offering was consumed upon the altar. Returning to their camp at Gilgal on the west side of the Jordan, they were soon greeted by the Gibeonites. Through deception, the Gibeonites negotiated a peace treaty. However, even though it was later revealed to be based on deception, Israel chose to honor their side of the agreement. They did so because they believed it was the right thing to do before God. They had sworn before Him and felt it was only right to honor their word. They took responsibility for having not sought God prior to the agreement and therefore went ahead with their side of the agreement (9:14, 19). Their consecration before God had been tested and spared the lives of these Gibeonites, an uncommon act. This is life! Because we never know from where the next test may come, we must make a daily renewal of our consecration before God. Joshua 8:30-9:27 30 Now Joshua built an altar to the LORD God of Israel in Mount Ebal, 31 as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: "an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool." And they offered on it burnt offerings to the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings. 32 And there, in the presence of the children of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written. 33 Then all Israel, with their elders and officers and judges, stood on either side of the ark before the priests, the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, the stranger as well as he who was born among them. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. 34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, 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 Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
"Now Joshua built an altar to the LORD God of Israel in Mount Ebal." -Joshua 8:30NKJV Bible Text
Joshua Renews the Covenant
| Joshua Renews The Covenant v. 30 In Mount Ebal – This mount was located 30 miles from Gilgal where the people of Israel were camped since they had crossed the Jordan River. It would have taken two days for the people of Israel to cover this distance. Mount Ebal, 3,077 feet high, was located opposite Mt. Gerizim with a valley between them. v. 31 Law of Moses – The instructions concerning this event can be found in Deuteronomy 27-28. Whole Stones – This altar, made of uncut stones, was not to have the mark of man's workmanship upon it. Burnt Offering – The offering was to be completely consumed on the altar by fire to signify complete consecration of the person, family, or nation of the one offering it. As with every blood sacrifice, this sacrifice would have conveyed the atonement for sin. Paul seemed to have had this offering in mind when he called believers to live wholly consecrated to God in Romans 12:1-2. Peace Offering – This offering represents peace and fellowship with God and man. It was a voluntary sacrifice; any animal but a bird was acceptable. After killing the animal, its blood was sprinkled to signify atonement for sin. The fat of the animal was burnt on the altar, and the officiating priest waved the thigh and breast before God, dedicating this portion to God. The rest of the meat of the animal provided a feast for the offering priest, family, and invited guests. Based on the emphasis for giving the peace offering it was have to have been offered in three different ways: 1. To recognize unexpected or unmerited blessing, it was called a thanks or praise offering. | 2. As a payment of a vow, it was called a votive offering. 3. As an expression of love, it was called a freewill offering. v. 33 All Israel – All of God's people, not just the priests or religious leaders, participated in this special time of consecration and accountability to God and His word. Stranger – If they joined in this consecration to God, the door was open for Gentiles to share in the covenants and promises of God to the Jews. Half Of Them – They were divided by tribe as described in Deuteronomy 27:11-13. Bless the People of Israel – The priestly tribe of Levites proclaimed the blessings and curses as exampled in Deuteronomy 27:14-26, and then the entire nation of Israel shouted out "Amen." When you realize that there were 603,550 men (Num. 1:46) alone in Israel that took part in the Exodus 40 years earlier, at this time number of men, women, children and foreigners would have been in the millions. As they shouted, the valley between them would have echoed and amplified their voices so that their shouts would have been an amazing proclamation of God's word across miles. v. 34 All the Words – In verses 34-35, we are told that every word that God had given Moses was proclaimed before all the people of God. The direct result of what God foretold would bless or curse them played out in the life of Israel over the following generations, to the degree that they walked in God's word and in God's blessing and/or curse. Still true today, it is folly to think that we can live outside of the truth of scripture and still demand from God the blessings that living His truth promises us. |
Joshua 9 The Treaty with the Gibeonites 1 And it came to pass when all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the hills and in the lowland and in all the coasts of the Great Sea toward Lebanon—the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite—heard about it, 2 that they gathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one accord. 3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, 5 old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. 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."
| Chapter 9 The Treaty With The Gibeonites v. 1 All the Kings – This is a list of the Amorite city-states that controlled the southern region of Canaan. They moved quickly to develop a coalition in hopes of turning back Israel. v. 3 Inhabitants of Gibeon – Located northwest of Jerusalem and approximately seven miles from Ai, Gibeon was a major city in the region and was known for its powerful warriors. v. 4 Craftily – The Hebrew word "Ornah" describes the behavior of one who approaches a situation with premeditated deception and cunning. | Ambassadors – A group of men were sent to give the appearance that they represented the ruler of a distant city in another region. Old Sacks – They did everything they could to appear as if they had been on a long journey. v. 6 To Gilgal – Except for their journey to worship God at Mt. Ebal (8:30), the people of Israel had been camped here since they had crossed the Jordan. It was located between the Jordan River and Jericho, the first city they had conquered. A Far Country – They knew that Joshua would not make a covenant with them if he knew they were from Canaan, because it had been spread throughout the land that the Israelites were to totally drive the Canaanites out of the land or completely destroy them. |
7 Then the men of Israel said to the Hivites, "Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you?" 8 But they said to Joshua, "We are your servants." And Joshua said to them, "Who are you, and where do you come from?" 9 So they said to him: "From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt, 10 and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan—to Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth. 11 Therefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, 'Take provisions with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, "We are your servants; now therefore, make a covenant with us."' 12 This bread of ours we took hot for our provision from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. But now look, it is dry and moldy. 13 And these wineskins which we filled were new, and see, they are torn; and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey." 14 Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the LORD. 15 So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them. 16 And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them. 17 Then the children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim. 18 But the children of Israel did not attack them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers.
| v. 8 Your Servants – a statement of respect v. 9 Lord Your God – They lied and pretended to have a genuine regard for the God of the Jews. In fact, their primary concern was to preserve their own lives and their way of life as much as possible. Did In Egypt – This referred to the plagues that God had brought upon Pharaoh and Egypt, plagues directed against the gods of Egypt (Ex. 12:12). v. 10 Sihon King of Heshbon – This occurred east of the Jordan while Israel was in route to the Promised Land under Moses' leadership (Num. 21:21-30). Og King of Bashan – This battle occurred after the battle with King Sihon (Num. 21:33-35). Ashtaroth – Thutmose III, the Egyptian ruler, referred to this region as a city he had captured earlier. It was also referred to much later as having been conquered by Judas Maccabeus. | v. 11 Therefore – As part of their deception, they did not make mention of any of the events that transpired after Israel crossed the Jordan. This is because they would not have heard about it if they had been traveling for several weeks. v. 14 Not Ask Council – Joshua had fallen prey to acting as he had in the attack upon Ai and when he failed to seek God's direction. Often Satan will use a totally different approach to take advantage of a vulnerable area in the life of a believer. Joshua's tendency was to act on his own perception without first laying it before God. v. 15 Make Peace With Them – To make peace with those that God commanded to drive out of the land or destroy was a dangerous move. God demanded they be removed because of the idolatrous and perverse lifestyles of the Canaanites. v. 17 The Cities – These were satellite cities that were under the authority of the city of Gibeon. Chephirah was eight to nine miles west of Gibeon, Beeroth eight miles north of Jerusalem, and Kirjath-Jearim nine miles from Jerusalem on the road to Jaffa. |
19 Then all the rulers said to all the congregation, "We have sworn to them by the LORD God of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them. 20 This we will do to them: We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them." 21 And the rulers said to them, "Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the rulers had promised them." 22 Then Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, "Why have you deceived us, saying, 'We are very far from you,' when you dwell near us? 23 Now therefore, you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God." 24 So they answered Joshua and said, "Because your servants were clearly told that the LORD your God commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore we were very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing. 25 And now, here we are, in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us." 26 So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them. 27 And that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, in the place which He would choose, even to this day.
| v. 19 We Have Sworn – The people of Israel quickly complained against the rulers for their lack of discernment and disregard for seeking the Lord (v.18). However, Joshua did not fall prey to appeasing them by breaking his word. He knew in principle the saying, "Two wrongs do not make a right." He believed that he needed to keep his word even though he had been wrongly deceived. v. 21 Woodcutters – These people were to pay for their deception by tending to tasks that were less desirable than most other work done in the camp of Israel. | v. 23 House Of My God – This most likely refers to the tabernacle that had been moved with the Israelites on their wilderness journey to the Promised Land. v. 25 Seems Good and Right – The Gibeonites knew that if they had fallen into the hands of any other enemy they would have been killed. However, here they were not killed because of Joshua's desire to not add sin to sin. He took responsibility for the consequences of his poor judgment. |
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