Josué 2

Josué 2

Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission Paul J Bucknell - Biblical Foundations for Freedom LAND ALLOTMENTS (Joshua 13-21) Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission Click charts to enlarge Charts from Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission JOSHUA A BOOK ON SPIRITUAL WARFARE and REST HOW TO POSSESS YOUR POSSESSIONS CONQUEST OF THE PROMISED LAND DIVISION OF THE PROMISED LAND CLOSE OF JOSHUA'S LIFE ACTION ALLOCATION APPEAL Josh 1:1-5:15 Josh 6:1-12:24 Joshua 13:1-21:45 Josh 22:1-24:33 WARLORDS IN CANAAN LANDLORDS IN CANAAN ENTERING CANAAN CONQUERING CANAAN DIVIDING CANAAN SECURING THE LAND SETTLING THE LAND Preparation Conquest Possession Consecration ca. 1 Month ca 7 Years ca. 18 Years See also more detailed Chart by Charles R Swindoll Joshua 2:1 Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there. NLT Joshua 2:1 Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, "Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho." So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night. Shittim: ("stream of acacias") Nu 25:1 33:49 secretly: Nu 13:2,17-21 Jud 18:2,14,17 Mt 10:16 Eph 5:5 especially Jericho: Jos 5:10 6:1-24 house of a harlot: Jos 6:17,25 Mt 1:5, Rachab, Jos 21:31 Heb 11:31 Jas 2:25 Joshua 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Outline of Joshua 2 - Irving Jensen THE SPIES VERSES RAHAB 1. Spies are dispatched Josh 2:1 2. Spies are protected Josh 2:2-7 Rahab’s works 3. Spies are informed Josh 2:8-11 Rahab’s faith 4. Spies promise safety Josh 2:12-22 Rahab’s reward 5. Spies give report Josh 2:23-24 Related Passages: Matthew 1:5+ (A REDEEMED HARLOT IN THE LINEAGE OF THE REDEEMER! AMAZING GRACE INDEED!) Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. Hebrews 11:31+ (RAHAB SAVED BY FAITH IN THE MESSIAH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT) By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace. James 2:25+ (RAHAB'S FAITH SHOWN GENUINE BY HER WORKS) In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified (MEANS SHOWN TO BE JUSTIFIED = HER WORKS PROVED SHE WAS JUSTIFIED!) by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? Joshua 6:17 (RAHAB WAS A HARLOT DESPITE SOME WHO SAY SHE WAS NOT!) “The city shall be under the ban, it and all that is in it belongs to the LORD; only Rahab the harlot and all who are with her in the house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent (THIS "FRUIT" DEMONSTRATES THE "ROOT" OF HER FAITH WAS GENUINE!). Joshua 6:25 However, Rahab the harlot and her father’s household and all she had, Joshua spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, for she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. Hebrews 11:31+ By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace. James 2:25+ In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified (SHOWN TO BE RIGHTEOUS - USED THIS WAY OF GOD IN Roman 3:4+) by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? Shittim located Directly East of Jericho SPIES SECRETLY SENT PROVIDENTIALLY TO A PROSTITUTE! Observe the overview charts above, noting especially that these first 5 chapters are preparation for conquest of the promised land. Don Anderson - This is the story of two men and a prostitute named ab, whose lives demonstrate SACRIFICIAL SERVICE the magnitude of the grace of God. The men's names are unknown and usually that's the case with real servants. Bob Marcaurelle subtitled this section "Rahab in Rehab" or "The Scarlet Woman’s Scarlet Thread." Wikipedia Note on the Scarlet Letter "A" on forehead in the famous novel - The Scarlet Letter A: In the beginning of the novel Hester's letter A is a representation of her sin and adultery. However, as time progresses, the meaning of the letter changed. It now represented, to some, able. It states “The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness was found in her—so much power to do, and power to sympathize—that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able, so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength” (129). Hampton Keathley - Humanly speaking, how difficult was the task that confronted Joshua and the people with regard to entering the land of Canaan? What were some of the obstacles Joshua and the people faced? As the leader, Joshua faced following in the steps of a leader like Moses and leading a stubborn, stiff-necked group of people. All of them together faced fortified cities, giants, and a flooded Jordan. Everything Joshua and the people were called to do, humanly speaking, was far beyond their ability. From the crossing of the swollen and turbulent waters of the Jordan to conquering the fierce, powerful, ungodly people who occupied the land. Regardless of these obstacles, by believing the promises of God, by applying the principles of God’s Word, and by counting on the presence of God’s person, Joshua courageously moved ahead and secretly sent two men to spy out the land to gather needed strategic and tactical information that any military commander would need to plan a successful strategy for taking the land. Bob Marcaurelle sees three steps in the crossing of the Jordan: The Meticulous Preparations (Joshua 1:10–3:13) The Miraculous Passage (Joshua 3:13–17) The Memorial Pillars (Joshua 4:1–18) Then - Then is an expression of time which should always draw our attention. It will force us to examine the context and discern what is the progression of events in a text. Joshua is taking preliminary steps in preparation for the occupation of the land. Keil and Delitzsch - "Although Joshua had received a promise from the Lord of His almighty help in the conquest of Canaan, he still thought it necessary to do what was requisite on his part to secure the success of the work committed to him, as the help of God does not preclude human action, but rather presupposes it." (Joshua 2 Commentary) (ED: Once again we see the Biblical principle of God's sovereignty and Man's responsibility) Don Anderson - The word "then" ties us into Joshua 1 where the Lord speaks, Joshua speaks, and the two and a half tribes speak. Now we are ready to move into action, and Joshua's first item of business is a secret mission for two of his very reliable men. He didn't make it public . It is interesting to note that he sent only two spies. (COMMENTING ON THE "TWO" OPTIMISTS JOSHUA AND CALEB IN Nu 13-14 Anderson says) Those who submitted the entirely negative and pessimistic majority report looked at the mi ht of their enemies through the magnifying glass of fear and unbelief. The optimistic minority gained a true perspective through their faith in the omnipotent God Who had already displayed His power . All twelve spies had seen exactly the same sights. The ten viewed God through the difficulties. The two viewed the difficulties through a God to whom nothing was impossible. On this occasion Joshua sends only two. He didn't send twelve. These t wo They know '/uJO spies are willing to lay it all on the l i ne . that one mistake , they get caught and shot. One is reminded of the spy by the name of NATHAN HALE who served George Washington. He was a 21 year old school teacher who volunteered to go behind British lines and collect information for George Washington during the Revolutionary War. When he was caught, he faced death. With a rope hanging around his neck, he said, "I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country." In a lot of ways this truly is a MISSION IMPOSSIBLE . These men must carefully cross a flooded river and then disguise themselves adequately during the daylight hours and get into the city without causing any alarm on the part of its citizens. Doubt sees the obstacles, Faith sees the way; Doubt sees the darksome night , Faith sees the day. Doubt dreads to take the step, Faith soars on high; Doubt whispers, "Who believes?" Faith answers, "I"! -- Author Unknown Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying - Remember that in the Septuagint Joshua is translated with the word Iesous, the word translated "Jesus" in the New Testament. The Septuagint translates men with the noun neaniskos which means young men in the prime of life. NLT - "Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove." Contrast Joshua's two spies with the twelve sent out "from the wilderness of Paran" by Moses (Numbers 13:3-16), only two of whom proved faithful. It is also notable that Shittim (means "Acacias") was the same place Israel fell into immorality and idolatry, Numbers 25:1+ recording "While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab." But it is a new day and now Israel was being prepared to eradicate the pagan idolaters rather than commingle with them! How ironic that the two spies from Shittim went to the house of a harlot! God does have a gracious sense of humor. The Hebrew word secretly is cheresh (from charash = to be silent) and is used only here in the OT in NAS (although in KJV is found in 1Chr 4:14; Neh 11:35; Isa 3:3). Cheresh describes doing something without giving it public exposure and thus keeping it from certain persons. The Septuagint has the verb kataskopeuo (not found in NT - related verb kataskopeo in Gal 2:4+) which means to spy out, to inspect, to survey (Only used in Lxx of Ge 42:30; Ex 2:4; Dt. 1:24; Jos. 2:1; Jos. 2:2; Jos. 2:3; Jos. 6:22; Jos. 6:23; Jos. 6:25; Jos. 14:7) Minorities, since time began Have shown the better side of man, And of ten in the lists of time One man has made a cause sublime --- P. L. Dunbar Ryrie on secretly - Joshua, having learned an important lesson from his experience at Kadesh-barnea (Num. 13-14), concealed the spy mission even from the Israelites so that, if an unfavorable report were returned, the people would not be disheartened. THOUGHT - For Joshua this was purely a military maneuver but God supervened and made it into one of the great spiritual maneuvers in the entire Bible. He used it to save a pagan harlot. We need to be aware that when we are doing what appear to be “ordinary” things in our life, we should not be surprised if God uses a godly life doing normal things to bring about some supernatural things! When we walk with Jesus, walking by His Word and His Spirit, the “normal” Christian life is anything but normal! Moshe Weinfeld - "Sending out men for reconnaissance was a widespread phenomenon in the east. Moreover, a prostitute’s or innkeeper’s house was the accustomed place for meeting with spies, conspirators, and the like. Thus, for example, we read in Hammurabi’s Code: ’If scoundrels plot together [in conspiratorial relationships] in an innkeeper’s house, and she does not seize them and bring them to the palace, that innkeeper shall be put to death’ (law § 109). In a Mari letter we read about two men who sow fear and panic and cause rebellion in an army. Also, the pattern of a three-day stay in an area when pursuing escapees has support in ancient eastern sources; for example the instructions to the Hittite tower commanders specify that if an enemy invades a place he must be pursued for three days. In the same collection of instructions we find that it is forbidden to build an inn (arzana) in which prostitutes live near the fortress wall, apparently because of the kind of danger described in Joshua 2." (The Promise of the Land: The Inheritance of the Land of Canaan by the Israelites, pp. 141-43) Davis and Whitcomb on secretly - "He had learned by experience that spy reports should be brought to the leaders only, for the people did not have sufficient orientation or experience to properly evaluate such a report." (Israel From Conquest to Exile) John Butler - Joshua sent only “two” spies. Twelve were sent in the previous spy mission. Sending fewer spies here was done “because the people of Canaan were now more alarmed than in Moses’ time, and more suspicious of all strangers” (Matthew Poole). Some are critical of Joshua for sending the spies. The critics say it was not an act of faith. But God’s promise of victory for Israel did not eliminate Israel from going to battle. And if they must go to battle, they will have to study the enemies’ situation in order to have good strategy in battling them. So Joshua did not send the spies out because of unbelief. Rather, he sent them out to help him make wise plans for conquering Canaan—the task God had given him to do. “The help of God does not preclude human action, but rather presupposes it” (Keil).(Joshua: The Conqueror of Canaan )