Structure:
(BKC) 11:23. The section concludes with a declaration that summarizes the Book of Joshua as a whole. So Joshua took the entire land (cf. v. 16). This looks back and condenses the history of the Conquest in chapters 1–11. And he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. These words look forward and summarize the distribution of the land in chapters 13–22...Chapter 12, in concluding the story begun in chapter 1, gives a detailed catalog of the kings defeated by Israel.
Observations and Interpretations:
(1) For the alliance army 11:1-3, God told Joshua that He would cause all of them to lie dead, while the job of Israel was only to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots. Joshua' obedience was shown v.7, 9, 15 even when the armies were as numerous as the sand on the seashore v.4.
Application: Is our obedience conditional? When we see the task is so enormous will we still obey God?
Is our obedience universal? Joshua did not ignore any of God's command. How about us?
(2) 18 Joshua campaigned against these kings for quite some time. 19 No city made peace with the Israelites (except the Hivites living in Gibeon); they had to conquer all of them, 20 for the LORD determined to make them obstinate so they would attack Israel. He wanted Israel to annihilate them without mercy, as he had instructed Moses.
On one hand, the wisdom of the Gibeonites was confirmed, no other nations had the right perspective of Who God is and who they were. On the other hand, their attack on Israel accomplished what God had plan-total annihilation of the Promised Land.
(BKC) Now the sovereign God confirmed the hearts of these unrepentant people in their stubborn unbelief before judging them.
Application: Again, the Gibeonites were unusual. We read that over and over again that the kings formed alliances and hopefully they might win the battle over Israel. Before the end of the battle, they might all think they were smarter than Gibeon, but none of them really were smarter than Gibeon. Which way will you choose?
Audrey
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