Joshua

I finished the book of Joshua this week.  I took the following notes through the book:

• The land will be the Israelite's
• Joshua is to follow God's instruction and will be successful
• Joshua gives first order to the people - prepare to move and the men to fight
• Spies are sent to Jericho and hid within Rahab's (a prostitute) home, in exchange they promised to spare her and her family from destruction
• Jericho was terribly afraid of the Israelite's and their God as they'd heard of the Red Sea and more
• Joshua led them across the Jordan river as God directed, the Ark of the Agreement first; the river flow stopped for them to cross
• 12 rocks were selected from the river to remind people it stopped flowing when the Ark with the Lord entered it
• Joshua put 122 rocks in the river where the Ark was
• 12 = 1 for each of the 12 tribes of Israel
• They hurried across the Jordan; men prepared for war first and passed before the Lord
• When priests and the Ark left the Jordan river, it flowed again
• Israelites born while in the desert weren't circumcised, so Joshua did it now
• Then they ate the food from the land in Canaan for Passover, no more manna!
• The Lord sent an army commander for the Israelites
• Jericho feared Israelites, so the locked the gates, no one came or left
• They followed God's instruction to march around the city 1 time daily for 6 days with the Ark, priests with blowing trumpets and armed men
• On day 7, they marched 7 times then shouted
• Rehab and family were saved as promised
• At the shouting, the walls fell, men ran in killing; they spared no one and nothing except Rahab and family
• The spies went for Rahab and kept her family outside camp in a safe place
• Then they burned Jericho and everything in it except silver, gold, bronze and iron; those they saved for the Lord
• If anyone tried to rebuild Jericho, they are cursed by the Lord
• Achan kept items to be given to the Lord
• The Israelies were defeated at Ai
• Must destroy the sin to keep the agreement again for the Israelites
• Sinner will be burned by fire
• Lord pulled out tribe and family until Achan was presented, himself and his sin
• Achan, his family and all he owned was destroyed
• Joshua led them to Ai to take the city by ambush
• They could keep the wealth of Ai for themselves
• Everyone in Ai died that day
• They built an alter as directed int he teachings
• Joshua wrote the teachings down then read for all to hear
• Joshua agreed to a group of people (Gideons) that came to them in fear that they could be their servants without consulting God, they were the tricking them
• Their enemies became their slaves and were not killed because of his word, enemies lied to live
• Other cities heard of the Israelite's victoires, a group of 5 banded together with their kings and armies to fight Gideons since they had made peace with Israelites
• Israelites conquered all and the sun stopped so they could defeat them in light
• Joshua led them through the area defeating and conquering cities
• Joshua carried out God's commands to Moses
• Other kings tried to come together to defeat Israelites but they were unsuccessful
• All the land of the kinds (31) they conquered because the Israelite's land
• The land was divided among the tries of Israel
• Caleb received the land he went to spy on for his trust in God
• Town were divided among tribes, some people didn't leave so they lived among the Israelites (Jebusites)
• Tribes left still without land sent men to write and describe their land to be, Joshua threw lots for the lands
• The rest of the land is given
• Dan's land took a town and changed its name to Dan for their family group
• Joshua received a town
• Cities of safety were declared
• Town and pastures given tot he Levites
• Lord provided peace on all sides of the land
• Some tribes built a new alter, angered the others for going against God; bu they went to them and it was built not for sacrifices but as a reminder they are part of the Lord's people since they are across the river they feared they would be 'disowned'
• Joshua reminds them God keeps his promises and will go ahead of them and fight for them
• Don't befriend those of other gods
• Joshua reminded them of everything they've been through and how the Lord has provided, he reminded them to stay faithful
• Joshua dies
• Israelites served God during Joshua's time and after with those leaders who had seen what God had done for them