The Bible and Its Influence (Hebrew Bible) November 8, 2011 Joshua and the Conquest.

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The Bible and Its The Bible and Its Influence (Hebrew Influence (Hebrew Bible) Bible) November 8, 2011 November 8, 2011 Joshua and the Conquest Joshua and the Conquest

Transcript of The Bible and Its Influence (Hebrew Bible) November 8, 2011 Joshua and the Conquest.

Page 1: The Bible and Its Influence (Hebrew Bible) November 8, 2011 Joshua and the Conquest.

The Bible and Its Influence The Bible and Its Influence (Hebrew Bible)(Hebrew Bible)

November 8, 2011November 8, 2011

Joshua and the ConquestJoshua and the Conquest

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JerichoJericho

Joshua 6:1-21Joshua 6:1-21 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsEmF9ur

YDk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPZuWzZ

voYQ– Highly ritualized.Highly ritualized.– What’s a ram’s horn?What’s a ram’s horn?

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Literary ParallelsLiterary Parallels

How was Joshua like Moses?How was Joshua like Moses?

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How is Joshua a new Moses?How is Joshua a new Moses?

Sends out spies (chapter 2)Sends out spies (chapter 2) Causes the waters (of the Jordan) to stand Causes the waters (of the Jordan) to stand

still.still. Take off your shoes (Ex. 3:5; Josh 5:15)Take off your shoes (Ex. 3:5; Josh 5:15) Miracles: Sun stands still. (Josh 10:12-14)Miracles: Sun stands still. (Josh 10:12-14) Promises (Joshua 1:3; Deut 11:24)Promises (Joshua 1:3; Deut 11:24)

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Reading the Hebrew Bible as the Reading the Hebrew Bible as the “Old Testament”“Old Testament”

For early Christians, reading the Bible in For early Christians, reading the Bible in Greek, the name Joshua was Greek, the name Joshua was indistinguishable from the name Jesus.indistinguishable from the name Jesus.

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““Old Testament Jesus” takes over for Old Testament Jesus” takes over for Moses.Moses.

Symbolizes Christianity taking over for the Symbolizes Christianity taking over for the religion of Moses. “New Covenant” replaces religion of Moses. “New Covenant” replaces the “Old Covenant”.the “Old Covenant”.– Bible is full of hidden or half concealed Bible is full of hidden or half concealed

meanings.meanings.– crimson cord foreshadows the blood of the crimson cord foreshadows the blood of the

crucifixion.crucifixion.

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Church is New IsraelChurch is New Israel

Joshua = JesusJoshua = Jesus 1 Cor 10:18; Rom 2:28; Phil 3:31 Cor 10:18; Rom 2:28; Phil 3:3 Emissaries of Joshua establish contact with Emissaries of Joshua establish contact with

a sinner (Rahab)a sinner (Rahab)

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Matt. 1:5-6Matt. 1:5-6

And Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, And Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.father of King David.

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Rabbinic Midrashic Commentator Rabbinic Midrashic Commentator also held Rahab in high esteem.also held Rahab in high esteem.

““Eight priests and eight prophets came forth Eight priests and eight prophets came forth from Rahab the harlot, and they are these: from Rahab the harlot, and they are these: Jeremiah, Hilkiah, Sariah, Mahsiah, Baruch, Jeremiah, Hilkiah, Sariah, Mahsiah, Baruch, Neriah, and Shallum. Rabbi Judah added: Neriah, and Shallum. Rabbi Judah added: Likewise Huldah the prophetess was among Likewise Huldah the prophetess was among Rahab’s descendants....Because she Rahab’s descendants....Because she brought herself near to the worship of God, brought herself near to the worship of God, so too did God bring her near.”so too did God bring her near.”

Sifrei Numbers 78Sifrei Numbers 78

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The Joshua Account of the The Joshua Account of the ConquestConquest

Three highly successful military operations.Three highly successful military operations.– Central highlands: Jericho and AiCentral highlands: Jericho and Ai– Southern campaign: Israel decisively defeats Southern campaign: Israel decisively defeats

Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon and Jebus Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon and Jebus (sun stands still).(sun stands still).

– Northern Campaign: Joshua defeats king of Northern Campaign: Joshua defeats king of Hazor and his coalition near the waters of Hazor and his coalition near the waters of Merom.Merom.

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A crucial promise has been fulfilled. The A crucial promise has been fulfilled. The land of Canaan is now completely in the land of Canaan is now completely in the hands of Abraham’s heirs.hands of Abraham’s heirs.

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The Archeology of the The Archeology of the Conquest/SettlementConquest/Settlement

Albright and many others concluded that the Albright and many others concluded that the conquest narrative was essentially verified.conquest narrative was essentially verified.– Evidence of newcomers with discernible cultural Evidence of newcomers with discernible cultural

differences: houses, pottery.differences: houses, pottery.

Some archeologists point to the absence of Some archeologists point to the absence of pig bones in hilltop sites starting in the Iron I pig bones in hilltop sites starting in the Iron I period (1200-1000 BCE) and continuing period (1200-1000 BCE) and continuing beyond. Before that, pig bones abound.beyond. Before that, pig bones abound.

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Bethel and HazorBethel and Hazor

Evidence of being forcibly destroyed in the Evidence of being forcibly destroyed in the time of Joshua.time of Joshua.– Joshua 11:10-13Joshua 11:10-13– Joshua 8: 17Joshua 8: 17

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El Amarna LettersEl Amarna Letters

ca 1350-1334 BCE; picture of the Land of ca 1350-1334 BCE; picture of the Land of Israel at the same time that Israelites were Israel at the same time that Israelites were supposed to be invading it.supposed to be invading it.

Letters written by Canaanite vassals to Letters written by Canaanite vassals to Egyptian authorities.Egyptian authorities.

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habiruhabiru

Marauders who were scattered all across the Marauders who were scattered all across the land of Canaan who raid Canaanite cities land of Canaan who raid Canaanite cities and wreak havoc.and wreak havoc.

““the war...of the apiru against me is the war...of the apiru against me is severe....”severe....”

Many, many references.Many, many references.

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Negative Archeological EvidenceNegative Archeological Evidence

Absence of protecting walls dating from the Absence of protecting walls dating from the time of Joshua. In fact, Jericho seems to time of Joshua. In fact, Jericho seems to have been abandoned at time of Joshua have been abandoned at time of Joshua (13(13thth c BCE) c BCE)

Story of Ai more likely told about impressive Story of Ai more likely told about impressive ruins.ruins.

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Israel lives in the midst of the Israel lives in the midst of the CanaanitesCanaanites

Judges 1:27-35; 3:5-6Judges 1:27-35; 3:5-6

Most Modern scholars reject the Bible’s own Most Modern scholars reject the Bible’s own picture of a great exchange of population. picture of a great exchange of population. Rather the people of Israel end up Rather the people of Israel end up incorporating significant elements of the incorporating significant elements of the locals.locals.

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Judges picture probably more Judges picture probably more accurateaccurate

Gradual infiltration over a long period of time Gradual infiltration over a long period of time by various related groups of people who by various related groups of people who peacefully moved in to live alongside the peacefully moved in to live alongside the Canaanites only occasionally engaging in Canaanites only occasionally engaging in military conquest.military conquest.

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New villages and technologyNew villages and technology

1200-1000 BCE amazing number of new 1200-1000 BCE amazing number of new villages established in the hill countryvillages established in the hill country

Iron tools.Iron tools. Large cisterns.Large cisterns. Terraced hillsides.Terraced hillsides.

Was this the first phase of Israel’s Was this the first phase of Israel’s settlement?settlement?

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Were Israelites outside conquerors, Were Israelites outside conquerors, peaceful semi-nomads or Canaanite peaceful semi-nomads or Canaanite

revolutionaries?revolutionaries? ‘‘apiru and other disgruntled elements over apiru and other disgruntled elements over

through the network of Egyptian puppetsthrough the network of Egyptian puppets Israelites as semi-nomadic grazers move in Israelites as semi-nomadic grazers move in

and out of Canaan for a long while and then and out of Canaan for a long while and then gradually settle, mostly peacefully.gradually settle, mostly peacefully.

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Was there a real Joshua?Was there a real Joshua?

Some scholars hold that he was a hero of Some scholars hold that he was a hero of tribe of Ephraim during the period of Judges. tribe of Ephraim during the period of Judges. Brilliant fighter and tactician. Deuteronomist Brilliant fighter and tactician. Deuteronomist historian need a might conquistador seized historian need a might conquistador seized on these legends and elevated Joshua to on these legends and elevated Joshua to his current central role and attributed actions his current central role and attributed actions highly reminiscent of Moses. (James Kugel)highly reminiscent of Moses. (James Kugel)