Joshua 4-6
What I Noticed Today (Joshua 4-6)
There is so much symbolism in these chapters!
Joshua 4
In Joshua 4, God directs Joshua to have a man from each tribe get one stone from the middle of the Jordan and bring it to where they camp and build a memorial altar. It was to be a reminder of the miracle that God did leading them across the Jordan river on dry ground.
- The men did exactly as Joshua commanded by carrying a stone from the middle of the Jordan and place it as a memorial testifying to what the Lord had done in stopping the Jordan river while the people crossed over.
- Joshua also set up a memorial of 12 stones in the middle of the Jordan river.
- The Gadites, Reubenites and the half-tribe of Manasseh assembled an army of 40,000 fighting men, and they also crossed the Jordan River.
- The Lord exalted Joshua that day, and the people revered him just as they had Moses.
- Joshua commanded the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant to come up out of the river and as soon as they did the river started flowing again.
- The people came across the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month and camped at Gilgal.
- Joshua set up another memorial altar of 12 stones taken from the Jordan as another reminder for the people to teach their children what the Lord had done for them that day.
Note: Gilgal was only about two miles from Jericho.
Joshua 5
In Joshua 5, we read that the Amorite and Canaanite kings had heard of God’s miracle at the Jordan and were afraid. It seems like a perfect time to attack but God has them wait while the men undergo circumcision.
In verses 1-9, all the men of the new generation were uncircumcised. Circumcision was a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham (Genesis 17). The covenant was being restored and the shame of the prior generation who had rebelled against God was removed.
Note: The crossing of the Jordan river and the circumcision is a picture of salvation: the old self being put off, and the new self being put on (Ephesians 4:22-24).
In verses 10-12, while they were camped at Gilgal, it came time to celebrate the Passover. This was only the third time they had celebrated Passover (the first time was in Egypt, the second time at Mt. Sinai). The day after they celebrated Passover, the manna stopped, and the people fed themselves from the land.
In verses 13-15, Joshua is near Jericho. He sees a man in front of him bearing a sword, who identifies himself as commander of the Lord’s army. Joshua bows and worships him. The man tells him to remove his sandals because the place they are standing is holy ground.
Note: The description of the man reminds us of the angel who stood in front of Balaam’s donkey (Numbers 22:31). The description of the holy ground reminds us of Exodus 3:5 and Moses’ encounter with the burning bush.
Joshua 6-8
These three chapters describe the Israelite’s campaign to possess the lands of central Canaan beginning with Jericho.
Joshua 6
In Joshua 6, God gives explicit instructions to Joshua for how to take Jericho. Jericho was tightly shut up (no one coming or going) and highly fortified. The people of Jericho knew about God, and they knew about the miracle at the Jordan yet their hearts were hardened against God. If only they had repented and come to God as Rahab did they might have been spared!
In verses 3-21, following God’s instructions, Joshua had seven priests with trumpets move forward, followed by the Ark and more priests, and the army as they marched around the city of Jericho. They did the same thing every day for five more days. On the seventh day, they marched around the city seven times, blew the trumpets and shouted, and the walls of Jericho fell.
In verses 22-23, the city was destroyed, and only Rahab and her family were saved.
In verses 24-27, the Israelites plundered and burned everything in the city. Only Rahab and her family were saved. Joshua put a curse on the city stating that anyone who attempted to rebuild it would do so at the cost of their first born son and youngest son.
Note: We will see this curse fulfilled in 1 Kings 16:34.
Some thoughts for further consideration:
- God dealt with the past as the rebellious people wandered in the desert for 40 years, but now the new generation has come forward in the present renewing the Abrahamic covenant through circumcision, and moving into the future by faith as they trust God to lead them, protect them, and provide for them in the Promised Land.
- Our God is a loving God, not desiring that any should perish, but that all would come to Him, and accept Him!
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
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Tomorrow: Joshua 7-8