March 13

March 13

Joshua 9–11

Scripture Text: Joshua 9:1–11:23

Series: Read the Bible in a Year

At the end of chapter eight (Joshua 8:30–35), Joshua renewed the covenant by writing a copy of the law on stones (likely a copy of the Ten Commandments) and reading the whole law before the people. Meanwhile Canaanite kings were banding together to fight Israel because they had heard what he did at Jericho and Ai. While they joined forces, the Gibeonites employed deceit. They told Joshia they were people from a far country and that they would be servants of Israel. Without seeking the Lord’s counsel, Joshua made a treaty with them, allowing Canaanites, whom the Lord commanded be driven out of the land, to live among them. When the Israelites came to the cities inhabited by the Gibeonites, they would not attack them because Joshua had made peace with them. Joshua had done so by his own counsel instead of asking direction from the Lord. Appearances can be deceiving but the guidance of God is trustworthy. 

Five Amorite nations now join against Gibeon, and therefore, Israel who had made a peace pact with deceitful Gibeon. Five against two, but God says, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands” “Joshua 10:8). Here we see the sun stand still, either figuratively — that the day seemed last long enough for Israel to overtake and defeat the now retreating Amorites — or literally — that God, who created the heavens and the earth, is able to prolong a normal day, and did so, that Israel could finish the day’s task. 

Again, in the execution of their duties (including the execution of the five Amorite kings, Joshua 10:16–28), Joshua reminded the people to “be strong and courageous.” The Lord was with them so they need not afraid. 

The remainder of today’s reading deals with the remaining conquest of Canaan, first in the south and then the north, the natural progression of their march through the land. Lastly, Joshua defeated the Anakim, those dreaded people who made Joshua’s spies feel like grasshoppers (Numbers 13:33) by comparison. The only Anakim who remained were in Ashdod and Gaza, specifically in Gath, where we will encounter a famous warring giant in 1 Samuel 17. 

The fear of these giants whom God had promised to vanquish led to an entire generation not entering the promised land. Their distrust of God’s word led to Joshua’s battle with the Anakim, and may even be the cause for modern conflict as well. 

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