Duet Judges 5

Judges 5:1 "Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day saying, v2 Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves."

I think we have to point out the phrase 'when the people willingly offered themselves.' The Lord uses people to accomplish things on many occasions. He also likes a willing servant. That is what happened in this victory, the Lord avenged with the willingness of the people in offering themselves.

Chapter 5 is a song about how the battle went. Singing songs about real events has been a way to remember things without or beyond the written word.

We start out with praise for the Lord and how 'the earth trembled and the heavens dropped...' . Then it describes the enemy and how the people were afraid. So afraid that they did not use the main roads but rather went by the byways. v6 Deborah tells of how the people did nothing until she came and mobilized them.

She praises those who fought and asked of those who did not the why.

v16 "Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart."

Can you hear the question? 'I understand Deborah and Barak but I'm just not sure it's the right time.' Or some other searching of the heart. Others stayed in their inheritance and did not come to fight. But some fought bravely.

v18 "Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field."

The song tells of the action of Jael and blesses her for killing the enemy Sisera but curses those who did not come to help v23.

Then, the story (song) goes to the mother of Sisera who is wondering why her son has not returned with his spoils.

v31 So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD; but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years."

Psalms 124:6 "Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth."

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Deborah and Barak 4th&5th Judges - Judges 4

Judges 4:8 "And Barak said, unto her, If thou will go with me, then I will go; but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go."

v1 "And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD when Ehud was dead."

Israel is now under oppression by Jabin king of Canaan because of the evil they did. Deborah, the prophetess is judging Israel and calls for Barak to come to her. She tells him that they are to fight the enemy. She instructs him to set a trap and she will draw the enemy into it.

v10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him."

The enemy gathered his chariots and went out to fight against Israel. Barak came down from the mountain with ten thousand men and attacked Sisera and his nine hundred chariots.

v15 "And the LORD discomfited Sisera..."

Sisera fled and hid in the house of Jael. She covered him in her tent then killed him. Barak came after Sisera and found him dead in the tent of Jael.

v23 "So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel." v24 "And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan."

This was the third apostasy or the third time Israel turned from the LORD after the death of Joshua. They are again delivered from the enemy.

Psalms 60:12 "Through God we shall do valiantly; for he it is that shall tread down our enemies."

keywords: Old Testament, Judges, Bible Study, Israel, Canaan, Deborah, Barak, Milton Southerland

First,Second,Third Judges - Judges 3 b

Judges 3:9 "And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother."

The children of Israel are under the bondage of the king of Mesopotamia and have cried unto the LORD. Othniel is called upon to deliver them.

v10 "And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel and went out to war and the LORD delivered Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushan-rishathaim.

The land had rest for 40 years v11 after this victory. Israel again falters and does evil v12 and another judge is called to deliver them. These periods of not following the LORD are known as apostasy.

Eglon of Moab was allowed to grow in strength and joined with the children of Ammon and Amalek and possessed the city of palm trees.

v15 "But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ebud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded; and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab."

Ebud was left handed for a purpose. He made a dagger and hid it on his right thigh so he could get to it quickly with his left hand. Something unexpected then. Ebud took a present to Eglon but he told them it was a secret and so the room was cleared of all others. Ebud sunk in the dagger driving the handle in and leaving it so it could not be pulled out. He then left by a back door so Eglon was left alone until he died. So Israel was delivered from him. Now they rested 80 years.

Ebud also led Israel to victory over Moab and subdued it. v30.

v31 "And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel."

Psalms 86:9 "All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name."

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To Prove Israel Judges 3 -a

Judges 3:1 "Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan:"

The nations: Philistines, Canaanites, Sidonians, Hivites v2 (perhaps some were part of nations since the verse is specific i.e five lords of philistines.

The original command was to eradicate the inhabitants of Canaan and not to mix with them. We find here that not all of the original residents were defeated or cast out of the land. What's more Israel intermarried with them.

v6 "And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods."

The very things that were warned against have now happened. Plan A was not followed so, in a manner of speaking we have a Plan B.

v4 And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses."

And, of course, as quoted above in v6, we see that they failed the test. There is always consequence for sin. Disobedience being sin.

v8 "Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushan-risbathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushan-rishathaim eight years."

Here we start a series where Israel disobeys, suffers, then is rescued by a judge. Here is a good place to stop and read Psalm 107. It shows how the LORD repeatedly preserved Israel.

Tomorrow we will try to get the rest of the chapter which deals with three judges.

Apostasy: A renunciation or abandonment of a former loyalty (i.e. as to a religion). Webster.
Remember the word, it comes up often.

Psalm 121:8 "The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.:

keywords: Judges, Bible Study, Old Testament, Israel, Milton Southerland

Review of Invasion Judges 2

Judges 2:2 "And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars; but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?"

Very often we find a question asked by the LORD for which he obviously knows the answer but it is asked to make us (people) think and remember. Adam, in the garden, was asked where he was not to inform the LORD but to inform Adam. The discussion goes on to answer the question or spell out the consequence for action or non-action.

Such is the case here. Israel was given a command and they disobeyed. Now it is payday.

v13 "And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth." The what of their actions.

v20 "And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; v21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died. The cost of their actions or inaction.

v22 'That through them I may prove Israel whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein as their fathers did keep it or not." They why of the cost.

We should take note of verse 1: "And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim and said..." I remember at the beginning of Joshua when the LORD stood with sword drawn and identified himself as the Captain of the Host. Angel is often used when the LORD appears to someone. We will see it later when Gideon is met by an angel sitting under an oak tree. Angel is used often in the Bible and sometimes it is the LORD, sometimes an actual angel.

I've noted that in Genesis (and the sin of man) there became a separation between God and man. In the Exodus the LORD led the children of Israel and it was made clear that it was Him. As we progress, as in the chapter, He appears as an angel. I find no difficulty in accepting that Jesus could do so. The angels can assume human form. It would be easy for the LORD to assume any form he wished. My point though is the separation that exist between God and man. The nation Israel has sinned in not obeying and the LORD must appear as an angel.

I do not understand this completely. I believe it is sin that prevents His presences and that the wages of sin is death. Sin would have to be judged and so out of compassion perhaps he appears as an angel so that judgment can be delayed.

Regardless we are launched into a time of a series of judges appointed to deliver Israel after they have sinned and been captured or otherwise detained by the enemy. Israel cries to the LORD and a judge is sent.

Psalms 119:28 "Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses."

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Incomplete Victories Judges 1

Judges 1:19 "And the LORD was with Judah: and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley because they had chariots of iron."

The incomplete victories will be studied further later. The one above refers to Judah, there were others as well.

I want to note that one of the leaders of the fights was the son of Caleb's younger brother, Othniel the son of Kenaz. Caleb's skill as a warrior seems to run in the family.

v12 "And Caleb said. He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah, my daughter to wife. And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife."

Another incomplete victory was Benjamin conquered Jerusalem but left the Jebusites. The house of Joseph went up against Bethel and did well but left a man alive who went off to build a city called Luz which is what Bethel was called at first. The man built Luz in the land of the Hittites v26.

Manasseh conquered several cities but left the Canaanites among them. They later caused them to pay tribute to Israel. The list goes on throughout the chapter telling of the failures of various tribes to drive out all the enemy.

I point these out now because they will have an impact on the future of Israel as the Judges come to their positions.

Psalms 34:9 "O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him."

keyword: Bible Study Judges Old Testament; Milton Southerland

Judges Opening Remarks

Joshua 2:18 "And when the LORD raised them up judges then the LORD was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them."

Judges covers 305 years (Usher). There were 13 judges (Scofield).

The judges were tribesmen, not of any special position in Israel except that they were chosen for the job.

Compare to 1 Cor. 1:26 . "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are clled: v27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty."

Judges covers the time after Moses and Joshua until the time of the kings. It is a time of Israel going after the strange gods of those people who were not cast out of the land. Scofield calls them "seven apostatsies, seven servitudes to seven heathen nations, seven deliverances." Note: Judges is the seventh book in the Bible.

After the judges came the prophets and the kings.

We will find Samuel the prophet soon after the short book of Ruth. Samuel waxed old and made his sons judges but they did not follow the Lord bringing the cry from the people of Israel for a king.

I Samuel 8:4-5 "Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways; now make us a king to judge us like all the nations."

Psalms 119:169 "Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word."

Keywords: Bible Study, Old Testament, Judges, Milton Southerland

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By placing a link to this Bible Study, you could help spread God's word. I don't carry commercial advertising so my motive is not monetary. I started this study in 2006 with the sole purpose of studying through the Bible with the hope that others would follow along. It can encourage all of us to spend a little time in the precious book. Placing a link will help the search engines pick up the site and therefore help people find it when they do a search. Perhaps a signature at the bottom of your email for a while would be your preference. I have a banner that you might graciously spread around when you have some extra space. The link does not have to be in your best spot, just someplace on one your pages. As the children might say, I totally thank you. :)

Joshua's Death Joshua 24

Joshua 24:15 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

The year is about 1427 BC. Joshua lived to be 110 years old. He was Moses' minister then the leader of the people. He was a soldier, a spy and a servant of the LORD. He challanged the people to serve the LORD right up to the end of his life.

Israel has possessed Canaan but still some of the previous inhabitants dwell among them with their false gods. There are battles to be fought but at this point Israel is at rest. Joshua's death leaves a void in Israel. The leadership of the budding nation is left to the tribal leaders and the appointed judges.

A review:

-Man is created in a perfect state living in a garden
-Sin enters and man is poisoned by it and seperated from God spiritually and physically.
-A flood destroys most of humanity leaving Noah and his family
-Abraham is called and chosen to father a special people
-Issac is born to Abraham and Sarah when they are old
-Jacob fathers the twelve tribes
-Children of Israel are held as slaves in Egypt - Joseph is their protector for a time
-Moses is called and delivers Israel
-They wander in the wilderness because of rebellion
-the Law is given
-Israel finally crosses Jordan - Moses has died without entering Canaan
-Joshua leads the battles to posses the land

Verses 1-13 of this chapter gives a verse by verse of some of these things.

We now find most of the old guard dead. Caleb remains and is mentioned in the next book, the book of Judges. He does not, however, have the status of Moses and Joshua.

A note in verse 32 tells us that Joseph is finally buried in the promised land. "And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem..."

v31 "Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel."

The book of Joshua covers about 26 years (Ussher).

Psalms 36:10 "O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart."

keywords: Bible Study, Old Testament, Joshua, Israel, Milton Southerland

Not One Failure Joshua 23

Joshua 23:1 "And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age."

Joshua counsels Israel.

V15 "Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you which the LORD your God promised you..."

The people of Canaan have been judged for their evil deeds, including passing their babies through the fire to please a false god. The lesson here, to Israel, is that it can happen to you. Just because good things have been promised and delivered, does not mean evil deeds will not be judged. They will be judged.

v15"....so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you."

Why would this happen?

v12 "Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them and they to you."

Joshua in his last counsels reviews the good things but also gives a warning and what turns out to be a prophecy concerning Israel. But a very powerful verse is included in the chapter:

v14 "And behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof."

Israel left some of the people of Canaan among them. These people kept their worship of strange gods and after intermarriage, the people succombed to temptation. They tried to have it both ways. We will see that that approach did not work well for Israel.

Psalms 19:8 "The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes."

keywords: Bible study, Old Testament, Joshua, Canaan, Israel, Milton Southerland

Altar of Witness Joshua 22

Joshua 22:26-27a "Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice: But that it may be a witness between us and you and our generations after us..."

The children of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh are going home to the other side of Jordan. They had left their families behind in fenced cities while they joined the rest of Israel in battle as promised to Moses.

The Jordan River separates them from the rest of Israel. They were afraid that they would be disowned by future generations as being part of the children of Israel and worshippers of the one true God, the LORD.

So, they set up a replica of the real altar that was in the tabernacle. It was a memorial of sorts and not to be used for actual sacrifices or offerings. The tribes in Canaan became fearful that the wrath of God would come on them because of a breach of the law. It was explained to them that the altar built was only for a witness and peace was made between them.

v33 "And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt. v34 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God."

Ed means witness.

Scofield (in his reference Bible) calls this altar a schismatic altar. I don't like disagreeing with the expert but schismatic depicts a division or separation or one that takes part in the division. It was thought by the tribes in Canaan that Reuben and Gad and 1/2 Manassah were trying to set up a different altar other than the tabernacle, at first, but it was explained to them that it was only a witness between those on one side of Jordan and those on the other. The division part was a misunderstanding and both parties were satisfied in the end, so there was no division, except the natural division created by the Jordan. I suppose, though, that it is inevitable that the two peoples would develop differently because of the natural boundary.

Psalms 78 39 "For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again."

Keywords: Bible Study, Joshua, Old Testament,Gad, Reuben, altar, Milton Southerland

Levite's Portion Joshua 21

Joshua 21:41 "All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs."

We know from reading this chapter and previous chapters that Hebron was given to Caleb because it was where he stood in spying out the land and was promised it by Moses. The children of Israel gave up certain cities to the Levites because the Levites had no possession promised them except that they would have cities to dwell in and suburbs for their cattle.

So Caleb gave up Hebron for a Levite city but retained the surrounding area.

v11-12 "And they gave them the city of Arba thee father of Anak, which city is Hebron in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it. But the fields of the city and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb, the son of Jephunneh for his possession."

So, that is how Part of Caleb's possession became a dwelling place for the Levites. Numbers 35:2 gives this law.

In verse 44, the Bible says "And the Lord gave them rest round about..." . So the initial major battles are over. All these things took place at Shiloh.

There is a very good verse to end this chapter. We must remember the promise in previous books. I like to remember the LORD standing before Joshua as Captain of the Host (Joshua 5:13-15) with His sword drawn to fight for Israel. The following verse acknowledges the fulfillment and accomplishment of things promised.

v45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel, all came to pass."

Psalms 50:1 "The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof."

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Cities of Refuge Joshua 20

Joshua 20:2-3 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither; and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood."

It is obvious that tempers would flair over the killing of a family member or close friend. The killer, though innocent of malice, might be killed before the details could be found out. The cities of refuge provided a place for him to run to until his innocence could be determined. It was not that he was innocent of the killing but that he was innocent of malice in the killing. It was accidental.

If someone did kill out of malice, that person could find no refuge in these cities but was to be taken and account given for his crime. See Numbers 35 to read when the law was given. You will find it in the archives of this study.

v9 "...that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee hither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation."

Some have compared the cities of refuge to Christ where we can flee to escape the penalty of our sin. The cities were different in one respect. The cities were for those who killed by accident and without malice or hate. Christ has chosen to provide forgiveness for the guilty. We can go to him and say 'Yes I am guilty of terrible things.' and he will forgive. He can do this because he paid the penalty himself for our crimes. John 3:16. Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life trough Jesus Christ our Lord."

Psalms 107:14 "He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and brake their bands in sunder."

Keywords: Bible Study, Old Testament, Joshua, Cities of Refuge, Israel, Milton Southerland

Adjustments Joshua 19

Joshua 19:9 "Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the childrenof Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them."

We are beginning to see some adjustments. Land and cities within some possessions are given out to peoples of other tribes as in this verse Simeon shared in Judah's possession because what they had been given was too large for them to inhabit or perhaps it was to large in relation to that given to other tribes.

Also, we will see some cities given up. Joshua has been dividing land without regard for himself but that was taken care of by the elders of Israel.

Speaking of Joshua:

v50 "According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timmath-serah in mount Ephraim, and he built the city, and dwelt therein."

These actions took place in a place called Shiloh, a name that was borrowed for a place in our country where other famous events took place.

v51 "..... so they made an end of dividing the country."

Psalms 107:29 "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still."

Keywords: Old Testament, Joshua, Israel, Bible Study,Milton Southerland

Land Surveyed Joshua 18

Joshua 18:3 "And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to posses the land which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?"


The southern area of Israel has pretty much been secured. Some peoples have been defeated, others were allowed to stay, as with Gibeon and some were not driven out. So they dwell with Israel. But there is a slackness of Israel to go forward into the land to posses the other parts. It seems they have grown comfortable around the tabernacle. Joshua takes action.


V4 "Give out from among you three men for each tribe and I will send them and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me."

Joshua makes several assertions in this verse. First he tells Israel to get him 3 men from each tribe. Then he says he will command them and they will rise and complete their task and report back to him.

v5 "They shall divide it into seven parts, Judah shall abide in their coast ont he south and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north."

The mission was accomplished and Joshua divided the land. It was now up to the tribes to take possession of their land.

Psalms 107:7 "And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation."

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Manasseh Daughters Portion Joshua 17

Joshua 17:5 "And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan; Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons, and the rest of Manassah's sons had the land of Gilead."

It was determined by the LORD through Moses that when a man had no sons, his daughters would nevertheless receive an inheritance. The first part of this chapter deals with that law.

"v12 "Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities but the Canaanites would dwell in that land."

Then there is a complaint from the children of Joseph about their lot being too small. They insist that they are a great people and need more space. Joshua, in effect, told them if they were a great people to go to the mountain and carve out more room.

v16 "And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us..."

v15 "And Joshua answered them If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there..."

v16",,,the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots and iron..."

Joshua ends the conversation with a statement that they can and will drive out the inhabitants.

V8 "But the mountain shall be thine, for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and though they be strong."

It sounds like a courtroom drama. I can almost see it. The old man Joshua has seen everything from the beginning, all the miracles, the waters parted, the walls falling, the Jordan parted. Now the mighty men of war stand complaining that the enemy is too strong for them. They don't have enough room but are afraid to go get more. The hill is not enough but they are afraid to take the mountain. Joshua finally says, just go get the mountain and never mind the chariots of iron.

Psalms 136:1 "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."

Manasseh and Ephraim's Portion Joshua 16

Joshua 16:1 "And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho unto the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho througghout mount Bethel,"

You will notice the comma after this verse, the border markings continue in the next verses.

Manasseh and Ephraim were the children of Joseph.

We are starting to see something happen in the next chapters. At first, the whole congregation went out to fight together. Now, it is starting to happen that those who inherit their portion are fighting for that part. They are becoming slow to possess the land. Also, some of the locals are remaining in the land.

v10 "And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezar: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute."

Remember in Numbers 33:55 where the LORD is telling them the consequence of not driving out all the people of Canaan:

"But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. v56 Moreover it shall come to pass that I shall do unto you as I thought to do unto them."

Israel is still moving forward but here and there some people are allowed to stay and dwell with them. It was not the plan.

Psalms 33:13 "The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men."

Judah's Portion Joshua 15

Joshua 15:1 "This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah, to their families; even to the border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward was the uttermost part of the south coast."

The little drawing is not accurate but is meant to show the approximate area for Judah..

Included is the inheritance of Caleb. I'm thinking he was also part of the tribe of Judah but received special consideration because of his heroic duty as a spy before the wilderness years.

Caleb, in this chapter offers anyone who would take a certain area, one of his daughters. A man succeded and received Caleb's daughter as a reward. v16

She asked for springs to water the land and was given them by her father. v18-19

Israel was not totally successful in driving out all the people as this verse shows.

v63 "As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.

We will not here repeat what is written in the chapter but allow you to read it. It gives the borders in geat detail.

Psalms 1:6 "For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish."

Caleb Inherits Hebron Joshua 14

Joshua 14:14 "Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunnch the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel."

Caleb is 85 years old. He was one of the spies sent by Moses to spy out the land. He along with Joshua brought back a report that Israel could take the land. They were the only two. Now Caleb has come to his old friend to claim the land promised him by Moses.

v9 "And Moses sware on that day, saying. Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God."

Caleb argues his case further by telling Joshua that he is still able to fight and take the land from the Anakims.

v11 "As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out and to come in."


v12 "Now therefore give me this mountain..."

So Caleb and his children inherited Hebron. It is a very important place to remember in future studies.

In the previous chapter, Joshua is described as old and stricken in years (c13v1) but here Caleb says he is as strong as when he was 40 years old and a spy with Joshua. I could not help but think of the garments that did not wear out and the feet that did not swell in speaking of Israel while wondering in the wilderness. It seems Caleb did not wear out either.

Psalms 121:8 "The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for ever more."

keywords: Bible study, Caleb, Joshua, Old Testament, Hebron, milton southerland

Inheritance Joshua 13

Joshua 13:7 "Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes and the half tribe of Manasseh."

You might remember that part of Israel chose to stay on the other side of Jordan and receive their inheritance over there. The men of war, however, fight with the rest of Israel until there is an end to possessing the land.

Here Joshua is instructed to divide the land, even that which is not yet possessed. It will encourage those who have not yet conquered their inheritance to go forward.

I do not believe all the land listed has yet been possessed by Israel. There is discussion of this in footnotes of study Bibles and commentaries. As I understand it, it has to do with the various covenants that Israel was under. The Abrahamic Covenant being the last to be fulfilled when all the promised land is possed under the Messiah. It is a subject that can be studied for a long time.

This chapter is a good detailed list of the land promised to Israel and should be read along with the next chapter where the land is divided.

Psalms 24:1 "The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."

31 Kings Joshua 12

Joshua 12: 24 "...all the kings thirty and one."

The chapter lists all the kings that have thusfar been conquered. v8 "In the mountains, and in the valleys, and in the plains and to the springs and in the wilderness and in the south country..."

Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and were instructed by the LORD. They crossed Jordan a fighting machine. They fought a quick campaign taking possession of the area around
Jerusalem and expanding it outward. It must have been an awesome sight.

Psalms 60:12 "Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies."

Jabin - A Long Battle Joshua 11

Joshua 11:18 "Joshua made war a long time with all those kings."

In the previous chapter we saw the king of Jerusalem gather other kings together to fight against Gibeon. Israel came to defend them because of an oath they could not break.

Now King Jabin of Hazor sends word to all the kings he knows and they gather together to fight Israel.

v4 And they went out, they and ll their hosts with them, much people, even as the and that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many."

The Lord told Joshua not to fear v6 them so as usual Joshua came upon them suddenly and chased them and burned their cities. There were a few that were left. Those in Gaza in Gath, and Ashdod. v22.

The rule was if the people surrendered, their cities would remain, if not they were destroyed.

v23 "So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.

Psalms 34:7 "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them."

Bible Study, Old Testament, Joshua, Israel, milton southerland

Five Kings and Hailstones from Heaven Joshua 10

Joshua 10:5 "Therefore the five kings of the Amorites: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts and encamped before Gibeon and made war against it."

Here is the situation: Gibeon has tricked Israel into being their guardians. Gibeon was a royal city and was feared by the other kings of the mountains. These five kings joined forces to defeat Gibeon. Under their agreement, Israel came to the rescue.

It seems strange to think of Jerusalem being under the rein of the Amorites but at this time it was. Israel was the invader under God's direction to possess the land. The people of the land had resorted to all kinds of terrible deeds and this was their judgment.

Joshua traveled all night and came upon the five kings by surprise and routed them. As the enemy fled, hailstones from heaven came down and killed some, in fact, more than Joshua killed.

v11 "And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with halstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword."

The victory was swift and decisive. Only Gibeon stood after the battles were finished.

v42 "And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel."

The LORD has not yet told Joshua or the people where the place is that He would place his
name. They did not occupy any of the cities but returned to Gilgal. These battles took place in the mountains of Palestine in the area around Jerusalem. There is more fighting to come.

We should note a great miracle that took place during these battles.

v13-14 "And the sun stood still and the moon stayed until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven and hasted not to go down about a whole day." "And there was no day like that before it or after it that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man for the LORD fought for Israel."

Here are the words that stopped the sun and it stood still.

v12 "Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou Moon, in the valley of Ajalon."

Psalms 27:4 "One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple."

keywords: Bible Study, Joshua, Old Testament, milton southerland, Jerusalem

Spell check is broken, sorry if I miss a word.

Gibeons Deceive Israel Joshua 9

Joshua 9:3-5 "And when the inhabitants of Gibeon haerd what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy."

Kingdoms in Canaan were not great land masses of people. For the most part, these kingdoms were cities with some surrounding land. The cities were walled and in danger, the people would come into the city for protection. There were many of these kingdoms. I suppose we could break down the word into a king's domain.

Gibeon was one such kingdom. They did not want to go up against Israel after hearing about Jericho and Ai. They devised a plan of deceit. Pretending to be from a far country, they talked the princes of Israel into making a league with them and sware that Israel would not harm them.

The Gibeonites were spared because of the oath even after it was discovered that they had been lying to Israel. There are strict instructions concerning an oath so it was honored. Still the Gibeonites did not get off scotfree. Joshua pronounced them sentenced to the jobs of hewing wood and getting water. There was no end to this punishment.

v18 "And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes."

v22-23 "And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you when ye dwell among us? Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bond men, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God."

So Israel had a trick pulled on them and the Gibeon's were allowed to live but under bondage.

Psalms 115:1 "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake."