Joshua 13:24-23. Chapters 1-12 described the taking of the land promised to Israel’s descendants over four hundred years earlier.  Chapters 13-21 of Joshua tell of the division of the land.  In the first 12 chapters we saw God very active alongside of the Israelites as they took the land.  It has been very clear that God was the major player in those battles.  In fact very early on, at Ai, they learned the cost of fighting without God.  God will be active in this portion of the book too but in a different sort of way.  And people will also be involved.  In yesterday’s reading Joshua was told it was time to divide up the land.  He had been assigned this job by God before Moses died (Numbers 34:16-17).  There was still land that was not entirely conquered within the boundaries that were divided up but Joshua was getting old, those conquests would have to wait for the next generation.  Incidentally those people groups mentioned in Joshua 13:2-4 are not the same ones mentioned earlier in the book nor are they the same as the ones mentioned in Deuteronomy 7:1 (See the 3/5/12 post).  Those tribes mentioned earlier had been completely wiped out in the land (Except for the Gibeonites and Rahab’s family).  God was faithful but the work needed to go on.  We do not live in a static world.  In fact the Philistines did not really start coming to the land until 1200 BC.  The Philistines in Chapter 13 must have been some of the first.

As we saw earlier the battles had taken at least 5 years (3/9/12).  This is based on some statements made by Caleb in the next chapter.  In those statements Caleb mentions being 85 years old.  Many scholars assume that Joshua was about the same age as Caleb since they were both part of the original spies that Moses had sent into the land before Israel spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness.  Because of his conduct at that time Joshua, along with Caleb, was exempt and was not banished from the land.  Joshua would have to have been over twenty to be under that curse.  So he was at most 20 years younger than Caleb.  I think he was probably older though.

The events of chapters 13-21 seem to take place immediately after chapters 1-12 and that makes the most sense.  The conquest got them the right place and the next step would be to divide it up.  If too much time passed other people groups might repopulate and the battles would have to be re-fought.  As I mentioned above the Philistines were just starting to enter the land.  Later in the book of Judges we see that some of theses other people groups begin to reenter the land.  At the end of the chapters on the division of the land we are told that the people lived in the land, possessed it, and had rest.  That might lead us to believe that some time was passing.  Chapter 22, though, tells a story about the 2½ tribes from the eastern side of the Jordan River returning home.  It seems unlikely that the rest of the tribes were living in peace and those guys were hanging around for too long.  Chapter 23 begins with “after many days” so there may be some time there after the conquest and division before Joshua dies.  In Joshua 23:1 the exact same phrase is used to describe Joshua as is used in Joshua 13:1. Though. Chapter 23 begins Joshua’s final speeches to the Israelites before he died.  At the end of his two speeches he died at the age of 110 (Joshua 24:29).  Whether Joshua was 85 when he divided the land or older God wanted him to follow through an that assignment.

In the reading yesterday and today God is very specific about the land.  In today’s reading he gives details about the land on the eastern side of the Jordan River that was given to the 2½ tribes by Moses.  The details given here were not given in the Bible before this but we are told that this is what Moses did.  This sets the stage for Joshua.  Through out this book we see Joshua following in the footsteps of Moses.

I think that it is important to keep remembering that God is detail oriented.  He is closely involved in our lives.  Also it is important to remember that God is both faithful and consistent.  The leadership of Joshua was connected with the leadership of Moses.  We need to be very careful when people come along with a whole new way of doing things.  I know that Jesus upset many people in his day (and ours) but it really was consistent with the Old Testament (See “The Old Testament Connection”).  It’s nice to know that God is faithful and close and consistent.  God help me be comforted by your “sameness”. There should be no surprises.  You told us we can know we have eternal life (1 John 5:13).  Thank you for showing us the way and not changing it.  Thank you for your love and for eternity.