Bible study course
An advanced, collegiate, eight-lesson academic study of the Book of Joshua, examining the canonical transition from Moses to Joshua, the mandate to be strong and courageous through meditation on the Book of the Law, Rahab covenant confession and the scarlet cord, the miraculous crossing of the flooded Jordan River behind the Ark of the Covenant, the twelve memorial stones at Gilgal, the mass circumcision and cessation of manna, the encounter with the drawn-sword Commander of the Army of Yahweh, the liturgical fall of Jericho, the severe corporate consequences of Achan sin at Ai, the covenant renewal on Mount Ebal and Gerizim, the Gibeonite deception and the cosmic miracle of the sun standing still in the Valley of Aijalon, the crushing of the northern coalition at Merom, the burning of Hazor, the catalog of thirty-one conquered kings, the division of the tribal allotments, Caleb unwavering faith claiming Mount Hebron at eighty-five, the sanctuary at Shiloh, the six Cities of Refuge, the forty-eight Levitical cities, the altar Ed controversy, and the immortal challenge at Shechem: "Choose this day whom you will serve... as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh."
An academic study of Joshua 1:1 to 4:24, examining the transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua, the divine mandate to be strong and courageous (chazaq ve-emats), meditation on the Book of the Law, the espionage mission to Jericho, Rahab covenant faith and the scarlet cord, the miraculous parting of the overflowing Jordan River before the Ark of the Covenant, and the erection of twelve stones of remembrance at Gilgal as an enduring memorial of Yahweh supernatural deliverance.
An advanced theological exposition of Joshua 5:1 to 6:27, examining the mass covenant circumcision of the new generation at Gilgal rolling away the reproach of Egypt, the celebration of the first Passover in Canaan, the cessation of wilderness manna as the people eat the fruit of the land, Joshua dramatic encounter with the drawn sword Commander of the Army of Yahweh on holy ground, the unconventional divine liturgical battle plan circling Jericho for seven days with seven priests blowing ram horns, the shouting of the people, the catastrophic collapse of the fortress walls, the rescue of Rahab household, and the severe ban (cherem) over Jericho with the solemn prophetic curse upon any future rebuilder.
A detailed collegiate study of Joshua 7:1 to 8:35, analyzing Israel unexpected military defeat at Ai due to covenant unfaithfulness in the banned things (cherem), Joshua agonizing intercessory lament with torn clothes and dust on his head, the divine exposure of Achan taking a beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold, the judgment in the Valley of Achor (trouble), the subsequent military conquest and tactical ambush of Ai, the building of an unhewn stone altar on Mount Ebal, the copying of the Torah onto plastered stones, and the liturgical reading of all the blessings and curses of the covenant before the entire assembly of Israel.
An advanced collegiate exegesis of Joshua 9:1 to 10:43, analyzing the diplomatic stratagem of the Gibeonites with moldy bread, cracked wineskins, and patched sandals, Israel critical failure to seek counsel from the mouth of Yahweh, the binding sanctity of an oath sworn in the name of God, the southern Amorite royal coalition led by Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem, the miraculous hailstones at Beth-horon, the cosmic miracle of the sun standing still in Gibeon and the moon in the Valley of Aijalon recorded in the Book of Jashar, the execution of the five kings hidden in the cave of Makkedah, and the systematic sweeping conquest of the southern hill country and the Shephelah.
An academic exegesis of Joshua 11:1 to 12:24, analyzing the massive northern Canaanite confederacy organized by Jabin king of Hazor at the Waters of Merom, possessing horses and chariots beyond number like sand on the seashore, God command to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire, Joshua surprise tactical dawn assault, the total incineration of Hazor as the head of all those kingdoms, the theological summary of the entire conquest across thirty-one defeated kings, the Anakim cut off from the hill country, and the declaration that the land had rest from war.
An advanced theological exposition of Joshua 13:1 to 19:51, analyzing the transition from military conquest to territorial inheritance, God reminder to elderly Joshua that much land remains to be possessed, the transjordan tribal boundaries, the Levites who receive no territorial allotment because Yahweh is their inheritance, the inspiring faith of eighty-five-year-old Caleb claiming the Anakim stronghold of Mount Hebron, the distribution of Judah and Joseph hill country, the erection of the Tabernacle at Shiloh as the central liturgical sanctuary of Israel, and the final lot casting before Yahweh for the remaining seven tribes.
A collegiate study of Joshua 20:1 to 21:45, analyzing the legal establishment of the six Cities of Refuge (arei ha-miqlat) strategically distributed west and east of the Jordan providing asylum for the unintentional manslayer against the avenger of blood, the allocation of forty-eight cities with surrounding pasturelands to the Kohathite, Gershonite, and Merarite Levites among all twelve tribes, and the triumphant canonical doxology of Joshua 21:43 to 45 declaring that not one word of all the good promises that Yahweh made to the house of Israel had failed; all had come to pass.
An advanced theological climax of Joshua 22:1 to 24:33, examining the honorable dismissal of the transjordan tribes (Reuben, Gad, half-Manasseh), the crisis of the massive altar Ed (witness) built by the Jordan nearly triggering civil war, Phinehas diplomatic peacemaking mission, Joshua first farewell address warning against intermarriage and assimilation with the remnant nations, Joshua climactic covenant renewal at Shechem reviewing redemptive history from Abraham through the Exodus, the immortal challenge: "Choose this day whom you will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh", the large stone set under the terebinth tree as a witness, the death and burial of Joshua at Timnath-serah, the burial of Joseph bones brought from Egypt at Shechem, and the burial of Eleazar the high priest.