Within And Without The Veil

A: INTRODUCTION

This week's study will focus on one portion of a rather large text. All are encouraged to read

chapters 9-12 of Joshua this week. Before turning our attention to the specific text verses this

morning, let us consider briefly the historic content of these chapters.

1. Chapter 9 opens with an account of the formation of a confederation of Canaanite kings.

a. Remember, Canaan was not a "nation," as we know it. It was a land dotted with

"kingdoms," each of which comprised little more than a city and surrounding lands.

Some of these city-states were relatively large and powerful, like Jericho; others were

quite small. Each was ruled by a "king" who provided protection for his surrounding

"subjects" who, in turn, provided the economic base for the region. In this way the land

of Canaan was much like Europe in the Middle Ages.

b. News of Israel's great victories at Jericho and Ai had encouraged these independent kings

to join forces in an attempt to present a united defense front before the invading Israelis.

The great "pause" at the twin peaks of Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim ( Joshua 8:30-35 ) had

given these kings the opportunity to accomplish this union.

2. Chapter 10 recounts some details of Israel's "southern campaign" in Canaan.

a. The confederation kings are listed in v.1-5

(1) Adoni-Zedek, king of J __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

(2) Hoham, king of H __ __ __ __ __

(3) Piram, king of J __ __ __ __ __ __

(4) Japhia, king of L __ __ __ __ __ __

(5) Debir, king of E __ __ __ __

b. Joshua and the army of Israel meets these kings in a great battle joined near the city of

G __ __ __ __ __ (which had not joined the confederation), for reasons we will consider in

this morning's study.

c. v.7-15 contains the account of Israel's great victory, provided by God through two miracles:

(1) a killing h __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __, and

(2) the extension of d __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ("The Day the Sun 'Stood Still'")

d. v.21 declares that, in the battle, Israel did not suffer a single casualty!

e. v.26 notes that Joshua personally executed each of the five kings.

f. v.28-41 contains the record of Israel's victorious "southern" campaign.

3. Chapter 11 opens with the formation of a second coalition of Canaanite kings, this one made up

of northern leaders.

a. The fighting force created by this coalition was a most impressive one!

Joshua 11:4 [ TLB ]

All these kings responded by mobilizing their armies, and uniting to crush Israel.

Their combined troops, along with a vast array of horses and chariots, covered the

landscape around the Springs of Merom as far as one could see.

b. But v.6 recounts God's promise of victory to His people.

Joshua 11:6 [ TLB ]

But the Lord said to Joshua, "Don't be afraid of them, for by this time tomorrow

they will all be dead!"

c. V.7-23 includes a brief account of Israel's victorious over many of the kingdoms of Canaan.

(1) V.18 notes that the campaign lasted s __ __ __ __ years.

(2) V.15 reminds us that Joshua carefully o __ __ __ __ __ all of the Lord's instructions

to Moses.

4. Chapter 12 lists the thirty-one kings who, along with their cities, were destroyed by the army

of Israel.

B. NARRATIVE

Joshua 11:19 states that none of the Canaanite cities was offered a peace treaty, except the

Hivites of G __ __ __ __ __. The curious matter of the Gibeonites is recorded in Joshua 9:3-26,

and will be the focal point of this morning's study.

1. One has to be impressed with the ingenuity of the Gibeonites' plan to deceive Joshua.

a. Their elaborate charade involving pretending to be ambassadors from a far-away land was

thorough and carefully-planned.

b. Somehow the Gibeonites had become aware that their only hope for survival was to pass

themselves off as a contingent of citizens from a city outside Canaan.

Deuteronomy 7:1-2 [ TLB ]

When the Lord brings you into the Promised Land, as he soon will, he will destroy the

following seven nations, all greater and mightier than you are:

the Hittites,

the Girgashites,

the Amorites,

the Canaanites,

the Perizzites, the Hivites, the Jebusites.

When the Lord your God delivers them over to you to be destroyed, do a complete job

of it -- don't make any treaties or show them mercy; utterly wipe them out.

Deuteronomy 20:10-16 [ TLB ]

As you approach a city to fight against it, first offer it a truce. If it accepts the truce and

opens its gates to you, then all its people shall become your servants. But if it refuses and