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JOSHUA: LESSON THREE

I. ISRAEL’S TROUBLE AND TRIUMPH WITH AI AND COVENANT WITH GIBEIONITES (Chapters 7-9)

A. Achan’s sin – took the devoted thing (7:1).  

B. Israel’s defeat at Ai – Israel loses about 36 men (7:2-5).

C. Joshua’s plea as to why, and God’s answer – sin in the camp (7:6-12).

D. God leads Joshua to find out the guilty one – Achan’s confession (7:13-22).  

E. Achan and family stoned to death – burned along with  possessions and then covered with heap of stones (7:23-26).  

            F. Israel’s triumph at Ai (8:1-29)

1. God’s strategy: ambush of 5,000 on west side taking city after 25,000 draw occupants out of the city with the appearance of retreating.

2.         Plan successful:city plundered of cattle and spoil; 12,000 men and women

            put to death; king taken and body hangs on tree till evening; king’s body

            buried under a heap of stones at the entrance of the destroyed city.  

G. Joshua builds altar of unhewn stones in mount Ebal – burnt offerings and peace offering offered (8:30-31; Deut. 27:2, 5-7).

H. Joshua writes law on stone and reads it to all the people – blessings and curse from mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim (8:32-35; Deut. 27:2-4).

I. Kings of inhabitants of Canaan bind together to fight against Israel (9:1-2).

J. Gibeonites deceive Israel into making protective covenant with them (9:3-27).

1. Gibeonites’ deception: take old things to appear as if they were ambassadors from afar off.

2. Israel’s mistake: “asked not counsel at the mouth of Jehovah.”

3. Gibeonites are Israel’s servants in exchange to be allowed to live -hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and altar.

4. People moan over having the cities of Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and kiriathjearim live- yet, oath must be honored.

                         

QUESTIONS:

1. What was Achan’s sin?

2. What were the consequences of this one sin?  

3. What did God tell Joshua to do immediately after Joshua fell on his face before the Ark of Jehovah?

  Why?  

4. Who pointed out the guilty party?

            How was the offender found out?

5. What were the steps in Achan’s sin?

6. Only Achan was stoned to death for his sin.  (T)  (F)   

7. The bodies of Achan and his family along with their possessions were burned. (T)  (F)

   

8. How does the name “valley of Achar” relate to God’s promise in 6:18 and Achan’s sin?  

9. What was different in God’s instruction concerning the spoil of the city of Ai and that regarding the spoil of Jericho?  

10. Whose strategy proved successful in taking the city of Ai?

11. How many fighting men fought and took Ai?

12. About 12,000 men of Ai were put to death by Israel. (T)  (F)

13. What did Israel do to the king of Ai?

14. What two things did Joshua do that Moses commanded to be done?

15. What did the kings of the land of Canaan desire to do with Israel?

 

16. What strategy did the Gibeonites use to save their lives?

17. What was Israel’s mistake in being deceived by this strategy?

18. What were the Gibeonites to become to Israel?

19. Must we keep oaths when it involves us in sinful relationships? (example promising faithfulness to one in an adulterous marriage, etc.)