(Originally Written May 27, 2008 in the Journal)
Lord I am weak. She is packing to leave me for good. If this separation must come to pass I pray you make it temporary. Day and night I will worship you and meditate on your Word. I will follow your Law and neither stray to the left nor to the right. Return her to me and you, most importantly to you. Stir in her the love you have for us. I beseech you as my Lord and King, do not forsake me in my time of desperation. You bound us here on earth; strengthen that binding and draw us closer to each other and close to you. This is all so easy in your power, if you would just touch down a finger on her she would be mine again. But your will be done for who am I to question your methods or wisdom? Lord save us, if you will. Give me strength and comfort today.
Last night you spoke to me and for what reasons I do not know. II heard a still, small voice in my heart speaking to me in the same tone as when I was told to fast. I heard "eat bread and water" and I will obey until the end of August. That is my sacred vow to you. I will honor your call.
Notes on Joshua
Chapter 11
The king of Hazor, Jabin, called to other kings to join him against the Israelites. Jobab, king of Madon, the kings of Shimron and Aehshaph and the kings of the northern mountains and the kings in Arabah and those to the west joined with Jabin. The eastern and western Canaanites, the Amorites, Perizzites and Jebusites united against Israel.
Joshua attacked them by surprise and killed all of them. He followed the Lord's instructions and hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots. Joshua doomed all the cities and did not stray from the commands of the Lord through Moses. Joshua exterminated the Anakim in the land. But, some survived in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod.
Chapter 12
A survey of the conquered kings:
- Sihon, king of the Amorites from Heshbon
- Og, king of Bashan
- The kings of Jericho, Ai, Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon, Gezer, Debir, Geder, Hormah, Arad, Libnah, Adullam, Makkedah, Bethel, Tappuah, Hepher, Aphek, Lasharon, Madon, Hazor, Shimron, Aehshaph, Taanach, Megiddo, Kedesh, Jokneam, Dor, Gilgal and Tizrah, 31 in all.
Chapter 13
The Lord told Joshua in old age there was much yet to be conquered but to divide the conquered and unconquered land among the tribes.
The Eastern tribes: Reuben, Gad and the other half of Manasseh
Chapter 14
The Western Tribes: Judah
Chapter 15
Caleb drove from his portion the three sons of Anak (the Anakim) Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai.
Judah was given a large portion on behalf of the faith of Caleb when he spied on the cities when the Israelites were still in the desert.
Chapter 16
The tribes of Joseph
Chapter 17
The Josephites, Manasseh and Ephraim complained about the size of their share and Joshua told them it would enlarge when they drove the Canaanites out.
Chapter 18
Joshua then divided the land into seven parts for the other seven tribes. He then cast lots to see who would pick first. The Benjaminites drew first.
Chapter 19
The Simeonites received their portion next, which was bound within that of Judah. Next came Zebulun, then Issachar, then Asher, then Naphtali and was finished by Dan. The Israelites gave to Joshua the city he asked for: Timnah-Serah.
Chapter 20
Kedesh in Galilee, Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim and Hebron in Judah were set up as asylum cities. Beyond the Jordan River, the cities Bezer in Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead, and Golan in Bashan were set apart as cities of asylum.
Chapter 21
The Levites were then allotted cities by the other tribes in accordance with the will of God.
All the promises the Lord made to Israel, He fulfilled.
Chapter 22
The half tribe of Manasseh, the Reubenites and the Gadites were blessed and sent back home across the Jordan River. After crossing the Jordan these three tribes built a very large altar to the Lord. When the other tribes heard of this they scrambled to declare war on them. They accused the Gadites, Reubenites and the half tribe of Manasseh of seceding from the Lord. These three tribes explained that it was meant only as a witness to the one true altar of the Lord, not a place for holocausts.
Chapter 23
Joshua warned the community not to stray from the Lord at all because as He fulfilled every promise so too would he fulfill every threat.
Chapter 24
Joshua renewed the covenant with Israel. Joshua died at 110 years old. Eleazar also died. The bones of Joseph were buried in Schechem.
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