Reset Exchange, 19 Eastbourne Road, Mount Croix, Port Elizabeth (2025)

02/08/2025

Joshua 20: The Cities of Refuge

Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, please help us to understand Your word. Amen.

Please read Joshua 20.

In Exodus 21:12-14, Numbers 35, Deuteronomy 4:41-43, 19:1-13, God had instructed Moses to create cities of refuge for those who had accidentally killed someone, and now God commands Joshua to fulfill the word with 6 cities.

In those days, the person who was murdered was avenged by another family member, but in a case where the person killed another but did not harbour maliciousness, they would need protection until the magistrates could hear the case. The reason for avengers is that when murder goes unpunished, it brings God’s judgement (Numbers 35:31, 35:33-34).

“As a man might casually kill another against whom he had no ill-will, and with whom he had no quarrel, and might have his life taken away by him who was called the avenger of blood, though he had not forfeited his life to the law; therefore these privileged cities were appointed, where the person might have protection till the cause had been fully heard by the magistrates.” (Clarke)

“If an ancient manslayer did not flee to one of the cities of refuge, there was no hope for him; there was no other provision in the law of Israel by which he might be saved. If he did not flee there, the avenger of blood would overtake him.” (Boice)

When a person fled to one of these cities, they had to explain the case to the elders at the gate.

“It is important to note that this was not an arrangement by which a murderer could avoid justice. The one who murdered another was to be judicially executed. This was a device designed to save someone guilty of manslaughter but innocent of murder.” (Boice)

“A person was to be regarded innocent until proven guilty, and a minimum of two witnesses was required to condemn one accused of murder (Numbers 35:30).” (Madvig)

To stay protected, he had to stay in that city, and could only leave when the high priest died and he had been declared innocent.

“Since the high priest represented the sacrificial system, his death atoned for the sins of the manslayer…. Only on the occasion of a death—the high priest’s—was the manslayer free to leave.” (Howard)

These 6 cities were spaced about all over Israel, and to get to them would only take about a day. That meant that wherever you were in Israel, if you committed accidental murder, you could arrive at a refuge within a day.

While the cities were for the innocent, the cities represent Jesus Christ to us today - He is our refuge, but not only of the innocent, but of the guilty too.

22/07/2025

Bible Study Joshua 18-19: The Rest of The Land Divided
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, please help us to understand Your word. Amen.

Please read Joshua 18 and 19.

The tabernacle was moved from Gilgal to Shiloh, and it remained there until the time of Eli, the high priest in 1 Samuel 1-4.

There were seven tribes that had not yet received their inheritance. “That which follows immediately would lead us to believe that after districts had been allotted to Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh there was some slackness in continuing the work of settlement, for Joshua definitely rebuked the seven tribes for being slow to go up and possess the land.” (Morgan)

They had neglected to do what God had instructed and now they received a rebuke from Joshua.

“Apparently the remaining tribes had grown complacent. They were satisfied with nomadic life in the fertile land of Ephraim and Manasseh and were not eager to be involved in the warfare required to claim their own territory.” (Madvig)

“When it was necessary that all the people should go out to battle, they went with a measure of confidence, expecting miraculous help from God, and [trusting] in their numbers; but when each tribe found it necessary to fight for itself, in order to its establishment and the extension of its borders, it was discouraged, and chose rather a life of inglorious ease than the possession of an inheritance which would cost it much labour to conquer.” (Clarke)

Many children of God never have the fulfilment of fulfilling their ultimate calling, because they find that the price is too high.

‘As with previous lists of cities and locations, this collection of places reminds the reader that these were real places, not describing a symbolic or spiritual inheritance. When God promised a land to Abraham and his covenant descendants (Genesis 13:15, 17:8), God meant a real land.’ - Enduring Word

Finally, once all the tribes had received their portions, Joshua, received his. Here we see the model of a true servant of God. He waited until the last, in true humility and patience.

“Joshua waits until all the other inheritances are assigned before taking any for himself. Thus he preserves his right to a share of the land without any suggestion of an abuse of his leadership responsibilities.” (Hess)

“Joshua, who was usually the agent distributing the land, now received it from the Israelites (Joshua 19:49). He could not give himself his own portion.” (Howard)

Enduring Word: Being from the tribe of Ephraim, it was appropriate for Joshua to receive his inheritance in the general territory of that tribe. He went to the same difficult, hilly district of Ephraim that the tribes of Joseph had previously complained about (Joshua 17:14-18).

“It will be remembered that when Ephraim had complained, Joshua had charged them to go to the mountains and possess their possessions. Now when his opportunity came, he proved that he was prepared to act for himself on the advice he had given. To that very hill country he went, and there is a splendid ring of resoluteness in his character in the statement, ‘He built the city, and dwelt therein.’” (Morgan)

“All the inheritances were determined by lot, and this lot was cast before the Lord—every thing was done in his immediate presence, as under his eye; hence there was no murmuring, each having received his inheritance as from the hand of God himself, though some of them thought they must have additional territory, because of the great increase of their families.” (Clarke)

Image from: https://dwellingintheword.wordpress.com/2010/06/21/296-joshua-18-and-19/

18/07/2025

Joshua 15-17: The Inheritance of Judah, Ephraim and Western Manasseh
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, please help us to understand Your word. Amen.

Please read Joshua 15, 16 and 17.

‘The listing of these specific names, places, and geographic boundaries was of great interest to those who would inherit the land. This collection of places also reminds the reader that these were real places, not the description of a symbolic or spiritual inheritance. When God promised a land to Abraham and his covenant descendants (Genesis 13:15, 17:8), God meant a real land.’ - Enduring Word

About the land given to Judah: “The position allocated to it was the fighting front. It was touched by enemies on three sides; on the east, Moab; on the west, the Philistines; on the south, Edom…. The tribe whose standard was that of the kingly line, and from which that line presently was to spring, was to have its fiber toughened by the sternest discipline – constant watchfulness against the foe and long-continued fighting.” - Meyer

V16: Caleb trusted God and he was a bold and daring man, offering his daughter in marriage to the man strong enough to conquer a city to have her.

It seems Caleb’s daughter shares the bold traits of her father because she asks him for some choice springs too.

V63 of chapter 15: Jerusalem may have been a difficult terrain to conquer, but there is no good reason as to why the tribe of Judah could not overcome it.

Chapter 16:5-10: Gezer is another example of a city where the Canaanites were not driven out. “It appears that the Canaanites were not expelled from this city till the days of Solomon, when it was taken by the king of Egypt his father-in-law, who made it a present to his daughter, Solomon’s queen. See 1 Kings 9:16.” (Clarke)

It could be that the Canaanites were not driven out so that the tribes would have labourers, but it would still have been disobedience to God. “The use of forced labour among Canaanite towns in the Jezreel Valley was a known practice.” (Hess)

A little sin can do great harm. “As a result of this failure, the Israelites were corrupted by intermarrying with these pagans and engaging in their perverse and idolatrous worship (Judges 2:1-3; 3:5-6; 10:6).” (Madvig)

“They took their inheritance, but they did not take possession of it. In the will of God, and by the consent of Ephraim, it belonged to them; but they failed to appropriate it in all its fullness, because they left these Canaanites in possession.” (Morgan)

“The whole history of Ephraim was a sad one for long centuries and their failure began here.” (Morgan)

The tribe of Ephraim and the tribe of Menassah failed to drive out all the Canaanites.

“They had the power to remove the Canaanites from the land and so to be God’s instruments of judgment to remove wickedness, but they chose to tolerate wickedness and to use for their own purposes that which God had devoted to destruction. And so they sowed the seeds of their own destruction.” (Howard)

Chapter 17:14-18: “They complained, ‘We haven’t enough room!’ The fact was that the enemy was deeply entrenched in the area which they did have.” (Redpath)

“The Joseph tribes exhibited a degree of arrogance and greed in their confrontation with Joshua. The tone here sharply contrasts with the far more humble requests presented by Caleb (Joshua 14:6–12) and the daughters of Zelophehad (Joshua 17:4), both of whom appealed to the Lord’s promises as the basis for their requests.” (Howard)

Only one lot: “They challenged the outcome of the lot (goral), which was controlled by God. Thus, in their request they were challenging the very workings of God himself.” (Howard)

Joshua’s response to their complaints was wise. He told them that if they are such a great people, then they should go and take the land for themselves and fully occupy what the Lord had given them.

“Joshua would not reverse the decision of the lot; but as there was much woodland country, he gave them permission to clear away as much of it as they found necessary to extend themselves as far as they pleased.” (Clarke)

“If you say you are so great, if you think you are so wonderful, then there is plenty of unoccupied land within the limits of your present lot.” (Redpath)

The tribes of Joseph gave excuses as to why they could not drive out all the Canaanites.

The truth is that God was with them, but they chose to disregard that and complain.

Image from: https://bible.art/meaning/joshua-15%3A17

11/07/2025

Bible Study: Joshua 14: Division of The Land & Caleb’s Inheritance

Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, please help us to understand Your word. Amen.

Please read Joshua 14.

The promise to inherit the land had been made by God to His people a long time ago. Now they have battled for the land and it is time for it to be divided amongst the tribes, which would be done by casting of lots between the priest, Joshua and the heads of the tribes, excluding Reuben and Gad who already had their lands.

Essentially, by casting lots, the choice would be made by God of who got what.

We tend to think of Israel as 12 tribes, but there were actually 13. Joseph was divided into two tribes; - Mannaseh and Ephraim. ‘This explains why there are two and one-half tribes on the east side of the Jordan, nine and one-half tribes on the west side of the Jordan, and one tribe with no province as their inheritance.’ - Enduring Word

As this is going on, Caleb - one of the men who initially went to spy out the land to bring a report back to the people of what to expect in a battle against the Canaanites, and one of two who followed after the Lord and trusted Him - came forward to enquire about the promise made to him at that time about his land.

(It was only Caleb and Joshua who remained of the old generation who would enter the Promised Land, because they were the only two who believed the Lord.)

Caleb came boldly to recount what Moses had said of him. Enduring Word says it is fitting for God’s people today to imitate Caleb’s boldness in asking for what God promised him. God’s people may find this difficult to believe, but God appreciates this kind of boldness (Hebrews 4:16).

“Caleb was not being self-serving by claiming that he had fully followed the Lord; he was simply stating a fact that Moses also had recognized (see the words at the end of v. 9, which are found in the Lord’s mouth almost verbatim in Numbers 14:24 and in Moses’ mouth in Deuteronomy 1:36).” (Howard)

‘Caleb was one of only three people in the Bible of whom it was said, they wholly followed the LORD. The others were Joshua (in partnership with Caleb, Numbers 32:11-12) and David (1 Kings 11:6). In the New Testament, the idea of wholly following the LORD is presented in passages such as Romans 12:1-2, which instruct the believer to present themselves to God as living sacrifices.’ - Enduring Word

V16: Then the land had rest from war: “There were no more general wars; the inhabitants of Canaan collectively could make no longer any head, and when their confederacy was broken by the conquests of Joshua, he thought proper to divide the land, and let each tribe expel the ancient inhabitants that might still remain in its own territories. Hence the wars after this time were particular wars; there were no more general campaigns, as it was no longer necessary for the whole Israelitish body to act against an enemy now disjointed and broken.” (Clarke)

25/06/2025

Joshua 13: Land That Still Needed to be Conquered
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, please help us to understand Your word. Amen.

Please read Joshua 13.

The major kings of Canaanite power had been conquered, but Israel still needed to occupy the land and defeat the smaller Canaanite places that might oppose them. Complete occupation of the east side of the Jordan had already taken place.

“What the land was to Israel, Christ is to us. Mapped out in the pages of God’s Word is all the territory which we are to possess…. And it is true for every one of us that there is yet much land to be possessed. Our inheritance in Christ is not part of Christ, but all of Christ.” (Redpath)

“For the Christian, Israel’s failure to conquer the land fully anticipates the inability to enjoy the full favour of God’s blessing in this life (1 Corinthians 10:1–13). Christians are not perfect, though they are called to perfect holiness. They live in a tension between the rewards of a life lived fully in the Holy Spirit, which are available here and now, and their own failure, which prevents the appropriation of those gifts.” (Hess)

God promises Joshua that He will drive out all the rest of them, but each tribe would now need to fight for their land. As God had been with Joshua in the major battles, so would He be with each tribe as they went forth to possess what was theirs.

“The Lord reaffirmed his promise to drive out the inhabitants of the land (cf. Joshua 3:10). From this point on, however, further conquests would be the concern of the individual tribes. Moreover, the promise was conditional and was never completely fulfilled due to the incompleteness of Israel’s obedience.” (Madvig)

“God was the ultimate source of the gift of the land to Israel, and in several significant passages, the giving and the inheritance are linked. That which God gave, Israel was to receive by taking possession of it.” (Howard)

This is a pattern throughout the Bible - the Lord has given us promises, but they are conditional. We work together with God to accomplish His promises.

Here’s the problem though, for Israel at that time, and for us today:: “The danger was recognized that these people might rest content with victories already gained, and so fail to realize all the purposes of God for them.” (Morgan)

When we don’t fully obey God because we feel we have ‘done enough’, we may experience peace at that moment, but it will come back to bite us, just as it did the Israelites.

V33: The LORD God of Israel was their inheritance: In this sense, if there is any tribe that Christians are spiritually connected to, it is the tribe of Levi. Believers are also called priests (1 Peter 2:5) and have a special inheritance in God (Ephesians 1:11, Colossians 1:12, 1 Peter 1:4). - Enduring Word

Image from: https://www.danielwestfall.com/journal-entries/joshua-131-7-land-still-to-be-conquered

18/06/2025

Joshua 12: Land Conquered on the East Side of the River Jordan
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, please help us to understand Your word. Amen.

Please read Joshua 12.

This chapter outlines the land that was conquered on the east side of the River Jordan.

This chapter is proof of who owns the land in those territories, because of the list of kings that were defeated. “After the narrative conclusion in Joshua 11:16–23, it is as though the author were saying, ‘Here is the supporting evidence—the raw data—of what I have written about in the previous chapters.’” (Howard)

The importance of this chapter “lies in confirming the veracity of the claims elsewhere that these lands were indeed conquered, in confirming the tribes’ claims to the lands mentioned here, and in confirming that God was faithful to his promises to give these lands to his people.” (Howard)

Even the king of Bashan - the remnant of the ‘giants’ - was conquered.

V6: the conquests did not start with Joshua, they had already begun in the time of Moses. The tribes listed here are those who wanted to take the land that skirted the Promised Land. Half of the tribe of Manasseh lived east of the Jordan River, and half of the tribe lived west of the Jordan River. Read Numbers 32.

V7-8: “East of the Jordan there were only two kings, each of whom ruled a wide area with many cities. The land west of the Jordan was divided into individual city-states. Israel’s conquests on both sides of the Jordan are mentioned together here to emphasize the unity of the nation.” (Madvig)

31 kings were conquered by Joshua. The bible is no fairy tale. Chapters such as these bring an understanding that this book is rooted in a rich history of places, people and rulers.

In conclusion of the chapter, “The chosen people are now seen in actual possession of the land. The destructive part of the divine work was accomplished. The constructive purposes of God might now go forward.” (Morgan)

Image from: https://www.casualenglishbible.com/bible_chapter/joshua-12

11/06/2025

Bible Study Joshua 11: Northern Territories Subdued

Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, please help us to understand Your word. Amen.

Please read Joshua 11.

The southern land has been defeated, and now comes the northern territory. The northern kings gather against Israel. The army is so huge that they are compared to the grains of sand. The greater the success of Israel, the greater the opposition. The more we come closer to the Lord and do His work, the more opposition we will have.

In addition to a massive army coming together against Israel, are the amount of horses and chariots they come with too. Horses and chariots that Israel do not have.

Horses and chariots: “This expression occurs in eight other places in the Hebrew text. It describes the most fearful fighting machinery available.” (Hess)

This next attack against the northern territory will be a new and greater challenge than Israel has previously faced, but the Lord encourages Joshua again and tells him not to be afraid, because in about 24 hours time, all of that army will be conquered by Israel.

“The Bible does not say that Joshua was made fearful by the size and nature of the opposing forces, but it is possible that he was, since God intervened again to promise him success.” (Boice)

“Joshua, being apprised of this grand confederation, lost no time, but marched to meet them; and before they could have supposed him at hand, fell suddenly upon them, and put them to the rout.” (Clarke)

This battle may have been the largest and toughest one they had faced, and there are no supernatural miracles that intervene.

But the northern armies are defeated by Joshua and his men. God had told Joshua to destroy the chariots and the horses instead of keeping them for the Israelite army, and Joshua obeyed.

“Disabling the horses and burning the chariots (Joshua 11:9) showed disdain for modern weaponry; Israel’s confidence was to be in God alone (cf. Psalm 20:7).” (Madvig)

Every person was destroyed, which shows us the completeness of God’s judgement. God is the Judge of all the earth (Genesis 18:25) When God’s judgement comes upon a society, even the innocent perish.

V18: this verse tells us that it took a long time to conquer these kings. Although God was with Joshua, it may have taken around 5 to 7 years.

“Undoubtedly the Conquest involved many battles that are not mentioned.” (Madvig)

V20: The hardening of men’s hearts is when God gives man up to the sin that is in his heart (Romans 1:24-28).

The battles were meant to take a little while to victory to give the Canaanites time to repent, but of course, God was not interested in false repentance. “God hardened the Canaanites’ hearts, not to keep them from repenting, but to prevent them from surrendering to Israel in unrepentance.” (Madvig)

V21: fear of the big and strong Anakims is what made Israel too afraid to go to battle all those 40 somewhat years ago, but now, “The promise of Deuteronomy 9:1–3, which specifically predicts the defeat of the fearsome Anakites, is fulfilled.” (Hess)

They fought the Anakims last. God knows which battles we must fight first, and which battles are to be kept for last.

V23: Joshua had conquered the land, but not necessarily the smaller villages and towns, which the individual tribes would need to subdue. In the same way, Jesus has already defeated the enemy and conquered the land, but as His people, we also need to do battle to gain what is ours.

05/06/2025

Bible Study Joshua 10: The Southern Kings Conquered

Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, please help us to understand Your word. Amen.

Please read Joshua 10.

Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem is worried when he hears about all of Israel’s Canaan conquests, and that they have made peace with Gibeon, which is a large city with mighty men. And so he gets in touch with four other kings in order to attack Gibeon so that other Canaanite cities would think twice about surrendering to Israel.

Gibeon sent for help from Joshua. Joshua and Israel are faithful to their vow, and come to help the Gibeonites fight the five kings.

“Here for the first time Israel does not initiate the aggression but responds to an ally’s appeal.” (Hess)

The Lord commands Joshua not to fear and tells him He has already delivered the enemy into his hands. And so Joshua, armed with God’s promise, marches his men all night from Gilgal and comes upon Gibeon suddenly.

Enduring Word says, ‘This took initiative and hard work on Joshua’s part. The march from Gilgal to Gibeon involved a climb of 3,300 feet (1,000 meters), over about 20 miles (32 kilometers). This was eight to ten hours of hard marching, all through the night.

i. God does His work, but He draws us into working with Him. Often God waits to see our initiative, our willingness to be a partner with Him before He does what only He can do.

ii. This is not the idea that “God helps those who help themselves.” The idea is, “God wants to draw His people into partnership with Him in seeing His work done.”’

“The battle of Gibeon is the last battle described in any detail in the book (the others are the encounters at Jericho and Ai) since after this the text merely summarizes the campaigns in the south (Joshua 10:28–43) and in the north (Joshua 11:1–23).” (Howard)

Once Joshua took action, God came with His supernatural work and more Canaanites were killed than with the sword.

“The Canaanites, who worshiped nature deities, must have thought that their own gods were aiding the Israelites.” (Madvig)

“Huge hailstones that brained the Canaanites but hurt not the Israelites, that were at the heels of them.” (Trapp)

V12: having seen the work of God in the situation, Joshua’s faith was boosted and he boldly declared that the sun should stand still so that they could gain complete victory before the darkness crept over the day.

It’s important to understand this: it was a bold request but it was also based on the promise God made in Joshua 10:8: ‘I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.’ Joshua had reason from God’s revealed word to ask for this.

This is the difference between demanding of God to heal someone - as so many false preachers today do - and boldly declaring something because you know the will of God because of the promise He has made.

And the sun stood still for a whole day!

“That is, he was open about his expectations. He was not afraid of being humiliated by failure, because he wanted only what God had told him would happen. He laid his belief on the line. If we do as Joshua did, we will find that God honors it.” (Boice)

The five kings had hidden themselves in a cave,but were found and imprisoned until the battle was won. They would be dealt with later. In the meantime, the Canaanites knew that the Lord had come against them through Israel, and they said not a word. In other words, in this context, there was no opposition to Israel.

By analogy, God’s church – just like Israel – should be feared in the same way, but because the church as a whole has toned down the word of God and presents Him as a big fluffy teddy bear, the church has lost its power and fear of God. The church now has a ‘form of godliness but denies the power of God’ - 2 Timothy 3:5. It has no power over the enemy.

V26: by Joshua killing the five kings himself meant total trust in God, because he knew that if Israel was ever defeated, he would certainly be killed for having killed these kings.

This chapter concludes with the complete conquest of the Southern land. It was a lot of war. “It is eternally true that the land of full blessing is a land of intensive warfare.” (Redpath)

“Here is an overview of a region that Joshua subdued in Canaan. It included four areas: (1) the hill country and (2) the western foothills, which had been mentioned earlier (cf. Joshua 9:1), but it also encompassed (3) the Negev and (4) the mountain slopes.” (Howard)

Image from: https://www.foundationsforfreedom.net/References/OT/Historical/Joshua/Joshua06-12/Joshua10-e_12-43_Pursuing_More.html

01/06/2025

Joshua 9: The Israelites are Deceived
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, please help us to understand Your word. Amen.

Please read Joshua 9.

The kings on this side of the Jordan have heard about Israel’s conquests and they are worried. And so they should be, because who can fight the Lord God Almighty and win?
And so they came together to find a solution as one.

The other Canaanites gathered for war but the Gibeonites decided on a craftier, more unique approach for survival, and they came to Joshua pretending to be who they were not so that they could get an oath out of him that would ensure their survival.

They hoped to deceive Israel into making a peace treaty with them. However, Israel was forbidden to make peace with any of the tribes of Canaan (Exodus 23:31-33).

So the Gibeonites pretended to come from a far away country in order to deceive Joshua, and they did because the Israelites neglected to seek the Lord about it.

“When the Gibeonites said, ‘We are your servants,’ they were offering to become Israel’s vassals. In return they expected Israel, the stronger party, to protect them from their enemies (cf. Joshua 10:6).” (Madvig)

They lied to Israel, but we have to give them credit for acknowledging the power of the God of Israel, because they knew they could not fight against Him and win.

Unfortunately, Israel trusted their own senses more than they trusted God, so instead of turning to Him for counsel, they believed the lies and false evidence of the Gibeonites and were taken in.

“So the children of God are imposed upon still! Women get married to unconverted husbands, supposing all the while that they are converted. Ministers of churches admit ravening wolves into their midst, deceived by the device of the sheepskin. Young converts get seduced from the simplicity and purity of the faith by lying spirits, that seem as lovely as God’s angels. This is due to their relying on their own judgment, and not asking counsel of God. We must try the spirits, whether they be of God, for many false spirits are gone out into the world.” - Meyer

Once the Israelites find out about the Gibeonite deception, they complain - rightfully - against the rulers. They have travelled three days to get to those four cities to attack them but of course, now they cannot because they have made an oath in the name of the Lord that they will not. “Possibly ‘the whole assembly grumbled’ because they were resentful of the plunder that had been denied them. On the other hand, they may have been fearful of another judgment like that at Ai, because they had failed to keep God’s command.” (Madvig)

They have made a promise, even under deception, and they must keep their word. Their great mistake was not seeking counsel from God.

Much, much later, Saul as king over Israel, broke this promise to the Gibeonites and his sin brought famine upon Israel (2 Samuel 21:1-9).

But wait! Here comes a twist! Although he is obligated to keep his promise of protection over the Gibeonites, Joshua makes them servants to the Lord! They would fill the lowly positions of water carriers and woodcutters for the tabernacle. They did not complain about it, but accepted it.

Deuteronomy 20:10: When you go near a city to fight against it, then proclaim an offer of peace to it. 11 And it shall be that if they accept your offer of peace, and open to you, then all the people who are found in it shall be placed under tribute to you, and serve you.

“All these circumstances laid together, prove that the command to destroy the Canaanites was not so absolute as is generally supposed: and should be understood as rather referring to the destruction of the political existence of the Canaanitish nations, than to the destruction of their lives.” (Clarke)

It is interesting that the Canaanites knew that judgement was upon them and that God had sent the Israelites to take the land from them.

“It is interesting to observe that in subsequent history the binding nature of this treaty was recognized and the Gibeonites do not appear anywhere to have made any attempt to corrupt the children of Israel with idolatry.” (Morgan)

It would seem here that in their conquest against Canaan, Rahab and these Gibeonites have come to repentance and are saved.

Enduring Word:

The story of the Gibeonites after Joshua 9 shows what God can do with sinners who come to Him in humility and honor, seeking mercy.

· The Gibeonites became servants at the tabernacle, just as Joshua had commanded.

· Gibeon became a priestly city. The ark of the covenant stayed at Gibeon often in the days of David and Solomon (1 Chronicles 16:39-40, 21:29).

· At least one of David’s mighty men was a Gibeonite (1 Chronicles 12:4).

· God appeared and spoke to Solomon at Gibeon (1 Kings 3:4-5).

· Gibeonites were among those who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem with Nehemiah (Nehemiah 3:7, 7:25).

· Prophets such as Hananiah the son of Azur came from Gibeon (Jeremiah 28:1).

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