For study on March 7 read Joshua chapters 3-7 and if you have not read them yet, read Joshua 1-2 for background. We may not get to chapter 7 until the following class.
In preparation for discussion of Jos 5:13-15, review Ex 3:1-6 “The Burning Bush”
2 thoughts on “Suggested advance reading for Class 2010 03 07”
Guillermo – thanks for providing us with some very interesting midrash on Joshua!
I lost the first meeting and I am deeply sorry because of that. I have some points to share about Hosea or Joshua: 1.-Joshua was one of the twelve spies dispatched by Moses to scout the Land of Canaan ; it was then that Moses added the letter yud to Hosea’s name, changing it to “Joshua” (“G-d will save”) as a prayer and empowerment that “G-d shall save you from the plot of he Spies.”
2.Joshua was just such a person, establishing a rapport with each person based on genuine empathy, not on attempts to curry favor. And true to the second part of Moses’s request, he “went before them and came in before them.” In other words, he didn’t send the nation out to war to fight battles. He went first, and he inspired in them the confidence to be successful and thus come back (“and come in before them”). We see the General of an army is standing behind the line of fire, the generals of the Jewish army always went first, and with their good deeds, empathy, and trust were able to inspire confidence in their soldiers. Victory was the result. 2A-Of course, this was not only true of physical battles but of our internal spiritual battles as well. Each of us has to find the inspiration in Moses’s words to become true leaders in our own sphere of influence. By caring about and genuinely connecting to the souls of people we must influence, for starters, our families, and by relating to their individual personalities. By leading through example, even if it means stretching ourselves to the breaking point, and by strengthening our own trust in the One Who is guiding us, whether we see His hand in things or not. This a typical example as we as parents, showing to our children te “role model”.
3. As a consequence of the before point I have seen when the Torah mentions the names of the spies (Numbers 13:4-15), everyone is referred to as “so and so ben (son of) so and so.” The only exception is Joshua, who is called Joshua “bin” Nun. Why bin and not ben? Nachmanides points out this unusual vocalization, and suggest that the two words should be read together as “binnun.” This name, rooted in the Hebrew word binah, means “the understanding one,” and was accorded to Joshua out of respect for his keen intellectual abilities. PMy understanding is Joshua was closer to Moses than his own father, as a “role model”…. Guillermo
Guillermo – thanks for providing us with some very interesting midrash on Joshua!
I lost the first meeting and I am deeply sorry because of that. I have some points to share about Hosea or Joshua:
1.-Joshua was one of the twelve spies dispatched by Moses to scout the Land of Canaan ; it was then that Moses added the letter yud to Hosea’s name, changing it to “Joshua” (“G-d will save”) as a prayer and empowerment that “G-d shall save you from the plot of he Spies.”
2.Joshua was just such a person, establishing a rapport with each person based on genuine empathy, not on attempts to curry favor. And true to the second part of Moses’s request, he “went before them and came in before them.” In other words, he didn’t send the nation out to war to fight battles. He went first, and he inspired in them the confidence to be successful and thus come back (“and come in before them”). We see the General of an army is standing behind the line of fire, the generals of the Jewish army always went first, and with their good deeds, empathy, and trust were able to inspire confidence in their soldiers. Victory was the result.
2A-Of course, this was not only true of physical battles but of our internal spiritual battles as well. Each of us has to find the inspiration in Moses’s words to become true leaders in our own sphere of influence. By caring about and genuinely connecting to the souls of people we must influence, for starters, our families, and by relating to their individual personalities. By leading through example, even if it means stretching ourselves to the breaking point, and by strengthening our own trust in the One Who is guiding us, whether we see His hand in things or not. This a typical example as we as parents, showing to our children te “role model”.
3. As a consequence of the before point I have seen when the Torah mentions the names of the spies (Numbers 13:4-15), everyone is referred to as “so and so ben (son of) so and so.” The only exception is Joshua, who is called Joshua “bin” Nun. Why bin and not ben?
Nachmanides points out this unusual vocalization, and suggest that the two words should be read together as “binnun.” This name, rooted in the Hebrew word binah, means “the understanding one,” and was accorded to Joshua out of respect for his keen intellectual abilities. PMy understanding is Joshua was closer to Moses than his own father, as a “role model”….
Guillermo