Joshua Chapter 7-8 in detailA few major themes are• Corporate vs individual responsibility• The Israelites as of end of Chap 8 seem to be quite faithful overall to covenant• Herem – the wiping out of native peoples CHAPTER 7 7:1—–Violation of proscription (2x cherem) – Achan is introduced. Narrator says YHVH is incensed – before we see YHVH take any action7:2—–More spies to check out Ai7:3 – 4-Spies say 2-3 thousand men is enough – but they are routed – presumably the routing is what makes them “turn their backs on their enemy” – see Jos 7:8 and 7:12 –…

Sources are in bold (if any) and described at end. See separate blog page on Joshua historiography and text. ———————————————————————————— cherem (translated here as “proscribe” or “doom”) Lev 27:21                 land shall be holy to YHVH as land proscribed Lev 27:28-29            “..every proscribed thing is totally consecrated to YHVH.  No human being who has been proscribed can be ransomed: he shall be put to death.” Num 21:1-2              Canaanites were proscribed, specifically “king of Arad who engaged Israel in battle and took some of them captive” = per JPS footnote = “utterly destroy – reserving no booty except what is deposited in…

Notes on Joshua March 7 2010 I am here to introduce text and stimulate questions, but not to answer them all.   Good questions – you can research and bring back answers. These are rough study notes – meant to both remind and to stimulate further thought.   Sources are in bold and described at end. ————————————————— As we go into the land – the people are set apart and defined:  by covenant, Passover (memory), circumcision, proscribing the natives. —————————————————— Various events and traditions have been reworked very substantially over time and ultimately included in the Bible in order to substantiate a…

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”

Notes on Joshua February 21, 2010– this is not a paper – just rough study notes – meant to both remind and to stimulate further thought. Sources are in bold and described at end. Josh 1:1-18 is haftarah for V’zot habrachah (last Deut 33:1 – 34:12)Josh 2:1-24 for Shelach Lecha (Numbers 13:1 – 15:39 – spies) People’s perception of God: Creator vs LegislatorRabbi Isaac asks why Torah begins with Creation instead of Ex 12, 1 = “This month shall be onto you the first of months”, which is the first commandment. Works before laws.I read Torah as people’s perceptions about…

In our first study session we studied Joshua chapters 1 and 2.   Many thanks to Judy D, Steve A, Catherine, Dennis, Beth, Aimee, Lenny and Stanley who attended and asked such great questions and offered thoughtful comments.   I was personally much buoyed up by the friendship in the study session.Please stay tuned.   I may at any time need to skip a session, but an email will go out if so.   Please keep reading Joshua and we’ll look at a few more chapters next time.Comments on the blog are welcome.  If anyone would like to post class notes, let me know and…

As we study Joshua, we will focus on some specific chapters and verses.   Expand this post to see a list of the first few.  We will not necessarily cover all of these in one class – this is just to give you an idea of what to look for, and more will follow.  Please bring Tanakhs so we can compare with texts from other Books.  If you can be reading Joshua beforehand, the study session will be richer, but come even if you haven’t had time for preparatory reading. To start, we will be looking at how similar/dissimilar are Joshua…

I am starting an new study series at Eitz Chayim, to be called Tanakh studies.   We will study Joshua, Judges,  I and II Samuel and I and II Kings over a course of many months.   We will meet on the first and third Sundays from 6:45 pm to 8:15 pm.   Prior to each session I will post here the verses to be studied.   It is recommended that everyone start out by reading the book of Joshua.  The first study session will be Sunday, February 21, 2010.