Mobile Ed: OT315 Book Study: Joshua (12 hour course)

Course Outline

Introduction

• Introducing the Speaker and Course

Unit 1: Introduction to Joshua

• Joshua in Canonical Context
• Joshua in the Pentateuch
• Framework of the Book

Unit 2: Divergent Perspectives on the Events and Their Meaning

• How Did Israel Come into Possession of the Land?
• Was Israel Wholly Obedient to the Lord?

Unit 3: Composition

• Marks of Editing
• Multiple Endings
• Duplications and Variations
• Allusions to Deuteronomy
• The Deuteronomistic History
• Double Redaction
• Multiple Redactions
• Recent Developments and Summary

Unit 4: Joshua as Historiography

• Narrating the Past: History and Identity
• Narrating the Past: Testimony and Confession
• The Historical Setting of Joshua
• Historical Models
• Unresolved Issues and What To Do About Them
• Joshua as Narrative Text

Unit 5: Theological Motifs

• God and Israel
• The Land
• The Peoples of the Land

Unit 6: The Lord’s Speech and the People’s Response (Chapter 1)

• Extending Deuteronomy
• The LORD’s Speech
• Joshua and Israel’s Response

Unit 7: Introduction to the Conquest Narrative (Chapters 2–12)

• Conquest Narrative: Structure
• Common Plots: Rahab and the Gibeonites
• Common Plots: The Battles at Jericho and Gibeon
• Achan: The Common Plot Reversed
• Common Plots: Canaan up Close
• Opposing Kings

Unit 8: The Rahab Story (Chapter 2)

• Background to the Rahab Story
• Allusions to the Sodom Story
• Sexuality and Impropriety
• Opposing Characterization of Rahab and the Spies
• Rahab’s Godly Speech
• The Spies’ Response
• Reversed Perspectives and Rahab’s Passover

Unit 9: The Jordan Crossing (Chapters 3–4)

• The Symbolic Ambiance of the Jordan/Jericho Narrative
• Jordan Crossing: Narrative Sequence
• The Confusing Configuration of the Crossing Narrative
• Allusions to Sinai and the Wilderness
• Israelite Leaders in Alignment: Leaders, Priests, Prophets
• Three Interpretations of the Crossing

Unit 10: Events at Gilgal (Chapter 5)

• Gilgal: Narrative Sequence
• Report about the Kings
• A New Israel in a New Land
• Joshua’s Encounter with the Commander

Unit 11: A Second Ritual Procession (Chapter 6)

• Repetitions of the Jordan Crossing in the Jericho March
• Worship and Warfare
• The Herem

Unit 12: Achan’s Sacrilege (Chapter 7)

• Background to the Achan Story
• Achan’s Sacrilege
• Israel’s Defeat
• Joshua’s Intercession
• The Divine Rebuke
• Exposing Hidden Canaan
• Allusions to Deuteronomy 13 and the Threat of Apostasy

Unit 13: The Battle at Ai (Chapter 8)

• The Battle at Ai: Narrative Sequence
• Marks of a Fresh Start
• Ai and Its King Defeated

Unit 14: The Ceremony at Mounts Ebal and Gerizim (Joshua 8:30–35)

• The Enclosure Discovered in 1985
• Reaffirmation of Obedience to the Mosaic Law
• A Diverse Community United by the Covenant

Unit 15: The Gibeonite Ruse (Chapter 9)

• Background to the Gibeonite Ruse
• Opposing Responses to Israel’s Victories
• The Gibeonite Strategy
• Honoring the Oath, Subjugating the Gibeonites
• Canaanites and Israelites: Dissolving the Difference

Unit 16: The Battle at Gibeon (Chapter 10)

• Background to the Battle at Gibeon
• The Sun Stood Still
• The Five Kings: Threatening Powers Subdued

Unit 17: The Southern Conquests and Hazor (Chapter 10:28–Chapter 12)

• Summary of Southern Conquests
• Hazor: Background
• Battle at the Waters of Merom
• Summaries of Conquest
• Israel’s Victories

Unit 18: General Allotment (Chapter 13)

• Background to the Allotment Account
• Overview of Allotment Account
• The Land Remaining
• Allotments in the Transjordan

Unit 19: The Judah and Joseph Allotment (Chapters 14–17)

• Judah and Joseph: Overview
• Judah and Joseph: Contrasting Territorial Descriptions
• Judah: Caleb
• Judah: Judah’s Boundaries and Towns
• Joseph: Joseph’s Boundaries
• Joseph: Ephraim
• Joseph: Manasseh
• Joseph: Zelophehad’s Daughters
• Joseph: Joseph’s Request

Unit 20: The Second Phase of the Allotment and Cities of Refuge (Chapters 18–21)

• Allotment at Shiloh
• Remaining Allotments
• Cities of Refuge
• Levitical Cities
• The Promise Fulfilled

Unit 21: The Conclusion of Joshua: The Altar at the Jordan (Chapter 22)

• Conclusions: Overview
• Dismissal of the Eastern Tribes and Declaration of Success
• The Altar at the Jordan: Accusation and the Threat of War
• The Altar at the Jordan: A Defense and Questions of Identity
• The Altar at the Jordan: Resolution

Unit 22: The Conclusion of Joshua: Joshua’s Farewell and Covenant Renewal at Shechem (Chapters 23–24)

• Joshua’s Farewell: Background
• Joshua’s Speech
• Covenant Renewal at Shechem
• The LORD Tells Israel’s Story
• Joshua’s Challenge
• The Nation Chooses
• The Stone Witness
• Burial Reports

Unit 23: Appendix: The Canaanite Genocide

• The Theological Challenge
• Approaches and Responses: Allegory, Theological Principles, and Judgment
• Approaches and Responses: Developmental Approaches
• Approaches and Responses: Contextual Approaches
• Approaches and Responses: Ethical Critique
• Joshua as a Revelatory Narrative

Conclusion

• Conclusion to the Course