Our Jewish Heritage
Dr. Lenore C. Kipper, Judaic Studies Director Emerita
After Torah: Time for Tanach, The Books of the Bible.
Tanach is the Hebrew acronym term for the three sections of the Jewish Bible. It represents Torah, the five books of Moses, N’veeim, the books of the Prophets, and K’tuvim, the books called the Writings. The stories of Abraham until the death of Moses are familiar ones that we read every year as we go through the weekly Torah readings. I plan to dedicate this page this year to the other books of the Tanach. The last book of the Torah, Deuteronomy, D’varim, ends with the death of Moses. The mantle of leadership is passed on to Joshua as the Israelites are ready to enter the promised land, Eretz Yisrael.
The Book of Joshua
We are first introduced to Joshua, son of Nun, in the book of Exodus. He is described as a courageous leader who supported Moses and who later gave Moses an optimistic view of the land when he returns from scouting out the territory. The great task for Joshua was to enter the land, conquer and settle it. Joshua was an experienced military leader who had confidence and passion. After the death of Moses, the book of Joshua tells us that God spoke to Joshua, “be strong and of good courage, for you shall cause this people to possess the land which I swore to their fathers…be ever mindful to observe the law…you shall study it day and night that you may observe all that is written in it,…then you shall make your ways prosperous, and you shall have good success.” The Israelites pledged their loyalty to Joshua and followed him.
Joshua and Jericho
Jericho is located near the Jordan River crossing on the way to Jerusalem. It has always had strategic importance. It is an oasis in the Judean wilderness, and it is considered one of the earliest known cities of the region, according to the archeological excavations. It is four miles west of the Jordan River, north of the Dead Sea, and 750 feet below sea level. The book of Joshua tells us that Joshua sent two spies to scout Jericho, which was a fortressed walled city. They are hidden by a woman, Rahab, who makes them promise that she and her family will be spared when they capture Jericho.
Joshua leads the Israelites marching around the city silently for seven days. On the seventh day they are ordered to blow rams horns and shout. .and the walls came tumbling down. Did this really happen? We have only the account as described in the book. Why was this story included as the first battle that the Israelites won? The text gives us a clue: “Shout because Adonai has given you the city!” It implies that they did not conquer the city on their own. Just as the miracles of leaving Egypt are perceived as miracles, so too is the conquest of Jericho. According to biblical scholar, Harry Orlinsky, there is a difference of opinion between the book of Joshua and the book of Judges about the conquests and the length of time it took to settle the land. Nevertheless, there is verification that the Canaanite cities were destroyed during the time between the 13th and 11th centuries BCE. The dramatic story of Jericho became an important historical experience in the memory of the Jewish People.
After Jericho
Joshua continued to lead the Israelites to other locations like Gilgal and Ai. He built an altar to Adonai there. Hazor, in the north, is one of the last conquests. Joshua divided all the territory among the tribes of Israel. When you see this on a map you understand why both sides of the Jordan River were considered part of ancient Israel. Before Joshua died, he assembled the people at Shechem to renew the covenant relationship between the Israelites and Adonai. His mission was complete. He led the people in their battles to possess the land. He established them in the land, and he renewed the covenant. He warned the people that they would have to obey God’s commandments in order to continue receiving God’s protection. Would they be willing to do this? The text tells us they responded positively: “We will never abandon Adonai to worship other gods!”
Commentary
The book of Joshua, probably written many years after the events it describes, presents us with an idealized picture of what rewards devotion to God brought the Israelites. According to one scholar, Carl Ehrlich, it is making a religious statement more than the most accurate historical account. The next book, Judges, (next month) will give you a
better description of the historical circumstances connected with the rise of Israel in the land. Are you ready to read the full text of the book of Joshua? Do it with a biblical map. Go and read! The next time you visit Israel, I hope you will be enriched by the people and places of ancient Israel that are described in the Tanach.
B ‘Shalom,
Lenore