Frequently Asked Questions
About the Old Testament

Session 10 – The Book of Joshua

What right did the Israelites have to take land from other people (1:4)?

In the Old Testament, God took land as punishment for sin. This judgment would fall upon Israel herself at a later date, when, because of their sin, their land would be lost to other nations. God’s judgment upon Canaan occurred because of the sin of its inhabitants (Genesis 15:16). The people living in the land had a long history of worshiping idols (including engaging in religious prostitution and human sacrifice).

–Don Porter

Does God promise health and wealth (1:8)?

It would appear so, at least in the Old Testament where God’s promises were linked to the land. But God’s kingdom is not geographical; it is spiritual and eternal. Some who are called to serve the Lord may have to endure the rigors of poverty and deprivation. Nonetheless, countless Christians testify to a general truth: building one’s life on biblical values often leads to material reward. God made two kinds of promises to Joshua and Israelphysical and spiritual. Both look back to God’s pledge to give Abraham land, posterity and spiritual blessings (Gen. 12:23). The land and posterity were specific, physical promises, made exclusively to Abraham’s physical descendants. The promise of spiritual blessing, however, extends to believers in Christ (Abraham’s heirs, Gal. 3:29). Both Gentile and Jewish believers can be confident that God will always be with them (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5).

–The Quest Study Bible

Why did God bless Rahab when she told a lie (2:45)?

Scripture unequivocally condemns lying as a sin. In Rahab’s case there were special factors that operated in her favor, and they should not be overlooked, even if they do not altogether excuse her mendacity. In this particular case the lie meant for her a step of faith that put her very life in jeopardy. . . . At any rate, she professed a very firm conviction that the Israelite forces would capture and destroy Jericho, even though from the standpoint of military science it looked as if Jericho was virtually impregnable. . . . Despite her sinful past her faith was reckoned to her for righteousness, not only by the Lord, but also by His people; and she assumed a position of honor as an ancestress of the Lord Jesus Himself (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25).

–The Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties

How did the people consecrate themselves (3:5)?

An act by which a person or thing is dedicated to the service and worship of God. In this particular passage, the people were to be consecrated because God is holy, the ark was holy, and the event itself was holy. Consecration involved bathing, washing one’s clothing, and abstinence from sexual activity (cf. Exodus 19:14-15).

–NIV Bible Commentary and the NIV Bible Dictionary

Why was a memorial needed (4:67)?

These stones would become a constant reminder to the people of his faithfulness, love, and power. In the challenges that the nation would face in the years to come, this memorial would provide a powerful reminder that God can be trusted. Also, for generations to come, the memorial would beg the question, “Why is this here?” The answer would provide opportunity to teach the next generation the stories of God’s love for the people. It is important that we remember what God has done, both to give him glory and to be strengthened to stand firm in the faith!

–Don Porter

Why did Joshua have to circumcise the Israelites (5:3)?

Probably because spiritual conditions were at a low ebb. God required each male to be circumcised as a sign of cutting off the old life and beginning anew with God (see Genesis 17:13). The 40-year desert march was punishment for their unbelief, so the people may have felt some degree of rejection by God. They may have neglected circumcision because they felt the spiritual bond it represented was broken. Also, they may not have felt compelled to identify with the Lord as strongly while isolated in the desert as when facing pagans.

–The Quest Study Bible

What was special about the number seven (6:1315)?

The number seven is the most significant symbolic number in the Bible, which probably relates to the Old Testament week of seven days with the final day representing the Sabbath (Genesis 2:2ff.). And so, the number seven is often used to symbolize completeness or perfection. In this passage the number seven is connected to God’s total destruction of Jericho. It should be noted in this passage that it is not clear whether Jericho was destroyed on the seventh day of the week (the Sabbath, which was to be a day of rest) or on the seventh day of the siege.

–Don Porter

Why blame everybody for one person’s sin (7:11)?

Individualism as we know it was not the Israelites' way of thinking. The ancient Israelites would wonder how we could think in any terms other than the community as a whole. Because Achan violated the instructions about Jericho, he broke trust between God and Israel–and the nation as a whole suffered.

–The Quest Study Bible

Why could the Israelites plunder Ai, but not Jericho (8:2)?

In ancient times pillaging was a means of resupplying the army with food and equipment. So it was not the battle of Ai that was unusual, but the battle of Jericho. The dedication of Jericho’s valuables to the Lord paralleled God’s laws about “firstfruits” (see Leviticus 2:14), and so they honored the Lord by giving the first victory to him.

–The Quest Study Bible

Are we to believe that the sun actually stopped (10:13-14)?

While some argue that the passage is figurative, there is no reason to believe that God could not extend the day. He who created the world by the power of His word can certainly work beyond the normal limitations of that which can be explained by science. If God can raise the dead, part the Red Sea, and heal leprosy, He can certainly control the sun and the earth.

–Don Porter

Did women have any rights in that society (17:4)?

The women of ancient Israel had few rights by today’s standards. But the law provided for their care and protection in several important ways: (1) a childless widow was granted the right of a son by her husband’s brother (insuring inheritance rights; see Deuteronomy 25:56); (2) some kinds of divorce were prohibited totally (for example, Deuteronomy 22:19); (3) women without any brothers could inherit their father’s land (Numbers 27:37); (4) women were protected from starvation (Deuteronomy 24:1921).

–The Quest Study Bible

Why is punishment from God described as evil (23:15)?

There are times when, from our limited human perspective, we see God’s judgment and discipline as “evil.” At these times we must remember that God is always true to Himself (His character), and that He is always perfectly just. We bring discipline and judgment upon ourselves when we refuse to follow God’s purposes for our lives.

–Don Porter