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From Sinai to Promised Land (Wilderness and Conquest). Over 90 references in the NT. Be Holy for I am Holy. Content of Leviticus. Sacrifices (1-7) Consecration of Aaron and Sons (8-10) Laws for Daily Life: Purity & Impurity (11-15) Day of Atonement (17) More about Sacrifice (18-20)
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From Sinai to Promised Land (Wilderness and Conquest)
Over 90 references in the NT Be Holy for I am Holy
Content of Leviticus • Sacrifices (1-7) • Consecration of Aaron and Sons (8-10) • Laws for Daily Life: Purity & Impurity (11-15) • Day of Atonement (17) • More about Sacrifice (18-20) • Rules for Priests (21-22) • Feasts (23) • Regular Duties (24) • Sabbaths and Jubilees (25) • Promise & warning; blessing & cursing (26) • Vows and Tithes (27)
Emphases of Leviticus • Getting it right with regard to worship, for both people and priests • Institution of the priesthood under Aaron • Laws protecting ritual cleanness, including atonement for sins (the Day of Atonement) • Laws regulating sexual relations, family life, punishments for major crimes, festivals, and special years (sabbaths and jubilees).
The Book of Numbers Hebrew Title – “In the Wilderness” Describes miscellaneous experiences of Israel from the final days of sojourning at Mount Sinai until the encampment on the plains of Moab before entering the Promised Land. The dominant note is God’s patient discipline of faithless, rebellious, impetuous, licentious Israel, that he might prepare an unworthy but chosen nation to inherit the Promised Land.
The Book of Numbers A mixture of legislation and narrative. Chronological rather than topical. 80 times we are told, “God said to Moses …”. Moses’ journal – “The book of the Wars of the Lord” (Num 21:14). Records his own anger. What is going on? Narrative, additional laws, census lists, oracles from a pagan prophet, a bronze snake, the Aaronic blessing. How does it all fit together?
The Book of Numbers The Book is divided into three parts. Part 1 (1:1-10:1) covers twenty days and describes the organization of Israel at Mount Sinai for wilderness life and travel. Part 2 (10:11-21:35) covers 38 years and describes God’s discipline of Israel in the wilderness of Paran. Part 3 (22:1-36:13) spans about six months and describes experiences in the plains of Moab.
Spying Out the Land • Numbers 13 • The Land God had given them. • God tells them to send out spies. Why? • What sort of land? • What sort of obstacles? • What sort of blessings? • The obstacles are great! • Grumbling or faith? • What lessons do we learn? 1 Cor 10:1-13
Balaam and Balak (Num 22-24) • The Campaign in Moab • Balaam is from Pethor on the Euphrates. He was not an Israelite yet the source of his utterances is God Himself. • A Repeating ritual with four oracles • Blessings on Israel with a final oracle which bears a remarkable prediction of Israel’s future. • It was Balaam’s advice (31:16) that led Israel to sin and he paid for it with his life (31:8).
Emphases of Numbers • Preparation for military conquest of Canaan • God’s covenant loyalty towards Israel with regard to the land • Israel’s failure to keep covenant with God; • God’s leadership of His people and affirmation of Moses’ leadership. • Preparations for entering in and worshipping in the promised land. • Conquest and settlement of land east of Jordan.
Chronology • E1-18 Egypt to Sinai N 50 days • E19-40 Sinai L ? • L1-17 Sinai L 30 days • N1-10a Sinai L 19 days • N10b-12 Sinai to Kadesh N 11 days • N13-20a Kadesh L ? • N20b-21 Kadesh to Moab N 38 years • N22-36 Moab L 100 days • D1-34 Moab L 5 months
A Lost Book Refound?! 2 Kings 22
Deuteronomy • Lit. second Law. More accurately a series of Moses’ sermons on the plains of Moab shortly before his death. • Often quoted in the New Testament. • Found in the words of Jesus, eg in the Temptation • About the gracious deeds of God in Israel’s behalf and how Israel should respond to God’s gracious deeds and why.
Outline of Deuteronomy • 1. What God has done (1:1-4:43). The mighty acts of God, which call for exclusive loyalty, are recited. • 2. What God requires (4:44-18:68). The meaning and obligation of the covenant relationship., its specific terms, and the enforcement by God of those terms. • 3. What God proposes (29:1-30:20). Covenant renewal by the new generation is contemplated. • Narrative about the change in leadership from Moses to Joshua(31-34).
The Book of Joshua (=Jesus) The book is both a climax and a new beginning. It records the fulfilment of the promise made to Abraham concerning the gift of the Land of Canaan (Gen 12, 15) and the beginning of a long life for the people of God in that land. The exodus from Egypt and the covenant in the wilderness have meaning in Israel’s history only because a homeland was won in which a redeemed people could work out their destiny under God.
The Book of Joshua 1-12 Stories of the Conquest Campaigns 13-22 Division of the Land among the tribes and “by families”. 23-24 Renewal of the Covenant at Shechem
The Conquest The Conquest is seen as divine judgement on the previous inhabitants (Gen 15:16; Lev 18:24-30; cf Heb 11:31). It was the (temporal) fulfilment of the covenant and promise to Abraham. The land was a monumental witness and reminder to Israel of God’s faithfulness and generosity. It was acknowledged in their liturgy (see Deut 26:1-9).
The Land Although it was given to Israel, it was still God’s land. Many practical details of Israel’s law reflected this divine ownership of the land. What you did on and with the land reflected your relationship with God. The economic life was religious – Israel was God’s people on God’s land.
The Campaigns • A three-pronged campaign from the base camp at Gilgal near Jericho (1:1-5:12) • The central campaign (5:13-8:35) • The southern campaign (9:1-10:43) • The northern campaign (11:1-23) • The Book of Joshua concentrates on the conquest (12:1-24), but only hints at the quite separate and much more sporadic work of occupation (13:1-6; 18:3).
Joshua’s Preparation • Fighting with Amalek (Ex 17) • On Mount Sinai (Ex 24) • Golden calf • Tabernacle • Prophesying in the camp (Num 11) • Spying out the land (Num 13-14) • Joshua’s Ordination (Num 26:65) • Moses’ Final address
Does History have a Meaning? • Joshua 1:1-9 - The divine word to Joshua. The death of Moses males no difference to the declared intention of God. • The promises made to the Patriarchs still stand and determine the way in which coming events will be shaped (1:3). • The presence of the Lord with his people guaranteed the power inherent in the promises (1:5-6) • Joshua’s fidelity to the word of God brings that same power into his experience (1:7-9).
Joshua and the Canaanites • The slaying of the Canaanites must be seen in the context of the OT’s worldview. Note Genesis 15:16. • It belongs within the revelation of God’s government of the world. Particularly, • We live in God’s world • God is a holy God • No sin passes unrecorded • The history of the world is a divinely supervised arena of moral providence.
A Complete Conquest? • Joshua 10:40-41 suggests a complete conquest • Joshua 11:18 indicates a long campaign • It appears that sometimes victories were won over cities and their kings killed without the cities actually being captured. • Joshua 12:7-24 gives a list of kings defeated, but Judges 1 notes their cities and others being unoccupied. • See also Joshua 17:14 and 18:3.
A Complete Conquest? (cont) • Hazor • Joshua 11:13 – Hazor burnt • Judges 4:2 – Jabin king in Hazor • Jerusalem • Judges 1:8 – Jerusalem captured • Judges 1:21 – Jebusites still in possession • Some see Joshua 24 and Judges 1 contradicting each other. Judges 1 shows the incomplete conquest of the north. It sets the scene for the Book of Judges.
Covenant Renewal – Josh 24 • Recapitulation of Israel’s history (2-13) • A call for faithfulness and renewal of promises (14-15) • Enthusiastic response of the people (16-18) • Serving God is costly – disobedience has consequences (19-20) • The people affirm they will serve God (21-24) • Renewing the Sinai covenant and setting up a memorial (25-28)
Points to Note • Theophany • The God of Miracles • Crossing of Jordan, Fall of Jericho, Sun standing still • Ebal & Gerizim (8:30-35) • The Cities of Refuge (20:1-9) • The farewell Speech (23) • Covenant Renewal (24)