Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today is History Tuesday. We’ll complete the book of Joshua with chapters 21-24 . I’m calling today’s episode “Joshua’s Final Address.”

<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Behrouz Jafarnezhad on Unsplash</figcaption></figure>

Comments on Joshua 23 and 24

In these two closing chapters of the book of Joshua, we see two different times that the aging leader called the entire nation to hear him, because he knew that his life was drawing to a close and he wanted to leave them with a final message.

The first gathering is recorded in chapter 23. He reminds them of all that God had done for them, and that it was the Lord that fought for them and delivered the land that they now held and enjoyed, as He had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He told them to be very careful to love the Lord and continue to obey his commands so that His blessing would continue to be on them, and if they failed to do that, grave consequences would come to them. 

Notice that he started the warning with the words “love the Lord your God.” If we love someone, we don’t find it difficult to do the things that please them, do we? I don’t treat my wife, the lovely lady LeeAnn with respect and do the things that I know will bring a smile to her face because I’m afraid she’ll make my life miserable if I don’t. I am a loving husband to her because I love her. I find it easy to not behave badly toward her. I don’t have to keep reminding myself not to be mean to her or be unfaithful to her or any number of things that would break her heart. When you love someone, your motivation comes from a positive place.

And that was what Joshua wanted for the children of Israel. 

But he knew that some of the people did not love the Lord, and were in fact unfaithful to Him. Some were worshipping the gods and idols of the Canaanites and the other people who were in the land before they arrived. So Joshua warned them of the consequences of their idolatry.

And this is what caused him, in chapter 24 to say to them, “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.” He let them know that he and God were aware of their double mindedness. So he set the decision before them, and he let them know in no uncertain terms where he stood, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

It is never a good thing to flirt with anything that would draw you away from a loving relationship with God. Flirtation leads down a disastrous path. Choose. And once the choice is made, commit to the decision and follow through with actions that will only strengthen the relationship.

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 21-22 HCSB, Ch. 23-24 ESV

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Transcript

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Joshua 21-24: Joshua’s Final Address (LSFAB S13E031)

[TEASER – 0:00 ]
When you love someone your motivation comes from a positive place.

[INTRO S13E031 – 0:11 ]
This is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California, and podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily podcast where we’ll read through the entire Bible in a year. Welcome. Are you having a good day? Today’s History Tuesday. We’ll complete the book of Joshua with the reading of chapters 21 through 24, and I’m calling today’s episode “Joshua’s Final Address”. Before we read, let’s pray.

[OPENING PRAYER – 0:39 ]
Our heavenly Father, we thank you so much for this time around your Word and we pray that you will bless the reading of your Word, and that you would teach us. We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Okay, let’s begin.

[JOSHUA 21 (HCSB) – 0:52 ]
Joshua, chapter 21.

(1) The heads of the Levite families approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the Israelite tribes. (2) At Shiloh, in the land of Canaan, they told them, “The Lord commanded through Moses that we be given cities to live in, with their pasturelands for our livestock.” (3) So the Israelites, by the Lord’s command, gave the Levites these cities with their pasturelands from their inheritance.

(4) The lot came out for the Kohathite clans: The Levites who were the descendants of Aaron the priest received 13 cities by lot from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. (5) The remaining descendants of Kohath received 10 cities by lot from the clans of the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, and half the tribe of Manasseh.

(6) Gershon’s descendants received 13 cities by lot from the clans of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and half the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

(7) Merari’s descendants received 12 cities for their clans from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. (8) The Israelites gave these cities with their pasturelands around them to the Levites by lot, as the Lord had commanded through Moses.

(9) The Israelites gave these cities by name from the tribes of the descendants of Judah and Simeon (10) to the descendants of Aaron from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because they received the lot first. (11) They gave them Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) with its surrounding pasturelands in the hill country of Judah. Arba was the father of Anak. (12) But they gave the fields and villages of the city to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.

(13) They gave to the descendants of Aaron the priest:

Hebron, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasturelands, Libnah with its pasturelands, (14) Jattir with its pasturelands, Eshtemoa with its pasturelands, (15) Holon with its pasturelands, Debir with its pasturelands, (16) Ain with its pasturelands, Juttah with its pasturelands, and Beth-shemesh with its pasturelands — nine cities from these two tribes.

(17) From the tribe of Benjamin they gave:
Gibeon with its pasturelands, Geba with its pasturelands, (18) Anathoth with its pasturelands, and Almon with its pasturelands — four cities. (19) All 13 cities with their pasturelands were for the priests, the descendants of Aaron.

(20) The allotted cities to the remaining clans of Kohath’s descendants, who were Levites, came from the tribe of Ephraim. (21) The Israelites gave them:

Shechem, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasturelands in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer with its pasturelands, (22) Kibzaim with its pasturelands, and Beth-horon with its pasturelands — four cities.

(23) From the tribe of Dan they gave:
Elteke with its pasturelands, Gibbethon with its pasturelands, (24) Aijalon with its pasturelands, and Gath-rimmon with its pasturelands — four cities.

(25) From half the tribe of Manasseh they gave:
Taanach with its pasturelands and Gath-rimmon with its pasturelands — two cities.

(26) All 10 cities with their pasturelands were for the clans of Kohath’s other descendants.

(27) From half the tribe of Manasseh, they gave to the descendants of Gershon, who were one of the Levite clans:

Golan, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasturelands in Bashan, and Beeshterah with its pasturelands — two cities.

(28) From the tribe of Issachar they gave:
Kishion with its pasturelands, Daberath with its pasturelands, (29) Jarmuth with its pasturelands, and En-gannim with its pasturelands — four cities.

(30) From the tribe of Asher they gave:
Mishal with its pasturelands, Abdon with its pasturelands, (31) Helkath with its pasturelands, and Rehob with its pasturelands — four cities.

(32) From the tribe of Naphtali they gave:
Kedesh in Galilee, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasturelands, Hammoth-dor with its pasturelands, and Kartan with its pasturelands — three cities.

(33) All 13 cities with their pasturelands were for the Gershonites by their clans.

(34) From the tribe of Zebulun, they gave to the clans of the descendants of Merari, who were the remaining Levites:

Jokneam with its pasturelands, Kartah with its pasturelands, (35) Dimnah with its pasturelands, and Nahalal with its pasturelands — four cities.

(36) From the tribe of Reuben they gave:
Bezer with its pasturelands, Jahzah with its pasturelands, (37) Kedemoth with its pasturelands, and Mephaath with its pasturelands — four cities.

(38) From the tribe of Gad they gave:
Ramoth in Gilead, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter,