2. Joshua

Question 1

What are the four theories of Israel’s origin (as it relates to the appearing in Canaan?

Answer 1

1. The Conquest (outside Canaan).
2. Peaceful Infiltration (outside Canaan).
3. Peasant Revolt (inside Canaan).
4. Pastoral Canaanites (inside Canaan).

Question 2

What are three main pieces of evidence that would point to the conquest view as being correct?

Answer 2

(1) Joshua 9-12, in its form, structure, and themes, is identical to the historical/ideological conquest accounts found among the Hittites, Egyptians, and Assyrians.
(2) Synthesizes other views [The Joshua account does report that Canaanites and peoples from within the land become part of Israel (e.g. Rahab and Gibeonites).]
(3) Consistent with the Bible

Question 3

Date of the conquest

Answer 3

1406BC

Question 4

What do each of the four sections of the Hebrew ordering of the Scriptures summarize

Answer 4

1. Torah: initiates the Narrative plotline
2. Former Prophets (Joshua-2 Kings): continue it all the way to the Exile.
3. Latter Prophets and the first part of the Writings: offer a digressive commentary on all that has transpired.
4. Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah: The narrative plotline is resumed with events that transpired during the exile and after the exile.

Question 5

Is the Old Testament an anthology of texts or a canonical Text? And what does this mean?

Answer 5

1. Canonical Text

2. As such this text has definitive Titles, Structure, Order, and Number of books.

Question 6

What is the overarching theology that Meade uses in understanding the Bible

Answer 6

Kingdom [and dominion] through covenant (God has been establishing his kingdom on earth through covenant relation ships with human partners; Adam and creation Noah Abraham Israel David New covenant with Jesus; literary spine)

Question 7

What is the chiastic structure of Joshua?

Answer 7

A Israel’s Crossing the Jordan (עבר ; 1-5)
B Israel’s Taking the Land (לקח ; 6-11)
B Israel Divides and Apportions the Land (חלק ; 12-22)
A Israel is challenged to Serve Yahweh (עבד ; 23-24)

Question 8

What is the overall theme of Joshua that is evident from this chiastic structure?

Answer 8

The land

Question 9

What are other important themes in Joshua?

Answer 9

1. Submission
2. Importance of possessing and residing in the land
3. The coming darkness

Question 10

How is the theme of submission developed in Joshua?

Answer 10

1. Israel as God’s son
2. Graphic depiction of enemy defeat
3. Conquest as judgment
4. The land as a new Eden

Question 11

What does the land point backwards to? What then would the land point forward to?

Answer 11

1. The garden of Eden

2. The new Eden

Question 12

How is the theme of the Importance of possessing and residing in the land developed in Joshua?

Answer 12

1. the importance of land allotments
2. negative reports
   a. victory depends on faithfulness
   b. the themes of blessing and curses

Question 13

How is the theme of coming darkness developed in Joshua?

Answer 13

1. skeptical about Israel’s ability
2. Israel cannot serve Yahweh (there is an anticipation of idolatry; their heart lacks the ability to stay faithful; they have hard hearts)