Well, hello and blessings to you my friends. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. When I put links to scriptures it is beneficial for you to click on them and listen to the Bible. If I put everything, each point and detail in I would just be rewriting the Bible. If you listen you will pick up on the items too numerous to put in a morning devotional.
The southern campaign, Joshua 10. The southern campaign began when Adoni-Zedek, the king of Jerusalem, called four other kings to join him in attacking Gibeon. Gibeon appealed to Joshua for help and Israel defended them because of the covenant they made through trickery.
Joshua went to help and defeated the kings. In verses 12-14 you will read about when the sun and the moon stayed still. A great story to read and absorb. Joshua defeated the 5 kings, took them, had the captains place their feet upon the necks of the kings, killed them, and placed them on 5 trees for all to see. At sundown, they were taken down and cast into the cave where they had been hiding from the Israelites, laid great stones in the cave's mouth to seal it. As you read you can see more conquests.
Next comes the northern campaign (Joshua 11-12:24) Now Jabin, King of Hazor heard about the Israelites and recruited many other kings so that their army was the sand that is upon the sea shore, with horses and chariots. They met together and camped at the waters of Merom to fight Israel.
The LORD reassured Joshua to not be afraid for He (God) would deliver these fighting men to Israel. Then Israel was to hough their horses (hough means cut the hamstring or achilles tendeon to render them useless) and burn their chariots with fire.
The LORD did give them to Joshua and the Isrealites pursued them as far as Sidon and killed them all, as God commanded. This victory allowed Joshua control of the norther part of Canaan, as well as the central and southern areas. The only fortified city taken was Hazor (11:13) and Joshua did not take the other cities which were built on mounds. These cities were built on high places and over the centuries they continued to be elevated further by building on the rubble of former generations. Then, the inhabitants built walls around the cities making them practically impossible to conquer.
Now comes the division of the Land (Josh 13:8-21:30; 22-23:16 ) Now, the Levites owned no land because they were priests. The whole congregation of the people of Israel gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tent of Meeting. Joshua 20 describes cities of refuge. These cities were set apart to protect the persons who killed another accidentally. Three cities of refuge were located west of the Jordan River and three east of the Jordan. These were set up so that one who had hurt another without any malicious intent would be able to have a place of sanctuary. Tomorrow we will go into Joshua's charge, one of his last acts and then into Judges. Love you all
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny
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