Matthew Flannagan. “The Book of Joshua has to be read as a theologically oriented narration, stylized and hyperbolic at important points, of Israel’s.

Matthew FlannaganMatthew Flannagan

““The Book of Joshua has to be read as a The Book of Joshua has to be read as a theologically oriented narration, stylized and theologically oriented narration, stylized and hyperbolic at important points, of Israel’s hyperbolic at important points, of Israel’s early skirmishes in the Promised Land, with early skirmishes in the Promised Land, with the story of these battles being framed by the story of these battles being framed by descriptions of two great ritualized events. descriptions of two great ritualized events. The story as a whole celebrates Joshua as the The story as a whole celebrates Joshua as the great leader of his people, faithful to Yahweh, great leader of his people, faithful to Yahweh, worthy successor of Moses. If we strip the worthy successor of Moses. If we strip the word “hagiography” of its negative word “hagiography” of its negative connotations, we can call it a hagiographic connotations, we can call it a hagiographic account of Joshua’s exploits.”account of Joshua’s exploits.”

Wolterstorff: “Reading Joshua”

““Joshua, as we have it today, was intended Joshua, as we have it today, was intended as a component in the larger sequence as a component in the larger sequence consisting of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, consisting of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, I and II Samuel, and I and II Kings… I I and II Samuel, and I and II Kings… I propose that we interpret the Book of propose that we interpret the Book of Joshua as a component within this larger Joshua as a component within this larger sequence – in particular, that we interpret it sequence – in particular, that we interpret it as preceded by Deuteronomy and as preceded by Deuteronomy and succeeded by Judges.” succeeded by Judges.”

Wolterstorff: “Reading Joshua”

““So Joshua took the So Joshua took the entire landentire land, just as the , just as the LORD had directed Moses, and he gave it LORD had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war.” rest from war.” [Emphasis added]

““After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the Lord, “Who shall go up first for us against of the Lord, “Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?” The Lord the Canaanites, to fight against them?” The Lord said, “Judah shall go up. I hereby give the land said, “Judah shall go up. I hereby give the land into his hand.” Judah said to his brother Simeon, into his hand.” Judah said to his brother Simeon, “Come up with me into the territory allotted to “Come up with me into the territory allotted to me, that we may fight against the Canaanites; me, that we may fight against the Canaanites; then I too will go with you into the territory then I too will go with you into the territory allotted to you. So Simeon went with him. Then allotted to you. So Simeon went with him. Then Judah went up and the Lord gave the Canaanites Judah went up and the Lord gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand; and they and the Perizzites into their hand; and they defeated ten thousand of them at Bezek.”defeated ten thousand of them at Bezek.”

3636 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to

Hebron and attacked it. Hebron and attacked it. 3737 They took the city and put it to the They took the city and put it to the

sword, together with its king, its villages and everyone in it. sword, together with its king, its villages and everyone in it.

They left no survivors. Just as at Eglon, they totally destroyed They left no survivors. Just as at Eglon, they totally destroyed

it and everyone in it. it and everyone in it. 3838 Then Joshua and all Israel with him  Then Joshua and all Israel with him

turned around and attacked Debir. turned around and attacked Debir. 3939 They took the city, its  They took the city, its

king and its villages, and put them to the sword. Everyone in king and its villages, and put them to the sword. Everyone in

it they totally destroyed. They left no survivors. They did to it they totally destroyed. They left no survivors. They did to

Debir and its king as they had done to Libnah and its king and Debir and its king as they had done to Libnah and its king and

to Hebron. to Hebron. 4040 So Joshua subdued the whole region, including  So Joshua subdued the whole region, including

the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the

mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no

survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the

LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded. LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded. 

99 After that, Judah went down to fight against  After that, Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites living in the hill country, the the Canaanites living in the hill country, the Negev and the western foothills. Negev and the western foothills. 1010 They  They advanced against the Canaanites living in advanced against the Canaanites living in Hebron (formerly called Kiriath Arba) and Hebron (formerly called Kiriath Arba) and defeated Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai. defeated Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai. 1111 From  From there they advanced against the people living there they advanced against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher).

He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the LORD, the God of who breathed, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded. Israel, had commanded.

Josh 10:40

For it was the LORD himself who hardened For it was the LORD himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the exterminating them without mercy, as the LORD had commanded Moses. LORD had commanded Moses.

Josh 11:20

11 I brought you up out of Egypt and led you I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land I swore to give to your into the land I swore to give to your ancestors. I said, “I will never break my ancestors. I said, “I will never break my covenant with you, covenant with you, 22 and you shall not make  and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.” Yet you you shall break down their altars.” Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? this? 33 And I have also said, “I will not drive  And I have also said, “I will not drive them out before you; they will become traps them out before you; they will become traps for you, and their gods will become snares to for you, and their gods will become snares to you.”you.”

““Those whose occupation it is to try to Those whose occupation it is to try to determine the origins of these writings will determine the origins of these writings will suggest that the editors had contradictory suggest that the editors had contradictory records, oral traditions, and so forth to work records, oral traditions, and so forth to work with. No doubt this is correct. But those who with. No doubt this is correct. But those who edited the final version of these writings into edited the final version of these writings into one sequence were not mindless; they could one sequence were not mindless; they could see, as well as you and I can see, the tensions see, as well as you and I can see, the tensions and contradictions – surface or real – that I and contradictions – surface or real – that I have pointed to. So what is going on?”have pointed to. So what is going on?”

Wolterstorff: “Reading Joshua”

““An assumption of the enterprise is that the An assumption of the enterprise is that the principal author of the Bible—the entire Bible—is principal author of the Bible—the entire Bible—is God himself (according to Calvin, God the Holy God himself (according to Calvin, God the Holy Spirit). Of course each of the books of the Bible Spirit). Of course each of the books of the Bible has a human author or authors as well; still, the has a human author or authors as well; still, the principal author is God. This impels us to treat principal author is God. This impels us to treat the whole more like a unified communication the whole more like a unified communication than a miscellany of ancient books. Scripture than a miscellany of ancient books. Scripture isn’t so much a library of independent books as isn’t so much a library of independent books as itself a book with many subdivisions but a itself a book with many subdivisions but a central theme: the message of the gospel…”central theme: the message of the gospel…”

Plantinga: Warranted Christian Belief

““By virtue of this unity, furthermore (by By virtue of this unity, furthermore (by virtue of the fact that there is just one virtue of the fact that there is just one principal author), it is possible to “interpret principal author), it is possible to “interpret Scripture with Scripture.” If a given passage Scripture with Scripture.” If a given passage from one of Paul’s epistles is puzzling, it is from one of Paul’s epistles is puzzling, it is perfectly proper to try to come to clarity as to perfectly proper to try to come to clarity as to what God’s teaching is in this passage by what God’s teaching is in this passage by appealing not only to what Paul himself says appealing not only to what Paul himself says elsewhere in other epistles but also to what is elsewhere in other epistles but also to what is taught elsewhere in Scripture.” taught elsewhere in Scripture.”

Alvin Plantinga: Warranted Christian Belief

““The book is framed by its opening narration The book is framed by its opening narration of the ritualized crossing of the Jordan and of the ritualized crossing of the Jordan and by its closing narration of the equally- by its closing narration of the equally- ritualized ceremony of blessing and cursing ritualized ceremony of blessing and cursing that took place at Shechem; and the that took place at Shechem; and the conquest narrative begins with the ritualized conquest narrative begins with the ritualized destruction of Jericho.”destruction of Jericho.”

Wolterstorff: “Reading Joshua”

““Anyone who reads the Book of Joshua in Anyone who reads the Book of Joshua in one sitting cannot fail to be struck by the one sitting cannot fail to be struck by the prominent employment of formulaic prominent employment of formulaic phrasings. … Far more important is the phrasings. … Far more important is the formulaic clause, “struck down all the formulaic clause, “struck down all the inhabitants with the edge of the sword.”inhabitants with the edge of the sword.”

Wolterstorff: “Reading Joshua”

““The first time one reads that Joshua struck The first time one reads that Joshua struck down all the inhabitants of a city with the down all the inhabitants of a city with the edge of the sword, namely, in the story of the edge of the sword, namely, in the story of the conquest of Jericho (6:21), one makes nothing conquest of Jericho (6:21), one makes nothing of it. But the phrasing – or close variants of it. But the phrasing – or close variants thereon -- gets repeated, seven times in close thereon -- gets repeated, seven times in close succession in chapter 10, two more times in succession in chapter 10, two more times in chapter 11, and several times in other chapter 11, and several times in other chapters. The repetition makes it chapters. The repetition makes it unmistakable that we are dealing here with a unmistakable that we are dealing here with a formulaic literary convention.”formulaic literary convention.”

Wolterstorff: “Reading Joshua”

““This kind of report profile is familiar to This kind of report profile is familiar to readers of ancient Near Eastern military readers of ancient Near Eastern military reports, not least in the second millennium. reports, not least in the second millennium. Most striking is the example of the campaign Most striking is the example of the campaign annals of Tuthmosis III of Egypt in his years annals of Tuthmosis III of Egypt in his years 22-42 (ca. 1458-1438). … the pharaoh there 22-42 (ca. 1458-1438). … the pharaoh there gives a very full account of his initial victory gives a very full account of his initial victory at Megiddo, by contrast with the far more at Megiddo, by contrast with the far more summary and stylized reports of the ensuing summary and stylized reports of the ensuing sixteen subsequent campaigns. sixteen subsequent campaigns. Just like Just like JoshuaJoshua against up to seven kings in south  against up to seven kings in south Canaan and four-plus up north.” Canaan and four-plus up north.” [Emphasis added]

Kitchen: On the Reliability of the Old Testament

““The Ten Year Annals of the Hittite king Mursil The Ten Year Annals of the Hittite king Mursil II (later fourteenth century) are also II (later fourteenth century) are also instructive. instructive. Exactly like the “Exactly like the “prefaces” in prefaces” in the two Joshua war reportsthe two Joshua war reports (10:1-4; 11:1-5),  (10:1-4; 11:1-5), detailing hostility by a number of foreign detailing hostility by a number of foreign rulers against Joshua and Israel as the reason rulers against Joshua and Israel as the reason for the wars, so in his annals Mursil II gives us for the wars, so in his annals Mursil II gives us a long “preface” on the hostility of a long “preface” on the hostility of neighbouring rulers and people groups that neighbouring rulers and people groups that lead to his campaigns.” lead to his campaigns.” [Emphasis added]

Kitchen: On the Reliability of the Old Testament

““The type of rhetoric in question was a regular The type of rhetoric in question was a regular feature of military reports in the second and feature of military reports in the second and first millennia, as others have made very clear. first millennia, as others have made very clear. … In the later fifteenth century Tuthmosis III … In the later fifteenth century Tuthmosis III could boast “the numerous army of Mitanni, could boast “the numerous army of Mitanni, was overthrown within the hour, annihilated was overthrown within the hour, annihilated totally, like those (now) non-existent” –- totally, like those (now) non-existent” –- whereas, in fact, the forces of Mitanni lived to whereas, in fact, the forces of Mitanni lived to fight many another day in the fifteenth and fight many another day in the fifteenth and fourteenth centuries , …”fourteenth centuries , …”

Kitchen: On the Reliability of the Old Testament

““Some centuries later, about 840/830, Mesha Some centuries later, about 840/830, Mesha king of Moab could boast that “Israel has king of Moab could boast that “Israel has utterly perished for always” – a rather utterly perished for always” – a rather premature judgment at that date, by over a premature judgment at that date, by over a century! And so on, ad libitum. It is in this century! And so on, ad libitum. It is in this frame of reference that the Joshua rhetoric frame of reference that the Joshua rhetoric must also be understood.”must also be understood.”

Kitchen: On the Reliability of the Old Testament

““His majesty slew the His majesty slew the entire forceentire force of the  of the wretched foe from Hatti, together with his wretched foe from Hatti, together with his great chiefs and all his brothers, as well great chiefs and all his brothers, as well as as allall the chiefs of  the chiefs of allall the countries that had  the countries that had come with him, their infantry and their come with him, their infantry and their chariotry falling on their faces one upon the chariotry falling on their faces one upon the other. His majesty slaughtered and slew them other. His majesty slaughtered and slew them in their places; … He took no note of in their places; … He took no note of the the millionsmillions of foreigners; he regarded them  of foreigners; he regarded them asas  chaffchaff.”  .”  [[Emphasis addedEmphasis added]]

““On the assumption that Deuteronomy and On the assumption that Deuteronomy and Joshua are parts of the same sequence of Joshua are parts of the same sequence of books, this interpretation of Joshua forces a books, this interpretation of Joshua forces a back-interpretation of Deuteronomy. If “struck back-interpretation of Deuteronomy. If “struck down all the inhabitants with the edge of the down all the inhabitants with the edge of the sword” is a literary convention when used to sword” is a literary convention when used to describe Joshua’s exploits, then it is likewise a describe Joshua’s exploits, then it is likewise a literary convention when similar words are literary convention when similar words are used by Moses in his instructions to Israel in used by Moses in his instructions to Israel in general and to Joshua in particular.” general and to Joshua in particular.”

Wolterstorff: Reading Joshua

““WWhen a high-school basket ball player says hen a high-school basket ball player says his team slaughtered the other team last his team slaughtered the other team last night he’s not asserting, literally now, that night he’s not asserting, literally now, that they slaughter the other team. What is he they slaughter the other team. What is he asserting? Not easy to tell. That they scored asserting? Not easy to tell. That they scored a decisive victory? Maybe, but suppose they a decisive victory? Maybe, but suppose they barely eked out a win? Was he lying? Maybe barely eked out a win? Was he lying? Maybe not. Maybe he was speaking with a wink of not. Maybe he was speaking with a wink of the eye hyperbole. High school kids do.” the eye hyperbole. High school kids do.”

Wolterstorff: “Reply to Louise Anthony”

Israel scored a decisive victory and once you Israel scored a decisive victory and once you recognise the presence of hyperbole it is not recognise the presence of hyperbole it is not even clear how decisive the victories were. even clear how decisive the victories were. Joshua did not conquer all the cities in the Joshua did not conquer all the cities in the land nor did he slaughter all the inhabitants land nor did he slaughter all the inhabitants in the cities he did conquer. The book of in the cities he did conquer. The book of Joshua does not say that he did.”Joshua does not say that he did.”

Wolterstorff: “Reply to Louise Anthony”

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MATTHEW AND MADELEINE FLANNAGANPhilosophy of Religion | Ethics | Theology | Jurisprudence