Tanach Yomi

Yehoshua 9 - Points of Interest

Why did Bnei Yisrael feel obligated to their oath to the Giv’onim after it became evident that they had been deceived?
Was there any precedent for Bnei Yisrael seeking peace with one of the Canaanite nations? According to the commentaries and midrashim, did Yehoshua offer peace to any other nation during the conquest of Canaan?

Posted in Chapter 09, Points of Interest by Yaakov Ellis on February 07, 2007 | No Comments

Why did this battle with the Ai require a physical fight and battle plan, unlike the initial stages of the destruction of Yericho, when Hashem commanded them to conquer the city?

Why was the whole nation punished at the expense of Achan?
How were they able to single out Shevet Yehuda as the shevet which Achan came from without any evidence?

What is so significant about the number seven when Hashem tells Yehoshua all the requirements in order for the destruction of Yericho to happen?
Why was there no physical action which contributed to the destruction of Yericho?

If the nations of Canaan knew Israel was coming, why didn’t they wait at the border and deny their entrance?
Notice the parallel with the revelation of the ma’lach (angel) to Yehoshua at the end of the perek to the revelation to Moshe in Parashat Shemot
What is the significance of the story of the revelation of the ma’lach to Yehoshua at the end of the perek (13-15)? It seems so vague and off the topic.
What does it mean that Hashem has now removed the disgrace of Egypt? What was this disgrace how was it removed? And why does it say Hashem removed it? after all Yehoshua was the mohel!
In the phrase “ad tom kol hagoy” (עד תם כל הגוי - 6), the word goy is used describing Bene Yisrael. Why is this? Usually this word is reserved for describing non Jewish nations.
What was the specific holy ground that Yehoshua was standing on?
Why did the malach have a sword in his hand?
In verse 11 it says they ate the matza while passing the land…on “this very day” (בעצם היום הזה). What does this phrase mean?

Notice the parallelism between the symbol of these rocks and the wording of the Navi, to the symbol of the matza and the tefilin etc. during the exodus of Egypt.
Pasuk 7 what does it mean when it says “Ad Olam” does that mean until the time Sefer Yehoshua was written? It can’t be referring to today because they are not there!
Notice that every time Yehoshua does something as he was commanded it always mentions Moshe.
What does the last words of the perek “as they viewed God all of the days” (24) mean? Is it referring to after the makot? The exodus? The splitting of the sea? The manna? The wars on the Transjordan?