Yehoshua 12 - Summary
(Text) - Now that the main recounting of the initial battles of conquest have been completed, a listing is given of the different kingdoms of local rulers that were vanquished by Bnei Yisrael under the rulership of both Moshe and Yehoshua. First a listing is made of the kings who ruled East of the Jordan (Sihon and Og) and the borders of their kingdoms. They were defeated by Bnei Yisrael under the leadership of Moshe. Next a listing is made of the kings and their respective borders to the West of the Jordan River who were defeated by Bnei Yisrael under the leadership of Yehoshua (as told in the first 11 chapters of Sefer Yehoshua) - a total of 31 kings and Canaanite nations that were defeated. There land is given to Bnei Yisrael to be divided among the tribes (the topic of much of the rest of Sefer Yehoshua).
Posted in Chapter 12, Summaries, Yehoshua - Joshua by Yaakov Ellis on February 18, 2007 | No Comments
Yehoshua 11 - Summary
After the conquering of the south most of the cities in the north came together to wage war with Bnei Yisrael. Before they attacked Bnei Yisrael, Yehoshua attacked them. As a result of this surprise attack Yehoshua easily defeated the enemy. After defeating them, they killed all of the horses belonging to the defeated armies, per Hashem’s command. Yehoshua then led the nation to the remaining cities and destroyed as well. In the end, Yehoshua had fulfilled what Hashem had promised to all of the Jewish people, Eretz Yisrael. The entire land had been conquered and in control of Yehoshua and the Jewish people.
Posted in Chapter 11, Summaries, Yehoshua - Joshua by Yaakov Ellis on February 12, 2007 | 1 Comment
Yehoshua 10 - Summary
(Text) - As a result of Givon’s peace treaty with Yehoshua the five Amorite kingdoms decided to wage ware with Givon. The nation of Givon looked to Yehoshua and Bnei Yisrael for help in order to defeat the Amorite army.
Yehoshua, with Hashem’s word, agreed to enter the battle and help destroy the Amorite kingdoms. Not only did Hashem tell Yehoshua to enter the battle but he aided Bnei Yisrael in the battle through a miracle. Hashem sent hail stones down from the sky. This miracle killed more of the enemy than Bnei Yisrael did themselves. In order for them to be able to complete the destruction of the Amorites, Yehoshua asked Hashem that the time should stop. Hashem did so and they were able to destroy the enemy.
The kings of these five kingdoms were able to escape to a cave in Makkeda where Yehoshua locked them up by closing up the entrance with stones. After Yehoshua conquered the city of Makkeda he took the kings out and killed them. After this victory and Yehoshua waged wars with many other cities until the entire southern part of the country had been conquered.
Posted in Chapter 10, Summaries, Yehoshua - Joshua by Etan Bluman on February 10, 2007 | No Comments
Yehoshua 9 - Summary
(Text) - Due to Bnei Yisrael’s previous conquering of Yericho and Ai the nation of Givon was scared that they were going to be next to be destroyed. As a result they sent representatives disguised as royal ambassadors to go and create a peace treaty with Yehoshua.The ambassadors lied about their origin, claiming to have come from an eretz rechoka (a far off land). They presented evidence of their worn out clothing and old food and drink supplies. Yehoshua and the leaders of the Bnei Yisrael accepted the treaty without verifying who these people really were.
After the representative’s identity is uncovered, Yehoshua realizes that as a result of the treaty the people of Givon could not be destroyed. Despite having been deceived during their dealing, they had taken a public oath, and thus it would be a chillul Hashem (desecration of God’s name) to go back on this public treaty. As a result of their dishonesty Yehoshua decreed that their descendents would be wood choppers and water carriers, servants to the Jewish alter, forever.
Posted in Chapter 09, Summaries, Yehoshua - Joshua by Etan Bluman & Yaakov Ellis on February 07, 2007 | No Comments
Yehoshua 8 - Summary
(Text) - Now that Achan is dead, Hashem tells Yehoshua to go and conquer the city of Ai. Not only is Yehoshua guaranteed a victory but the nation was given permission to take all of the booty from the city after its destruction. So Yehoshua gathers and sends thirty-thousand troops to ambush the city from the rear. Meanwhile, Yehoshua and the rest of nation would approach the city from the front and draw the Ai army out of the city to chase the nation away from the city.
As soon as the army of Ai came out of the city to chase the nation away the army ambushed the city from the rear. When Yehoshua realizes that his army has conquered the city, the remaining troops along with nation fought and destroyed the entire Ai army. The entire city was destroyed and set on fire. However, they caught the king of Ai Alive.
After the nation took all the booty the king was hung and buried at what remained of the entrance to the city. As a result of the victory the entire nation gave korbanot (sacrifices) to Hashem while Yehoshua proceeded to read the entire Torah, both curses and blessings, to the nation. This was to reiterate to the nation that Hashem is the One and only G-d and He should always be listened to.
Posted in Chapter 08, Summaries, Yehoshua - Joshua by Etan Bluman on February 05, 2007 | No Comments
Yehoshua 7 - Summary
(Text) - The perek starts off with Achan, from Shevet Yehudah, going against the word of Hashem and taking some of the booty from what was left of the city of Yericho.
After successfully destroying Yericho, Yehoshua sent spies to check out the strength of another city, Ai. The spies returned, informing Yehoshua that a large army would not be necessary to conquer the city. So, Yehoshua sent three thousand men to go, fight and conquer the city of Ai.
Much to the surprise of Yehoshua, his army was defeated. Yehoshua responded by tearing his clothing while pleading to G-d. Yehoshua could not understand how Hashem, who had brought the nation into Israel, allow them to lose a battle and suffer many casualties.
Hashem responds, telling Yehoshua that someone in the nation had gone against his word and stole booty from Yericho and thus the entire nation had gotten punished as a result. Hashem request that the person who stole the booty from Yericho be found otherwise Bnei Yisrael would continue to suffer in many different ways.
As a result of Hashem’s request, Yehoshua through process of elimination is able to pinpoint that the person who sinned came from Shevet Yehuda. The process continued until they accused Achan of taking the booty. As a result Yehoshua forces Achan to admit to his action and when he does, Achan was stoned and his belongings were burnt in front of and by his family and all of Bnei Yisrael.
Posted in Chapter 07, Summaries, Yehoshua - Joshua by Etan Bluman on February 04, 2007 | No Comments