click here to see all the videos to date<\/a>), alongside our daily chapter, we will be starting a parallel learning cycle, with the goal of working our way through all 24 books of Tanakh over the next 24 days. Drawing from our community of educators and writers, each day, here on the site, in our daily newsletter and through our social media channels we will be sharing a 20-30 minute video exploring a resonant theme in each of the 24 books of Tanakh, starting with Bereishit\/Genesis on Monday March 16, and ending with Divrei Hayamim\/Chronicles.<\/p>\r\nJoin us for this journey in text \u2013 from the comfort (and appropriately socially distanced semi-isolation) of your own home!<\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/vDJOdF7oFGs","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"24 in 24","tile_main_caption":"#6-Joshua - Leading by Following; Perfection and Anxiety in Times of Crisis","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"with: Elliott Rabin","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/vDJOdF7oFGs","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Jeremiah","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"1088"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"332","name":"24 in 24","old_id":"732"}]},{"order":2,"id":"54864","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"What Have We Learned In And From Joshua? ","post_title":"What Have We Learned In And From Joshua?","slug":"what-have-we-learned-in-and-from-joshua","old_id":"54864","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38552,"post_title":"Benny Lau","slug":"benny-lau","old_id":"38552","first_name":"Benny","last_name":"Lau ","description":"Rav Benny Lau is the founder and co-head of the Israeli initiative 929 along with Gal Gabbai. In addition, he is the rabbi of the Ramban synagogue in Jerusalem and is a community leader, activist, author, and public speaker.","short_description":"Rav Benny Lau is the founder and co-head of the Israeli initiative 929 along with Gal Gabbai.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":1708,"alt":"","title":"","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/8-1.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/8-1.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/8-1.jpg","medium-width":150,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/8-1.jpg","medium_large-width":150,"medium_large-height":150,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/8-1.jpg","large-width":150,"large-height":150,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/8-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":150,"1536x1536-height":150,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/8-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":150,"2048x2048-height":150,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/8-1.jpg","post_full_size-width":150,"post_full_size-height":150,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/8-1.jpg","home_baner-width":150,"home_baner-height":150}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"2006","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"
A new generation arises, who's roots were in an enslaved, broken nation, totally dependent on a dominant leader, and matures and assumes power through wars, conquest and settling of the land.<\/p>\r\n
Five weeks of touring the land with Joshua have come to an end. Let's take a look back and try to understand the experience in its entirety.<\/p>\r\n
The Book of Joshua reminds me of a young child learning to ride a bike. Joshua and the Israelites are making their first halting efforts in the Land of Israel. Not yet pedaling on their own, not yet able to get along without the immediate presence of Moses and God, but already grappling with sovereignty and independence, which include a few tumbles.<\/p>\r\n
There are very few miracles in this book. Miracles represent God's patronage and watchful eye, which guarded the people during forty years in the desert. Jericho continued that model: neither Joshua nor the people conquered Jericho. Marching around the walls with shofars was much more of a prayer than a plan of attack. A prayer to God to fight their battles. It should have been otherwise: crossing the Jordan should have transferred authority from God to the people. But you can't just throw such an ill prepared people directly into the fray of freedom. Jericho was the training wheels, before taking them on the open road. The pursuit of the enemy in the first real war against the kings of the South, will be forever remembered because of Joshua's cry: \u201cStand still, O sun, at Gibeon, O moon, in the Valley of Aijalon!\u201d This plea is calling out to Dad not to leave me alone, but to hold onto the bike, because I am not sure of my own abilities.<\/p>\r\n
Like the education of any child, there are successes and there are failures. There are years of conquest and settlement, and there are tribes who slack off. \"Joshua was now old, advanced in years\u2026and very much of the land still remains to be taken possession of\" (13:1). Maturity necessitates dealing with weakness, with failure, with internal conflicts and with partial successes. The book will not end with the blowing of trumpets. The death of Joshua, unlike that of Moses, does not describe a harmonious situation, but rather the gathering of storm-clouds, portending what will occur in the next book. There is no passing of the baton - it is the end of central leadership, to be followed by tribal responsibility, with local leaders.<\/p>\r\n
Will this succeed? Not clear. But it had to happen, to make sure that not only did we leave Egypt, but that Egypt left us as well. Hundreds of years of servitude created a nation of slaves, with souls that wanted to run away from independence and responsibility. The first stage of leaving Egypt required a strong leader for a people with no backbone. Forty years in the desert allowed a new generation to arise, and so the people who entered Egypt had not been crippled by slavery. Now they will learn to get on by themselves, to fall again and again, but the end result will be to grow in stature, until they can walk upright in their land.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":52855,"alt":"","title":"JoshuaBook","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JoshuaBook.jpg","width":800,"height":800,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JoshuaBook-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JoshuaBook-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JoshuaBook-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JoshuaBook.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":800,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JoshuaBook.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":800,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JoshuaBook.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":800,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JoshuaBook.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JoshuaBook-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Joshua Conclusion and Retrospective","tile_main_caption":"What Have We Learned In And From Joshua?","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"It was like learning how to ride a bicycle...","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":52855,"alt":"","title":"JoshuaBook","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JoshuaBook.jpg","width":800,"height":800,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JoshuaBook-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JoshuaBook-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JoshuaBook-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JoshuaBook.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":800,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JoshuaBook.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":800,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JoshuaBook.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":800,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JoshuaBook.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/JoshuaBook-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Joshua","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":"20190505","wall_id":"2006"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":3,"id":"54856","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Much Remains To Be Done In The Promised Land ","post_title":"Much Remains To Be Done In The Promised Land","slug":"much-remains-to-be-done-in-the-promised-land","old_id":"54856","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":53309,"post_title":"Michael Hattin","slug":"michael-hattin","old_id":"53309","first_name":"Michael ","last_name":"Hattin ","description":"Rabbi Michael Hattin teaches Tanakh at Pardes in Jerusalem and serves as the Director of the Beit Midrash for the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators. He studied for rabbinic ordination at Yeshivat Har Etzion and holds a professional degree in architecture from the University of Toronto. Michael is the author of Passages: Text and Transformation in the Parasha (2012), and Joshua: The Challenge of the Promised Land (Koren, 2015). He lives in Alon Shevut with his wife Rivka and their five children.","short_description":"Rabbi Michael Hattin teaches Tanakh at Pardes in Jerusalem and serves as the Director of the Beit Midrash for the Pardes Center for Jewish Educators.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":53310,"alt":"","title":"Michael Hattin","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Michael-Hattin.jpg","width":2237,"height":3362,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Michael-Hattin-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Michael-Hattin-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Michael-Hattin-681x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":681,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Michael-Hattin-681x1024.jpg","large-width":681,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Michael-Hattin.jpg","1536x1536-width":1022,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Michael-Hattin.jpg","2048x2048-width":1363,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Michael-Hattin-798x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":798,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Michael-Hattin-279x420.jpg","home_baner-width":279,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"2006","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"
The Book of Joshua began with the sending of the spies to Jericho, the crossing of the Jordan River, the mass circumcision, and the celebration of Passover in the new land. All recalled earlier formative moments. But this time there was no hesitation, no panic, and no turning back \u2014 the forty-odd years of wilderness wandering during which God had patiently inculcated in Israel self-reliance and a spirit of gratitude had done their work.<\/span><\/p>\r\nThe conquest of the land followed: With each successive battle, God's overt intervention decreased. How else could He nurture initiative and enterprise if not by receding to encourage Israel's independence \u2014 which included extending to His people the freedom to fail? <\/span><\/p>\r\nSo while Akhan took from the spoils and Israel suffered setback at the ramparts of Ai, a precious lesson was borne home: while God wishes nothing more than for us to succeed, we must make our own sometimes ruinous choices. To learn from one's failures and to do better next time is life's greatest gift. <\/span><\/p>\r\nThe second half of the Book of Joshua described the beginnings of that progression as tribal territories were allotted and lands were secured. Memorable figures such as Caleb and Akhsa appeared in this section \u2014 to strengthen the resolve of the people by offering them a critical paradigm: One need not fear the giants or the most colossal of undertakings if one's trust in God is steadfast and one's belief in oneself is sure. <\/span><\/p>\r\nThe final part of the book returned us to its beginning as aged Joshua now prepared to take his leave of the people as Moses had done before him. Calling the people to assemble, he offered words of encouragement tinged with caution, for he knew that so much remained to be done. As the book closed, he could only hope, as Israel did with him, that success would one day be theirs. <\/span><\/p>\r\nAs students of the Tanakh, we know that the people of Israel did not succeed in securing permanence in the land. Israel strayed from God and was eventually driven out, just as the aged leader had warned. Sometimes, exile to distant lands brought them \u00a0calamity, catastrophe, and death; sometimes, it brought them prosperity, permanence, and the balm of forgetfulness. But the land was never entirely forgotten from their hearts. With the preservation of that ancient memory, the way back to the Promised Land was secured, just as it was for us. <\/span><\/p>\r\nJoshua: The Challenge of the Promised Land <\/span><\/i>(Jerusalem: Koren, 2015); <\/span>Chapter: \u201cThe Tabernacle at Shilo\u201d <\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":54859,"alt":"","title":"\"Promised Land\" Road Sign with dramatic clouds and sky.","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-promised-land.jpeg","width":3456,"height":2298,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-promised-land-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-promised-land-300x199.jpeg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":199,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-promised-land-768x511.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":511,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-promised-land-1024x681.jpeg","large-width":1024,"large-height":681,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-promised-land.jpeg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1021,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-promised-land.jpeg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1362,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-promised-land-1200x798.jpeg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":798,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-promised-land-632x420.jpeg","home_baner-width":632,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Joshua Conclusion and Retrospective","tile_main_caption":"Much Remains To Be Done In The Promised Land","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"They will stray, just as the dying leader warns, but will also return","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":54859,"alt":"","title":"\"Promised Land\" Road Sign with dramatic clouds and 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Preserves And Adapts Tradition ","post_title":"Joshua Preserves And Adapts Tradition","slug":"joshua-preserves-and-adapts-tradition","old_id":"54861","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. He is the author of TANAKH: An Owner\u2019s Manual (Jerusalem: Urim\/Ktav, 2015).\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34244,"alt":"","title":"sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","width":302,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","medium_large-width":302,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","large-width":302,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":302,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":302,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","post_full_size-width":302,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","home_baner-width":302,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"2006","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"As I approached the end of the Book of Joshua, I thought to compare his valedictory with that of Moses.<\/span><\/p>\r\nIn chapter 23, I observed that there are only two places in the entire Tanakh in which the word <\/span>tzeninim<\/span><\/i> appears and their use in identical contexts strongly supports the assumption that Joshua was deliberately paraphrasing a Torah verse. This observation alone is hardly novel or unexpected; however, it joined with several earlier observations (noted in previous chapters) to invite the following conclusion: <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\t- That particular book of the Torah that is reprised most often in Joshua is the Book of Numbers. Here are the instances:<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
- Dispatching spies to Jericho (chapter 2) reprises Moses\u2019 sending spies (Numbers 12).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
- The laws of spoils, evoked apropos of the conquest of Jericho (7), were introduced after the battle against Midian (Numbers 31). \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
- The right of the daughters of Tzelophehad to inherit (17) was anticipated in Numbers 27.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
- The establishment of cities of refuge (20) completes an endeavor begun by Moses (Numbers 35).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
- Allocating Levitical cities (21) was founded on a principle expounded in Numbers 35.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
- Joshua (22) concluded the deal that Moses struck with Reuben Gad and half- Manasseh (Numbers 32).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
- The dire consequences of tolerating the prolonged presence of idolaters (23) was anticipated in Numbers 33.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
- The sole specific incident recalled of the forty years in the wilderness (24) is Balaam\u2019s frustrated attempt to curse Israel (Numbers 22 ff.).<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Why so? Because the Book of Joshua picks up chronologically where Numbers ends\u2014at the juncture of Moses\u2019s death. The entire Book of Deuteronomy takes up but one week: It commences on the first of Adar (Dt. 1:3: \u201cIn the fortieth year, on the first day of the twelfth month\u201d) and concludes with Moses\u2019s death on the seventh of that very month (according to Rabbinic tradition).<\/span><\/p>\r\nBut perhaps of greater import is the lesson this teaches us about leadership. When a leader dies, the Torah principles that person established do not likewise expire. The successor is charged with the responsibility of maintaining tradition, yet the gifted leader must, within Torah parameters, adapt that tradition to new times and generations. <\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":54862,"alt":"","title":"jo-end-leadership","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","width":696,"height":348,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership-300x150.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","medium_large-width":696,"medium_large-height":348,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","large-width":696,"large-height":348,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","1536x1536-width":696,"1536x1536-height":348,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","2048x2048-width":696,"2048x2048-height":348,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","post_full_size-width":696,"post_full_size-height":348,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","home_baner-width":696,"home_baner-height":348}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Joshua Conclusion and Retrospective","tile_main_caption":"Joshua Preserves And Adapts Tradition","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"These are some of the lessons we can learn from his leadership","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":54862,"alt":"","title":"jo-end-leadership","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","width":696,"height":348,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership-300x150.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","medium_large-width":696,"medium_large-height":348,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","large-width":696,"large-height":348,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","1536x1536-width":696,"1536x1536-height":348,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","2048x2048-width":696,"2048x2048-height":348,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","post_full_size-width":696,"post_full_size-height":348,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","home_baner-width":696,"home_baner-height":348}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Joshua","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":"20190505","wall_id":"2006"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":5,"id":"53503","color":"#efefef","size":"1","name":"A User\u2019s Guide To The Book of Joshua ","post_title":"A User\u2019s Guide To The Book of Joshua","slug":"a-users-guide-to-the-book-of-joshua","old_id":"53503","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33992,"post_title":"Bradley Shavit Artson","slug":"rabbi-dr-bradley-shavit-artson","old_id":"33992","first_name":"Bradley Shavit ","last_name":"Artson","description":"Rabbi Dr Bradley Shavit Artson holds the Abner and Roslyn Goldstine Dean's Chair of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and is Vice President of American Jewish University in Los Angeles, and is professor of philosophy there. Artson is married to Elana Shavit Artson, and they are the parents of twins, Shira and Jacob.\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"short_description":"Rabbi Dr Bradley Shavit Artson is the Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and is Vice President of American Jewish University in Los Angeles.","link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33993,"alt":"","title":"Rabbi Dr Bradley Shavit Artson","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","width":204,"height":199,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-256x300.png","medium-width":256,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","medium_large-width":204,"medium_large-height":199,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","large-width":204,"large-height":199,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","1536x1536-width":204,"1536x1536-height":199,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","2048x2048-width":204,"2048x2048-height":199,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","post_full_size-width":204,"post_full_size-height":199,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","home_baner-width":204,"home_baner-height":199}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"195","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Joshua\u2019s covenant of inclusion reveals an anti-despotic subtext","post_main_content_content":"There are two broad ways to read the Book of Joshua. One is to treat it as a primarily historical text, assuming that events occurred pretty much as they are reported here. The challenge to the first approach is that big archaeological and historical evidence don\u2019t mesh with the assertions of the book (the fall of Jericho, the capture of the entire land, the elimination of the Canaanites \u2013 all of which are contradicted by the evidence and by other biblical books). But there is an even larger challenge to this mode of reading: the widespread slaughter of innocents evokes moral repugnance among readers who take seriously the biblical demand for one law, for justice, for compassion.<\/span><\/p>\r\nA better mode of reading is to assume that the Book of Joshua is intended to be a didactic text, intended to teach truths using stories that read like history but are aiming at something bigger. To read the Book of Joshua in this mode is to look for wisdom, insights, and lessons, understanding that the stories that carry the book are not literal descriptions but provide the canvas on which wisdom can present itself.<\/span><\/p>\r\nI can only make it through the Book of Joshua using this second, more inclusive approach (one that accords with ancient and medieval commentaries, as well as more recent archaeological findings). Read through that lens, the Book offers us guidance and wisdom we can use to this day.<\/span><\/p>\r\nChapter 8 ends with a Covenant Ceremony at Shechem. Joshua builds an altar on Mount Ebal, and on that site, facing Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, are gathered \u201cAll Israel \u2013 stranger and citizen alike (Joshua 8:33).\u201d Notice the clear insistence that \u201call Israel\u201d includes not only the citizens, but also the stranger. Ancient Israel is meant, even at this foundational moment, to be maximally inclusive.<\/span><\/p>\r\nThat same point is repeated and expanded: The entire Book of the Teaching (the whole Chumash according to Ramban, only the 613 Commandments according to Rav Saadia Gaon) were recited aloud in the \u201cpresence of the entire assembly of Israel, including the women and children and the strangers who accompanied them (Joshua 8:35).\u201d Note again: the assembly of Israel isn\u2019t complete if it doesn\u2019t include men, women, children, and strangers. More maximal inclusion.<\/span><\/p>\r\nThere, I would propose, is the divine aspect of this biblical book. Even in the midst of conquest, Israel is meant to include us all: Jews, non-Jews, all genders, all ages. Everyone participates because the entire point of this conquest is to set up a people unlike the surrounding despotisms: a place where everyone counts, where everyone participates, where all are welcome. <\/span><\/p>\r\nImage: <\/span>Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":53504,"alt":"","title":"jo8-manual","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-manual.jpg","width":960,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-manual-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-manual-225x300.jpg","medium-width":225,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-manual-768x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-manual-768x1024.jpg","large-width":768,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-manual.jpg","1536x1536-width":960,"1536x1536-height":1280,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-manual.jpg","2048x2048-width":960,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-manual-900x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":900,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-manual-315x420.jpg","home_baner-width":315,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"A User\u2019s Guide To The Book of Joshua","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Joshua\u2019s covenant of inclusion reveals an anti-despotic subtext","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":53504,"alt":"","title":"jo8-manual","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-manual.jpg","width":960,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-manual-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-manual-225x300.jpg","medium-width":225,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-manual-768x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-manual-768x1024.jpg","large-width":768,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-manual.jpg","1536x1536-width":960,"1536x1536-height":1280,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-manual.jpg","2048x2048-width":960,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-manual-900x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":900,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-manual-315x420.jpg","home_baner-width":315,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Joshua","chapter":"8","chapter_main_number":"195","date":"20260528","wall_id":"195"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"372","name":"Wisdom","old_id":"772"},{"term_id":"395","name":"Covenant","old_id":"795"},{"term_id":"444","name":"History","old_id":"844"},{"term_id":"712","name":"Inclusion","old_id":"1112"}]},{"order":6,"id":"53499","color":"#f2e9df","size":"1","name":"Joshua v. Moses: A Comparison Of Two Leaders ","post_title":"Joshua v. Moses: A Comparison Of Two Leaders","slug":"joshua-v-moses-a-comparison-of-two-leaders","old_id":"53499","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"195","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The difference is in ten little words\u2026.","post_main_content_content":"The first part of our chapter deals with the second, now successful, attempt to conquer the city of Ai, by Joshua and his Israelite forces (Joshua 8:1-29). In the second part of our Chapter (verses 30-35), Joshua builds an altar on Mount Ebal, as Moses had commanded (see Deuteronomy 27:3-8).<\/span><\/p>\r\nThe Midrash (Tanhuma Tetzaveh 9) views this episode as one of the comparisons between Joshua and Moses: \u201cThe wise shall obtain honor\u201d (Proverbs 3:35). This refers to Joshua, who inherited honor from Moses, our Rabbi. As the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Joshua at the beginning of his book: \u201cAs I was with Moses, so I will be with you\u201d (Joshua 1:5). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: \u201cRemove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground\u201d (Exodus 3:5), and to Joshua He said: \u201cRemove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy\u201d (Joshua 5:15). Moses led the People of Israel out of Egypt, while Joshua led them into the Holy Land. Moses slew King Sihon and King Og (see Joshua 12:1-6), while Joshua slew thirty-one kings (Joshua 12:7-24). Moses erected an altar (see Exodus 17:15), and Joshua did likewise (Joshua 8:30). Moses wrote out the Torah (see Deuteronomy 31:9). And Joshua wrote out the same Torah, as it is said: \u201cAnd there, on the stones, he inscribed a copy of the Torah of Moses that he had written for the Israelites\u201d (Joshua 8:32, see also Joshua 24:26).<\/span><\/p>\r\nOur Midrash goes on to point to one significant difference between Moses and Joshua in respect to the length of their respective lifetimes. About Moses it is written: \u201cMoses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died\u201d (Deuteronomy 34:7), while Joshua died at the age of one hundred and ten years (Joshua 24:29). <\/span><\/p>\r\nWhy did he live ten years less? Because of ten words in a verse that tells of how Joshua, the disciple of Moses, spoke before his master, Moses, telling him what to do to Eldad and Medad: \u201cVa-yan Yehoshua bin-Nun, mesharet Moshe mi-behurav va-yomer: \u2018adoni Moshe \u2013 kela\u2019em<\/em> -- And Joshua son of Nun, Moses\u2019 attendant from his youth, spoke up and said: My lord Moses, restrain them!\u201d (Num. 11:28). Because of these ten Hebrew words that tell how Joshua, the disciple of Moses, spoke up before his master, Moses, telling him what to do, Joshua\u2019s life was shortened by ten years. <\/span><\/p>\r\nFrom this episode you learn that a disciple is not permitted to give a halakhic ruling in the presence of his master. And any disciple who presumes to do so will find his life\u2019s span shortened (see Talmud Bavli \u2018Eruvin 63a). So, though Joshua did many of the same things that Moses did, he lived for ten years less because he presumed to tell Moses, his master, what to do.<\/span><\/p>\r\nImage by: <\/span>\u00a0J.G. Schreiner, c. 1840.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":53500,"alt":"","title":"jo8-Joshua-as-Moses","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-Joshua-as-Moses.jpg","width":700,"height":477,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-Joshua-as-Moses-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-Joshua-as-Moses-300x204.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":204,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-Joshua-as-Moses.jpg","medium_large-width":700,"medium_large-height":477,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-Joshua-as-Moses.jpg","large-width":700,"large-height":477,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-Joshua-as-Moses.jpg","1536x1536-width":700,"1536x1536-height":477,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-Joshua-as-Moses.jpg","2048x2048-width":700,"2048x2048-height":477,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-Joshua-as-Moses.jpg","post_full_size-width":700,"post_full_size-height":477,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-Joshua-as-Moses-616x420.jpg","home_baner-width":616,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Joshua v. Moses: A Comparison Of Two Leaders","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The difference is in ten little words\u2026.","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":53500,"alt":"","title":"jo8-Joshua-as-Moses","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-Joshua-as-Moses.jpg","width":700,"height":477,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-Joshua-as-Moses-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-Joshua-as-Moses-300x204.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":204,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-Joshua-as-Moses.jpg","medium_large-width":700,"medium_large-height":477,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-Joshua-as-Moses.jpg","large-width":700,"large-height":477,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-Joshua-as-Moses.jpg","1536x1536-width":700,"1536x1536-height":477,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-Joshua-as-Moses.jpg","2048x2048-width":700,"2048x2048-height":477,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-Joshua-as-Moses.jpg","post_full_size-width":700,"post_full_size-height":477,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo8-Joshua-as-Moses-616x420.jpg","home_baner-width":616,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Joshua","chapter":"8","chapter_main_number":"195","date":"20260528","wall_id":"195"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"397","name":"Moses","old_id":"797"},{"term_id":"402","name":"Leadership","old_id":"802"},{"term_id":"662","name":"Halacha","old_id":"1062"},{"term_id":"806","name":"Joshua","old_id":"1206"}]},{"order":7,"id":"52844","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Joshua Of Myth And Legend ","post_title":"Joshua Of Myth And Legend","slug":"joshua-of-myth-and-legend","old_id":"52844","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"188","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Fantastic midrashic accounts of Joshua\u2019s background","post_main_content_content":"Joshua has been mentioned frequently in the Torah as Moses\u2019 assistant and successor as the leader of the Israelite tribes in their conquest of the Promised Land (see, for example, Exodus 33:11). When Joshua is first mentioned in Scripture (Exodus 17:9), he is called upon by Moses to rally the Israelite troops to fight Amalek, but with no further detail concerning Joshua\u2019s identity. In fact, the biblical text lacks any mention of Joshua\u2019s early years. Perhaps because of this dearth of information, the creative Jewish imagination was motivated to provide a Prologue to Joshua\u2019s taking over leadership from Moses.<\/span><\/p>\r\nAn extraordinary legend (see Louis Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews, \u201cThe Servant of Moses\u201d) relates that like Moses, Joshua was set afloat upon the waters as an infant. And like Jonah, Joshua was swallowed by a great fish. This is perhaps related to his patronymic \u201cNun\u201d, which in Aramaic means \u201cfish\u201d. So, when Joshua bin Nun was eventually spewed out on a distant shore, he did not know who his parents were. Again, like Moses, Joshua was raised in a royal household. But, unlike Moses, Joshua was appointed the court executioner. As fate would have it, unbeknownst to him, in pursuing his gruesome vocation, Joshua eventually ended up beheading his own father! And, in line with local custom, he took possession of all that had belonged to anyone he executed, including his wife. Fortunately, when Joshua was about to \u201cpossess\u201d his own mother without knowing her actual identity, miraculously milk spurted from her breasts, suggesting her parental relationship. This led to Joshua finally finding out the identity of his parents.<\/span><\/p>\r\nThough Joshua subsequently became, Moses\u2019 successor, he was not initially endowed with Moses\u2019 innate wisdom and understanding. However, Joshua applied himself diligently to studying the teachings of Moses. Significantly, according to the Talmud (Hullin 124a, see also Maimonides, Introduction to the Mishnah) Joshua was regarded by some as a secondary Halakhic authority.<\/span><\/p>\r\nAccording to another Jewish legend (see Ginzberg cited above), prior to his death, Moses asked if Joshua had any questions about Torah law. This caught Joshua by surprise, causing him to forget three hundred Halakhot and raising doubts in his mind concerning seven hundred other instructions. But, as a result, Joshua continued to study Torah with renewed diligence. Thus, when God appeared to Joshua prior to the conquest of the Promised Land, He found him studying the Book of Deuteronomy. For this reason, God called to Joshua, saying: \"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them \u2026. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips \u2026 Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go\u201d (Joshua 1:6-9).<\/span><\/p>\r\nimage:\u00a0Joshua and the Israelite people, Karolingischer Buchmaler c. 840 - The Yorck Project (2002) \/ wikimedia<\/p>\r\n
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","post_title":"Who Was Rahab?","slug":"who-was-rahab","old_id":"52927","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":52873,"post_title":"Tikva Frymer-Kensky","slug":"tikva-frymer-kensky","old_id":"52873","first_name":"Tikva ","last_name":"Frymer-Kensky","description":"Dr. Tikva Frymer-Kensky (1943-2006) had been the director of Biblical Studies at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and was a professor of Hebrew Bible and the History of Judaism at the University of Chicago. She was a pioneer in combining rigorous study of the ancient Near East with rigorous feminism. She received her bachelor's degree in ancient world studies from City College of New York and a bachelor's in Hebrew Literature in Bible and Talmud from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1965, a master's in West Semitics from Yale in 1967, and a doctorate in Assyriology and Sumerology from Yale in 1977.\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Tikva Frymer-Kensky (1943-2006) was a professor of Hebrew Bible and the History of Judaism at the University of Chicago, and had been the director of Biblical Studies at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":52874,"alt":"","title":"tikva frymer-kensky","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/tikva-frymer-kensky.jpg","width":125,"height":175,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/tikva-frymer-kensky-125x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":125,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/tikva-frymer-kensky.jpg","medium-width":125,"medium-height":175,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/tikva-frymer-kensky.jpg","medium_large-width":125,"medium_large-height":175,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/tikva-frymer-kensky.jpg","large-width":125,"large-height":175,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/tikva-frymer-kensky.jpg","1536x1536-width":125,"1536x1536-height":175,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/tikva-frymer-kensky.jpg","2048x2048-width":125,"2048x2048-height":175,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/tikva-frymer-kensky.jpg","post_full_size-width":125,"post_full_size-height":175,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/tikva-frymer-kensky.jpg","home_baner-width":125,"home_baner-height":175}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"189","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Prostitute, heroine, oracle, proselyte","post_main_content_content":"
A Canaanite woman living in Jericho, Rahab is a prostitute who is also a biblical heroine. According to the narrative in Joshua 2,<\/span> before the conquest of Canaan, Joshua sends two men as spies to see the land. They come to Rahab\u2019s house for lodging, information, and\/or sex. The king, hearing about the two men, demands that Rahab give them up. Like the midwives in Egypt, Rahab is faced with a \u201cmoment of truth.\u201d Like them, Rahab defies the ruler and rescues the Israelites. She tells the king\u2019s men that the two men have left and that the king\u2019s men should chase them. Meanwhile, she has hidden the men under the flax drying on her roof (2:4); the writer uses the unusual word <\/span>ti<\/span><\/i>z<\/span><\/i>peno, <\/span><\/i>\u201cshe hid him\u201d (even though there are two men), perhaps as an allusion to Exod 2:2, where Moses\u2019s mother hides her newborn <\/span>(ti<\/span><\/i>z<\/span><\/i>penehu). <\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\nRahab is midwife and mother to Israel in its beginnings in Canaan.<\/span><\/p>\r\nRahab lets the two men out through her window, which is in the town wall. She requests a return for her act of <\/span>hesed<\/span><\/em>, special kindness. She asks that she and her family be spared once the Israelites attack Jericho. The spies give her a crimson thread to hang from her window, with the injunction that she is to gather her family and wait inside her house; as long as they stay indoors, they will be spared, just as the Israelites who stayed in houses marked with the blood of the paschal lamb were spared the fate of the Egyptians.<\/span><\/p>\r\nRahab has a special function in the biblical narratives of Israel\u2019s existence in the land. When uncovering the men, she explains that she knows that God will give Israel the land (2:8). She declares (quoting from the Song of Miriam in Exodus 15; see v. 11) that \u201cdread\u201d has fallen on the inhabitants and that they all \u201cfear\u201d Israel (2:9). This is the message that the men bring back to Joshua. Rahab is thus the oracle of Israel\u2019s occupation of the land. Another woman, the prophet Deborah, announced a major victory in the taking of Canaan; and the end of Israel\u2019s occupation of the land is pronounced by yet another woman, the prophet Huldah.<\/span><\/p>\r\nRahab, who begins as triply marginalized\u2014Canaanite, woman, and prostitute\u2014moves to the center as bearer of a divine message and herald of Israel in its new land. Even though later generations of readers have been squeamish about her occupation, preferring to think of her as an \u201cinnkeeper,\u201d she is remembered in Jewish tradition as the great proselyte, as ancestress of kings and prophets, and, in the New Testament, as ancestress of Jesus.<\/span><\/p>\r\nFrom: The Jewish Women\u2019s Archive (<\/span>https:\/\/jwa.org\/encyclopedia\/article\/rahab-bible<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\r\nImage: \u00a0<\/span>Rahab Receiveth and Concealeth the Spies,<\/span> Frederick Richard Pickersgill, 1881 \/ wikimedia<\/span><\/p>\r\n <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":52928,"alt":"","title":"jo2-Pickersgill_Rahab","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-Pickersgill_Rahab.jpg","width":349,"height":423,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-Pickersgill_Rahab-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-Pickersgill_Rahab-248x300.jpg","medium-width":248,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-Pickersgill_Rahab.jpg","medium_large-width":349,"medium_large-height":423,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-Pickersgill_Rahab.jpg","large-width":349,"large-height":423,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-Pickersgill_Rahab.jpg","1536x1536-width":349,"1536x1536-height":423,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-Pickersgill_Rahab.jpg","2048x2048-width":349,"2048x2048-height":423,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-Pickersgill_Rahab.jpg","post_full_size-width":349,"post_full_size-height":423,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-Pickersgill_Rahab-347x420.jpg","home_baner-width":347,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Who Was Rahab?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Prostitute, heroine, oracle, proselyte","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":52928,"alt":"","title":"jo2-Pickersgill_Rahab","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-Pickersgill_Rahab.jpg","width":349,"height":423,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-Pickersgill_Rahab-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-Pickersgill_Rahab-248x300.jpg","medium-width":248,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-Pickersgill_Rahab.jpg","medium_large-width":349,"medium_large-height":423,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-Pickersgill_Rahab.jpg","large-width":349,"large-height":423,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-Pickersgill_Rahab.jpg","1536x1536-width":349,"1536x1536-height":423,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-Pickersgill_Rahab.jpg","2048x2048-width":349,"2048x2048-height":423,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-Pickersgill_Rahab.jpg","post_full_size-width":349,"post_full_size-height":423,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-Pickersgill_Rahab-347x420.jpg","home_baner-width":347,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Joshua","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"189","date":"20260520","wall_id":"189"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"461","name":"Kindness","old_id":"861"},{"term_id":"599","name":"Midwives","old_id":"999"},{"term_id":"856","name":"Rahab","old_id":"1256"}]},{"order":9,"id":"53347","color":"#faeed8","size":"1","name":"Circumcision, Yes; Manna, Not Any More ","post_title":"Circumcision, Yes; Manna, Not Any More","slug":"circumcision-yes-manna-not-any-more","old_id":"53347","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. He is the author of TANAKH: An Owner\u2019s Manual (Jerusalem: Urim\/Ktav, 2015).\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34244,"alt":"","title":"sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","width":302,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","medium_large-width":302,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","large-width":302,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":302,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":302,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","post_full_size-width":302,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","home_baner-width":302,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"192","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The Israelites had to cut themselves\u2026 off from their previous lives","post_main_content_content":"
Our chapter features two immediate consequences of the Israelites\u2019 entry into their own land. The first is the renewal of circumcision, and the other is the cessation of the manna. Both, while manifested physically, are essentially spiritual.<\/span><\/p>\r\nOn the surface, Joshua\u2019s claim that the Israelites experienced mass circumcision prior to their departure from Egypt (5:5) appears to be baseless since no explicit reference is made to it in the Book of Exodus. From the perspective of traditional exegesis, however, it is implicit in what the Sages regarded as a process--akin to conversion--that also included immersion. As reported by Rambam (Maimonides):<\/span><\/p>\r\nIsrael entered into the covenant by way of three rites: circumcision, immersion, and sacrifice. Circumcision took place in Egypt\u2026 Immersion took place in the wilderness before the revelation of the Torah\u2026 [as did the sacrifices]. (<\/span>Hilkhot Issurei Bi\u2019ah <\/span><\/i>13:1-3)<\/span><\/p>\r\nThe manna, to recall, began to fall shortly after the crossing of the Red Sea and remained a fixture of the Israelites\u2019 diet throughout their sojourn in the wilderness. To cite Exodus 16:35: \u201cThe Children of Israel ate the manna for forty years, until they reached settled country; they ate manna until they came to the edge of the Land of Canaan.\u201d Now, almost immediately upon crossing the Jordan, they had arrived at that \u201cedge\u201d and the manna ceased to fall and was replaced by \u201cthe local produce\u201d (5:12).<\/span><\/p>\r\nThroughout their divinely guided trek through the wilderness, the pillars of cloud and flame were adequate reminders of their elevated religious state. Now that they were entering the Land of Israel and were about to assume the responsibility for maintaining their own spirituality, they needed to resume circumcision as a sign of their particularity, and replace the manna from heaven with the \u201cseven species\u201d for which the Land of Israel is praiseworthy.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":53348,"alt":"","title":"jo5-flint knives","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo5-flint-knives.jpg","width":300,"height":225,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo5-flint-knives-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo5-flint-knives-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo5-flint-knives.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":225,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo5-flint-knives.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":225,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo5-flint-knives.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":225,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo5-flint-knives.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":225,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo5-flint-knives.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":225,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo5-flint-knives.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":225}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Circumcision, Yes; Manna, Not Any More","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The Israelites had to cut themselves\u2026 off from their previous lives","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":53348,"alt":"","title":"jo5-flint knives","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo5-flint-knives.jpg","width":300,"height":225,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo5-flint-knives-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo5-flint-knives-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo5-flint-knives.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":225,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo5-flint-knives.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":225,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo5-flint-knives.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":225,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo5-flint-knives.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":225,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo5-flint-knives.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":225,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo5-flint-knives.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":225}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Joshua","chapter":"5","chapter_main_number":"192","date":"20260525","wall_id":"192"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"549","name":"Circumcision","old_id":"949"},{"term_id":"616","name":"Spirit","old_id":"1016"},{"term_id":"637","name":"Manna","old_id":"1037"}]},{"order":10,"id":"53414","color":"#e6f5f3","size":"1","name":"A Conquering Promise ","post_title":"A Conquering Promise","slug":"a-conquering-promise","old_id":"53414","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":52894,"post_title":"Jessica Levine Kupferberg","slug":"jessica-levine-kupferberg","old_id":"52894","first_name":"Jessica ","last_name":"Levine Kupferberg ","description":"Jessica Levine Kupferberg is a writer and former litigation attorney. She made aliyah from La Jolla, California with her family during Operation Protective Edge in July 2014 after driving across America. Her work has appeared in Kveller.com, The Jewish Journal, The Forward, Jweekly, and aish.com.","short_description":"Jessica Levine Kupferberg is a writer and former litigation attorney. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":52897,"alt":"","title":"jessica levine kupferberg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jessica-levine-kupferberg.jpg","width":921,"height":921,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jessica-levine-kupferberg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jessica-levine-kupferberg-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jessica-levine-kupferberg-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jessica-levine-kupferberg.jpg","large-width":921,"large-height":921,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jessica-levine-kupferberg.jpg","1536x1536-width":921,"1536x1536-height":921,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jessica-levine-kupferberg.jpg","2048x2048-width":921,"2048x2048-height":921,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jessica-levine-kupferberg.jpg","post_full_size-width":921,"post_full_size-height":921,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jessica-levine-kupferberg-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"193","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A quiet offense \/ Deafens a city's \u00a0\/ Walled defense","post_main_content_content":"Sure<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>When you hear \"Jericho\"<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>You think: Horns.<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>But listen closer<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>For in silence<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Born<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>A victory --<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>A meticulous dance<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Blasts of silence<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>A priestly prance;<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Round six times<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>In six days' time<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Only horns' cries heard<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Not clamor or chime<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Not voice nor shout<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>To God's rules: Adhere!<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>And dare not flout!<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Direction's clear<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Instead, to unnerve,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>A quiet offense<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Deafens a city's <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Walled defense. <\/span><\/p>\r\nA tension--<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>A Battle of Wills round walls<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Six times around, a people stalls:<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>At last: Day Seven!<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Like a bride<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Seven circuits--<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Then finally:<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>The people cried!<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>A sabbath, restless<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Holy work to do<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>A conquering promise<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>If they follow through:<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>The battle plan of God. <\/span><\/p>\r\nNot shiny: Dull<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Not trumpets: Rams<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>No need to ram--<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Walls sink to land<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Destruction wrought<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Raw, unbuilt<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Fearful, festered <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Walled pride spilt<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Mercy: None<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>-- Well, just for one<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>The walls, no match<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>For the Divine plan spun<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>The fires catch<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>It has begun but <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Spoils: Spoilt <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>A warning hums<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Hope lies hanging<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>The future thrums<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>First battle fought<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Adherence, won?<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>But the true land battles<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Have just begun:<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>The fallibility of Man.<\/span><\/p>\r\n