Synthetic Bible Studies by James Gray

• Title Page
• Pentateuch
• History
  • Lesson 10: Joshua
    • I: The Command to Joshua, Joshua 1
    • II: The Spying of the Land, Joshua 2
    • III: The Crossing of Jordan, Joshua 3–4
    • IV: The Conquest of Jericho, Joshua 5–7
    • V: The Defeat at Ai, Joshua 7–8
    • VI: The Rescue of Gibeon, Joshua 9–10
      • Did the Sun and Moon Stand Still?
    • VII: The Close of the War, Joshua 11
    • VIII: The Division of the Land, Joshua 12–21
    • IX: The Altar of Witness, Joshua 22
    • X: The Renewal of the Covenant, Joshua 23–24
  • Lesson 11: Judges and Ruth
  • Lesson 12: I Samuel
  • Lesson 13: II Samuel
  • Lesson 14: I Kings
  • Lesson 15: II Kings
  • Lesson 16: I and II Chronicles and Esther
• Poetry
• Prophets
• Post Captivity Prophets
• Gospels, Acts
• Pauline Epistles
• General Epistles

The Defeat at Ai, Joshua 7-8

This next great fact, will be found to emphasize what has just been said about sin, and to bring out one or two new thoughts about it. The former illustration applied to sin in the world, but this to sin in the church, or in the individual believer. Here “the children of Israel committed a trespass” (Joshua 7:1). See the consequences which befell all for the folly of one (Joshua 7:2-5). Compare James 2:10, for an individual application. Joshua’s ignorance of the cause of defeat (Joshua 7:6-15) has a deep lesson likewise which may bring to mind II Corinthians 6:14; 7:1, and kindred passages. Mr. Beecher once said that half of our troubles were just God dragging us; they would depart if we stood on our feet and went whither He desired. This story of Joshua’s discouragement is in that line. Let Joshua 7:16-21 be used as an illustration of the deep principle in Numbers 32:23, last clause. Let it be remembered in Achan’s case as in that of Nadab and Abihu, that it is not a question of the eternal damnation of his soul, but of God’s earthly judgments among His people. Let the victory recorded in chapter 8 illustrate the power over spiritual enemies which be comes theirs who are living in obedience to God’s commands.

The Rescue of Gibeon, Joshua 9-10

This fact brings us to the most interesting part of the book, as it is also the most critical moment in the present history of Israel. Observe the wiles of the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:3-13), and the failure of Israel to ask counsel of God before entering into a covenant with them (Joshua 9:14-15). Observe, too, the relation which the Gibeonites ever after sustained towards Israel (Joshua 9:22, 27). Observe the confederation of the five kings against Gibeon, and the reason for it (Joshua 10:1-5). Study the location of the kingdom or cities represented by these kings, and observe that they were all in the southern part of Canaan. Their destruction, therefore, in a bunch, meant the conquest practically of the whole of that region. Observe the supernatural phenomena associated with the battle, e.g., the Lord’s special encouragement to Joshua (Joshua 10:8), the visitation of hail-stones (Joshua 10:11), the remarkable prayer (Joshua 10:12), and more remarkable answer (Joshua 10:13-14), and finally, the issue of the contest (Joshua 10:42).

Did the Sun and Moon Stand Still?

This miracle shares with that in the book of Jonah, the distinction of being more “spoken against” than any other in the Old