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

secured for the south. Observe the reference to the conclusion of the campaign (Joshua 11:23), to which allusion will be made again in the study of the next book.

Joshua 11:20 may trouble some, but it must be remembered that when such “hardening” is spoken of, it always presupposes con duct on the part of the people obstinately opposed to God’s will. This was dwelt on in the case of Pharaoh. Such hardening is a divine judgment on men for wicked actions freely indulged in on their part. Compare II Thessalonians 2, especially II Thessalonians 2:10-12. Is there any evil of the present day, of a religious character, which these verses bring to mind? What of Christian Science, for example? Let us beware of it.

The Division of the Land, Joshua 12-21

In the consideration of this event there are certain especially interesting features to be observed. In the first place, the conclusion of the campaign noticed in the last chapter must be qualified to our understanding (Joshua 13:1). The land was conquered in a general sense, but not in detail. The first settlers in this country conquered the land when New England was settled, but there was a great deal of conquering done afterwards before the Pacific coast was reached. The land was ours in one sense, and it had to become ours in another sense. Observe that the separate tribes were not as eager for this conquest as might have been expected, and that personal ease and advantage soon began to supersede zeal for God (Joshua 16:10; 18:3, etc.). Observe the fulfillment of earlier instructions concerning Caleb and Joshua (Joshua 14:6-14; 19:49-50), the setting up of the Tabernacle (Joshua 18:1), and the assignment of the cities of refuge (Joshua 20).

The Altar of Witness, Joshua 22

Observe the commendable fidelity of the two and a half tribes (Joshua 22:1-6), and the commendable action of patient inquiry and investigation (Joshua 22:11-33) on the part of the other tribes. Individuals have sustained “strained” relations with one another for years, and nations have gone to war for the lack of observance of such an example (Matthew 18:15). Observe the value of public memorials of great men and great events. How often have such memorials been referred to thus far in our studies! What statutes, or monuments or tablets of this kind are in your town? What are you yourself doing personally, to instruct and benefit later generations in this way? Especially, how is the memory of God’s great goodness being perpetuated in a public way? Is the Sabbath