************************************************************* THE TANACH STUDY CENTER [http://www.tanach.org] In Memory of Rabbi Abraham Leibtag Shiurim in Chumash & Navi by Menachem Leibtag ************************************************************* SEFER YEHOSHUA - QUESTIONS FOR SELF STUDY #1 PART I - Questions to consider BEFORE reading the sefer 1. In your opinion (or to the best of your recollection), who wrote Sefer Yehoshua; why (i.e. for what purpose), and when was it written? [See Baba Batra 14b->15a.] How and why should the answer to this question affect the manner in which you study the book? Would you expect Sefer Yehoshua to have a unique theme? If so, what do you expect that theme to be? 2. Based on your knowledge of Chumash, (and forgetting any previous knowledge you may have of Sefer Yehoshua), what do you expect SHOULD happen in Sefer Yehoshua? In your answer, relate primarily to Shmot 23:20-30; Bamidbar 27:15-23 and 33:50-56 (& scan chapters 34 & 35); Sefer Devarim 6:1-15; 7:17-25; 11:22-25 & 12:1-10, [Note as well Devarim 31:1-9 & 31:14-21. See also Shmot 3:7-8 & Vayikra 18:1-5 & 18:24-30 and the conclusion of Bamidbar chapter 32.] How and why should these sources help you appreciate what will transpire in Sefer Yehoshua and particular, and in Nevi'im Rishonim in general? 3. What are the major problems that face Yehoshua as he assumes leadership? In your answer, relate to the following realms: a) military / i.e. the enemies he must conquer b) spiritual / psychological [consider people's state of mind & past history] c) Yehoshua's own state of mind and natural fears. [Relate to Devarim 31:1-10 & Bamidbar 27:16-23] d) food and water supplies / general camp needs. [Relate to Devarim 7:16-17.] 4. How do you expect Yehoshua to lead his nation? In other words, should he make his own decisions, or should he wait for God to guide him step by step? For example, how should he prepare his battle plans? How much of the army should he take with him? When should he build the bet- ha'Mikdash? [A "mashal" for those of you are familiar with American football, should he be a 'quarterback' who calls his own plays, or a quarterback whose 'head-coach' calls the plays from the sidelines?] What should be Yehoshua's primary guide when he makes his decisions? [Relate to Yehoshua 1:6-8 and Devarim 17:18-20.] In what areas should he expect divine assistance? Relate to Shmot 23:2-33, Devarim 7:17-26. [Keep this questions in mind as you study the first half of the book.] 5. What are the basic military problems that face Yehoshua? Note from Bamidbar chapter 26 that he has an army numbering some 600,000 soldiers. With this size of an army, should he have any problem capturing the land? Are the people of Canaan organized under one single ruler, or are they part of a 'federation' of any sort? If so, how would this affect Yehoshua's battle plan? Are there walled cities that need to be captured? What method do most armies use to capture a 'walled city'? How does this affect Yehoshua's battle plans? How does this affect the 'moral' of his soldiers? Relate to the report of Moshe's 'spies' in Parshat Shlach (Bamidbar chapter 13), note especially 13:28-29 & 14:44-45. 6. Why do Bnei Yisrael choose to enter the land from the east, i.e. via the Jordan River valley? Does this provide a military advantage? In your answer, relate to the defeat of the "ma'apilim", as described in Bamidbar 14:44-45 and Devarim 1:41-45. 7. If you are already familiar with Sefer Yehoshua, based on your previous knowledge of the Sefer, attempt to compose a very concise 'Table of Contents'. [No more than ten lines.] Based on your outline and the above questions, can you suggest a title (or theme) for the entire sefer? [As you study the Sefer, keep this question in mind, and constantly attempt to 'perfect' your outline.] 8. As you study the first several chapters, pay attention as well to the numerous parallels to the events that took place when Bnei Yisrael left Egypt and traveled to Har Sinai. Can you explain the reason for these parallels? PART II - Questions to answer after reading each chapter CHAPTER 1 1. Note how chapter one contains three individual 'parshiot'. Attempt to identify the primary topic of each 'parshia. How do these topics relate to the 'problems' that Yehoshua faces as he assumes leadership (see #2 above), and how do they 'solve' them? Based on these three 'parshiot', who provides the solutions for these problems - Yehoshua or God [or both]? Explain. [Answer this question for what transpires in chapters two thru five as well.] 2. The phrase "chazak ve'amatz" is repeated several times in the opening 'parshia'. Can you explain why Yehoshua is need of such intense divine encouragement? [Relate to Devarim 31:1-8.] Review these psukim (i.e. 1:1-9) once again, this time paying attention to the various 'promises' that God makes regarding His assistance in the conquest of the Land. From these psukim alone, does it appear that these promises are 'conditional'? If so, what are these conditions? Then, review Devarim 11:22-25, noting the rather obvious parallels to Yehoshua 1:3-6. Based on 11:22, what laws must Bnei Yisrael keep to be deserving of God's assistance? [Relate to Devarim 6:4-6 and 26:16-19 (and to our TSC shiurim on Sefer Devarim).] How does this parallel relate to God's commandment to Yehoshua in 1:7-8. What 'guide' does God suggest that Yehoshua use in addition to these words of encouragement? [Note the word "torah" in 1:7 and its parallel in Devarim 4:44-45 & 17:17-19.] What laws are there in Sefer Devarim that relate specifically to how Bnei Yisrael are supposed to conquer Land, and to the type of national institutions that they expected to establish. [See TSC shiurim on Re'ay & Shoftim.] 3. See Shmot 23:20-25; where we find another example of how God promised to help Bnei Yisrael conquer the Land. Is God's promise in those psukim on condition? If so, what is that condition (and the logic behind it)? Next, review God's promise in 1:3 (and its parallel in Devarim 11:24). Based on these psukim, does God promise Yehoshua that all of the Land will be conquered, or that He will assist Bnei Yisrael wherever they make an effort of conquest? [Keep this question in mind as your read the book!] 4. Review 1:10-11, noting the interesting 'contrasting' parallel with Shmot 12:39. In your opinion, were Bnei Yisrael 'prepared' for their redemption from Egypt. How did that affect the 'failure' of that first generation to conquer the Land? [Note as well Shmot 6:6-8 (note the word "morasha" in 6:8 & "la'reshet" in 1:11).] In what manner does Yehoshua want to assure that his generation will be 'more successful'? In your answer, relate to Bamidbar 33:50-54 and Tehillim 78, noting especially 78:6-8 & 78:32-37! In general, in what manner are the events of Yetziat Mitzraim parallel to the events that take place when Bnei Yisrael now enter the land? Can you suggest any thematic significance to these parallels? [Keep this question in mind as your study the sefer.] 5. Review 1:12-18. Why are these details so important towards the success of Yehoshua's first military campaign? What would have happened had the two & a half tribes not kept their promise? [Relate to the military dangers involved when attacking walled cities,] In addition to their military support, what is the 'political' importance of Bnei Reuven & Gad's enthusiasm to support Yehoshua? CHAPTER TWO 1. Considering that the report of Moshe's spies led to the fiasco of Bnei Yisrael's forty-year punishment in the desert, why does Yehoshua choose to send spies to scout Yericho? In your answer, relate to the story in Bamidbar 13:1-33. Carefully compare the respective 'missions' of each set of spies, how they were sent, why they were sent, who sent them, and who they reported to! Be sure you can explain why Yehoshua's spies are sent 'silently' and why their names are not mentioned. Which group would you consider 'military spies' and which group would you consider a 'fact finding mission'? (See TSC shiur on Parshat Shlach.)] 2. Based on the above considerations, what was the primary purpose of Yehoshua's spies? Did God command Yehoshua to send them, or is this Yehoshua's own initiative? If the latter, what would this indicate in regard to how Yehoshua is supposed to conquer the Land? [In other words, is he supposed to wait for God to give him each battle plan, or is he supposed to plan the battles by himself?] 3. Why do you think that these spies choose to visit specifically a house that is built 'in the city's WALL' (see 2:15)? And why do they visit specifically the house of an "ishe zonah" (see 2:1)? In your opinion, was this only to plan a quick escape (from her window), or are they also considering a possible plan of attack for the entire army (a breach in the wall)? Relate your answer to the primary military problem that Yehoshua faces in capturing Yericho. Based on the events in chapters 2, what appears to be Yehoshua's original plan for capturing Yericho? Does this plan later change? If so, when and why? [Relate to 5:13-15 and 6:2-5.] 4. What is the gist of the report of these "meraglim" to Yehoshua (see 2:24)? Why and how is their report significant? Do think that this pasuk includes EVERYTHING that they told Yehoshua, or is just a 'summary'. If the latter, why do think that Sefer Yehoshua prefers to quote only the 'short version' of their report? What 'prophetic point' does this emphasize? Note as well the lengthy quote of Rahav's explanation for why she has decided to collaborate with them (in 2:9-13). How does this inform the 'reader' of Sefer Yehoshua concerning God's assistance in the conquest of the Land? CHAPTERS THREE & FOUR 1. As you read these chapters, note the numerous parallels to the events that took place when Bnei Yisrael first left Egypt and travel through the desert. Can you find significance in these parallels? 2. Chapters 3 & 4 discuss the miracle of the splitting the Jordan River. Compare this miracle to that of the splitting the Red Sea ("Kriyat Yam Suf"/ see Shmot chapter 14) In what manner was it similar, and in what manner was it different? In your answer, relate to the following: Is it possible to cross the Jordan River without the assistance of a miracle? (Question: How did the spies cross?) Conversely, was a miracle necessary to cross Yam Suf? If crossing the Jordan did not require a miracle, why do you think God decided to perform one nonetheless? 3. Within chapter 3, find at least three different reasons that are given to explain why this miracle was helpful. Relate these reasons to the various problems that faced Yehoshua. 4. Review 3:6-15, noting that as Bnei Yisrael approached the Jordan River, the ARON "led the way" (see 3:6, 11, 15). Is this the ordinary way for the nation to travel? Is it parallel to any specific event recorded earlier in the Torah? If so, what is the significance of this parallel? [Relate to Bamidbar 10:11-21 & 10:33-36!] 5. Note the complete name by which the ARON is referred to in chapters 3->4. Why is this name significant? Relate your answer to how Bnei Yisrael actually crossed the Jordan, and where the ARON was located during that procession. Is it normal that the "aron" travels in FRONT of the camp? [Relate to Bamidbar 10:11-21 & 10:33-36!] 6. What was the purpose of the twelve stones (both "sets" – see 4:1-9) that were set aside? Relate this to the parallel in Shmot 24:3-7! 7. Read 4:6-7 and 4:20-24. Do these psukim "sound familiar"? Find their parallel in Sefer Shmot, and explain its significance. [If you give up, try chapter twelve.] 8. Read 4:19. Based on this pasuk, together with Devarim 34:8 and the Yehoshua 1:11, attempt to calculate the date on which Moshe Rabeinu's died. Does this coincide with a date that you are familiar with? 9.. In the first section of Chapter 5, we find B’nei Yisrael performing the mitzvot of Brit Milah and Korban Pesach. Do you think that this was simply a 'coincidence', because they just so happened to cross the Jordan at this time of the year, or do think that this 'timing' intentional? If so, why? Relate to the primary source of these two mitzvot as discussed in Sefer Breishit:: 1)"Brit bein ha'btarim" - 15:1-20, [the 'source' for to process of "yetziat mitzraim"], 2) Brit milah" - 17:1-14 [the special covenant between God & Avraham] Based on these psukim, can you find deeper significance to the fact that Brit Milah and Korban Pesach take place at this time? [Relate to God's promise of the 'land of Israel' to Avraham Avinu at the time of each of these two covenants (see Br. 15:18 and 17:7-8).] b'hatzlacha menachem