The Conquest refers to the period in biblical history when the Israelites, under the leadership of Joshua, entered and took possession of the Promised Land, Canaan, as recorded in the Book of Joshua. This event marks the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give their descendants a land flowing with milk and honey (Genesis 12:7, Exodus 3:8).

Background and Preparation

Before the Conquest, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years due to their disobedience and lack of faith (Numbers 14:33-34). Moses, who led them out of Egypt, was not permitted to enter the Promised Land due to his own disobedience (Deuteronomy 32:51-52). Instead, Joshua, son of Nun, was appointed as his successor (Deuteronomy 31:23).

The Conquest began with the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, where the waters were stopped, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground (Joshua 3:14-17). This event signified God's presence and power among His people, as the Ark of the Covenant led the way.

Key Events in the Conquest

1. The Fall of Jericho: The first major victory in the Conquest was the fall of Jericho. Following God's specific instructions, the Israelites marched around the city once a day for six days and seven times on the seventh day. On the seventh circuit, the priests blew their trumpets, and the people shouted, causing the walls to collapse (Joshua 6:1-20). This victory demonstrated God's power and the importance of obedience to His commands.

2. The Battle of Ai: Initially, the Israelites were defeated at Ai due to Achan's sin of taking forbidden items from Jericho (Joshua 7:1-5). After dealing with the sin, God gave Joshua a strategy to ambush the city, leading to its capture (Joshua 8:1-29).

3. The Gibeonite Deception: The Gibeonites, fearing the Israelites, deceived them into making a peace treaty by pretending to be from a distant land (Joshua 9:3-15). Despite the deception, the Israelites honored the treaty, demonstrating the importance of keeping one's word.

4. The Southern and Northern Campaigns: Joshua led successful military campaigns against the southern and northern coalitions of Canaanite kings. The southern campaign included the miraculous event where the sun stood still at Gibeon, allowing the Israelites more time to defeat their enemies (Joshua 10:12-14). The northern campaign culminated in the defeat of a large coalition led by King Jabin of Hazor (Joshua 11:1-15).

Division of the Land

After the major military campaigns, the land was divided among the twelve tribes of Israel as their inheritance (Joshua 13-21). This division was done by casting lots, under the supervision of Joshua, Eleazar the priest, and the tribal leaders. The Levites, being the priestly tribe, received no land inheritance but were given cities and pasturelands (Joshua 21:1-42).

Theological Significance

The Conquest of Canaan is significant for several reasons. It demonstrates God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to the patriarchs. It also underscores the importance of obedience to God's commands and the consequences of disobedience. The Conquest serves as a type of spiritual warfare, illustrating the believer's call to live a victorious life through faith and obedience to God.

Biblical References

· Genesis 12:7: "The LORD appeared to Abram and said, 'To your offspring I will give this land.' So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him."
· Exodus 3:8: "So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey..."
· Joshua 1:2-3: "Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise, you and all these people, and cross over the Jordan into the land that I am giving to the children of Israel. I have given you every place where the sole of your foot will tread, just as I promised to Moses."
· Joshua 6:20: "So when the rams’ horns sounded, the people shouted. When they heard the blast of the horn, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. Then all the people charged straight into the city and captured it."
· Joshua 10:13: "So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance upon its enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? So the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day."