Saul Weinreb - Let the Prophets Speak

Joshua 22 - Civil War is Averted

The tribes of Reuben, Gad and part of Menasseh return to their land across the Jordan, and they build an altar to God. The people of Israel sense a split and a rebellion, and they assemble for war.  Pinhas leads a delegation to the two and a half tribes to demand that they stand down, only to find out that rebellion was not their intention at all.  In fact, the two and a half tribes were worried themselves about a split, and in order to remind everyone that they are one people, they built a monument to the unity of the people of God, not an alternative place of worship.

Joshua 21 - The Levites Get Their Portion

Now that the tribes have all received their portions, it is time for the Levites to get their cities to settle in.  This completes the apportionment of the land and the fulfillment of God's promise to the patriarchs. 

Joshua 20 - Cities of Refuge

God commands Joshua to instruct the people to set aside cities of refuge for those accused of murder.  In the new land, justice is to administered by a court of law, not by vengeful clans.

Joshua 19 - The Land is Completely Divided Among the Tribes

The land is completely divided among the tribes of Israel and Joshua gets his portion.

Joshua 18 - Benjamin‘s Portion and the Tabernacle in Shiloh

The Tabernacle moves into a semi-permanent location, and the land is further divided.

Joshua 17 - Assertive Women and a Bunch of Kvetchers

The daughters of Zelaphechad stand up for themeselves, and the tribes of Joseph kvetch.

Joshua 16 - Ephraim‘s Portion

The portion of Ephraim is described in much more abbreviated terms.  Some Canaanite towns accept peace terms.

Joshua 15 - The Daughter of Caleb Speaks Up

We read further details of the division of the land, this time the details of Judah's portion.  Caleb gives his daughter Achsah's hand in marriage to Otniel ben Kenaz, but when the portion they receive turns out to be an infertile plot of land, he is unwilling to approach his father-in-law to ask for something better.  Achsah takes it into her own hands and demands a better plot of land.

Joshua 14 - Caleb Gets his Reward

We take a shorty break from the division of the land to discuss the request of the venerable, aged Caleb. Joshua's old companion from the days of the spies requests that he be given the rights to settle Hebron, as this was the land that he spied out when he was sent by Moses to spy out the land of Canaan.

Joshua 13 - Dividing the Land Among the Tribes

As Joshua neared the end of his life, God points out that now that his fighting years are over, it is time to divide the land.  God promises him that He would help the people of Israel conquer the entire land, so he should divide it all as if it already was conquered. We then begin listing the boundaries of each tribe, beginning with the boundaries of Reuben, Gad and half of Menasseh.