Final Statements

Joshua Chapter 24, the Strange and the Spectacular

Verses: 33

Is It Read At Synagogue?: Not in typical Ashkenazic congregations, but various customs in other communities dictate reciting at least some of its verses as the Haftarot for Lech Lecha and Vayigash (from the book of Genesis) and Nitzavim (from the book of Deuteronomy).

Famous Quotes/Phrases: There are numerous phrases familiar to those familiar with the Torah, but one I’d like to highlight comes in Verse 25: “וַיִכְרֹת בְּרִית” (vayikhrot b’rit), often translated as “made a covenant”. But more literally, it means “cut a covenant”. There are some examples — Genesis 15 comes to mind — in which other covenants refer to something actually being cut. I wonder whether the modern expression of “cutting a deal” is somehow related.

Basic Plot: The concluding chapter of the Book of Joshua begins with our title character gathering all of Israel at the town of Shechem. Joshua delivers a lengthy monologue he says comes from God, summarizing the history of Israel starting from Abraham’s father all the way up to their day. The monologue ends with an ultimatum: choose to serve God, or choose other gods. The Israelites immediately respond that, of course, they’ll serve God!

But Joshua doesn’t quite buy it; he declares that the people will turn away from God. The Israelites, though, are undeterred, and insist that they’ll be faithful. Joshua responds, okay, fine, but put away your other gods first. The people say they will, so Joshua makes a covenant on behalf of them, designating a stone as a “witness” of their promise.

Joshua dies at the age of 110 and is buried on his property. The book ends noting the final burial of Joseph’s remains (fulfilling a promise made to him way back in the book of Genesis) and of the High Priest Eleazar.

What’s Strange: The back-and-forth nature of Joshua’s final national address feels awkward, especially since he directly challenges the Israelites’ declaration of fealty. But if anyone can legitimately doubt their faithfulness, it’s Joshua, who’d seen 40 years of complaints in the Sinai wilderness. It’s as if he’s channeling Moses one last time.

What’s Spectacular: In his book God, A Biography, Jack Miles notes that Joseph’s resting place (as well as Joshua’s) is in the tribe of Ephraim. “Ephraim and his brother, Manasseh, Joseph’s sons, constitute Israel par excellence, the chosen tribe within the chosen people,” Miles writes. “Joseph is home at last as the Lord’s plan comes to what seems a perfect consummation.”

It’s rare for anything in our lives to have a neat and tidy ending, and this is a classic exception that proves the rule. As I’ve noted in previous posts, there is unfinished business set into motion during the events of this book, and we’re a long way from resolving them. But before we start our examination of the Book of Judges next week, I suppose it can’t hurt to enjoy a moment of serenity in ancient Israelite history. Joshua certainly worked hard to achieve it.

Shabbat Shalom!