The Higher Road

Joshua Chapter Nine, The Strange and the Spectacular

Vital Stats:

Verses: 27

Is It Read At Synagogue?: There is a custom among Italian Jews in Jerusalem to read this chapter as the latter part of the Haftarah for the Torah portion of Ki Tavo.

Famous Quotes/Phrases: Once again, the text mentions (Verse 16) a three-day time period, after which they possess new knowledge. Time periods of this length indicate preparation, after which the people involved are ready to feel transformed.

Basic Plot: The Israelites’ military success has not gone unnoticed; we learn that regional kingdoms are beginning to band together in the hopes of defeating Joshua and Company. But the inhabitants of Gibeon take a different approach: posing as strangers from a faraway land, they offer themselves as servants in exchange for protection. Taking them at their word, Joshua agrees, but soon regrets it when he learns that the Gibeonites are not, indeed, from far away. Rather than attack them, though, Joshua curses Gibeon’s descendants, saying they will always be slaves. Still, the Israelites keep their agreement.

What’s Strange: In Verse 14, before we learn that Gibeonites had lied, the text says that the Israelites didn’t consult “על-פי ה׳”, “by the mouth of Adonai”, or, less literally, “by the word of Adonai.” But how would such a consultation take place?

The biblical commentator known as Ralbag suggests that the Israelites would have looked upon the Urim and Thumim, the stones on the High Priest’s breastplate first described in the book of Exodus. There are 12 stones on this breastplate, one for each of Israel’s tribes. It’s taught that this is an ancient vessel to communicate with God, in which God would respond to questions by lighting up some of the stones in particular patterns. Think of it as a cross between a telegraph and the 1980s electronic game known as “Simon”. Could you imagine trying to communicate with someone this way today?

What’s Spectacular: This chapter departs from previous passages that speak of total war and annihilation. And based on the absolutist nature of earlier chapters, one could have imagined Joshua and the Israelites trying to justify breaking their agreement with the Gibeonites. After all, the Gibeonites disguise themselves, lying about where they live and the nature of their journeys. One could argue that Joshua has a plausible basis to attack the Gibeonites, as they cannot be trusted and must therefore be seen as a threat.

Joshua’s restraint is curious given what the two Israelite scouts tell Rahab in Chapter Two; they promise to protect her and her family, but declare that they would be free from their vow if she doesn’t show a sign by her window when the Israelites attack Jericho. Perhaps we learn from this episode that Joshua is, by nature, more committed to loyalty than some of his soldiers.

If so, it underlines an important lesson about leadership: the best kind of leaders sometimes need to take a higher road than some of his/her followers. Doing so won’t necessarily change these followers, but it often will set an example for future generations to understand.

Shabbat Shalom!