Vital Stats:
Verses: 18
Is It Read At Synagogue?: No.
Famous Quotes/Phrases: A curious phrase, to be sure: there is an encounter between Joshua and the so-called “בני יוסף” (b’nai Yosef). Who are they? Presumably, the cumulative tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, named for the descendants of Joseph’s two sons. However, it’s not immediately clear whether this is an apt description.
Basic Plot: The text turns to the territories of the tribe of Manasseh, and we have a reference to five of the most renowned biblical women: the daughters of Tzelofchad, who had successfully requested to inherit the land entitled to their father since Tzelofchad did not have sons. Joshua and the rest of the Israelite leadership follow through on honoring this request. Once again, the Canaanites aren’t going away: the Manassites are unable to dispossess them, but at least they force the Canaanites to pay them tribute. Then, as mentioned above, the “בני יוסף” (b’nai Yosef) approach, asking for a bigger portion of land. Joshua suggests that they clear away some adjacent forest territory and add that to their portion. They respond that this won’t be enough land and that the nearby Canaanites remain a threat to them, as the Canaanites have iron chariots. But Joshua stands firm, saying they will prevail after all.
What’s Strange: Some biblical commentators claim that the “b’nai Yosef” actually only refer to the tribe of Manasseh, rather than both Ephraim and Manasseh. This is complicated by the fact that the tribe of Manasseh has been split into two, with one half living on the east of the Jordan River and the other half living to the west. So maybe it’s easier for the text to say “b’nai Yosef” rather than “half of Manasseh”? I suspect there’s no way to know for sure.
What’s Spectacular: Joshua’s bona fides as a successful warrior is unquestioned. But here, we find another quality of his leadership: his ability to motivate. In her book "Israel Served the Lord": The Book of Joshua as Paradoxical Portrait of Faithful Israel, Rachel M. Billings highlights Joshua becoming Head Cheerleader of the Israelite cause: “According to Joshua’s argument, the descendants of Joseph do have the ability to drive out these Canaanites, just like any others; it is, in fact, their certainty that they are unable to drive out these Canaanites that stands in the way. … he cuts to the heart of the problem. The Joseph tribes have not occupied all of the territory allotted to them, for fear of the well-equipped Canaanites who dwell in it, as their hesitant response reveals. Joshua turns their argument on its head, seizing upon their numerical strength as the grounds for their ability to clear the land.”
The issue, Joshua senses, is the attitude of the b’nai Yosef. It’s not that this tribe (or tribes) make poor arguments, nor is it ridiculous for them to feel fearful. But you can almost hear Joshua channeling Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “the only thing to fear is fear itself.” But it’s not as if Joshua is only wishfully thinking. On the contrary, the earlier episodes in the book reveal a great track record of success. Joshua’s confidence is more than warranted.
Sometimes, this is the main job of a leader: to convince other people to do the fulfill their part of a collective goal. It’s one reason why good leadership is hard to quantify. How can we measure how successfully a leader moves other peoples’ spirits? How do we define the way a leader “sets the tone” for others to be at their best? I definitely don’t have answers to these questions, but perhaps a good leader can only be identified by the eye test — in other words, we know one when we see one.
Shabbat Shalom!
Great? Shabbat Shalom Rabbi,!