Author Archives: Joseph Malekani

Judges 1 CommentaryWhile Joshua is focused on the good news that the LORD had fulfilled all His promises, Judges is focused on man’s failures. The material from Chapter 1 gives us the impression that both Joshua and Judges were authored by the same human institution.We get the picture that while large portions of land wereContinueContinue reading “Joshua 1 Commentary”

Joshua 24 Commentary Joshua: Leader. His farewell speech. There is no leadership transition. Strange! Joshua: Commander-In-Chief. His handover notes. There is none. Strange! Yes, there is a leadership transition. It is “Joshua to all Israel”, represented by their elders, leaders, judges, and officers of the people. At the same time, it is “Joshua to theContinueContinue reading “Joshua 24 Commentary”

Joshua 23 Commentary Joshua – Slave, Special aide, General, Leader, Commander-in-Chief. Who else qualifies more than Joshua to do this important citation? He was probably in his late thirties or forties when Israel left Egypt. He had seen all. You want to believe a man like this. This one and the next chapter are reservedContinueContinue reading “Joshua 23 Commentary”

Joshua 22 Commentary Chapter 22 smells of the Book of Judges. The trans-Jordan tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh are released to return to their inheritance in the east. The returning troops stop by the Jordan and erect an imposing altar. The other tribes interpret it as idolatry. The reader can judgeContinueContinue reading “Joshua 22 Commentary”

Joshua 21 Commentary We should pray about everything. At the sometime, we shouldn’t pray everything.There is a time for the family heads of the Levites to demand action from their leaders, all in accordance with the word of the LORD.It’s a beautiful outcome that leaders don’t ignore the people they lead especially when their demandsContinueContinue reading “Joshua 21 Commentary”

Joshua 20 Commentary Cities of refuge. The purpose is clear: “anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood”. The distribution of these cities in the occupied land is quite deliberate. They were accessible and within reach of everyone. No one in the entire historyContinueContinue reading “Joshua 20 Commentary”

Joshua 19 Commentary Simeon’s lot lies within the territory of Judah. From the Book of Numbers, we saw how Simeon’s population reduced from 59,000 at the first count to about 22,000 at the second count. And here we see how Simeon gets only towns within the territory of Judah. Simeon’s destiny has unfolded without theContinueContinue reading “Joshua 19 Commentary”

Joshua 18 Commentary Shiloh could be considered Israel’s capital during its formative years in the Promised Land. The Sanctuary was located here. Shiloh remained important until the time of the prophet Samuel. From this base, an aged Joshua urged Israel to ‘begin to take possession of the land that the LORD’ had given them. SevenContinueContinue reading “Joshua 18 Commentary”

Joshua 17b Commentary Never mind the current human structures that we see in the Bible, namely paragraphing, verses, chapters, and titles. The flow of the story carries immense value – like the value of the text within the volume. The core material ends at Chapter 12. But we aren’t done yet. The scripture takes usContinueContinue reading “Joshua 17b Commentary”

Joshua 17 Commentary It isn’t a small matter to have your name printed in the holy script. But to have your name show up more than three times as the main character should be something special. That is the story of Zelophehad’s daughters, Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah, and Tirzah. There should be something important aboutContinueContinue reading “Joshua 17 Commentary”