Sefer Yehoshua – Evolving Plans/0/en

Sefer Yehoshua – Evolving Plans

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Introduction

Often, readers of Tanakh come to the text with knowledge of the end of the story.  This frequently means that we forget that the written outcome was not necessarily the only possible one, and that the Biblical characters are not privy to the same information that we are.  Their actions and decisons are made without awareness of the future

Miracle and Nature: Crossing of the Yarden

Chapters 3-4 describe the miraculous splitting of the Jordan.  It is possible, however, that the initial plan was to cross the Jordan naturally, at the river's fords, and that Yehoshua was only told of the miracle immediately beforehand:

• This would explain why Yehoshua commanded the people to prepare food for the crossing. For millions to cross the river naturally would take days, requiring sufficient provisions until they were settled on the other side.
• This could also explain the discrepancy between the date set for the crossing in Chapters 1 and 3.  In the former, Yehoshua tells the nation that "in another three days you will cross the Jordan" yet in Chapter 3 the verses state that "after three days" Yehoshua told the people to sanctify themselves to cross "the next day". [other explain…] After Yehoshua was told of the miracle, he needed to postpone the crossing so that everyone could prepare for Hashem's revelation and merit Divine intervention
•  It is possible that the directives of the leaders in Chapter 6:1-4¹ are also according to the original plan. If so, their command that the nation follow the ark and keep a distance of 2000 cubits might have later been overridden. During the actual crossing, the people don't follow the ark, which stays put in the river, but instead pass it and there is no mention of staying far.

Canaanit Plan of Attack

¹ It is first in 6:5