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 were not privy to it.  Below are several examples drawn from throughout Sefer Yehoshua where it is possible that there was a change in plan. In each case, such a hypothesis explains otherwise difficult aspects of the narrative.

Crossing of the Yarden

Chapters 3-4 describe the miraculous splitting of the Yarden.  It is possible, however, that the initial plan was to cross the Yarden naturally, at the river's fords, and that Yehoshua was only told of the miracle immediately beforehand.  This would explain several difficulties and inconsistencies in the text:

• Food – In Yehoshua 1:11, Yehoshua commands the people to prepare food for the crossing, a seemingly unnecessary preparation¹ if the river was to split and the nation to cross in a matter of hours.²  If, however, Yehoshua was thinking about millions traversing the river naturally, an event that would take days, it is clear why provisions were needed.
• Day of crossing – There is a 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".  It is possible that 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.³
•  Following the ark – Another discrepancy in the text relates to the directives regarding the ark. In Chapter 6:1-4 the leaders tell the nation to follow the ark at a distance of 2000 cubits.  During the actual crossing, however, the people don't follow the ark, but pass it, and there is no mention of staying far. This, too, might be understood if we assume that the leaders were speaking under the assumption that the crossing was to be natural.  Once the plan changed, their original instructions were overruled as Hashem directed that the ark should stay at the edge of the river.

Conquest of Yericho

Yehoshua 6 depicts the conquest of Yericho and the supernatural tumbling of its walls.  It is likely that here, too, Yehoshua was initially unaware of Hashem's plans and assumed that the city was to be destroyed via natural means in a human battle.  After all, it is first in Chapter 6, right before the conquest, that Hashem mentions the miracle. 

• This suggestion explains the need for the espionage mission of Chapter 2. Had Yehoshua known in advance that the city was to fall via Divine intervention, there would have been no reason to risk the lives of spies for superfluous military information.  It also elucidates why the spies did not hesitate to hang an identifying rope on the outer walls of the city, which were later to fall.  Having no clue that the walls were to tumble, they had no reason to believe that the rope might not survive.  For elaboration on this reading of the purpose of the spies' mission, see Purpose of the Spies in Yehoshua 2.

• Why didn't Hashem tell Yehoshua in advance?

• It is possible that Divine intervention only became necessary after the spies' mission. If their near-capture cut their scouting short, it is possible that they did not gather enough information for a successful military conquest, necessitating Hashem's help.
• Alternatively, even if the mission was a success, it is possible that Hashem simply wanted the nation to put in their own effort before He helped them. Now that they had arrived in the Land of Israel, they needed to begin to learn to rely on themselves and not expect the miracles of the Wilderness period.

Canaanite Plan of Attack

Sefer Yehoshua does not provide enough information to know with certainty how the Canaanites had planned to defend themselves against the Israelite attack.  It is likely, however, that here, too, plans evolved and the tactics taken were not necessarily those originally prepared:

• "וִירִיחוֹ סֹגֶרֶת וּמְסֻגֶּרֶת מִפְּנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל" – Yehoshua 6 opens by sharing that the Canaanites enclosed themselves in their walled cities, suggesting that rather than going on the offensive, they planned to trust in the strength of their fortifications and sit put.  However, it is possible this strategy was only chosen in the aftermath of the miraculous splitting of the Jordan. Originally the Canaanites might have hoped to attack the Israelites as they were in the midst of the  and vulnerable to enemies.  With the splitting of the river and speedy crossing, however, they lost their opportunity.  In addition, it is likely that they never anticipated that the nation would cross in Nissan, when the waters were overflowing, and assumed that they had until the summer to prepare an attack.  Only because they found their plans thwarted, did the Canannites retreat into their cities.
• "וַיִּתְקַבְּצוּ יַחְדָּו לְהִלָּחֵם עִם יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְעִם יִשְׂרָאֵל פֶּה אֶחָד"

¹ Cf. Rashi who posits that "צֵידָה" does not refer to food, but rather weapons of war.

² Although people bring food for even short outings, the fact that Yehoshua directed the people to arrange provisions three days before the crossing suggests that he expected significant preparations. 

³ Cf. RalbagYehoshua 2:23About R. Levi b. Gershom who explains that the nation did not cross on the evening of the third day, but rather waited until morning so that the miracle would take place in daylight when it could be seen by all.  Other commentators resolve the contradiction by reinterpreting either