DIRECTORY 333
THE LAST DAYS OF MOSES
Numbers 27:12–23;
Deuteronomy 34On Mount Abarim, Moses looks
over the land God has given to the
children of Israel. God tells him
to make Joshua his successor,
presenting him to the priests
and the people. At the age of 120,
Moses takes his leave of the people,
giving instructions on how they
should live. God then gives him a
last look at the lands promised to
Abraham and his descendants, so
as to reaffirm the importance of
Moses’s mission and celebrate his
faithfulness. When Moses dies,
the Israelites weep for 30 days.
See also: Covenants 44–47 ■
The Ten Commandments 78–83 ■
Entering the Promised Land 96–97ACHAN’S SIN
Joshua 7After the fall of Jericho, an Israelite
named Achan secretly pillages gold,
silver, and a Babylonian garment
from the city. In the subsequent
Israelite attack on the city of Ai
ordered by Joshua, 36 Israelites are
killed and the rest are chased from
the city gate, fleeing in terror. Later,
tearing his clothes before the Ark
of the Lord, Joshua appeals to
God to save His people. God tells
Joshua that one of the Israelites
has broken His covenant, and will
be punished. The next day, God
identifies Achan as the culprit.
After Joshua’s encouragement,
Achan admits to his crimes. As
punishment, Achan, his family,
and livestock are stoned to death.
See also: The Ark and the
Tabernacle 86–87 ■ The Fall
of Jericho 98–99THE BATTLE OF AI
Joshua 8Following the death of Achan,
God commands Joshua and the
entire Israelite army to attack Ai
once again—this time, with an
ambush from behind the city.
Approaching from the north
with 5,000 men, Joshua lures
the army out of Ai, allowing his
forces to enter the city from the
west. Unopposed, they burn it to
the ground. The Israelites then go
on to defeat Ai’s army and kill all
of its citizens.
See also: Entering the Promised
Land 96–97 ■ The Fall of Jericho
98–99JEPHTHAH’S VOW
Judges 10:6–11:40Jephthah, a great warrior, leads
the people into battle against the
Ammonites, vowing to God that he
will sacrifice to Him the first thing
he sees coming out of his house
if he returns victorious. Fatefully,
it is his daughter who runs out to
greet him. He is struck with grief,
but she accepts her fate. This brutal
tale of human sacrifice has puzzled
commentators. Some note that God
does not explicitly endorse Jepthah’s
fulfillment of his vow and that the
sacrifice itself is not confirmed.
See also: The Testing of Abraham
50–53 ■ Herod’s Infanticide 187ARK OF GOD RETURNED
TO ISRAEL
1 Samuel 5:1–6:21After defeating the Israelites in
battle and taking the Ark of the
Covenant, the Philistines areafflicted with a plague of tumors
in every city the Ark enters. After
suffering seven months of plagues,
the Philistines finally agree to
return the Ark in a cart laden
with golden treasure in order to
appease the God of the Israelites.
See also: The Ten Plagues 70–71 ■
The Ark and the Tabernacle 86–87THE MEETING OF SAUL
AND SAMUEL
1 Samuel 9–10Kish, a man from the small tribe
of Benjamin, sends his son Saul to
look for his stray donkey. Frustrated
by the search, Saul’s servant
suggests they ask the seer of a
nearby town for help. This seer is
the Prophet Samuel, who anoints
Saul and tells him God has chosen
him to rule over the Israelites.
The blessing sanctifies Saul’s new
role, preparing the way for him to
become the first king of Israel.
See also: Jacob Wrestles with God
56–57 ■ Moses and the Burning
Bush 66–69 ■ The Prophet Samuel
110 –15SAUL, KING OF ISRAEL
1 Samuel 11When Saul hears that the
Ammonites have threatened the
people of Jabesh, he rushes to their
defense, rallying the people of Israel
by cutting up two oxen and telling
them that the oxen of anyone who
did not join him in battle would be
similarly butchered. The Israelites
are victorious and Saul is declared
king, having earned the respect of
his people with his leadership.
See also: The Ark and the
Tabernacle 86–87 ■ The Prophet
Samuel 110 –15US_332-339_Directory.indd 333 28/09/17 6:06 pm