Chapter 9                                                                          Part 3   Two versions of one tale             We saw in Joshua chapter 8 several examples of Bible editor mingling more than a single version of an event and, by doing so, creating a difficult to decipher mixed text. Chapter 9 is another instance. Many scholars[1] see two tales in [...]

                                                         Chapter 9                                                              Part 2 In part 1 of this chapter I mentioned briefly that Maimonides felt that God wanted the Israelites to offer the Canaanites peace before attacking them. This may not be true. I also mentioned briefly that the ancients, including Jews, felt that they are unable to quash vows. I will [...]

                                                                  Chapter 9                                                                       Part 1                               Was Joshua Acting Morally When He Enslaved the Gibeonites?[1]   Joshua’s behavior toward the Gibeonites in Joshua 9 is another chapter that is difficult to understand unless it is read in a rational manner. The chapter relates that the inhabitants of Gibeon, a collection of [...]