The Joshua Covenant
January 22, 2026 • Arthur Bailey • Joshua 24
The final Chapter of Joshua is set at Shechem where he calls together all the tribes of Israel to a renewal of the Covenant made with YeHoVaH. It was his final official act as YeHoVaH's servant and mediator of YeHoVaH's rule over His people. In his farewell address, Joshua gives a brief history of Israel’s past from the calling of Abraham out of the land of his fathers who worshipped other gods, to the Israelites stay and deliverance from Egypt, then to the establishment of Israel in the land of promise. Joshua reminds Israel of all of the redemptive acts of YeHoVaH and confronts them with a Covenant renewal where they are challenged and charged to commit themselves to YeHoVaH, the Almighty, and none other.
Words of Warning to Israel
January 8, 2026 • Arthur Bailey • Joshua 23
Joshua, in his old age, called all of the tribes of Israel together to share with them words of encouragement to complete the task of occupying all of the promised land they had been given by YeHoVaH. He informs them that his remaining days are short and reminds them of all they had accomplished with the leadership, guidance, and Instructions of YeHoVaH who fought for them. Joshua warns the Israelites and their leaders of the importance of staying focused on the task of driving all the Canaanites out of the land and to not align with them in any way nor engage in their worship or else the same God who gave them the land to possess would destroy them from off the land of promise. He challenges them not to break the Covenant they have with YeHoVaH for it would provoke Him to anger.
Israel’s Tribal Unity Tested
January 1, 2026 • Arthur Bailey • Joshua 22
Joshua 22 records a critical moment in Israel’s early life in the Promised Land, when unity among the tribes is tested by a serious misunderstanding between the tribes west of the Jordan and the tribes east of the Jordan. After the land west of the Jordan had been largely subdued, Joshua formally releases the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh to return to their allotted inheritance east of the Jordan River. They had faithfully honored their commitment to help their brethren conquer Canaan. On their return journey, the eastern tribes built a large altar whichimmediately alarmed the western tribes who assumed the altar represented rebellion, apostasy, or a rival system of worship and prepared for war topreserve loyalty to YeHoVaH and His Commandments. The assumption by the western tribes presented a major test of Israel’s Tribal Unity.
Cities of Refuge and Levitical Cities
December 25, 2025 • Arthur Bailey • Joshua 20, Joshua 21
Joshua Chapters 20 and 21 establish the governmental, judicial, and spiritual framework necessary for the covenant relationship between YeHoVaH and the Children of Israel in the Promised Land. Together, these Chapters include righteous order, spiritual leadership, justice, faithfulness to Torah, and that YeHoVaH is faithful to keeping His promises. Joshua 20 shows YeHoVaH’s concern for justice tempered with mercy, protecting innocent life, and ensuring righteous judgment in cities of refuge. Joshua 21 allocates cities to the Levites and demonstrates YeHoVaH’s commitment to His people and confirms that every promise spoken was being fulfilled.
Israel Receives Their Inheritance
December 18, 2025 • Arthur Bailey • Joshua 19
Joshua 19 records the final stage of territorial distribution among the tribes of Israel as they settle the land promised by YeHoVaH to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel. This Chapter follows the same pattern established in Joshua 13–18: land assignments were conducted “before YeHoVaH” by Eleazar the Priest, Joshua, andthe tribal leaders using the lot system directed by YeHoVaH. Joshua 18 focused largely on Benjamin’s inheritance and the call for the remaining tribes to take the land seriously. Joshua 19 completes the allotment process by detailing the territories of Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan. The Chapter ends with a significant final act: Joshua himself receives aninheritance – not by lot, but by the Commandment of YeHoVaH – honoring faithful leadership and obedience.
Taking Possession of The Promised LandThe Death Penalty
December 11, 2025 • Arthur Bailey • Joshua 18
Joshua 18 marks a pivotal transition in Israel’s taking possession of the promised land. Though much of the land had already been subdued and five tribes allotted their tribal land, seven tribes remained without their allotted inheritance. This Chapter exposes a spiritual and practical danger that still confronts Believers today: the tendency to grow passive after initial victories. While YeHoVaH had promised the land and given victory over major enemies, the people now hesitated to fully possess what had already been granted to them. Israel’s procrastination in completing the task they had been given resulted in disobedience and slackness in taking full possession of the promised Land and led to a confrontation from Joshua and a renewed focus to taking possession of the promised land.
Ephraim and Manasseh’s Inheritance
December 4, 2025 • Arthur Bailey • Joshua 1:17–18
Joshua Chapters 16 and 17 continue the distribution of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel, focusing specifically on the descendants of Joseph, the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. These Chapters form a critical bridge in the land-inheritance narrative. They reveal how YeHoVaH fulfills His oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, by allotting territory to the two tribes who would play central roles in Israel’s future history, identity, and even prophetic destiny. The allotment to Joseph is unique. Although Joseph is one man, his descendants receive a double portion, reflecting Israel’s blessing that Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, would each become a tribe in Israel. Ephraim and Manasseh’s disobedience become a continuing source of spiritual and national trouble in Israel’s later history.
Judah’s Inheritance
November 20, 2025 • Arthur Bailey • Joshua 15
YeHoVaH gave Joshua specific geographical Instructions for The Land that remained to be taken possession of, and how The Land was to be divided and distributed amongst the nine tribes and the half tribe of Manasseh that had not been given any territory. Special Instructions had also been given for Levi, the one tribe that would not be given any tribal land and the reason thereof. This Chapter records the territorial inheritance of the tribe of Judah, the largest and most prominent tribe in Israel. It begins with the boundaries of Judah’s land, followed by the conquest and inheritance of Caleb, and concludes with a detailed listing of Judah’s cities and towns.
Caleb’s Inheritance
November 13, 2025 • Arthur Bailey • Joshua 14
The previous Chapter marked a transition from conquering a major portion of the Promised Land to the allocation of tribal inheritance. While the earlier Chapters (1–12) described the military campaigns that secured the land, Chapter 13 began the distribution of that Land among the tribes of Israel. YeHoVaH informed Joshua in his old age that much of The Land remained to be conquered. This Chapter is both historical and fulfilling, showing how a promise made by YeHoVaH, through Moses decades earlier, was being fulfilled. Caleb’s unwavering faith, his courage at age 85, and his inheritance of Hebron, serve as a testimony of YeHoVaH’s faithfulness and the reward of perseverance.
The Dividing of Tribal Land
November 6, 2025 • Arthur Bailey • Joshua 13:1–13
In the previous Chapter, Joshua provides a conquest narrative highlighting the 33 total kings that were defeated and set the stage for the dividing of the tribal landconquered under Moses and his leadership. Although Joshua had become old in age, there was still much land to be taken from the kings that occupied the land promised to the Children of Israel. YeHoVaH gives Joshua specific geographical Instructions on the land that remained to be taken possession of and how the land was to be divided and distributed amongst the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh that had not been given any territory. Special Instructions were also given for the one tribe that would not be given any tribal land and the reason thereof.
The Kings That Israel Defeated
October 30, 2025 • Arthur Bailey • Joshua 12
Taking possession of the Promised Land prior to crossing over the Jordan River and dispossessing the land of Canaan from the kings and kingdoms that occupied the land began under the Leadership of Moses. After crossing over Jordan under the military leadership of Joshua, taking possession of the occupied territory required YeHoVaH fighting on behalf of and alongside Israel. After a temporary defeat at Ai due to Achan’s disobedience and thievery, the strategy given to Joshua by YeHoVaH led to defeat after defeat of the kings of Canaan. In this Chapter, Joshua provides a conquest narrative highlighting the 33 total kings that were defeated and set the stage for tribal land distribution in the following Chapters.
The LORD "Mighty in Battle"
October 23, 2025 • Arthur Bailey • Joshua 11
The Israelite armies, under Joshua’s leadership and the supernatural help of YeHoVaH, experienced victory after victory in their battles with the various kings and their nations that occupied the land of Canaan. The deceptive representation of the Gibeonites that led to a covenant between the Israelites and the Hivites of Gibeon resulted in the destruction of 7 kings and the acquisition of several major cities in a matter of days. The day Joshua commanded the sun to stand still and the moon to remain in its placed boosted the confidence of the armies of Israel and their captains as YeHoVaH fought on their behalf and led them to take the rest of the northern Canaanite kingdoms including the land belonging to the Anakims, descendants of Anak.
The Day The Sun Stood Still
October 16, 2025 • Arthur Bailey • Joshua 10
The Hivites from Gibeon disguised themselves as people from a distant land and used the name of YeHoVaH to convince Joshua and the leaders of Israel to make peace with them and enter into a covenant with them for the sole purpose of sparing themselves from destruction. That deceptive transaction set a snare for Israel that would require Israel to protect the Hivites from the enemies they had previously agreed to fight with against the Children of Israel. Surrounded by the Amorites, the Hivites call on the Israelites to come and fight with them. Fighting with the Hivites, who had deceived them, against the Amorite kings and their armies positioned Joshua to lead Israel in defense of their new allies, resulting in a miraculous victory where God Himself fights for Israel through hailstones and the lengthening of the day.
The Gibeonite Covenant
October 9, 2025 • Arthur Bailey • Joshua 9
After a strategic and decisive victory over Ai, the writing and reading of the Law to all the Children of Israel, including the strangers that sojourned among them, Joshua and the Princes of Israel were immediately faced with a well thought out and deceptive visit from some of the inhabitants of The Land. Disguised as people from a distant land, the Hivites from the land of Gibeon used the name of YeHoVaH and convinced the leaders of Israel to make peace with them and enter into a covenant with them for the sole purpose of sparing them from destruction. That deceptive transaction set a snare for Israel that would play out for years to come.
The Destruction of Ai
October 2, 2025 • Arthur Bailey • Joshua 8
The action of one man caused a series of catastrophic events that ranged from the defeat of the nation of Israel against Ai, their enemy, to the destruction of his family’s lineage, demonstrating the importance of obeying the Instructions of YeHoVaH. YeHoVaH had informed the people through Joshua that they were to destroy all that was in the city of Ai, both man and woman, young and old, ox, sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword and not to take the accursed thing. One man’s rebellion brought destruction on Israel, but the final destruction of Ai restored the relationship between the Children of Israel and YeHoVaH.