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     THE TANACH STUDY CENTER [http://www.tanach.org]
          In Memory of Rabbi Abraham Leibtag
     Shiurim in Chumash & Navi by Menachem Leibtag
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   SEFER YEHOSHUA - QUESTIONS FOR SELF STUDY
          Set # 3  - chapters 9 thru 12


CHAPTER 9 - The Treaty with the Givonim

1.  If you have access to a roadmap of Israel, note the north-
south highway [#60] that runs through the central mountain
range of Israel, beginning in Beer Sheva - then passing north
via Hebron, Jerusalem, Ramalla, Shechem, Jenin, and ending in
Afula in Emek Yizrael.  You should also be able to find modern
day Givon, slightly west of Ramalla, between Ramot and Givat
Zeev.
  [If you have a more detailed map [note highway #437], you
  should be able to locate the Arab village of El-Jib,
  slightly southwest of Ramalla - which is the accepted site
  of the Biblical city of Givon.]

  Then, note an east-west highway that begins in Jericho, and
continues north-west passing Bet-El to Ramalla (highways #449
then #457 & #437), and then continuing from Ramalla south-west
passing Givon towards Latrun (via Emek Ayalon - highway #443)
as it meets the Jerusalem Tel Aviv Highway and coastal plain.

     Note how Givon is located very close to the intersection
between these two ancient roads, and hence controlled a very
strategic location.
     Use this information to explain why the Givonim were the
first nation to attempt a peace treaty with Yehoshua,
considering that he had just conquered Yericho, ha'Ai and Be-el.
     Similarly, use this information to explain why the
neighboring kings became so angry with the Givonim (see 10:1-4)?
     Finally, note 9:17 - which indicates that the Givonim
lived in several cities in this general area (also located
near the crossroads between the north-south & east-west
highways).  Relate this point as well to the questions above.

2.  The story in this chapter raises the fundamental question
whether the nations of Canaan had the option to reach a peace
agreement with Yehoshua.  In other words, was Yehoshua
obligated to kill all the seven nations, even if the offered
to make peace; or was making peace a serious option?
  In regard to this topic, see Devarim 20:10-18, Rambam
Hilchot Melachim Chapter 6, and the gemarah in Gittin  46a.
     Based on those sources, were the seven nations allowed to
make peace with Bnei Yisrael?   [If so, under what
conditions?]
  If so, why didn't the Givonim just ask for peace?  In other
words, why did they need to trick Yehoshua to think they were
from afar?  [Relate to 9:22-26.]  In your opinion, were the
Givonim aware that peace was indeed a possibility (even
without pretending to be from far away)?  [See Rambam Hilchot
Melachim 6:5.]

3.  In chapter nine, the "nesi'im" [leaders of the tribes] are
quite eager to make a treaty with this 'foreign nation'.  Can
you explain the reason for this eagerness?
     Relate to the potential 'political' advantages of this
treaty, and the Biblical purpose for why Am Yisrael was chosen
to become God's special nation.  [Relate to 9:6-11!]

4.  What was the basic difference between the first "brit"
[treaty] made with the Givonim (reached via deception), and
the second "brit" that was made with the Givonim, after their
true identity was ascertained.  [Compare 9:11-15 with 9:20-
23.]
     Which treaty contained better 'conditions' for the
Givonim?

5. Considering the fact that they were tricked, why couldn't
Bnei Yisrael simply break their "shevuah" [oath]?
  In your opinion, had they broken this promise, would it have
truly created a "chilul Hashem" [a desecration of God's name]?
  If so, why?
  Can you suggest any other reason [either ethical or
military] for why Bnei Yisrael preferred not to kill them?

6.  In your opinion, why were the Givonim given the job to be
specifically wood choppers and water carriers?  In your
opinion, does this describe a specific profession, or does it
define a social class?  Relate to Devarim 29:10!
     Review 9:27.  Why is part of their work dedicated for the
Mishkan?  What is the meaning of "la'makom asher yivchar"?
[Relate to Devarim 12:5-1!]

Chapter 10 - The War with the Five Kings
1.  As you study chapter ten, note how it can be divided into
several sections.  Identify and give a title to each section,
and explain the progression of topic,
     In your opinion, is 10:15 recorded out of chronological
order?  If so, can you suggest a reason for why it is written
at this point in the chapter?
     Finally, as you study the chapter, note of how and when
God becomes involved in this stage of the conquest, as well as
to who takes the primary initiative in fighting these battles,
[Relate this to your understanding of the primary theme of the
book.]

2.  Note the various cities of the five kings listed in 10:1-
3).  What was the military reason for the decision of the five
kings to attack the Givonim?  [Relate to the questions in
chapter 9.]
     Was there a 'political' reason as well for this alliance?
     Based on the Givonim's desire to make a treaty, and the
Five Kings' resolve to capture that area, what can we assume
in regard to what the nations of Canaan concluded concerning
Yehoshua's military strategy for conquering the land.

3. Why do the Givonim send to Yehoshua for military
assistance?  [See 10:6.]  What gave them reason to think that
that Yehoshua would indeed help them?  From a military
perspective, do they stand a chance (without Yehoshua's help)
against these Five Kings?  In your opinion, do the Five Kings
expect that Yehoshua would come to their rescue?

4.  From the outcome of chapter nine, one could reach the
conclusion that the 'only' reason that Yehoshua didn't kill
the Givonim was because of the 'oath' (that they had
mistakenly taken), but otherwise, they would have totally
destroyed their cities (see 9:17-27).
  If so, would it not have been better for Yehoshua to allow
the Five Kings to conquer the Givonim, and hence 'finish the
job' that Bnei Yisrael could not do (due to a technicality)?
  What can we learn from the fact that Yehoshua does come to
their immediate aid?
  [In your opinion, who made the decision to help the Givonim
  in battle; – God or Yehoshua himself?]

5. In addition to being loyal to his covenant with the
Givonim, what did Yehoshua have to gain (from a military
perspective) by attacking the Five Kings at this time?
     Considering that these kings all lived within walled
cities, how was Yehoshua originally planning to take their
cities?
  [In other words, what major military problem did Yehoshua
  solve through this surprise attack?  ]

6.  When the Five Kings originally launched their attack
against Givon, did they expect Yehoshua to engage them?
  Base your answer on their reaction when they saw his army.
  Can you explain why were they caught by surprise, and why
they chose to run away (instead of attacking back)?  Why did
they attempt to flee so quickly to their walled cities, and
why was Yehoshua so eager to chase them?
     How much time did Yehoshua have to catch up with the
fleeing enemy?  [Note 10:17-19!]
  Considering this situation, attempt to explain the military
reason for Yehoshua's special request from God of "shemesh
b'Givon dom..." [i.e. for the sun not to set so fast].  How
does this relate to the enemy running away to their walled
cities?
     In what way does God answer this request?  Relate this as
well to the "avnei elgabish" that fall from heaven,
considering that God provides this assistance, even though
Yehoshua never asked for it!
     How did these miracles help Yehoshua solve one of the
major military problems that he faced in his attempt to
conquer the cities of southern Israel?

7.  In 10:28-43, Yehoshua continues his military campaign.  In
these battles, how is the problem of attacking walled cities
solved?  [Note how many battles are fought outside the cities,
and how many battles are fought on the open field (and why).
  As you study these psukim, (using a map of Israel) note the
path of Yehoshua's conquest of the major cities of the south.
Noting the topography of these areas, can you explain why
certain areas were not captured?

8.  Based on 10:42, to whom does the Sefer Yehoshua credit
this impressive list of victories?  Would it be possible to
reach a different conclusion?  Relate this to purpose of Sefer
Yehoshua.

CHAPTERS 11-12: The Capture of the Northern Kings
1.  How (and why) did the events in chapter ten lead the
northern kings' decision` to join forces to fight Yehoshua?
Why had they not done so earlier?
     How (and where) did they plan to attack him?
     Is this where the battle actually took place?  If not,
explain why not.  [In other words, what was Yehoshua's
strategic response to their planned attack?]

2.  The fact that all of the kings of the north gathered
against Yehoshua was definitely to his disadvantage.  [Explain
why.]
     Can you explain why this may have also been to Yehoshua's
advantage?  [What military problem did this solve (once
again)?]
     In what manner was the battle against the northern kings
similar to the battle with the southern kings, and it what
manner was it different?
     Attempt to locate the cities mentioned in this chapter on
a map.

3.  In what manner did God help Yehoshua in these battles?  In
your answer, relate to 11:6-9.
     Can you explain the logic of why God commanded them to
destroy all the captured chariots and maim their horses?
     Is their any military advantage value in this?
     [Relate to Devarim 17:14-20, especially 17:16!]

4. Review 11:16-20.  Find these areas (that Bnei Yisrael
captured) on a map of Israel.   What is the primary prophetic
point that the sefer is making in this conclusion?
  Compare the areas noted in 11:16-19 with the specific names
of the cities listed in chapter 12.  Do the places in chapter
11 coincide with the places in chapter 12?   [Relate your
answer to 11:20.]
  Based on these concluding psukim, what thematic point is
Sefer Yehoshua trying to make?  How does this relate to the
opening psukim of the Sefer (see 1:1-4).

5.  Trace the major battles in Sefer Yehoshua as a function of
God's intervention.  In other words, does God intervene to
help each time, or is His intervention in some battles more
obvious than in others?
     As you study the progression of these events, see if you
can identify a general pattern in relation to the intensity of
God's intervention (and miracles).  Can you explain the
'educational' significance of this pattern?
     In your answer, relate to God's "hashgacha" [Providence]
over Bnei Yisrael in their daily life while living in the land
of Israel, in contrast to God's "hashgacha" over Am Yisrael
during their journey in the Desert.
     In general, is it better for battles to be won through
miracles or via natural ways?
  [On a similar note, is it 'better' to eat bread that falls
  from heaven [like the manna], or bread baked from wheat that
  was 'home-grown' from the ground?]

6. Note how chapter 12 lists the defeated kings of Canaan in a
manner similar to a "shira" [a song].
     Compare the style of this "shira" to others in Tanach.
How is it similar, and how is it different?  Based on the
style of how it is written, is it more similar to "shirat
ha'yam" or "shirat ha'azinu"?  In what manner is the message
of Sefer Yehoshua similar to the message of "shirat Haazinu"?
[Relate to Devarim 31:16-18, and our TSC shiur on Parshat
Haazinu.]

                              b'hatzlacha
                              menachem