[Par-navi] Yehoshua chapters 13-21 - questions for self study

[Menachem Leibtag]

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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 # 4   - chapters 13 thru 21

CHAPTERS 13-17 -  The "nachala" - settling the land

1.  Even though chapters 11 & 12 leave us with the impression
that most of the land was captured, chapter 13 begins as God
instructs Yehoshua to commence dividing the land that was
conquered among the twelve tribes, so that each tribe could
begin settling their inheritance.
     Based on our shiurim on Sefer Yehoshua thus, far, attempt
to explain the reason for this apparent discrepancy.

2. In your opinion, why didn't Yehoshua divide up the land at
an earlier time?  In other words, why didn't he simply
apportion each area of land immediately after it was
conquered?  In your answer, relate to both military and
'political' considerations.

3. During the time period of the conquest, where were the
people who were not fighting (i.e. the women and children)
encamped?  How was life in their camp different from how it
was when they were encamped in the desert for forty years?
     During the time of the conquest, what would have been the
danger of leaving this camp?  Relate your answer to the above
two questions.

4. Can you suggest a logical reason for why the people would
have been quite hesitant to leave their camp in the Jordan
Valley, and venture out to establish settlements in the
mountain range that had just been captured?  As you continue
your study of Sefer Yehoshua, relate your answer to what
transpires in chapters 13 thru 21, especially in regard to the
relative failure of most of the tribes to inherit their
respective portions.

5. Review 13:2-7, trying to find these 'unconquered areas' on
a map.  What was the geographic (& topographic) nature of
these areas (that had not yet been captured)?  Was it mostly
the hills & valleys, or the seashore area?
     Does this help explain why it wasn't captured?

6. In your opinion, why didn't all of the tribes complete the
conquest together?  In other words, why do all the tribes
fight together until chapter 12, and why does each tribe start
taking care of its own inheritance in chapter 13?
     If the conquest wasn't complete, why were some of the
"nachalot" given out, and why were others only 'mapped out'
(see 18:1-9)?
  In your opinion, was this to enable the conquered areas to
be settled, or to help the unconquered areas be conquered, or
both?  (Explain!)
  
 7.  Even though the stories describing the conquest of the
land were described primarily in the first twelve chapters, we
also find a few scattered stories concerning conquest in
chapters 13-17 as well.  After finding those stories, can you
explain why they are included in the second half of Sefer
Yehoshua, and not in the first half (that deals with the
conquest)?

8.  Even though the portions of Reuven and Gad were already
detailed in Sefer Devarim, their borders are repeated once
again in Sefer Yehoshua chapter 13.  Can you explain why?
     Relate this to the overall theme of the book!

9.  The portions of five tribes are discussed in rather
lengthy details in chapters 13 through 17, while the portions
of six tribes are detailed in very limited detail in chapter
19.  Can you explain why?   Relate to the attitude of these
five tribes towards their inheritance in contrast to the
attitude of the remaining seven tribes.
     How does Sefer Yehoshua differentiate between these two
groups of tribes?  Relate to 18:1-6, and once again to the
overall theme of the Sefer!

10. Why did the tribe of Yehuda receive the area surrounding
the city of Hebron?   In your answer, relate to Bamidbar
chapter 13.
  Similarly, why did the tribe of Yosef receive their portion
in the area surrounding Shechem and Dotan?
  In your answer, relate to the story of the sale of Yosef in
Bereishit chapter 37, and to 48:22!

11.  Based on what is described in these chapters, what was
the attitude of the tribes of Yosef and Yehuda regarding their
inheritance?   In what manner did they take a greater
initiative than the remaining seven tribes?


Chapter 18
1. Review 18:1-10.  In your opinion, what was the purpose of
these 'lots' that were cast in Shiloh?  Were they needed to
choose which tribe would receive which portion, or was the
general area of these tribes already known, and the 'lottery'
was to make their borders 'official'?
  In your answer, relate to: Breishit 49:13, Devarim 34:1-4,
Bamidbar 33:50-56 and Chapter 34.  See also Ramban Hilchot
Terumot 1:1-5

2.  In your opinion, why did Yehoshua decide to move the
Mishkan from Gilgal to Shilo (see 18:1)?
  In what way did that transition encourage the remaining
tribes to take their "nachalot"?  What do you think would have
happened (or would not have happened) had the Mishkan remained
in Gilgal?
  Can you explain why Yehoshua did not move the Mishkan to
Yerushalayim at that time; or why he didn't  build a permanent
Temple?  Relate to Devarim 12:1-12!  [See also  Mishnayot
Zevachim 14:4-8.]

3.  Note that Binyamin is the first of these seven tribes to
receive their portion.  In what manner is the description of
their "nachala" more detailed than that of the six tribes that
follow (in chapter 19)?
  As you review 18:11-28, notice the extensive use of the word
"ketef"  in Binyamin's border.   Is this word used in the
description of the border of any other tribe?  If so, which
tribe and on which border?
     Then, see Devarim 33:12, noticing once again the word
"katef".  What does the phrase "u'vein ketefav shachein"
imply?  Based on this, explain the significance of the word
"ketef" in Sefer Yehoshua chapter 18.

4. Identify the four tribes that share a border with Binyamin.
     Draw a sketch of Binyamin and these four surrounding
"nachalot", noting their orientation.  Then, compare them to
the positions in which the tribes encamped around the Mishkan,
according to Bamidbar chapter 2.  Who were the four leadership
tribes in Sefer Bamidbar, and in what relative formation did
they surround the Mishkan?
     In what way are the "nachalot" of these tribes similar to
the arrangement of the tribes around the Mishkan?
  Can you suggest any significance in this parallel?  (See the
Ramban's introduction to Sefer Bamidbar).
     Based on this comparison, can you explain why "nachalat
Binyamin" is also referred to as "nachalat Shechina"(the
portion of the Divine presence)?


Chapters 19-21
1.  How is the description of the nachalot of the tribes
mentioned in chapter 19 different than those of the other
tribes who were described earlier?  Can you explain why there
is a difference?
     Relate this once again to the overall theme of Sefer
Yehoshua, and 'who is to blame' for the failure of Am Yisrael
to complete the conquest!

2. Using a topographical map with major roads marked, find the
locations of the three "arei miklat" (cities of refuge)
described in chapter 20.   Explain why specifically these
cities were chosen based on their geographic location along
the major highways that cross Israel.

3.  Note that these cities were also part of the portion of
the tribe of Levi.  Can you explain the advantage of putting
these 'convicted murderers' in cities together with the
Levites?

4.  Why didn't the tribe of Levi receive a 'proper'
inheritance, and why were their cities scattered among the
portions of the other tribes?
  Relate your answer to the national duties of shevet Levi,
based on Breishit 49:7, Devarim 33:10, and Bamidbar 18:21-24.
  
5.  Without having a portion in the land (to farm etc.), how
were the Leviim supposed to make a living?  In your answer,
relate to Bamidbar 3:5-13, 18:21-24!  See also Devarim 18:1-8.
     In what manner can the tribe of Levi be considered 'civil
servants', and the system of tithing ["maaser"] be compared to
paying income tax?

6.  Note how the tribe of Shimon seemed to have quite some
trouble in establishing their "nachala".  (See 19:9)  In what
manner was this similar to the fate of the tribe of Levi?
Relate this to Breishit 49:5-7.

                              b'hatzlacha
                              menachem