Dr Paul Allen

Moses with the tablets of the Ten Commandments, painting by Rembrandt (1659) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) A place of asylum granted by Mosaic law (the Book of the Covenant) to those Israelites who had unintentionally killed fellow Israelites, allowing them to escape the law of blood revenge (the so-called lex talionis) (Exod. 21:13–14).  These were cities that had an altar. The Old Testament records only two incidents in which Israelites made use of this right: Adonijah, David’s son, who proclaimed himself king and whose life was spared by Solomon, David’s actual successor (1 Kgs. 1:50–53); and Joab, David’s general (who was not, in fact, granted asylum by King Solomon on account of the innocent lives he had taken [2:28–34]). Because not every Israelite who needed to was able to flee to the central sanctuary (the tabernacle or temple), the Lord commanded Moses to urge the Israelites to select from the levitical cities six cities of refuge—three on either side of the Jordan—o

English: Israel Enters the Promised Land, as in Joshua 3:5-17, illustration from a Bible card published between 1896 and 1913 by the Providence Lithograph Company (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Joshua 3:13 The Jordan River was at flood stage . So did his people worry when God said, “Have the priests pick up the Ark of the Covenant and walk into the water”? Did the priests wonder if they could hold onto the Ark in the swirling water? Did they think they would be swept away and lose their lives? No matter, God told them what would happen when they did what he said. They had to have enough faith to put their feet in the water.  And that’s when the miracle happened. Somewhere way up stream the waters were cut off and piled up. Even more miraculous, the ground in the river bed was dry. The priests walked to the middle of the river and stood there until all the people crossed over into the Promised Land . When God is the architect, we are the workers, using our hands, our feet, our

The Children of Israel Crossing the Jordan (illustration by Gustave Doré) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days” (Heb. 11:30). Forty years had elapsed since the Israelites refused to enter the Promised Land . That unbelieving generation had perished in the wilderness. Now Joshua was leading a new generation into the land. The first obstacle they faced was Jericho—a well- fortified city that was near the mouth of the Jordan River . Some city walls of that day were wide enough at the top to allow two chariots to ride side by side. That was probably true of Jericho because of its strategic location. That, coupled with the caliber of its army, made the city virtually impregnable—especially to unsophisticated Israelites, who lacked military training. But what is impossible for man is easy for God. And the stage was set for Him to demonstrate His power and for the Israelites to demonstrate their faith and hum

Jacob's Body Carried into Canaan To Be Buried (illustration from the 1728 Figures de la Bible) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Where the Bible makes us uncomfortable is precisely where we need to slow down. It is compelling evidence of a specific weakness. When our thoughts or feelings bristle under God 's Word, He is right and we wrong. That said, it is understandable that so many would recoil from God's command that every living person in Canaan be put to death as His people conquer the land. No mercy for those women and children, no compassion on the aged, God's instructions were as clear as they were brutal. Many outside the faith have planted their flag here, arguing that our God is immoral, monstrous. Many on the fringes of the faith perform sundry exegetical gymnastics to wiggle out from under the account. Many faithful believers are simply puzzled and embarrassed. The God we worship, however, the true and living God, did in fact give this command, and righ

The Children of Israel Crossing the Jordan (illustration by Gustave Doré) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the Lord said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed." ( Joshua 13:1 ) There is no set " retirement age " for the Christian , for there is always "yet very much land to be possessed." Joshua had survived 40 years in the wilderness, then led in the long hard conquest of Canaan , and was now at least 80 years of age. Not only was he "old and stricken in years," but God even told him he was old! But instead of allowing him to settle down to enjoy a few retirement years in his hard-won new home, God sent Joshua out once again for further conquests. That must always be the case with those who love and serve the Lord. There is still much Scripture to study and learn, many people yet to reach with a gospel witness, many with whom to share

English: Conquest of Canaan, as appears in the book of Joshua עברית: כיבוש ארץ כנען בימי יהושע (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “This day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because you have not committed this treachery against the LORD. Now you have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD” ( Josh. 22:31b). The relief of the delegation from the west is palpable in this passage. Phineas the priest and the 10 rulers of the tribes settled in Canaan came with a hard message for the tribes east of the Jordan River : “Turn back from your apparent sin in the construction of this altar or face war, for we cannot allow this transgression to stand lest God judge us all.” But the answer of the eastern tribes has left no doubt that they acted not out of rebellion against God but from zeal for His worship . The author of the book of Joshua tells us that the easterners’ answer and their evident sincerity leave Phineas and the others from the west “pleased.” This, howev

Image via Wikipedia “ And he said, ‘No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord . Now I have come.’ And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped” ( Josh. 5:14 ). Consciously or not, all of us evaluate the people we meet in order to determine if they are potential friends or foes. Male or female, we all learn early in life that not everyone can be trusted and that competition is an ever-present reality. If we are to “win,” we know that we have to understand what we are up against. Shortly before the siege of Jericho , we read of Joshua’s attempt to size up a potentially powerful friend or deadly enemy. Having been made the leader of Israel after the death of Moses ( Josh. 1:1–9 ), he and th Image via Wikipedia e nation were encamped just outside the city where Joshua meets a man standing before him, sword drawn (5:13). Though Joshua asks this figure an either/or question regarding whether He is on Israel’s side, the man does not choose any of Joshua’s proffered opti