Since we’ve covered a lot of ground in Joshua Chapter 6, in today’s post I want to get our bearings and do a quick review of the main points we’ve learned so far.
POINT 1: The Law Of HEREM Or “The Ban” Plays A Central Role In Joshua Chapter 6
The principle of the ban (HEREM in Hebrew) is that in a Holy War, all spoils belong to Hashem. This includes all human members of the enemy population, their possessions, their livestock and their homes. Since the spoils of a Holy War are considered Holy Property belonging to God alone, they are forbidden to be taken or used by humans.
POINT 2: The Only Proper Way To Give The Spoils Of War To God Is To Destroy Them Unto Him
All members of the enemy population (and yes this includes women and children) were to be killed and then usually burned up. And in Jericho’s case, all of the cities and villages were also to be destroyed. However, valuable metal instruments, weapons and utensils were normally handed over to the priesthood for their use (probably because they couldn’t be burned up by fire).
POINT 3: The Burning Up Of God’s Holy Property Is Seen In The OLAH (Burnt Offering) Sacrifice
The principle of burning up Hashem’s holy property as a means to devote those things to Him is seen in the burnt offerings sacrificed at the Tabernacle. Again, the main reason God’s holy property is burned up is to prevent other people from using or even touching God’s Holy Property. And by the way, that’s why Ananias and Sapphire were killed. They had devoted the proceeds from their home they had sold to Hashem, an act which instantly turned those proceeds into Holy Property, but then they decided to keep back some of those proceeds (now Holy Property) for themselves. That mistake cost them their lives.
POINT 4: As Demonstrated In Rahab, A Former Enemy Of God Can Be Brought Into The Camp Of Israel After Surrendering To And Pledging Allegiance To The God Of Israel
Recall that after Rahab was rescued, in the beginning, she dwelled OUTSIDE the camp of Israel but then later she was allowed to live INSIDE the camp of Israel. However, even while dwelling outside the camp of Israel, Rahab and her family enjoyed both the protection and fellowship with Israel. However, there were certain benefits she would never fully receive until she moved into the camp which she ultimately did in due time.
POINT 5: A Gentile Believer Is Still Saved Even If He Or She Chooses To Remain Outside The Camp Of Israel But Such A Person’s Faith Is Lacking In Depth And Immature
Once a gentile comes to faith in Hashem through accepting the Jewish Messiah, that person receives some but not all of the blessings of his or her salvation. If the gentile believer grows by coming to a proper understanding that his or her salvation was only possible because of the covenants that God only made with Israel, (“I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”-Matthew 15:24)…
…AND…
…that the law has NOT been abolished (Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law”-Romans 3:31) then he or she will have taken one step closer to entering into the camp of Israel and developing a closer relationship with God’s Chosen People. However, either way that person has been saved just as it was with Rahab whether she stayed inside the camp or not.
POINT 6: It Is NOT Necessary To Convert To Judaism Or Physically Move To The Land Of Israel To Enter Inside The Camp Of Israel
Regarding conversion, remember Paul said…“Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them“-1 Corinthians 7:18-20.
I’m talking more about a spiritual transformation than anything else. I myself live in Tokyo, Japan but am still connected to the land and people of Israel through my faith. Besides, in the future (maybe much sooner than anyone of us can imagine), the whole world is going to be ruled by Messiah and be under Torah law. In other words, in a sense, the whole planet is going to be one huge Israel with planet earth’s capital being Jerusalem. When that happens, all the nations of the world will be paying homage to the King in Jerusalem.
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