The New Pharaohs of Joshua and Judges

Key takeaways

The Exodus is a complex narrative that serves as a template for understanding Israel's journey from slavery to redemption and their struggles in the Promised Land.
Rahab, often seen as an outsider, emerges as a key figure of faithfulness, illustrating God's unexpected use of individuals to fulfill His plans.
The dynamic of oppression within the narrative shifts from the Canaanite kings to the Israelites themselves, showing the dangers of turning away from God.
There is a future hope for a true return from exile and into a promised land, fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus, reflecting the overarching biblical theme of redemption.

Summary

The Exodus Narrative and Its Themes

The episode dives deep into the theme of the Exodus as a formative narrative for the Israelites. It discusses the journey from slavery in Egypt through the wilderness and finally into the Promised Land, revealing that the entrance into the land is fraught with complications and new challenges. The narrative sets up an analogy with the Canaanite leaders being akin to pharaohs, representing obstacles and tests that the Israelites must overcome on their journey.

Rahab: The Surprising Hero

A significant portion of the podcast focuses on Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute who defies expectations by demonstrating faith in Yahweh. Her actions are not just those of self-preservation; she also shows understanding and reverence for God’s power. The discussion highlights how God's plans can involve the most unexpected figures, challenging conventional notions of heroism and morality.

The Inversion of Power Dynamics in Joshua and Judges

The conversation moves into Joshua and Judges, where the identities of oppressors shift. In Joshua, the Canaanite kings represent the new pharaohs, but as Israel enters into the land, their own corruption leads them to become oppressors in Judges. This complex portrayal of oppression versus faithfulness emphasizes the cyclical nature of Israel’s history and the moral ambiguities present in the narrative.

The Messianic Hope and Future Restoration

In concluding remarks, the hosts reflect on the broader implications of the Exodus template, suggesting a Messianic leader who ultimately brings salvation not just for Israel but for all nations. They connect this to Isaiah’s prophetic vision of a new cosmic Exodus where a true promised land is realized, emphasizing hope amidst the historical cycles of corruption and redemption.

Show notes

The Exodus Way E5 — By the time we get to the scroll of Joshua, the Israelites are preparing to enter the land of promise. But we quickly discover a reverse Exodus happening in the narrative. The Canaanite kings—who are depicted as new pharaohs—assemble with armies to meet Israel on the other side of the Jordan River. And in the midst of the story, a Canaanite woman in Jericho actually shows more faith than anyone! Then in the following scroll of Judges, the identity of the pharaohs shifts again—this time to the Israelites, who enslave themselves due to their own corruption and injustice. In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss how Joshua and Judges hyperlink back to the Exodus Way narrative theme, while also pointing to a coming Messianic leader who can lead us out of exile, through the wilderness, and into a true land of inheritance.

CHAPTERS

Recap of the Theme So Far (0:00-6:50)
The Surprising Story of Rahab (6:50-20:15)
Canaanite Kings as the New Pharaohs in Joshua (20:15-41:09)
Israelites as the New Pharaohs in Judges (41:09-49:40)

OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

View this episode’s official transcript.

REFERENCED RESOURCES

Berit Olam: Joshua by L. Daniel Hawk
Joshua in 3-D: A Commentary on Biblical Conquest and Manifest Destiny by L. Daniel Hawk
Every Promise Fulfilled: Contesting Plots in Joshua by L. Daniel Hawk
You can view annotations for this episode—plus our entire library of videos, podcasts, articles, and classes—in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.
Check out Tim’s extensive collection of recommended books here.

SHOW MUSIC

“Mario Kart” by SwuM
“Self Luv” by SwuM
“Reflect” by SwuM & Benno
BibleProject theme song by TENTS

SHOW CREDITS

Production of today’s episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer. Frank Garza and Aaron Olsen edited today’s episode. Aaron Olsen and Tyler Bailey provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.

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