Torah Reading is Shelah-Lekha (Numbers 3-15); Haftorah is Joshua 2: 1-24
By Irv Jacobs, M.D.
LA JOLLA, California — This prose extract from Joshua described as the work of ‘Former Prophets.’ It tells of an alleged event en route toward the conquest of Jericho as inserted by the Deuteronomist writer(s). These writers produced the misnamed so-called ‘prophetic writings’ from Joshua through Kings II. [1]
Per archaeology-research, there is no evidence of a conquest of Jericho, which site was lightly occupied in the time of Joshua. [2]
Jericho, the oldest city on earth, has been continuously occupied for 14,000 years. However the population has been sparse since the city was destroyed by an earthquake c. 1573 BCE. Today the population is c. 20,000. [3]
The writers, here ‘representing’ Joshua, are unknown, and to today’s scholars are not even considered prophets. More plausible grounds is to call these verses from the Book of Joshua part of the Deuteronomist history. This history was created actually as late as 621 BCE, during the reign of King Josiah of Judah (640-609 BCE).
During his reign the core of Deuteronomy was ‘discovered’ on dusty shelves during an overdue cleaning in the Temple. It is believed by scholars that this ‘discovery’ was actually the creation of the book of Deuteronomy.
I have utilized the translation and interpretations of Emeritus Professor Robert Alter of UC Berkeley in his opus The Hebrew Bible, Volume 2, Prophets. He asserts that the Deuteronomist “clearly drew on a wide variety of preexisting texts, some of them probably preserved in royal archives, from annals to folktales and legends to the most artfully articulated historical narratives.” [4]
Overall, the Deuteronomist stories cover the time of Joshua through the book of Kings II.
There is no detectable prophecy in the episode. Its relationship to the parasha is that both involve spies. In the Torah parasha, Moses commanded 12 Hebrew to spy out the land of Canaan, and bring back a report. In the Haftorah, Joshua sends two spies to scout the land, specifically Jericho. [5]
The text reads:
“And Joshua…sent..two spies, saying, ‘Go, see the land, and Jericho.”…and they came to the house of a whore-woman…Rehab, and…slept there…And it was said to the king of Jericho…’men of the Israelites have come…to search out the land,’…the king of Jericho sent to Rehab…’Bring out the men who have come to you…your house…’
“And the woman had…hidden them…on the roof…(and alibied) that (they had gone and could be pursued.) [6]
“And the men (of Jericho) pursued them along the Jordan…and they closed the gate…after them…
“They had not…bedded down when she went up…to the roof…And…said to them, ‘I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that your terror has fallen upon us…and (we) quail before you. [7] For we have heard how the Lord (saved you )…out to Egypt, and what you did…to (Kings) Sihon and Og…And we heard…the Lord your God…(is with you.)
“And now…vow to me…for I have done kindness with you, that you, too, shall do kindness with my father’s house…and save our lives…
“And the men said to her…’So long as you do not tell of this mission of ours…when the Lord gives us this land, we shall do faithful kindness with you.”
“And she lowered them with a rope…and said…’Go to the high country…hide there three days…Then you may go your way,”
“And the men…said to her, “We will be clear of this vow…when we come into (your) land, you must tie this scarlet cord…in the window…and all your father’s house you must gather…within the house…whoever…be with you in the house (will be safe.) [8]”
Now comes the mandatory upbeat end for the Haftorah:
“And they went…and the pursuers searched…and did not find them…And the two crossed over to Joshua…and recounted…And…said, ‘Yes, the Lord has given all the land into our hands…and all the dwellers of the land quail before us.’”
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NOTES
[1] Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible, Prophets Vol. 2, W. W. Norton & Company, New York, 2019, p. Xliii
[2] Battle of Jericho, Wikipedia: Archaeologist William G. Dever characterizes the story of the fall of Jericho as “invented out of whole cloth.”
[3] Jericho, Khan Academy
[4] Op. cit, Alter, p. xiv
[5] Etz Hayim,The Jewish Publication Society, 2001, New York, p. 856: This story of the scouts and Rehab of Jericho is considered to contain the element of ‘mercy’ against a background of intended annihilation.
[6] Op. cit. Alter, p11: In the Hebrew, her answer to the King’s inquiry, likely was that the two men were merely her customers.
[7] Ibid, Alter, p.12: Rehab directly quotes here ‘The Song pf the Sea’ (Exodus 15:15-16), indicating that the news of the Israelites’ escape across the Sea of Reeds had reached Jericho.
[8] Ibid, Alter, p.13: so the Israelite attackers will know which house they are to spare.
It is seen that these passages, mislabeled as prophecy, are a misnomer, attributed to the so-called Former Prophets. The rabbis who selected these words clearly sought out a spy episode to parallel those of the Torah, then took the liberty to call them prophecy.
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Irv Jacobs is a retired medical doctor who delights in Torah analysis. He often delivers a drosh at Congregation Beth El in La Jolla, and at his chavurah.