Joshua Draining the Swamp in Canaan

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The migration of the Israel nation and conquest of Jericho would have taken from sometime in January to mid-April.

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An attempt at an estimated timeline using the 2020-2021 calendar.

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Joshua 2:1

Joshua Sends Spies From Acacia Grove / Abel-Shittim (east of Jordan river)

Jericho is about 43 miles from the Jordan river (Wikipedia) so Abel-Shittim would be about 3x further or 129 miles. Total trip one way is 172 miles on foot. Round trip is 344 miles.

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Calculations:

https://www.verywellfit.com/miles-and-kilometers-how-far-is-that-3435412

Mile: A mile is 1.61 kilometers or 5280 feet. It takes 15 to 20 minutes to walk 1 mile at a moderate pace.

Marathon: 26.2 miles or 42 kilometers. It can 6.5 to 8 hours or more to walk a marathon at a moderate pace, depending on your pace and how often you stop.

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If it takes about 8 hours (1 day) to walk 26 miles, then it would take about 13-14 days to walk 344 miles.

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Also, this is at a marathon pace. Men, women and children were traveling into the promised land.

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They were therefore walking slower and resting more  as a group.

The men spies could move a little quicker.

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Joshua 2:2-21

Spies Hide in Rahab’s Home in Jericho

Joshua 2:16 also indicates they hid from the pursuers for 3 days before returning home. We can assume the spies stayed at least one day with Rahab (Josh 2:1)

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So the mission would have taken about 18 days at the least, most likely 21 days.

January 25 (marathon pace) – February 16

So, more realistically, sometime in January to February 16th

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Joshua 3:2-17

Joshua and Israel Cross the River Jordan

6 days , maybe longer, 10 days, for entire Israel nation (men, women children) to walk 129 miles from Acacia Grove / Abel-Shittim to and cross over Jordan river. Extra time given for stopping and resting, feeding children.

February 17 – February 26

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Joshua 4:1-9

Twelve Memorial Stones Placed at Gilgal

1 day

February 27

They take lodging there at Gilgal that night

Here they prepare for war

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February 28

Joshua 5:1

Time for Amorites to witness and report back that the Jordan was split for Israel.

43 miles or 2 days travel, one way, so 4 days round trip

March 1 – March 4

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Joshua 5: 2 Circumcision – renewal of covenant

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/adult-circumcision

The area will be bruised and swollen for several weeks, and urination may be painful for a few days or weeks.

https://www.healthline.com/health/adult-circumcision

Recovery from adult circumcision typically takes two to three weeks.

Will estimate 3 weeks for recovery

March 5 – March 26

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Joshua 5: 10 They celebrate Passover

1 week, 7-8 days

March 27 – April 4

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Joshua 5: 12 Manna ceases as they now have the produce of the land

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Joshua 5: 13-15 Joshua talks with Angel of the Lord, gets instructions

1 day

April 5

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Joshua 6 March around Jericho for 7 days

Jericho fall on day 7

April 12

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The rest of Canaan conquered

Joshua 7

Achan’s Sin –Defeat at battle of Ai

Israel suffers defeat because of disobedience to Yahweh’s instructions to destroy EVERYTHING at Jericho.

11 They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions.

12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

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Joshua 8:3-29

Israel Attacks and Destroys City of Ai

Summer

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Joshua 9

Gibeonite deception – trick Israel into sparing them

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Joshua 10:12-14

Sun Stands Still Allowing Defeat of Amorites

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Joshua 10:22-26

Joshua Opens Cave and Kills Five Amorite Kings

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Joshua 10:40-42

Central and Southern Canaan Conquest Completed

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Joshua 10:43

Israel Returns to Camp at Gilgal for Winter

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Joshua 11:6

Joshua Gets Instructions for Northern Canaanite Battle

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Joshua 11:3, 12

Joshua Defeats Kings of Jebusites and Hivites

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Joshua 11:16-23

Canaan Rests From War After Almost Five Years

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Joshua 13:8-14

Joshua Divides Land East of the Jordon River

This is the estimated DFC date in Biblical history when Joshua begins dividing the land of Canaan among the Tribes of Israel.

This research assumes that the battle for Canaan to this point took about five years.

Other commentaries use seven or more years.

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Joshua 11:18 simply says, “Joshua made war for a long time with all those kings”.

Battles started in the south, then west, and finally north.

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Important Lessons

Obey Yahweh and you will succeed.

Disobey Yahweh, and you will be defeated.

Be lenient to enemy, let them trick you, not destroying them completely, and they will be around later to be a thorn in your side.

Never show mercy to evil ones that Yahweh wants destroyed completely.

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