JOSHUA 24 AND THE WELCOME OF FOREIGNERS

Although the book of Joshua is often read as being hostile to non-Israelites, this paper argues that its concern is not with ethnicity but rather with the nature of someone’s relationship to Yahweh. Understood against the wider narrative arc of the book, Joshua 24 thus becomes the point where this...

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Main Author: D G Firth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of the Free State 2018-12-01
Series:Acta Theologica
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/3678
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author D G Firth
author_facet D G Firth
author_sort D G Firth
collection DOAJ
description Although the book of Joshua is often read as being hostile to non-Israelites, this paper argues that its concern is not with ethnicity but rather with the nature of someone’s relationship to Yahweh. Understood against the wider narrative arc of the book, Joshua 24 thus becomes the point where this is explored in full. This then establishes a pattern that runs through the Former Prophets which consistently demonstrate the possibilities for foreigners within Israel. The means by which this is presented suggest that Joshua in particular is arguing against a dominant social model which is opposed to foreigners. From this, it can be seen that Joshua is establishing an ethical paradigm which is welcoming to those who commit to Yahweh.
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spelling doaj-art-6479eae1feab44a39602a4e987ecc74f2025-02-11T09:48:21ZengUniversity of the Free StateActa Theologica1015-87582309-90892018-12-0138210.38140/at.v38i2.3678JOSHUA 24 AND THE WELCOME OF FOREIGNERSD G Firth0University of the Free State Although the book of Joshua is often read as being hostile to non-Israelites, this paper argues that its concern is not with ethnicity but rather with the nature of someone’s relationship to Yahweh. Understood against the wider narrative arc of the book, Joshua 24 thus becomes the point where this is explored in full. This then establishes a pattern that runs through the Former Prophets which consistently demonstrate the possibilities for foreigners within Israel. The means by which this is presented suggest that Joshua in particular is arguing against a dominant social model which is opposed to foreigners. From this, it can be seen that Joshua is establishing an ethical paradigm which is welcoming to those who commit to Yahweh. https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/3678JoshuaForeignersNarrative criticism
spellingShingle D G Firth
JOSHUA 24 AND THE WELCOME OF FOREIGNERS
Acta Theologica
Joshua
Foreigners
Narrative criticism
title JOSHUA 24 AND THE WELCOME OF FOREIGNERS
title_full JOSHUA 24 AND THE WELCOME OF FOREIGNERS
title_fullStr JOSHUA 24 AND THE WELCOME OF FOREIGNERS
title_full_unstemmed JOSHUA 24 AND THE WELCOME OF FOREIGNERS
title_short JOSHUA 24 AND THE WELCOME OF FOREIGNERS
title_sort joshua 24 and the welcome of foreigners
topic Joshua
Foreigners
Narrative criticism
url https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/3678
work_keys_str_mv AT dgfirth joshua24andthewelcomeofforeigners