march

Day 60: Sunday, March 1, 2026

Numbers 17:        The LORD tired of the grumblings of the sons of Israel. He would show that Aaron, along with Moses, was His appointed leader amongst the twelve tribes. That was done by having twelve rods, not attached to a living thing, placed inside of the Tent of Meeting. Each rod represented each tribe. The LORD caused the rod of Aaron to sprout and thus revealed again to the Israelites that He had His chosen leaders. 

Numbers 18:          The LORD repeated His standards for the Levites who serve as priests. Those men were entrusted with responsibilities concerning the work done in and around the Tent of Meeting. This would be a perpetual covenant. They were told of their portions that would come from the offerings made by the sons of Israel. The Levites would also be responsible to give a tithe from that which they received. 

Day 61: Monday, March 2, 2026

Numbers 19:          A statute was given concerning purification for those who touched a dead person. The law of the red heifer was instituted for the benefit of persons who became ceremonially unclean due to having to touch a deceased person. Persons who did not obey this statute were cut off from congregation. The heifer was sacrificed outside of the camp. Being ceremonially unclean sometimes could not be helped. The time period of uncleanness was not lengthy or perpetual. As is the case with so many of these statutes, they were instituted, in part, as a protection for the people. They were a people set apart for the LORD and they were to treat Him as holy by obeying His statutes.

Numbers 20:          This is a sad chapter. It began with Moses and Aaron’s sister, Miriam, dying. The people grumbled against Moses and Aaron even though the brothers would have been mourning over their sister. The LORD would provide water from a rock again, but His command was for Moses to speak to the rock instead of striking it like the previous occasion in Exodus 17:6. The provision of water would be miraculous and point to the LORD as their provider. Moses disobeyed the LORD, likely due to his anger toward the people, and he struck the rock twice. The LORD was gracious in that He gave water again, but Moses had disregarded Him. The punishment would be that Aaron and Moses would not enter into Canaan. Another sad scene in the chapter occurred when Moses asked the people of Edom (Esau’s descendants) if they could pass through their land. The king of Edom prevented it and took up arms against Israel. Moses and the people traveled a longer way around. This incident will be referred to in 

II Chronicles 20:10 in the prayer of King Jehoshaphat when the Ammonites, Moabites, and people of Mount Seir (i.e. Edom or Esau) seek to conquer Judah. Finally, Aaron died and his son, Eleazer, took his place. The people mourned over Aaron’s death even though they had grumbled against him a little earlier.

Numbers 21:        A few military battles occurred in this chapter. The LORD delivered Israel, but the people continued to grumble against the LORD and Moses. The Israelites complained about the manna. It wasn’t that they were starving. It was that they wanted some other kind of food. They were not satisfied with the LORD and His provisions for them.  The LORD sent venomous serpents and many of the Israelites died as a result of the snake bites. The LORD told Moses to make a bronze serpent so as to be lifted up. Those who took God at His Word and looked at the bronze serpent (called “Nehushtan” in II Kings 18:4) were healed. This will be referred to by Jesus in John 3:14 wherein as the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness, so Jesus would be lifted up on the cross. The Israelites prevailed over the Canaanites, Amorites, and the people of Bashan.

Day 62: Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Numbers 22:         The Israelites came to the plains of Moab. They were on the precipice of entering Canaan. The Moabite King, Balak, tried to hire Balaam to curse Israel. Balaam appeared to be a prophet of the LORD, but Peter (II Peter 2:15), Jude (Jude 1:11), and Jesus (Revelation 2:14) spoke unfavorably of him in the New Testament. His counsel was eventually able to be bought by a pagan king. Balaam didn’t curse Israel, but the Old and New Testaments identified him as a false diviner who helped lead Israel into sexual sin (Numbers 31:16). An incident occurred in this chapter wherein the angel of the LORD appeared, but only Balaam’s donkey initially saw Him. The LORD opened the donkey’s mouth and it spoke. The LORD opened Balaam’s eyes and he then saw the angel of the LORD. 

Numbers 23:         Balak continued trying to bribe Balaam into cursing Israel, but Balaam did not do it. The exchanges between Balak and Balaam appear to picture Balaam in a favorable light. 

Day 63: Wednesday , March 4, 2026

Numbers 24:         It still wasn’t apparent at the time that Balaam was not a true prophet of the LORD. He had beheld the LORD and heard Him speak. He had refused to accommodate Balak’s requests. In Deuteronomy 13 & 18 Moses will refer to testing to see if a prophet is from the LORD or not. Even in cases wherein a prophet’s prophetic word came to pass, unless that prophet led the people to the LORD, he would be considered false. That was the case of Balaam.  The LORD could and did use even His enemies to bring about His plans.

Numbers 25:         The Israelites were on the precipice of entering Canaan. They were at the plains of Moab (southeast of Canaan). They committed sexual sins with the Moabites. There was a swift judgment by the LORD, but one Israelite man took a Midianite woman into his tent while the people mourned over their sins and consequences.  The insinuation was that he took her to commit sexual sin with her. Phineas, a grandson of Aaron, went into the tent and killed both the man and the woman. The LORD was honored by Phineas in that act and He spared more people from death. Twenty-four thousand Israelites did die, however. The LORD spoke favorably of Phinehas for killing the couple who had blatantly dishonored Him in front of the people. The Midianites were also judged for this sin.

Numbers 26:        The LORD told Moses to take a census of the Israelite men from all of the tribes except that of Levi who were able to go to war from twenty years old and upward. The census mentioned in Numbers 1:2 was almost forty years earlier than the one mentioned in this chapter.  There were 601,730 of them. There were 23,000 Levite men.  The tribe of Simeon was the smallest one by that time.  In Moses’ final blessing over Israel, in Deuteronomy 33, Simeon will not be mentioned specifically as the other tribes would be.   The names of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam’s parents were listed again. They were Amram and Jochebed from the tribe of Levi.

Day 64: Thursday, March 5, 2026

Numbers 27:       The daughters of Zelophehad were promised an inheritance in the land because their father had died with no sons. Statutes were given for cases of inheritance wherein there were no male heirs.   Additional land stipulations will be given in chapter 36 based on the situation of Zelophehad.  The LORD told Moses that he would be allowed to see Canaan from a distance, but that he would die before Israel entered the land. That was a consequence of his public disobedience in Numbers 20:1.  In Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36, Moses was with Jesus and Elijah on what is called the Mount of Transfiguration. In that special event, centuries after his death, Moses was in the land of Israel (Canaan). After hearing that he would soon die, Moses asked the LORD to appoint his successor. The LORD chose Joshua.

Numbers 28:         Multiple offerings will be offered. Some of those would be daily. Others would be given in addition to the daily offerings during particular feasts and other times. The sabbath day, Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) were mentioned. Those numerous offerings were costly and reminded the people of the serious consequences for sins. 

Numbers 29:          This chapter focused on the seventh month and the various feasts and holy days in that month. The Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Booths were mentioned. A significant portion of the chapter described the daily offerings that were required during the Feast of Booths.

Day 65: Friday, March 6, 2026

Numbers 30:         Statutes regarding vows and oaths were given. Husbands and fathers were entrusted to protect their wives and daughters from making unwise vows or oaths. In certain instances, the husband or father could nullify an oath made by his wife or daughter. This was not about a husband or father being a tyrant toward his wife or daughter. Rather, it would have been done in love and for their protection.

Numbers 31:           Numbers 25 told of the sexual sin that the Midianites led Israel into.  In  chapter 31 , the LORD judged Midian through Israel and the Midianites were routed. Balaam was also put to death. The Midianites were evil people who had led Israel astray from the LORD. Their punishment was right. Statutes were given regarding the spoils of war after defeating the Midianites. They were to give an offering to the LORD from those spoils.

Day 66: Saturday, March 7, 2026

Numbers 32:         In the last weeks before entering into Canaan, the tribes of Rueben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh asked Moses to be allowed to settle due east, just outside of Canaan. Moses was angry. Their stated reason was primarily due to their large herds and the land just outside of Canaan being very good for their livestock.  Were they being like Esau in that they were more concerned with immediate satisfaction rather than future blessings? Was the LORD unable to give them good pasture lands in Canaan? After receiving a pledge from those tribes' leaders to commit to helping the other nine and one-half tribes take conquest of the Promised Land, Moses granted their request. We will find in Joshua 22:1-9, that the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh did all that they pledged to do.

Numbers 33:          The forty years of wilderness wanderings were detailed from the day they left Egypt to the day wherein they were at the plains of Moab. Jericho was across the Jordan River nearby to where the Israelites were camped. The LORD reminded the people of His commands for them to enter Canaan and drive out the inhabitants of the land. The Canaanites were treacherous people and the LORD warned that they would be a snare to Israel if they were not completely removed. Sadly, we will later find that the Israelites compromised and did not obey the LORD fully regarding that command. They would suffer consequences for sinning against the LORD.

Day 67: Sunday, March 8, 2026

Numbers 34:          The borders were given for the time when Israel would conquer Canaan.  Borders were good and necessary. The LORD established them. They are still good and necessary for a nation to be sovereign as an independent state. The Sea of Chinnereth was mentioned as part of Canaan’s eastern border. That body of water, in the New Testament, will also be known as the Sea of Galilee and the Sea of Tiberius. Eleazar the priest and Joshua will apportion the land when the Israelites enter Canaan.

Numbers 35:             The Levites were to be given cities to live in when they entered Canaan. They would have forty-two cities and oversee the six cities of refuge.  Those six cities were a protected place of residency for any person who accidentally killed another person. There was to be a clear distinction between the one who unintentionally took a life and the one who was a murderer. Manslayers were to remain in their city of refuge until the high priest's death. Murderers were to be executed. The cities of refuge had borders. Those borders were to be honored as a protection for the people. 

Numbers 36:          Zelophehad was first mentioned in Numbers 26. He was from the tribe of Manasseh and he had daughters, but no sons. He had died in the wilderness, but he was not part of the rebellion of Korah. His daughters asked Moses if was justifiable for them not to have an inheritance because their father had no sons. Moses inquired of the LORD and they were granted an inheritance of land. Stipulations were given in this chapter regarding how they would keep or forfeit their inheritance. The statute would apply to all of the tribes, not only the daughters of Zelophehad.   Verse 7 of this chapter forbade transferring land between the tribes.  In I Kings 21:3, wicked King Ahab would seek a property from a man of a different tribe. That man, Naboth, would not oblige and he would be killed for it.  

Day 68: Monday, March 9, 2026

Deuteronomy 1:          Moses and the Israelites were across the Jordan River from Canaan. It was the first day of the eleventh month in the fortieth year after leaving Egypt. Moses began recounting their journey from Horeb (Mount Sinai) and included information about how the people had repeatedly disobeyed the LORD. This chapter covered the time up to the events mentioned in chapter 20.  The book of Deuteronomy contains the last messages from Moses to the people.

Deuteronomy 2:          This chapter generally refers to the forty years of wilderness wanderings and the thirty-eight years it took for those who did not believe the LORD to die in the wilderness. More specifically, it described the last years until the Israelites passed through lands and arrived at the plains of Moab.

Day 69: Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Deuteronomy 3:         Moses finished retelling the travel narrative with information about some of their military conquests. King Og of Bashan was a huge man. His couch, or possibly sarcophagus, was thirteen and one-half feet in length by six feet in width.  This served to remind the people of the LORD’s power to deliver them over the peoples of the land.  He also spoke about the tribes of Rueben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh settling outside of Canaan to the east. They defeated people to take their inherited lands.  Moses recalled that, after being judged by the LORD in Numbers 20  for disobeying Him, he asked the LORD to let him enter Canaan.  The LORD rebuked Moses at that time and told him not to bring up the subject again.

Deuteronomy 4:        Moses began a section with reminders of the laws and statutes that the Israelites were to obey when they entered the Promised Land (Canaan). Those statutes were for their safety and benefit.  Take special notice the descriptions that Moses gave in describing the LORD. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh had designated cities of refuge outside of Canaan.

Day 70: Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Deuteronomy 5:        Moses repeated the Ten Commandments to the people and reminded them of how they had initially committed to obey the LORD. The reference went back to Exodus 20. Thirty-nine years passed between Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5.

Deuteronomy 6:        Commandments and statutes were given for the time when the Israelites would enter Canaan. The “Shema” (“hear”: later a Jewish prayer) was mentioned in verse 4 and the command to “…love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might…” was mentioned in verse 5.  These verses were quoted in Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, and Luke 10:27. Moses also reminded the people not to forget all that the LORD had done for them or to worship any other god.

Deuteronomy 7:          The Israelites were to wipe out the people in Canaan and take possession of the land. In Deuteronomy 9:4-5 we find that the Canaanites were to be driven out because they were a wicked people. In this chapter, we find that they would lead Israel into idolatry if they were not removed. Sadly, that did eventually happen. The LORD promised the land to Abraham (Genesis 15) and He would keep His promise. He made a people for Himself from Abraham. Moses encouraged the people on the basis of what the LORD had already done for them. They could trust Him in the present and for the future on the basis of how He had acted on their behalf in the past. No other nation had a true and living God. The God of Israel, however, was in their midst (verse 21).  

Day 71: Thursday, March 12, 2026

Deuteronomy 8:          Moses told the Israelites that their wilderness wanderings were used by the LORD to test them. Verse 3 was quoted by Jesus in Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4 during His wilderness temptations.  A primary way Israel would show it was not forgetting the LORD was by keeping the LORD's commandments. 

Deuteronomy 9: As the LORD would go before Israel into Canaan, Moses told them that the LORD would drive out the inhabitants of the land.  It would not be because of any righteousness of their own, but because of the wickedness of the Canaanites. Moses reminded Israel of their previous and ongoing acts of disobedience toward the LORD. He also told them of how he interceded on their behalf after the LORD told him that He would destroy the Israelites and begin a new nation with Moses.

That event occurred in Exodus 32.

Deuteronomy 10:         Moses recalled when he had to cut two stone tablets to replace the original two tablets which he had destroyed when witnessing Israel’s idolatry at Mount Sinai. He also recounted the time when his brother, and the first high priest of Israel, Aaron, died. Israel began as a small number of people, seventy persons, but the LORD had blessed and multiplied them immensely.  See note on Genesis 46 about the reason why Acts 7:14 lists the number of people going to Egypt as “seventy-five”.

Day 72: Friday, March 13, 2026

Deuteronomy 11:           More commandments and statutes were given. The people were to love the LORD their God and serve Him with all of their heart and soul. The blessing and the curse are mentioned.  When they entered Canaan, the blessing would be written on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal. As He who delivered them out of Egypt, the LORD was right to demand their obedience and allegiance.

Deuteronomy 12:          The Israelites were commanded by the LORD to utterly wipe out the Canaanites. This was not genocide, but right judgment.  In verses 5, 11, and 18, the place that the LORD referred to, where His name would dwell, would be Jerusalem (II Chronicles 7:12). The child sacrifices that the Canaanites made to Molech or Chemosh were mentioned again. The Canaanites were treacherous people. They deserved the wrath of God and it would eventually be poured out on them.

Day 73: Saturday, March 14, 2026

Deuteronomy 13:         This chapter, along with chapter 18, covered what the Israelites were to do with prophets, dreamers, family members, or anyone else who sought to lead them away from complete devotion to the LORD.  Any person guilty of that offense was to be put to death for their sin. Even if the person’s prediction came true, if they led the people away from the LORD, they were to be put to death. 

Deuteronomy 14:        Moses repeated some of the laws distinguishing between clean and unclean animals and living things.  Specific living creatures could be eaten and others were forbidden.  He also spoke of tithing on what the LORD gave to them.

Deuteronomy 15:          Remission of debts was detailed.  A warning was given to Hebrews who might be generous to fellow Hebrews but, calculating how near the year of remission was, refused to assist someone in need. They were to trust the LORD with their possessions and be ready to be generous. Statutes were given regarding those who would be bond-servants and the provisions for them if they chose to leave at the end of their required service.

Day 74: Sunday, March 15, 2026

Deuteronomy 16:         Passover and the three Pilgrimage Feasts were mentioned again. The three feasts are the Feast of Unleavened Bread (connected to Passover), the Feast of Weeks (also known as Pentecost), and the Feast of Booths (commemorating their time of living in booths during the wilderness wanderings). These were to be in the place that the LORD would designate. As has been stated before, that place would be called Jerusalem. The people were warned about distorting justice and erecting idols.

Deuteronomy 17:          Laws concerning those who were found guilty of worshipping other gods, and the consequence therein, were repeated. In this chapter, we read of the necessity of two or three witnesses being required in accusing someone. That was also mentioned in Numbers 35:30. and was referred to by Jesus in Matthew 18:16 in the context of church discipline. In a future time, when Israel would desire a king, those men who served as king were to write a copy of the law and read the law so that they would learn to fear the LORD.

Deuteronomy 18:           Laws and provisions were given concerning the Levite men who served as priests and all other Levite men. Idolatry, child sacrifice, and witchcraft were forbidden. Moses spoke of the Prophet who would be raised up in the future.  This referred to the Messiah (c.f. Acts 3:22 & 7:37). The chapter ends with a test for distinguishing between true and false prophets. Connect this test with Chapter 13 wherein false prophets might sometimes give a prophecy that comes to pass, but then leads the people away from the LORD. Such ones were false and were to be executed.

Day 75: Monday, March 16, 2026

Deuteronomy 19:          Moses reminds the Israelites about the cities of refuge that were to be established when they settled in Canaan. Those cities served to protect those who took the lives of others without evil intent. The murderer, however, had no protections. Verse 14reminds the reader that God established borders and commanded His people to honor those boundaries. The basis for the necessity of multiple witnesses was repeated. 

Deuteronomy 20:         The LORD would go before the people in conquering the land of Canaan. They could and were expected to trust Him. Stipulations were given so that certain men were permitted to refrain from going to battle. The Israelites were required to first offer terms of peace to the people of a city they sought to besiege. If terms of peace were not accepted, the Israelites would go to war against opposing armies. The people whom they defeated were to be wiped out so that the people of those places could not lead Israel into idolatry. Moses also instructed the Israelites with regard to the spoils of war.

Deuteronomy 21:            Instructions were given regarding finding a deceased person in the open field wherein it could not be determined who took the person’s life. In cases wherein a wife was taken from an enemy who has been defeated, Moses gave stipulations regarding her well-being.  Verses 15-17 are descriptive, not prescriptive. In cases wherein a man took multiple wives, the heir of an unloved wife had God-given protections in place. This stipulation did not encourage or condone polygamy. It served primarily to ensure that a legal heir could not be treated unfairly.  The chapter concluded with laws concerning with statues regarding capital punishment. The Apostle Paul, in Galatians 3:13 referred to verses 22-23 as it pertained to Jesus becoming a curse for those whom He would save. Another note concerning the Apostle Paul and capital punishment is found in Acts 25:11. Paul defended himself before a Roman official named Portius Festus. In his defense, Paul stated that he would not fight the charges if he were found guilty of a capital offense. Some people argue that the death penalty ceased after Jesus’ first advent, resurrection, and ascension. The Apostle Paul thought that the death penalty was still right and necessary.

Day 76: Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Deuteronomy 22:        Various statutes are listed wherein loving one’s neighbor is demonstrated.  Topics range from respecting a neighbor’s property, carrying for animals, building a house, planting a vineyard, etc… Marital responsibilities were included. There were serious consequences for the sexually immoral. Women who dressed like men and men who dressed like women committed abominable acts. They were to be executed.

Deuteronomy 23:          Prohibitions and certain allowances were given regarding gathering in the assembly in religious practices. General courtesy was detailed concerning the necessities regarding “restroom use”. Cult prostitution was forbidden. Lending, repayment, and vow statutes were given.

Deuteronomy 24:         Laws were given for various issues such as marriage, divorce, and remarriage. Laws concerning loans and proper treatment of slaves, aliens, orphans, and widows were given. 

Day 77: Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Deuteronomy 25:        The "Levirite Marriage" was described. The word Levirate came from the Latin word “Levir” and it referred to a husband’s brother.  In that situation, an unmarried brother of a deceased man took his brother’s widow and produced an heir for him.  The first child was considered the heir of the deceased brother. The concept of having heirs was essential. Verses 11-12 likely have that in mind when they describe two men fighting. In such situations, if a wife of one of the men tried to assist her husband by grabbing the genitals of the other man, she was to have her hand cut off. Her act could have been detrimental to the man as it pertained to his ability to produce children. In another section, the LORD considered those who used inaccurate weights and scales to be an abomination before Him. 

Deuteronomy 26:        The law of the first fruits when entering Canaan was described. We also read about how the tithes of the people benefitted the Levites, strangers (non-Israelites), orphans, and widows. The Israelites had been consecrated unto the LORD. They were His people whom He had set apart for Himself.  

Deuteronomy 27:          When the Israelites would enter Canaan, they were to write down the entire Law. Sacrifices would be offered as well. North of the area that would become known as Jerusalem were Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. The curses for disobedience were to be written on Mount Ebal. It was barren and represented failing to trust and obey the LORD. The blessings were to be written on Mount Gerizim, a mountain with plenty of vegetation. It represented what Israel could expect when they trusted and obeyed the LORD. Several curses were specified at the closing of the chapter.

Day 78: Thursday, March 19, 2026

Deuteronomy 28:         Moses told the Israelites of the blessings they would receive if they obeyed the LORD fully. He warned them of the numerous curses that would be on them if they disobeyed the LORD.  Cannibalism was even foretold as well as a future deportation.

Deuteronomy 29:           Moses reminded the people of how the LORD had led them and taken care of them in Egypt and during the forty years of wilderness wanderings. In view of the LORD’s protections and past deliverances, the Israelites were warned again about disobeying the LORD. If they disobeyed, they would experience the strong discipline of the LORD. 

Day 79: Friday, March 20, 2026

Deuteronomy 30:         In the future, when the Israelites would forsake the LORD, they were assured of restoration from the LORD if they truly repented. True repentance would be characterized, at least, by obeying the LORD with their whole hearts. They would reject the idols they had worshipped and show allegiance to Yahweh alone. Moses encouraged and warned the people at the same time. If they obeyed the LORD with glad hearts, they would have blessings from the LORD. If they chose not to obey Him, they would receive the curses that He warned them about. 

Deuteronomy 31:           Moses, at one hundred and twenty years of age, set Joshua before the people as the new leader. He told them that it was the LORD who truly led them. Moses instituted the reading of the Law every seventh year during the Feast of Booths. Moses' time to die had drawn near. He was commissioned by the LORD to write a song. The song would be a reminder to the people of their unfaithfulness to the LORD. 

Day 80: Saturday, March 21, 2026

Deuteronomy 32:          Most of the chapter contains what is referred to as the Song of Moses. The song described the LORD’s character and faithfulness toward the Israelites. It detailed how the Israelites had forsaken the LORD by turning to idols. The Israelites were warned in the song about how the LORD would discipline them in future times. Moses warned the Israelites concerning how they were to live in Canaan. The chapter closed with the LORD’s final commission to Moses. Moses was to go atop Mount Nebo and look into Canaan. Afterwards, he would die.

Deuteronomy 33:         Moses gave a final blessing to the Israelites by naming the tribes and their blessing. The tribe of Simeon was not mentioned specifically. They were the smallest tribe at the time. When Jeshurun was mentioned, that referred to Israel.

Day 81: Sunday, March 22, 2026

Deuteronomy 34:        Moses went up on Mount Nebo and saw the land of Canaan. He died on the mountain at one hundred and twenty years of age. Even at that age, Moses’ eye had not dimmed and his vigor had not diminished. The LORD buried him and no one knew where Moses’ grave was. It is possible that the Lord Jesus, in a pre-Incarnate form, took Moses’ body and buried it in a secret location. In verse 9 of Jude, there is mention of a dispute between Michael the Archangel and the devil over the body of Moses.  After mourning over Moses for thirty days, the people turned to follow the new leader, Joshua.

Psalm 91:          This Psalm of praise unto the LORD, He who protected His people, described the LORD’s faithfulness over the enemies of His people. Satan used verses 11-12 when trying to tempt Jesus in Matthew 4:6 & Luke 4:10-11. The LORD declared that He would deliver the one who loved Him.

Joshua 1:         Joshua, a man from the tribe of Ephraim (I Chronicles 7:27) and a servant of Moses, was encouraged by the LORD.  He was to lead the Israelites into Canaan to settle the land. The LORD promised His presence and protection. Joshua commanded the people to prepare to enter the land within three days. He reminded the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh of what they had committed to do before settling in their lands outside of Canaan. 

Joshua 2:         Joshua sent two men to spy out the land of Canaan, especially the city of Jericho. The two men met a harlot there named Rahab. She hid and protected them from the king of Jericho. In the New Testament, it is written of how Rahab was a part of the Messianic Line. Notice that Rahab told the two men of how the people of Jericho had heard about the LORD bringing them out of Egypt through the Red Sea. That had happened forty years earlier, but the Canaanites still talked about it. They seemed to remember it better than the Israelites did. Rahab asked for mercy for herself and her family. The two men made an oath and Rahab agreed to the terms. The men returned to Joshua and relayed what had happened.

Joshua 3:          The time to enter Canaan had come. Joshua instructed the priests and the people. The LORD had brought the Israelites to the place at the time of year when the Jordan River was at flood stage, when it was most dangerous to cross. That was not an accident. Just as they had to trust Him forty years earlier at the Red Sea, so they would have to trust Him again to make the way for them to enter Canaan. The priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant had to put their feet into the flooded river before the LORD would act. When they did, He stood up in a heap the waters of the Jordan River. The people crossed the river on dry ground. The LORD delivered them as He had promised!

Day 82: Monday, March 23, 2026

Joshua 4:         The Israelites arrived safely in Canaan according to the word of the LORD. Joshua had a man from each tribe take a stone from the Jordan riverbed so as to make a pillar, a visible reminder of the LORD's deliverance at that place. When the priests stepped out of the river, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place. It was the tenth day of the first month of that year. 

Joshua 5:         For the male Israelites who had not been circumcised, the LORD called for there to be a circumcision on those men. The Israelites also observed Passover as it was the first month of the year when they crossed the Jordan River. The manna ceased at that point and the Israelites enjoyed some of the produce of the land of Canaan. The manna was a miraculous provision from the LORD. When the time for the manna to be needed had come to an end, the LORD stopped providing it. As the people came near Jericho, Joshua met a man.  It seems very possible that the Man was Jesus in a preincarnate form. 

Joshua 6:         Commands were given regarding the conquest over Jericho. Israel obeyed the LORD in every aspect and Jericho fell. Rahab and her family were spared. The people were warned about taking any of the spoils. In chapter 7, it will be found that a man disobeyed the LORD regarding the ban. Jericho was utterly destroyed by being burned to the ground. Joshua made the people take an oath so as never to rebuild the city of Jericho and if someone did, that man's oldest and youngest sons would die in the construction. According to I Kings 16:34 a man from Bethel did rebuild the city and his oldest son died at the laying of the foundation while his youngest son died at the setting up of the gates. That occurred over five hundred years after Joshua had given the initial warning.

Day 83: Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Joshua 7:         A man from the tribe of Judah, the Messianic Tribe, took some of the spoils from Jericho. His name was Achan. Because of his sin, Israel lost thirty-six men as they went to battle against Ai without the LORD's protection. Joshua did not know about what Achan had done.  He went before the LORD after losing the battle against Ai and cried out to Him. The LORD told Joshua why He had not protected Israel. It seems likely that Joshua had not sought the LORD in prayer before sending the soldiers to Ai. Otherwise, he likely would have been told about Achan. Achan’s deception was discovered. He and his family were put to death and then burned because of his sin against the LORD. Thirty-six Israelite men had died as a result of Achan’s sin and Joshua’s lack of seeking the LORD in prayer before going to battle. 

Joshua 8:          The LORD, after Achan had been rightly dealt with, gave victory to Israel over Ai. As the people were gathered, the blessings and curses that Moses mentioned in Deuteronomy 27 were written on Mount Gerizim (blessings) and Mount Ebal (curses).

Day 84: Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Joshua 9:          Some men from nearby, but claiming to be from far away, came and asked Joshua to join in a covenant with them. The LORD had commanded them in Exodus 34:12 not to join in covenants with the Canaanites. Joshua and the leaders did not seek the LORD's counsel and were tricked by men from Gibeon. 

Joshua 10:         The King of Jerusalem formed an alliance with other Amorite kings and attacked Gibeon. Remember that in chapter 9Joshua had been tricked into joining in covenant with the people of Gibeon. The Gibeonites sent word to Joshua asking for help. Joshua and the Israelites were encouraged by the LORD to fight and that He would give them victory. The LORD delivered the Gibeonites through the sons of Israel. 

An event occurred wherein the sun and the moon stood still. The God over creation caused the sun and the moon to stay in place for a day. Some argue that this was figurative, but the plain explanation of the Text is that the sun and the moon actually stood still.  The rest of the chapter described several military victories that Israel had over different Canaanite kings and their cities.

Day 85: Thursday, March 26, 2026

Joshua 11:        Another allied coalition fought against Israel, but the LORD delivered those armies into Israel's hands.  Thus, Israel conquered the alliance. This chapter summarized the many battles that Israel fought over many years in Canaan. The Anakim (people of large stature) were forced out of Canaan.  

Joshua 12:         A list of defeated kings was given. Verses 1-6 lists the kings outside of Canaan who were defeated under Moses' leadership. Verses 7-24 lists the kings within Canaan that Israel defeated under 

Joshua's leadership.

Joshua 13:          Much of this chapter detailed the lands and cities that were to be given to the sons of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.  Those lands were outside of Canaan.

Day 86: Friday, March 27, 2026

Joshua 14:          The narrative switched to Caleb in this chapter.  In Numbers 13, Caleb was one of twelve men sent into Canaan to spy out the land. That was in the second year after the Israelites had left Egypt. Caleb and Joshua were the only two of the twelve who took the LORD at His Word and believed that He would give Canaan to Israel. Caleb was forty years of age at that time. In verse 10 of this chapter, Caleb spoke of being eighty-five years of age. That means that the time this chapter indicates was about five years into the conquest of the land of Canaan. Moses had promised a land to Caleb and when he was eighty-five years of age, Joshua gave him the land he had been promised.

Joshua 15:         The borders for Judah were listed. In verse 17, Othniel, Caleb’s nephew, is mentioned. He will be the first judge over Israel (Judges 3:9). Jerusalem was located within Judah’s borders. Centuries later, when the kingdom is divided, Judah will be known as the Southern Kingdom. Jerusalem will be its capital city.

Joshua 16:        The borders for Ephraim were listed.

Joshua 17:       The borders for the half-tribe of Manasseh that did cross into Canaan were given.  The sons of Ephraim and Manasseh were numerous and asked for more land to be given to them. One reason that they felt the lands were too crowded was because they failed to obey the LORD fully in driving out the Canaanites. 

Day 87: Saturday, March 28, 2026

Joshua 18:         The borders for Benjamin were listed. The land area was next to Judah’s territory. Centuries later, when the kingdom is divided, Benjamin will be with Judah, constituting the Southern Kingdom. 

Joshua 19:         The borders were detailed for the tribes of Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan.

Joshua 20:          The cities of refuge were established. Three of them were within Canaan. Three more were  outside of Canaan.

Day 88: Sunday, March 29, 2026

Joshua 21:           The sons of Kohath, Gershon, and Merari (Levites) were given their cities for living, pasture lands, and cities of refuge. The LORD gave the land to His people just as He had promised!

Joshua 22:        The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half-tribe of Manasseh were allowed to go and establish their homes outside of Canaan. Shortly afterwards, they built an altar and the tribes of Israel inside of Canaan thought that it was because they were departing from the LORD. A war between the tribes inside of Canaan and the tribes outside of Canaan almost happened. After a small coalition, led by Phineas, met with the tribes outside of Canaan, the leaders explained that they built the altar as a witness so that the other tribes would know that they were still serving the LORD. The matter was resolved peacefully.

Day 89: Monday, March 30, 2026

Joshua 23:         Joshua, in the later years of his life, reminded Israel of the LORD’s faithfulness to do what He had promised. Joshua encouraged and warned the people regarding their ongoing faithfulness to the LORD. If they continued believing Him, they would have His blessings. If, however, they went back to their old ways, they would receive severe discipline from the LORD.   

Joshua 24:        Joshua was an old man.  He called Israel to choose whom they would serve. The sons of Israel committed to serve the LORD. Joshua put before them that they were committing to something of a very serious nature and that if they were to forsake the LORD, they would be judged by Him. The people committed to serve the LORD. Joshua died at one hundred and ten years of age. Eleazar the priest also died in that time. The days of the judges were at hand.

Judges 1:          The land settlements in Canaan were distributed. Judah was the first to take their territory. The Canaanites were not completely driven out of the land as the LORD had commanded. The Israelites had been warned about that, but they failed in that to fully obey the LORD. 

Day 90: Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Judges 2:         The Israelites had failed to obey the LORD in that they had not torn down the altars to false gods and they had apparently joined in covenants with the Canaanites. The angel of the LORD reminded them of what the LORD had said regarding disobedience. In verse 10, we find that a new generation of Israelites did not know the LORD. Their elders and parents had failed to tell them about the LORD. In that void, idolatry filled its place. That brought about the severe discipline of the LORD. The last part of the chapter detailed the cycle of what would happen over the following three centuries.  The people would forsake the LORD. The LORD would raise up an enemy to bring Israel low. The Israelites would cry to the LORD and He would then raise up a judge to deliver them. The judge would bring deliverance and peace for a time. Then the Israelites would return to their idolatry. It was a terrible cycle.

Judges 3:          The first three judges and the times they lived were detailed. The first judge was Othniel. Othniel was a nephew of Caleb. He delivered Israel over Mesopotamia after being ruled by their king for eight years. Israel enjoyed peace and then returned to idolatry. The LORD raised Moab over them for eighteen years. Ehud was the second judge raised up by the LORD. He was a left-handed Benjamite and he was entrusted to take a payment to Eglon, the king of Moab. Ehud was able to make a small sword and hide it under his garment because the Moabites would have assumed that he was right-handed and would not have checked where he had hidden the small sword.  Ehud was given an opportunity to meet privately with Eglon. In private, Ehud killed Eglon and was able to escape and then lead Israel to defeat Moab. The Israelites enjoyed eighty years of peace, but then the LORD raised up the Philistines to rule over them. Shamgar was the third judge whom the LORD raised up and he delivered Israel over the Philistines.