Let's back up and remember the story so far,

讓我們先回顧一下在《約書亞記》之前所發生的事

So God chose Abraham and then his family became the people of Israel,

神揀選了亞伯拉罕和他的家族， 成為以色列民族

who are then enslaved down in Egypt.

這個民族後來，在埃及成為奴隸

So through Moses, God rescued Israel out of Egypt,

但神藉著摩西，拯救了以色列人離開埃及

he made a covenant with them at Mount Sinai

又在西乃山與他們立約

and he brought them through the wilderness.

並且帶領他們穿越曠野

So Israel then camped outside the promised land

接著，以色列人在應許之地外紮營

and Moses called them to obey God’s commands

摩西吩咐他們要遵守神的命令

so that they could show all the other nations what God is like.

好叫其它民族透過「他們」能認識神

The book of Joshua picks up right after Moses has died

約書亞記的記載，即緊接在摩西過世之後

and Israel is ready to enter the land.

這時候的以色列人準備進入「應許之地」

So the story of Joshua is designed with four main movements.

《約書亞記》的故事主要分為四個部分

Joshua first leads Israel into the promised land,

首先 約書亞帶領以色列人進入應許之地 (1~5章)

and then once they are there, they meet all this hostility from the Canaanites

其次，當他們進去之後，遇見了敵對的迦南人 (6~12章)

and so they engage them in battle,

因此他們開始作戰 (6~12章)

then after their victory Joshua divides up the promised land

然後在取得勝利之後，約書亞分配應許之地 (13~22章)

as the inheritance for the twelve tribes

將產業、土地分給以色列12個支派 (13~22章)

and then the book concludes with these final speeches that Joshua gives to the people.

最後，這卷書結束在約書亞給百姓最後的演說 (23~24章)

So let’s dive in and we will see how all of it flows together.

現在讓我們更深入的來看，這些內容是如何串連在一起

The first section begins with Moses’ death

第一部分，開始於摩西的過世 約書亞成為以色列人新的領袖

and Joshua is appointed as Israel’s new leader,

第一部分，開始於摩西的過世 約書亞成為以色列人新的領袖

and the author intentionally presents Joshua as a new Moses,

作者刻意塑造約書亞成為一個新的摩西

so like Moses, Joshua calls the people to obey the Torah,

就像摩西一樣，約書亞吩咐人民要遵守律法

which means the covenant commands that they were given at Mount Sinai,

這些律法是在西乃山上所領受的

and then Joshua sends spies into the land

然後約書亞派了探子(間諜)，進入應許之地

just as Moses did back in Numbers chapters 13 and 14

就好像摩西在民數記13、14章所做的一樣

except it goes way better this time.

但這次的情況比之前好得多

In fact, some Canaanites turn and follow the God of Israel,

事實上，有一些迦南人轉而跟從以色列的神

Joshua then leads all Israel across the Jordan river and into the land.

約書亞接著帶領以色列人跨過了約旦河，進入應許之地

Just like the sea parted for Moses in the Exodus

就好像摩西當年帶領百姓過紅海（出埃及記）

so here the river Jordan parts

在此是約旦河分開

and the priests carry the Ark of the Covenant across

祭司扛著約櫃過河

leading all Israel with them.

帶領所有的以色列人一起

Now, in chapter 5 the story transitions,

到了第五章，故事繼續進展

so the people look back to their roots as God’s covenant people

百姓回顧他們的根源『與神立約的子民』

and so the new generation is circumcised

因此新的一代也接受割禮

and they celebrate their first Passover in the land.

接著，他們慶祝了在應許之地第一次的逾越節

But then, they turn prepared to go forward

並準備好繼續前進

and Joshua has this crazy encounter with a mysterious warrior,

接在，在耶利哥一戰之前， 約書亞遇到了一位神祕的戰士

who, it turns out is the angelic commander of God’s army,

這位神的使者原來是耶和華軍隊的元帥

and Joshua asks, “Are you for us? Or are you for our enemies?”

約書亞問他：你是幫助我們呢？ 還是幫助我們的敵人呢？

The warrior responds, “Neither.”

戰士回答：都不是。 "不是的、我來是要作耶和華軍隊的元帥。"約5:14

Which shows that the real question here

顯示出真正該問的是

is whether Joshua is on God’s side.

約書亞是否站在神這一方

It makes clear that this whole story is not about Israel versus the Canaanites,

這裡清楚的表明整個故事 不是關於以色列人與迦南人的戰爭

rather this is God’s battle,

而是神的戰爭

and Israel is going to play the role of spectators or sometimes supporters in God’s plan.

以色列人在神的計畫中所扮演的 其實是目擊者或是支持者的角色

Which leads to the next section.

接著到下一部分

We find stories about all these conflicts that Israel has with different Canaanite groups,

故事描述著以色列人和迦南人之間的各樣衝突

and the first part retells the story of two battles in detail

第一部分詳細的描述了兩場戰役

and that is followed by a series of short stories

接著有一系列較短的記載

that condense years of battles into a few brief summaries.

將數年的戰爭濃縮成簡單的摘要

So the first two battles are against Jericho and then Ai,

頭兩場戰役是對上「耶利哥城」和「艾城」

and they offer these contrasting portraits of God’s faithfulness versus Israel’s failure.

這兩個故事描述出鮮明的對比 神的信實，相對於以色列的失敗

At Jericho, Israel is to take a completely passive approach,

在耶利哥，以色列人完全是被動的

so they let God’s presence in the Ark lead them around the city to music for six days

他們讓神同在的約櫃，帶領他們繞城吹奏六天

and just like Rahab turned to the God of Israel

就如喇合轉向跟從以色列的神

maybe the people of Jericho would do the same, but they don't,

或許耶利哥的居民也可能會效尤，但他們並沒這樣做

and so on the seventh day the priests blow the trumpets

所以在第七天祭司吹響號角時 城牆就倒塌，為以色列帶來勝利

and the walls come falling down leading Israel to victory.

所以在第七天祭司吹響號角時 城牆就倒塌，為以色列帶來勝利

The point of the story is that God is the one who will deliver his people;

故事的重點是，神是一位拯救祂子民的神

Israel simply needs to trust and wait.

以色列人只要單單信靠並等待

Now the next story, of the battle of Ai makes the opposite point.

下一個艾城戰役的故事，則提出了另一面的觀點

So there is this Israelite named Achan,

說到有一個以色列人名叫：亞干

and he steals from Jericho some of the devoted goods that were to belong to God alone

他從耶利哥城偷了原本該歸屬於神的東西

and then he lies about it.

並且他說了謊話

It’s a pretty lame move after all that God has done for Israel,

在神為以色列人做了那麼多之後 這是一個對上帝恩將仇報的舉動

and so Israel goes into battle with the city of Ai

因此當以色列人和艾城打仗時

and they are totally defeated,

以色列人完全被打敗

and it’s only after humble repentance

只有當他們謙卑的悔改

and severely dealing with Achan’s sin that Israel gains victory.

並且嚴厲處理亞干的罪，以色列人才能獲得勝利

And so together these two stories are placed right up front to make an important point.

這兩個故事一起放在開頭，要強調一個重點

If Israel is going to inherit the land,

如果以色列人要承接這塊土地

they have to be obedient and trust in God’s commands.

他們必須順服並相信神的命令， 他們並不會得到特殊待遇

They don’t get special treatment.

他們必須順服並相信神的命令， 他們並不會得到特殊待遇

Now the second part of the section begins with the Gibeonites, a Canaanite people group

接著，這段的第二部分提到了基遍人 也是迦南的其中一族

and they do just as Rahab did as they turn to follow the God of Israel

他們如同喇合一樣轉而跟從以色列的神

and they make peace with Israel.

他們和以色列人和平相處

This is in contrast to all these other Canaanite kings

這和其他迦南的諸王形成對比

who start to form alliances and coalitions and they want to destroy Israel.

這些王組成聯軍聯盟，要來毀滅以色列人

So Israel engages them in battle and they win by a land slide.

因此以色列人和他們作戰，並且贏得了土地

So this whole section concludes with this summary list

這整段，就如同這表格所呈現的

of all of these victories won by Moses and then by Joshua.

所有這些勝利，從摩西到後來約書亞所戰勝的民族

Now, let’s stop for a second because odds are

讓我們先停在這一下，因為弔詭的是

that these stories and the violence in them, they are going to bother you,

這些故事和其中描述的暴力，或許會讓你感到困擾

and if you are a follower of Jesus, you’re bound to wonder, like,

如果你是耶穌的跟隨者，你可能會想

didn’t Jesus said to love your enemies?

耶穌不是說要愛你的仇敵嗎？

Why is God declaring war here?

那神為什麼在這裡要發動戰爭呢？

So first, why the Canaanites?

第一個問題是，為什麼是對迦南人（宣戰）？

The main reasons are actually given earlier in the biblical story

主要的原因其實在早先的聖經記載中有說到

is that the culture of the Canaanites had become extremely morally corrupt,

迦南的文明在道德上非常敗壞

especially when it comes to sex,

特別是關於性的方面 可參考利未記18章

go check out Leviticus chapter 18,

特別是關於性的方面 可參考利未記18章

and they also widely practiced child sacrifice,

而且他們廣泛的獻孩童為祭 參考申命記12章

go see Deuteronomy chapter 12,

而且他們廣泛的獻孩童為祭 參考申命記12章

and so God didn’t want these practices to influence Israel,

上帝不希望以色列百姓受到這些行為的影響

the Canaanites had to go.

因此迦南人需要被除滅

Which raises the second question.

接著引到第二個問題

Did God actually command the destruction of all the Canaanites, like a genocide?

神是否下令要毀滅所有的迦南人，好像一場種族滅絕？

So at first glance, you know, you look at the phrases used in these stories.

當你第一眼看到這故事中描述到

They “totally destroyed them”, they “left no survivor or anything that breathed”,

完全毀滅他們、沒有留下一個、凡有氣息的都毀滅

but when you look a second time more closely,

但你如果第二次再仔細的研讀

you’ll see that these phrases are clearly hyperbole and not literal.

你會發現這些語句是用誇飾的語法，而不是字面的

So go back to the original command about the Canaanites in Deuteronomy chapter 7.

回到最初關於對待迦南人的命令，在申命記第7章

Israel is first told to drive out the Canaanites,

以色列人首先被吩咐，要趕走迦南人

but then to totally destroy them

但接著說到，要徹底消滅他們

and then that is followed by commands to not intermarry with them

而接著又說到，不要和他們通婚 或是跟他們有貿易

or enter into business deals with them.

而接著又說到，不要和他們通婚 或是跟他們有貿易

So you can’t marry someone that you’ve destroyed.

你不可能和你已經毀滅的人通婚 我想你懂我的意思

I think you get the point.

你不可能和你已經毀滅的人通婚 我想你懂我的意思

The same idea applies to the stories in Joshua, look closely.

同樣的概念可應用在約書亞記，仔細看

So for example, we’re told in Joshua chapter 10

例如在約書亞記第10章

that Israel left no survivors in the cities of Hebron or Debir,

以色列人沒有留下任何人在希伯崙和底璧城

but then later in chapter 15 we see these towns

但到了第15章我們又看到這些城市 而且裡面仍然住著迦南人

and they’re still populated by Canaanites,

但到了第15章我們又看到這些城市 而且裡面仍然住著迦南人

and so what we’re seeing is that Joshua fits in with other ancient battle accounts

所以我們看到約書亞記和其他古代的戰爭一樣

by using non-literal hyperbolic language as part of the narrative style.

使用了非字面意義的誇飾語言作為記載的一部分

And so the word genocide doesn’t actually fit what we see here.

所以 -種族滅絕- 這詞並不適用於此

Especially in light of the stories about the Canaanites who did turn to the God of Israel,

特別是根據一些迦南人歸向以色列的神

like Rahab or the Gibeonites, God was open to those who would turn to him.

像是喇合或是基遍人，神向那些歸向祂的人敞開

The last thing to think about is that these stories mark a unique moment in Israel’s history.

最後一點可以思考的是，這些故事標記著 以色列歷史上的一個獨特事件

These battles were limited to the handful of people groups living in the land of Canaan.

這些戰爭僅限於在迦南地中的一些小族群

With all other nations, Israel was commanded by God to pursue peace,

對於其他所有族群，神命令以色列要追求和平

go read Deuteronomy chapter 20.

去讀申命記20章

So the purpose of these battle stories was never to tell you, the reader,

所以這些戰爭故事的目的絕非要我們 去奉神的名施展暴力

to go commit violence in God’s name.

所以這些戰爭故事的目的絕非要我們 去奉神的名施展暴力

Rather, they show God bringing his justice

反之，它們顯現出上帝帶來祂的公義

on human evil at a unique moment in history,

在一個獨特的歷史時刻，如何對付人的邪惡

and how he delivered Israel from being annihilated by the Canaanites.

而神又如何拯救以色列人，不被迦南人消滅

Now, let’s go back to the book’s design.

現在，讓我們在回到整本書的大綱 第三部份

After years of battles we see an aging Joshua

在經過數年的戰役後，約書亞年紀老邁

and he starts dividing up the land for the twelve tribes of Israel,

他開始分配應許之地給以色列的12個支派

and most of this section is like lists of boundary lines,

這部份大多數的內容是關於各種地界劃分 老實說，是蠻無聊的...

and let us be honest, it’s kind of boring.

這部份大多數的內容是關於各種地界劃分 老實說，是蠻無聊的...

It’s like reading a map that has no pictures.

就好像在讀一張地圖，卻沒有圖可看

But for the Israelites these lists were super important.

但對以色列人來說，這些超級重要

This was the fulfillment of God’s ancient promises to Abraham

這是神實踐了祂的應許，那個從前神對亞伯拉罕的應許

that his descendants would inherit the promised land.

他的後代要繼承「應許之地」

. And so now it was all coming to pass right down to the detail,

因此，現在就是呈現當年，神應許的所有細節

which leads to the final section.

接著就到了最後一部分

Joshua gives two speeches to the people

約書亞發表了兩次的演說

they’re very similar to the final speeches of Moses in Deuteronomy.

它們和摩西在申命記最後的演說很相似

Joshua reminds them of God’s generosity,

約書亞提醒他們關於神的慷慨

how he brought them into the land and rescued them from the Canaanites.

神如何帶領他們進入這地 並且從迦南人的手裡拯救他們

And so, he calls them to turn away from the Canaanite gods

因此他吩咐他們要遠離那些迦南人的神

and be faithful to the covenant they made.

並且忠心於他們與神所立的約定

If they do, it will lead to life and blessing in the land,

如果他們如此行，就能帶來生命與祝福

but if they’re unfaithful,

但如果他們背離神...

Israel will call down on itself the same divine judgement that the Canaanites experienced.

以色列人就會招來神同樣的審判，如同迦南人所經歷的

They’ll be kicked off the land into exile,

他們會被趕出這地，流亡在外

and so Joshua leaves Israel with a choice.

所以約書亞給了以色列人一個選擇

What is Israel going to do?

以色列人會怎麼做呢？

That’s the big question that looms as the story ends.

這是故事的最後隱約顯出的一個大哉問

And that’s the book of Joshua.

這就是《約書亞記》，謝謝