מתן על הפרק - יהושע ט'-י'

בפרקים אלה נלחם עם ישראל בעמי הארץ. המציאות החדשה מזמנת התמודדויות צבאיות ומוסריות שתוצאותיהן מלוות את עם ישראל לאורך הדורות.

וַֽיִּקְרְא֥וּ בַסֵּ֛פֶר בְּתוֹרַ֥ת הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים - בקיאות

יהושע ט׳

Joshua 9

(1) When all the kings west of^-a the Jordan—in the hill country, in the Shephelah, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea up to the vicinity of Lebanon, the [land of the] Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—learned of this, (2) they gathered with one accord to fight against Joshua and Israel. (3) But when the inhabitants of Gibeon learned how Joshua had treated Jericho and Ai, (4) they for their part resorted to cunning. They set out in disguise:^-b they took worn-out sacks for their asses, and worn-out waterskins that were cracked and patched; (5) they had worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and threadbare clothes on their bodies; and all the bread they took as provision was dry and crumbly. (6) And so they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We come from a distant land; we propose that you make a pact with us.” (7) The men of Israel replied to the Hivites, “But perhaps you live among us; how then can we make a pact with you?” (8) They said to Joshua, “We will be your subjects.” But Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where do you come from?” (9) They replied, “Your servants have come from a very distant country, because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we heard the report of Him: of all that He did in Egypt, (10) and of all that He did to the two Amorite kings on the other side of the Jordan, King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan who lived in Ashtaroth. (11) So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country instructed us as follows, ‘Take along provisions for a trip, and go to them and say: We will be your subjects; come make a pact with us.’ (12) This bread of ours, which we took from our houses as provision, was still hot when we set out to come to you; and see how dry and crumbly it has become. (13) These wineskins were new when we filled them, and see how they have cracked. These clothes and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey.” (14) The men took [their word] because of^-b their provisions, and did not inquire of the LORD. (15) Joshua established friendship with them; he made a pact with them to spare their lives, and the chieftains of the community gave them their oath. (16) But when three days had passed after they made this pact with them, they learned that they were neighbors, living among them. (17) So the Israelites set out, and on the third day they came to their towns; these towns were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. (18) But the Israelites did not attack them, since the chieftains of the community had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. The whole community muttered against the chieftains, (19) but all the chieftains answered the whole community, “We swore to them by the LORD, the God of Israel; therefore we cannot touch them. (20) This is what we will do to them: We will spare their lives, so that there may be no wrath against us because of the oath that we swore to them.” (21) And the chieftains declared concerning them, “They shall live!” And they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the whole community, as the chieftains had decreed concerning them. (22) Joshua summoned them and spoke to them thus: “Why did you deceive us and tell us you lived very far from us, when in fact you live among us? (23) Therefore, be accursed! Never shall your descendants cease to be slaves, hewers of wood and drawers of water for the House of my God.” (24) But they replied to Joshua, “You see, your servants had heard that the LORD your God had promised His servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all the inhabitants of the country on your account; so we were in great fear for our lives on your account. That is why we did this thing. (25) And now we are at your mercy; do with us what you consider right and proper.” (26) And he did so; he saved them from being killed by the Israelites. (27) That day Joshua made them hewers of wood and drawers of water—as they still are—for the community and for the altar of the LORD, in the place that He would choose.

1.
שימו לב מהן דרכי הפעולה השונות העומדות בפני תושבי הארץ כתגובה לניצחון ישראל, ובמה בוחרים העמים השונים. השוו למדרש בדברים רבה המופיע בשאלה 7.
2.
נסו להשוות את תחבולת הגבעונים לנסיון ההתחפשות של אשת ירבעם במלכים א׳ פרק י"ד, א׳- י"א. השוו את מטרת הפעולה, התחבולות, התוצאה, עמדו על השווה והשונה בין שני הסיפורים.
3.
"אֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙ נִשְׁבַּ֣עְנוּ לָהֶ֔ם בַּיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְעַתָּ֕ה לֹ֥א נוּכַ֖ל לִנְגֹּ֥עַ בָּהֶֽם" (יהושע ט׳, י"ט).
להבנת משמעותה של השבועה והפרתה עיינו בויקרא כ"ב, ל"ב, ובבמדבר ל׳, ג׳ (להרחבה תוכלו לעיין גם בפירוש הראב"ע לשמות כ׳, ו׳)

יהושע י׳

Joshua 10

(1) When King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem learned that Joshua had captured Ai and proscribed it, treating Ai and its king as he had treated Jericho and its king, and that, moreover, the people of Gibeon had come to terms with Israel and remained among them, (2) he was^-a very frightened. For Gibeon was a large city, like one of the royal cities—in fact, larger than Ai—and all its men were warriors. (3) So King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem sent this message to King Hoham of Hebron, King Piram of Jarmuth, King Japhia of Lachish, and King Debir of Eglon: (4) “Come up and help me defeat Gibeon; for it has come to terms with Joshua and the Israelites.” (5) The five Amorite kings—the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, with all their armies—joined forces and marched on Gibeon, and encamped against it and attacked it. (6) The people of Gibeon thereupon sent this message to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: “Do not fail your servants; come up quickly and aid us and deliver us, for all the Amorite kings of the hill country have gathered against us.” (7) So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his whole fighting force, all the trained warriors. (8) The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for I will deliver them into your hands; not one of them shall withstand you.” (9) Joshua took them by surprise, marching all night from Gilgal. (10) The LORD threw them into a panic before Israel: [Joshua] inflicted a crushing defeat on them at Gibeon, pursued them in the direction of the Beth-horon ascent, and harried them all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. (11) While they were fleeing before Israel down the descent from Beth-horon, the LORD hurled huge stones on them from the sky, all the way to Azekah, and they perished; more perished from the hailstones than were killed by the Israelite weapons. (12) On that occasion, when the LORD routed the Amorites before the Israelites, Joshua addressed the LORD; he said in the presence of the Israelites:
“Stand still, O sun, at Gibeon,
O moon, in the Valley of Aijalon!” (13) And the sun stood still
And the moon halted,
While a nation wreaked judgment on its foes
—as is written in the Book of Jashar. Thus the sun halted in midheaven, and did not press on to set, for a whole day; (14) for the LORD fought for Israel. Neither before nor since has there ever been such a day, when the LORD acted on words spoken by a man. (15) Then Joshua together with all Israel returned to the camp at Gilgal. (16) Meanwhile, those five kings fled and hid in a cave at Makkedah. (17) When it was reported to Joshua that the five kings had been found hiding in a cave at Makkedah, (18) Joshua ordered, “Roll large stones up against the mouth of the cave, and post men over it to keep guard over them. (19) But as for the rest of you, don’t stop, but press on the heels of your enemies and harass them from the rear. Don’t let them reach their towns, for the LORD your God has delivered them into your hands.” (20) When Joshua and the Israelites had finished dealing them a deadly blow, they were wiped out, except for some fugitives who escaped into the fortified towns. (21) The whole army returned in safety to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah; no one so much as snarled at the Israelites. (22) And now Joshua ordered, “Open the mouth of the cave, and bring those five kings out of the cave to me.” (23) This was done. Those five kings—the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon—were brought out to him from the cave. (24) And when the kings were brought out to Joshua, Joshua summoned all the men of Israel and ordered the army officers who had accompanied him, “Come forward and place your feet on the necks of these kings.” They came forward and placed their feet on their necks. (25) Joshua said to them, “Do not be frightened or dismayed; be firm and resolute. For this is what the LORD is going to do to all the enemies with whom you are at war.” (26) After that, Joshua had them put to death and impaled on five stakes, and they remained impaled on the stakes until evening. (27) At sunset Joshua ordered them taken down from the poles and thrown into the cave in which they had hidden. Large stones were placed over the mouth of the cave, [and there they are] to this very day. (28) At that time Joshua captured Makkedah and put it and its king to the sword, proscribing it and every person in it and leaving none that escaped. And he treated the king of Makkedah as he had treated the king of Jericho. (29) From Makkedah, Joshua proceeded with all Israel to Libnah, and he attacked it. (30) The LORD delivered it and its king into the hands of Israel; they put it and all the people in it to the sword, letting none escape. And he treated its king as he had treated the king of Jericho. (31) From Libnah, Joshua proceeded with all Israel to Lachish; he encamped against it and attacked it. (32) The LORD delivered Lachish into the hands of Israel. They captured it on the second day and put it and all the people in it to the sword, just as they had done to Libnah. (33) At that time King Horam of Gezer marched to the help of Lachish; but Joshua defeated him and his army, letting none of them escape. (34) From Lachish, Joshua proceeded with all Israel to Eglon; they encamped against it and attacked it. (35) They captured it on the same day and put it to the sword, proscribing all the people that were in it, as they had done to Lachish. (36) From Eglon, Joshua marched with all Israel to Hebron and attacked it. (37) They captured it and put it, its king, and all its towns, and all the people that were in it, to the sword. He let none escape, proscribing it and all the people in it, just as he had done in the case of Eglon. (38) Joshua and all Israel with him then turned back to Debir and attacked it. (39) He captured it and its king and all its towns. They put them to the sword and proscribed all the people in it. They let none escape; just as they had done to Hebron, and as they had done to Libnah and its king, so they did to Debir and its king. (40) Thus Joshua conquered the whole country: the hill country, the Negeb, the Shephelah, and the slopes, with all their kings; he let none escape, but proscribed everything that breathed—as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded. (41) Joshua conquered them from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, all the land of Goshen, and up to Gibeon. (42) All those kings and their lands were conquered by Joshua at a single stroke, for the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel. (43) Then Joshua, with all Israel, returned to the camp at Gilgal.

4.
מלכה של ירושלים עומד בראש חמשת המלכים. כנגד מי ניתן היה לצפות שילחם וכנגד מי הוא נלחם בפועל? מה ניתן ללמוד מכך על מערך הכוחות של הצבאות השונים?
5.
בתיאור המלחמה בפסוקים ח׳-י"ד יש שני מוקדי הנהגה - אנושי וניסי. בדקו מהו היחס בין שני סוגי ההנהגה, מתי בא לידי ביטוי החיבור ביניהם ובאיזה אופן.

מְפֹרָ֑שׁ וְשׂ֣וֹם שֶׂ֔כֶל - עיון

6.
עיינו במפה, ובדקו את חשיבותם של האזורים שנכבשו, מבחינה צבאית וגיאוגרפית: יריחו, העי, גבעון וערי חמשת המלכים.

7.
"כִּֽי־תִקְרַ֣ב אֶל־עִ֔יר לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם עָלֶ֑יהָ וְקָרָ֥אתָ אֵלֶ֖יהָ לְשָׁלֽוֹם" (דברים כ׳, י׳)
עיינו בפרשנים השונים על הפסוק בדברים כ׳, י׳. מהן הדעות השונות ביחס לכריתת ברית שלום? באיזו דרך היה יהושע צריך לפעול?
עיינו גם במדרש דברים רבה פרשת שופטים י"ד:
"אמר ר׳ שמואל בר נחמני: יהושע קיים הפרשה הזו. מה עשה יהושע? היה שולח פרוסטיגמא [אגרת] בכל מקום שהיה הולך לכבוש, והיה כותב בה: מי שמבקש להשלים יבא וישלים, ומי שמבקש לילך לו ילך לו, ומי שהוא מבקש לעשות מלחמה יבא ויעשה.
מה עשה הגרגשי? פנה והלך לו מלפניהם, ונתן לו הקב"ה ארץ יפה כארצו, זו אפרקיא. הגבעונים שהשלימו עשה להם יהושע שלום. אבל ל"א מלכים שבאו להלחם עמו הפילם הקב"ה בידו, מנין, שנאמר "ויכם עד בלתי השאיר לו שריד".

וַיָּבִ֖ינוּ בַּמִּקְרָֽא - הרחבה

"מֵאֶ֤רֶץ רְחוֹקָה֙ בָּ֔אנוּ וְעַתָּ֖ה כִּרְתוּ־לָ֥נוּ בְרִֽית" (ט׳,ו׳)
בפרקנו לא מפורט האופן שבו כרת יהושע את הברית עם הגבעונים, אולם עיון במקורות אחרים ילמד אותנו על מעמדות הברית בעולם העתיק והחשיבות הרבה שיחסו להם. לברית נלוו בדרך כלל פעולות סמליות שנתנו לה משנה תוקף. אחת הדרכים לכרות ברית הייתה לערוך סעודה ובה לבתר בעל חיים לשני חלקים ולעבור בין שניהם, בעל החיים המבותר סימל את גורלו של מפר ההסכם. תיאור של כריתת ברית כזו מופיע בירמיהו ל"ד, י"ח: "וְנָתַתִּ֣י אֶת־הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים הָעֹֽבְרִים֙ אֶת־בְּרִתִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹא־הֵקִ֙ימוּ֙ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֣י הַבְּרִ֔ית אֲשֶׁ֥ר כָּרְת֖וּ לְפָנָ֑י הָעֵ֙גֶל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר כָּרְת֣וּ לִשְׁנַ֔יִם וַיַּעַבְר֖וּ בֵּ֥ין בְּתָרָֽיו". המחויבות לקיום הברית עם הגבעונים נשמרת לאורך הדורות. לאחר ששאול מפר את הברית עמם בשמואל נענשים צאצאיו בחומרה יוצאת דופן (ראו בשמ"א כ"א). בתלמוד בבלי יבמות ע"ט ע"א מוסבר המעשה כך: "אמר רבי יוחנן משום רבי שמעון בן יהוצדק: מוטב שתעקר אות אחת מן התורה ויתקדש שם שמים בפרהסיא, שהיו עוברים ושבים אומרים: מה טיבן של אלו? הללו בני מלכים הם, ומה עשו? פשטו ידיהם בגרים גרורים, אמרו: אין לך אומה שראויה להדבק בה כזו..."

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