SUMMARY: The online release of The Red Sea Miracle, Part 2 is coming soon. Here, we describe the perspective of those who witnessed the miracle of the parted waters first hand, or who heard about it from others. What can this tell us about the miracle itself?
Take care, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a snare in your midst. – Exodus 34:12 (ESV)
The Red Sea Miracle Commemorated
The Red Sea miracle was a unique and defining event in the entire scope of redemptive history. It was so significant, that even the structure of its celebratory Song of the Sea is traditionally set off in special formatting in the Hebrew Bible. But the notoriety of the event was not merely limited to the Israelites and ancient Egyptians. News of the astounding miracle made its way throughout Canaan.
When Joshua sent spies into Jericho some 40 years later, the notoriety of Israel’s God as One who effected great and miraculous deliverances for His people preceded them. News of the extraordinary parting of the Red Sea had not only made its way into Canaan, but it struck fear into the hearts of the Canaanite inhabitants. In fact, this was the singular miracle cited by Rahab as the cause of panic in Jericho over the approaching Israelites. She explained to the men,
“I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt …” – Joshua 2:9-10 (ESV)
Rahab was so convinced of the truthfulness of the report, that not only did she hide the spies, but she entered into an agreement with them for post-conquest living arrangements. Later, by the time the Israelite community arrived at Jericho, the whole city was in lockdown. Joshua 6:1 states,
“Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in.” – Joshua 6:1 (ESV)
Rahab was right – news of the encroaching Hebrew hoard had caused fear to fall on all the inhabitants of Jericho, and for good reason. In what is certainly one of the most unusual military operations in history, Israel’s God granted victory to His people through a clear miracle. By simply marching around the city for seven days, Israel’s God brought down the city’s walls. The conquest demonstrated the clear source of Israel’s military might. It was not to be found in their strength, numbers, or weapons, but was soundly located in the God who effected their victories (Deut 20:3, 4).
Canaanite Craftiness: A Study in Quick Diplomacy
As the Israelites continued their advance, news of their dramatic exodus from Egypt and ongoing conquests continued to precede them. After reports of Jericho’s defeat circulated, most of the tribal groups across the Jordan banded together in a desperate attempt to resist the advancing Israelite company (Joshua 9:1, 2). However, the inhabitants of Gibeon recognized the desperation of the moment and acted craftily.
Through a thoughtful and choreographed diplomatic scheme, the Gibeonites preemptively outmaneuvered Israel. They crafted a ruse in which they misrepresented the location of their city, while repeatedly offering themselves as servants to the Israelites. With seemingly no identifiable negative consequences, and with such willing subjects, the Israelite leadership under Joshua quickly entered into an agreement, and without seeking counsel from Yahweh (Joshua 9:14).
Clues from a Questionable Covenant
But that leads to a question: what was it that so easily convinced Joshua to covenant with these cunning Canaanites? After all, Joshua was prevented from making such a covenant with the people of the land, and the reasons given were quite clear (Exodus 34:12-14). There must have been something about the explanation that they gave that was particularly convincing to Moses’ former apprentice. Somehow, they were able to effectively allay all of his concerns, and rather quickly at that. But what was it? The answer lies in the details of their answer. Let’s consider the clues.
First, they seemed to prove that they were outside the geographical parameters of the ban. In fact, when the Israelite council pressed them on this point, they gave convincing evidence that they were from “a very distant country” (Joshua 9:10). This would seemingly bypass the immediate concern – to effect control over the land promised to the Israelites. If they were from far away, this was a non-issue. (See the city of Gibeon mentioned on an ancient document used in collecting taxes for Judah)
Second, notice that the Gibeonite representatives gave an explanation that was similar to the one that Rahab gave to the spies. They truthfully answered that they were motivated by a fear of Yahweh, whose fame had compelled them to go to extreme measures to place themselves in subjection to the Israelites. They stated,
“From a very distant country your servants have come, because of the name of the LORD your God. For we have heard a report of him, and all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth.” – Joshua 9:9-10 (ESV)
Such clear confession of Yahweh’s power and authority, and unquestionable allegiance addressed the heart of the ban’s intent – to avoid religious contamination caused by close interaction with the idolatrous inhabitants of Canaan.
Like Rahab, their answer gave indication that they had become convinced of the supremacy of Yahweh. The very fact of their unsolicited presence at the bargaining table, plus the effort they undertook to get there, combined with the astounding terms of their requests – simple peace in exchange for their allegiance and servitude, gave convincing proof that they were quite serious.
Yet, there is one other point that should be raised. Notice that their account was highly believable to Joshua. They specifically cited the fame of Yahweh that grew out of His actions on behalf of Israel with the Egyptians – the unquestioned dominant geo-political power of the day. The Gibeonite representatives reported that they were at the bargaining table “because of the name of the LORD your God. For we have heard a report of him, and all that he did in Egypt” (Joshua 9:9).
This statement, accompanied by these unambiguous actions is clear acknowledgement from the Gibeonites that dramatic and profound miracles had been effected by Yahweh in Egypt. Furthermore, these feats were of such a nature that their report had reached the ears of a people in a “distant country” and were seriously regarded even four decades after the plagues on Egypt and the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea. Most impressively, though, is that all of this made so much sense to Joshua, that he was taken in by their chicanery.
Canaanite Conclusions – And a Few Thoughts for Us, Too
Several things can be observed from these scenarios. First, extraordinary events occurred in Egypt that successfully resulted in the escape of a massive group of Hebrew slaves, and with debilitating effect on the world’s greatest geo-political entity. These were punctuated with the Red Sea crossing. Second, the details of the exodus had been widely circulated throughout the region, and were familiar throughout Canaan decades after their occurrence.
Third, the circumstances of the exodus were extraordinary such that the consensus traced them primarily to a supernatural source. Fourth, they were indisputable to the degree that both a walled city (Jericho), and a city of consequence (Gibeon) equipped with warriors, were terrified of the approaching Israelites. At least some citizens of both were willing to negotiate drastic terms of peace in a preemptive effort at survival. Those who didn’t negotiate, banded together in a desperate attempt to thwart the impinging Israelite threat (Jos 9:1, 2). Finally, all of these realities were so intuitive to Joshua, that they impacted his negotiations and decisions – as hoped by his counterparts.
The result is that in the case of the Gibeonites, the otherwise competent leader Joshua entered too quickly into a covenant without bothering to seek counsel from the Lord. Because Yahweh had so clearly effected the miraculous deliverance of His people Israel, His authenticity was undeniable. This argument was employed by both Rahab and the Gibeonite representatives. The Gibeonites’ proposal was believable because they cited known history as the reason for their proposed covenant. And, it was so reasonable to the Israelite leadership, that they did not ask sufficient questions.
The text goes on to explain that this covenant caused a regional sensation and resulted in retaliations against Gibeah. The stated reason: Gibeah “was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were warriors” (Jos. 10:2 ESV). (See the Update on the biblical city of Ai located)
Yet, in entering into this treaty with Israel, the men of the city were willing to surrender to Israel and become their servants without even a fight. Fortunately for them, they avoided annihilation and were accepted into the Israelite community where they remained at least through the time of David (2 Samuel 21).
The fundamental issue in Patterns of Evidence: The Red Sea Miracle II, is the nature of the miracle itself. Was it a large miracle that seems to best accord with the biblical narrative, but most defies natural law? Or, was it a small miracle that, although extraordinary, was accomplished by mostly natural means?
These are important questions that get to the heart of the reliability of the Bible and the way that God works in time and space. As explained in the film by Sir Colin Humphreys: “I would say that I just find my science helps my faith, and my faith helps my science as well. Also, there’s a lot of very good scientists who are Christians. I find there is no conflict between my science and faith.” That’s a compelling thought. And with Humphreys and the other personalities in the film, KEEP THINKING
TOP PHOTO: The Gibeonites come to the camp of the Israelites. (From: The Story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, Charles Foster, Public Domain)
NOTE: Not every view expressed by scholars contributing Thinker articles necessarily reflects the views of Patterns of Evidence. We include perspectives from various sides of debates on biblical matters so that readers can become familiar with the different arguments involved. – Keep Thinking!
