The Book of Samuel: Its Composition, Structure and Significance as ...

22 JOURNAL OF HEBREW SCRIPTURES
that has been chosen by God. This unequivocal command is repeated
many times in Deuteronomy. 62
The Book of Joshua shares the same concern. The book deals
with major events, such as the miraculous crossing of the Jordan,
the mass circumcision, the Passover celebration, the miraculous
capture of Jericho, the other wars in the central mountain, in the
South and in the North. But in all these events the narrator does
not say a word about any sacrifices taking place, even though Eleazar
the high priest and the Ark of the Covenant were present at the
Israelite camp (Jos 3:6; 18:1; 19:51). Furthermore, Joshua designated
several holy places such as Gilgal, where the standing stones
taken out of the Jordan River were erected (4:20ff); Shiloh, were
the Tabernacle of the Congregation was erected (18:1); Shechem,
were a sanctuary of the Lord existed (24:26). Joshua designated the
Gibeonites to be servants to the altar; but the narrator immediately
adds a reservation that it is for the future holy place that God
would choose (9:23,27). Yet, these special occasions and holy places
notwithstanding, the book of Joshua does not tell us about any
sacrifices that took place at those times and places. The only exception
is the sacrifice on Mount Ebal which is regarded as a unique
and justified act since it was performed according to the laws of
Moses (8:30–35). The requirement of a unique central shrine is
prominently described in the story of the two and a half tribes who
returned to their inheritance in Trans-Jordan. They erected an altar
near the Jordan. This act was regarded by Joshua as a rebellion
against God and a cause for an all out war between the Israelite
tribes. The trans-Jordanian tribes explained that the new altar was
intended as a memorial monument and not for sacrificing, and thus
averted the war (22:9–34).
In the book of Kings even some of the righteous kings are
criticized for the Israelites under their reign continuing to sacrifice
at the high places. 63 The climax of the book is King Josiah’s reform
and covenant with the people, after which the local shrines and
high places were destroyed and contaminated even in the area that
formerly belonged to the kingdom of Ephraim (2 Kgs 23:1–30).
Josiah reached the peak according to the concluding summary of
the Deuteronomistic author of the book of Kings: “There was no
king like him before who turned back to the Lord with all his heart
and soul and might, in full accord with the Teaching of Moses; nor
did any like him arise after him.” (23:25). It is noteworthy, however,
that the Deuteronomistic editor did not impose his critical attitude
on important occasions of sacrifice that are described in the
book of Judges. 64
62 See Deut 12:5–14, 18, 21, 26; 14:23–25; 15:20; 16:2, 6–7, 11, 15–16;
17:8, 10; 18:5–6; 26:2; 31:11.
63 See 1 Kgs 3:2–3; 22:44; 2 Kgs 12:4; 15:4,35.
64 Cf. Judg 2:5; 6:24–26; 11:31; 13:19–20; 20:26; 21:4.