Redaction Criticism Example: Joshua 2

1. Smaller units isolated

a. Trick the king’s representatives

b. Rahab’s credo

c. Negotiations for Rahab’s family

d. Spies return and report

2. Meaning of smaller units determined

a. Yahweh’s wisdom and power enable harlot to outwit royal representatives

b. Historical acts of Yahweh become international news and frighten Israel’s enemies

c. God’s spies can eventually lay responsibility on foreigner

d. God gives the land to His people

3. Transition statements identified

a. 2:1, 8, 12, 21b

4. Framework examined

a. 2:1, 23

5. Smaller units functioning within the larger found

a. Josh 2 obviously interrupts the story of the crossing of the Jordan with new characters (Rahab and spies), new chronology (repeated three-day theme of 1:11; 2:1, 16, 22; 3:1, 2, 5).

6. Relationship to largest editorial stream isolated

a. Movement from Shittim (Josh 2:1) joins back to Num 33:48–49 (Abel-Shittim) for the crossing of the Jordan, and to Num 25, a place of shameful sin.

b. Sending of spies looks back to Num 13–14, the story of spies who failed.

c. Redaction criticism must determine if these locations indicate an extensive Pentateuchal source or simply material from a common pool of tradition.

7. Tension within biblical narrative located

a. Chapter breaks preparations for crossing.

b. Spies do no work of a spy.

c. Story of spies and oath not complete until 6:22–25.