The St. John's Bible- The Joshua Anthology

 The St. John's bible- 

the Joshua Anthology

Joshua 1-24 NRSV

Donald Jackson

Scribe: Susan Leiper

Vellum with ink, paint and gold

"As Moses reaches the end of his life,

 the Lord commissions Joshua, 

Son of Nun to be be Moses' successor 

and to lead the next generation of Israelites

 on a journey to the Promised Land.

The Book of Joshua chronicles the battles, 

deaths and mayhem of violence

 of that journey which initially began in Egypt.

The Joshua anthology, there first major illumination 

in Historical Books from The Saint John's Bible, 

focuses on the crossing of the children of Israel 

into the Promised Land. 

In this Illumination, Donal Jackson sets up a number 

of visual design elements which reprise throughout 

the work and tie the threat of the volume together. 

An Egyptian border motif taken from a wall painting

 in the Valley of the Queens is seen cropping 

into the margins of the anthology page, 

and the addition of a bronze bull and scarab beetle 

continue the Egyptian references. 

The Children of Israel, after having fought their way

 to the Promised Land following so many years

 of Egyptian bondage, 

are still seduced by the pull of the plytheistic images, 

false idols,

and magical rituals of their Egyptians masters.

 Death, violence, and conflagration are present 

in the flames and the headless bodies floating 

down the river; the price of slaughter

 is paid by both sides of a conflict.

Despite this destruction, there is still hope;

 strong and stable arches rise in the center

symbolizing the Ark of the Covenant 

carried across the river and throughout the land.

 The Law of Moses, in the form of fragments from 

Thomas Ingmire's illumination 

of theTen Commandments, 

is jostled across the Jordan, through the ruined city,

between the hills and into the Promised land.

Slender batons of gold, active and present

 throughout the illumination

carry out the theme of God's constant presence

reminding all to

 "Put away the gods that your ancestors served

beyond the River and in Egypt,

 and serve the Lord."

Joshua 24:14

(the display notes at the Biggs Museum)

Thinking about what gods we serve today 

in our own lives- 

the influence of culture and who really masters us?