JOSHUA
Author:
According to Jewish tradition Joshua was the author of this book, except for Josh 24:29-33. There is evidence in the book itself that points to Joshua’s authorship. See Josh 24:26. See the use of the word “we” in Josh 5:1. Joshua came out of Egypt with Moses and spent 40 years with him and Israel in the desert. He was an experienced military leader (Ex 17:8-13), a man of faith and faithfulness (Num 14:6-9). The name Joshua means “Jehovah gives salvation” or “Jehovah gives victory”.
Date:
The invasion of Canaan took place probably about 1406 BC. Joshua wrote when most of the land had been taken, toward the end of his life.
Themes:
God’s people taking the land God had promised them, the way God gave them victory, and the lessons they learned in the battle for Canaan. This book has many spiritual lessons for believers now. Some, at least, of the events seen in it are pictures of our spiritual life and warfare. See the note at Josh 1:17. Another theme in Joshua is the destruction of wicked peoples. See Josh 6:21; 8:26; 10:28, 35, 37, 39, 40. This was done at God’s command. See Deut 7:1-2, 16. And it was done under divine leadership (Josh 5:13-15). But was it just and right for God to destroy whole peoples? Certainly it was just and right. That is why God did it. Everything God does is just and right, and He is the one who is the proper judge of what is just and right, not sinful man. On the destruction of wicked people see notes at Gen 6:7; 15:16; Lev 18:24-25; Deut 13:12-18; Ps 47:2; 2 Thess 1:5-9; Rev 16:5-7. The inhabitants of Canaan practiced idolatry, the sacrifice of infants to idols, and sexual perversions in the name of their gods. They were extremely cruel and corrupt. Mingling with them would be disastrous for the people of Israel, whom God had chosen to worship Him and to proclaim the truth about Him. The sins of the peoples of Canaan were ripe for judgment, so God wisely and justly decided the time had come to destroy them.
Contents:
The Lord commissions Joshua 1:1-9
Preparations to cross the Jordan River 1:10-18
The spies and Rahab 2:1-21
Crossing the Jordan 3:1-17
Setting up a monument at Gilgal 4:1-24
Circumcising the people at Gilgal 5:1-9
Keeping the Passover, ceasing of the manna 5:10-12
The “Commander” of the army of the LORD 5:13-15
The fall of Jericho 6:1-27
Rahab saved 6:22-23
Curse on Jericho 6:26-27
Achan’s greed and disobedience 7:1-26
Destruction of Ai 8:1-29
The covenant renewed 8:30-34
The cunning Gibeonites 9:1-27
Battle of Gibeon, the sun stands still 10:1-43
Conquest of northern Canaan 11:1-15
Summary of Joshua’s campaigns 11:16—12:24
Division of the land chapters 13—21
Joshua’s instructions about this 13:1-7
Allotment of land east of the Jordan 13:8-33
Allotment of Hebron to Caleb 14:6-15
Allotment for the tribe of Judah and
for the sons of Joseph chapters 15—17
Meeting at Shiloh, allotting land for
the rest of the tribes 18:1—19:48
Allotment for Joshua 19:49-51
Five cities of refuge 20:1-9
Cities for the Levites 21:11-45
Two tribes and a half tribe return to the east,
building an altar of witness chapter 22
Joshua’s final exhortation chapter 23
Covenant renewed at Shechem 24:1-28
Death of Joshua 24:29-33