sign in sign up
<<
Home , Book of Joshua

THE BOOK OF

AUTHOR: Authorship of this book is debated. Joshua1, the chief character, is potentially the author.2

DATE: The events in Joshua likely began around 1406-08BC.3 The book spans approximately 40 years.4 • The date of the book’s writing must have been close to the conclusion of the events (6:25, 15:63). AUDIENCE: The nation of who lived during the time of Judges PURPOSE: To encourage ’s people by showing them His faithfulness in bringing Israel into the land. • Specifically, God’s people are encouraged to worship Him for who He is and trust Him to keep His word. • The book also reflects the : God sent a deliverer to give His people salvation and a promised rest.

BACKGROUND: These are important historical and theological issues that impact the book of Joshua. 1. God made a with to give him land, seed, and blessing. (Gen 12:7, 13:15, 15:18, 17:8) 2. Jacob (Israel) and his sons went to during a famine where they multiplied greatly in number. 3. Israel became enslaved under Pharaoh. God delivered the nation by 10 plagues & the crossing. 4. After , God led the nation to Mt. Sinai (Law) and then to Kadesh Barnea to inherit the land. 5. At Kadesh Barnea, Israel rebelled against God after the 12 spies brought back a bad report. (Nu 13-14) 6. God condemned Israel for their rebellion and ordered them to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. 7. During the wandering, many died. After 38 years, God gave the nation His Law again (Deut).

KEY TERMS: These terms are repeated in Joshua and are crucial to understanding the book. • “land” [x102] God promised to give Israel a land and through Joshua He delivers on this promise. • “rest” [x16] Israel was in for 400 years, then wandered for 40 years, in the land God gives rest. • “covenant” [x22] God relates to His people through covenant promises, all He does works to fulfill them. • “” [x59] He was the leader of Israel through whom God related to His people, he died in Deut 34. • “strong...courageous” [x15] Faithfulness to God’s mission requires faith-filled courage from Joshua. • “children” [x12] Israel is to have a multi-generational view of their lives. They are called by God to teach their children who God is and what He requires from them as His people. (cf. Deut. 6:4-25; Ps 78) • “devote to destruction” [x17] a command to show no in battle, but to kill everyone and everything

1 The name Joshua means “ saves” or “Yahweh is salvation.” Through Joshua, God struck down Israel’s enemies and gave them the Land He promised to them. The Hebrew name, when translated into Aramaic, is Jesus, which Joshua is a type (Matthew 1:21). Jesus is the fulfillment of all pictures of God’s salvation throughout the .

2 If Joshua was the author, a Spirit-inspired editor would have added the information about his death (24:29-33, cf. Dt 34:10-12) at a later time. Other parts of the book include editor’s additions (15:13-14 / :1-20; 15:15-19 / Judges 1:11-15; 19:47 / Judges 17-18).

3 The Exodus occurred in approximately 1446BC, followed by 40 years of wandering in the wilderness (Dt 2:14). According to 1 Kings 6:1 th the Israelites left Egypt 480 years before the 4 year of Solomon (966BC). This dates the Exodus at 1446BC and the beginning of the Conquest at 1406BC. In Judges 11:26 said the period from the Conquest to his time was 300 years.

4 The conquest itself (1:1-12:24) took roughly seven years (14:10). Joshua began when he was 75. Joshua died when he was 110 (24:29). OUTLINE OF JOSHUA: THE CONQUEST OF THE

(1:1-5:12) GOD PREPARES ISRAEL TO RECEIVE THE PROMISED LAND 1:1-9 – Preparation for : Joshua’s Commission from the LORD 1:10-18 – Preparation for Canaan: Israel’s Commission from Joshua 2:1-24 – Preparation for Canaan: The Spying of and Salvation of 3:1-4:24 – Preparation for Canaan: Passing through the Jordan and Stones of Remembrance 5:1-12 – Preparation for Canaan: Renewal of the Covenant by and 5:13-15 – Preparation for Canaan: Joshua Encounters the Angel of the Lord

(6:1-12:24) GOD GIVES ISRAEL POSSESSION OF THE PROMISED LAND 6:1-27 – Possession of Canaan: God Gives Israel a Victory Over Jericho 7:1-8:35 – Possession of Canaan: God Judges Israel by and Calls for Repentance 9:1-10:27 – Possession of Canaan: Israel Covenants with the Gibeonites and Defeats the Southern Kings 10:28-11:23 – Possession of Canaan: God Gives Israel Many Victories Including the Northern Kings 12:1-24 – Possession of Canaan: A Summary of God’s Victories Through Joshua (31-1)

(13:1-21:45) GOD DIVIDES THE INHERITANCE OF THE PROMISED LAND 13:1-14 – Proportioning the Land of Promise: The Land Yet To Be Possessed 13:15-23 – Proportioning the Land of Promise: The Land East of the Jordan (Ruben’s Inheritance) 13:24-28 – Proportioning the Land of Promise: The Land East of the Jordan (Gad’s Inheritance) 13:29-33 – Proportioning the Land of Promise: The Land East of the Jordan (Manasseh’s Inheritance) 14:1-15 – Proportioning the Land of Promise: The Land West of the Jordan (’s Inheritance) 15:1-63 – Proportioning the Land of Promise: The Land West of the Jordan (Judah’s Inheritance) 16:1-17:18 – Proportioning the Land of Promise: The Land West of the Jordan (’s Inheritance) 18:1-11 – Proportioning the Land of Promise: Set-up of the and Surveying the Remaining Land 18:12-28 – Proportioning the Land of Promise: The Land West of the Jordan (Benjamin) 19:1-9 – Proportioning the Land of Promise: The Land West of the Jordan (Simeon) 19:10-16 – Proportioning the Land of Promise: The Land West of the Jordan (Zebulun) 19:17-23 – Proportioning the Land of Promise: The Land West of the Jordan (Issachar) 19:24-31 – Proportioning the Land of Promise: The Land West of the Jordan (Asher) 19:32-39 – Proportioning the Land of Promise: The Land West of the Jordan (Naphtali) 19:40-51 – Proportioning the Land of Promise: The Land West of the Jordan () 20:1-9 – Proportioning the Land of Promise: The (x6 – Numbers 35:6) 21:1-45 – Proportioning the Land of Promise: The Cities for the Levites (x48 – Numbers 35:6-8)

(22:1-24:33) GOD REQUIRES FAITHFULNESS TO HIM IN THE PROMISED LAND 22:1-34 – The Altar of Misunderstanding: Easter Tribes Devotion Questioned by Western Tribes 23:1-16 – Joshua Renews the Covenant: Response to God’s Faithfulness Determines Your Destiny 24:1-33 – Joshua Calls for Commitment: Respond to God’s Faithfulness with Your Allegiance Map of the Land Allotments in Joshua 13:9-19:49