Joshua

Author: Joshua; perhaps with later editing by Samuel.

Period: c.1400-1380 B.C.

Title: The English title of this book is taken from the name of the main character and, like the Greek and Latin titles, is simply a transliteration of its Hebrew title (Yehoshua).

Summary: Joshua was selected by God to succeed Moses and lead the nation into the Promised Land. The book outlines the conquest and occupation by Israel under his military leadership. God explicitly states that all the inhabitants of the land were to be utterly driven out or destroyed in order to assure spiritual purity and complete devotion to God. Joshua is the first book of the Former Prophets.

Breakdown:

Entrance into the Promised Land: Chapter 1:1 - 5:12

• God's commission to Joshua: 1:1-9
• Joshua's mobilization for crossing the Jordan: 1:10-18
• Mission of the spies: 2:1-24
• Crossing of the Jordan: 3:1 - 5:1
• Renewal of circumcision and Passover observance: 5:2-12

Conquest of the Promised Land: Chapter 5:13 - 12:24

• Appearance of the Captain of the Lord's Host: 5:13 - 6:5
• The central campaign: 6:6 - 8:29
• Israel's covenant as the Law of the land: 8:30-35
• The southern campaign: 9:1 - 10:43
• The northern campaign: 11:1-15
• Summary of the conquest: 11:16-23
• Appendix: catalogue of the defeated kings: 12:1-24

Division of the Promised Land: Chapter 13:1 - 22:34

• God's command to divide the land: 13:1-7
• Territory of the tribes west of the Jordan River: 13:8-33
• Beginning of the division of Canaan: 14:1-15
• Territory of the tribe of Judah: 15:1-63
• Territory of the Joseph tribes: 16:1-17:18
• Territories of the seven remaining tribes: 18:1 - 19:51
• Inheritance of Levi: 20:1 - 21:42
• Summary of the conquest and apportionment: 21:43-45
• Appendix: departure of tribes east of the Jordan River: 22:1-34

Joshua's final speeches: Chapter 23:1 - 24:33

• Joshua's farewell address to the leaders of Israel: 23:1-16
• Renewal of the Covenant commitment at Shechem: 24:1-28
• Joshua dies and Israel's subsequent conduct: 24:29-33