Joshua
Author
Unknown. Jewish tradition says that Joshua was the author, although it is possible that the majority of the book was written by another eyewitness to the events written about. Some passages are specifically ascribed to Joshua, though we cannot be certain of the author for the entire book.
Date
The book of Joshua recounts a period of 24 years, ending around 1400B.C. The book was written a short time after the events occurred by an eyewitness to the events.
Audience and Purpose
The author was writing as a testimony of God’s work to future generations of His people. At the time, this would have been future generations of Jews, but it also includes those of us who are children of Abraham through faith.
The book covers the history of the nation of Israel from about 1451B.C. to 1427B.C. at the death of Joshua.
Major Themes
- God Fights Our Battles. Even the name “Joshua” means, “God Saves.” As the Jews come into their promised land, they quickly learn that they cannot win any battle on their own. Yet, God, in His infinite power and wisdom, has a plan for every battle that will come to win the battle for Israel. Victory is always dependent on Him, rather than the people. The supernatural downfall of Jericho is the first example (see Joshua 6), yet many more follow.
- Obedience to God’s Commands. Though God was continually ready to fight for Israel, there were many occurrences where He relented in the battle because of the people’s own disobedience. The plundering of Jericho and the subsequent defeat at Ai is the first example in Joshua (see chapter 7).
- Judgement on Idolatry. One the the biggest, modern criticisms of the Bible is that “God commanded the slaughter of millions of innocent people.” However, the Bible makes clear that the timing of Joshua’s conquest was determined by the determination of when God would judge the sin of those people (see Genesis 15:16). These nations are recorded as practicing incest, child sacrifice, religious prostitution, and other abhorrent sins.
- Inheritance. After all the promises made concerning the land, the people finally make their home there. Much of the book deals with the distribution of the land by tribe.
Key Scriptures
- Joshua 1:8-9 — “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
- Joshua 21:44-45 — “And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.”
- Joshua 24:14-15 — “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Outline
- Joshua 1:1-5:15 — Crossing the Jordan
- Joshua 6:1-12:24 — Conquest of the Land
- Joshua 13:1-22:34 — Dividing the Inheritance
- Joshua 23:1-24:33 — Renewed Commitment to Faithfulness
Gospel Summary
The book of Joshua is about God’s people and His promise. His people have been brought from bondage and are becoming a nation identified by God. The land that this nation is coming to inherit, has been promised by God for centuries. The challenges the people now face become the opportunity for God to prove Himself powerful over the false God’s of the nations. The book of Joshua is the climax of the books of Moses, and yet it is also the commencement of a new era for Israel. Joshua tells us of the turning point, where God finally gives the people their inheritance, and in the process, brings judgement on all the unbelieving nations who are cast out. (Note, it is likely a preincarnate appearance of Jesus as “the commander of the army of the Lord,” in 5:15.)
As it applies to the gospel, Tremper Longman writes in The Case for Spiritual Continuity, “The war against the Canaanites was simply an earlier phase of the battle that comes to its climax on the cross and its completion at the final judgment. The object of warfare moves from the Canaanites, who are the object of God’s wrath for their sin, to the spiritual powers and principalities, and then finally to the utter destruction of all evil, human and spiritual.”
Jesus will still be the judge of the unfaithful. He is giving them time and an opportunity to repent (as did Rahab), but the day will come when He removes them in the final judgement and giving the world as an inheritance to His people, the church.
© Anthony Scott Ingram 2020. All Rights Reserved.
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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
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