Joshua
The conquest of Canaan: God keeps every promise as Israel crosses the Jordan and takes the land
Joshua at a glance
The conquest of Canaan: God keeps every promise as Israel crosses the Jordan and takes the land
Joshua is the sixth book of the Bible and the first of the historical books, carrying the story of the Pentateuch to its long-awaited destination: the promised land. Named for its central figure - Moses' successor, whom tradition also credits with much of its writing - it opens at a hinge moment. Moses is dead, and the promises made to Abraham some six centuries earlier now rest on a new leader and a new generation camped on the east bank of the Jordan. God's charge to Joshua sets the tone: be strong and of a good courage.
The book moves in three sweeps. First the conquest: Rahab hides the spies, the Jordan parts before the ark, the walls of Jericho fall at a shout, Achan's hidden sin brings defeat at Ai, and southern and northern campaigns follow - including the day the sun stands still over Gibeon. Then the settlement: the land is divided by lot among the twelve tribes, with cities of refuge and Levitical cities appointed. Finally, the aged Joshua gathers Israel at Shechem, renews the covenant, and issues his famous challenge: choose you this day whom ye will serve.
Joshua matters because it is the Bible's great record of promises kept - not one word of all the LORD's good promises failed. It teaches that courage rests on God's presence, that victory belongs to faith and obedience, and that every generation must deliberately choose to serve the LORD.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Joshua 1:8 King James Version
Explore Joshua
How Joshua unfolds
7 sections- 1Commissioning and crossing (ch. 1-5)God commissions Joshua, Rahab hides the two spies in Jericho, and Israel crosses the Jordan on dry ground behind the ark, raising twelve memorial stones at Gilgal.
- 2Jericho and Ai (ch. 6-8)Jericho's walls fall after seven days of marching, Achan's stolen plunder brings defeat at Ai until his sin is judged, and Israel then takes Ai and renews the covenant at Mount Ebal.
- 3The southern campaign (ch. 9-10)The Gibeonites trick Israel into a treaty; defending them, Joshua routs five Amorite kings in the battle where the sun stands still, then sweeps through the southern cities.
- 4The northern campaign and summary (ch. 11-12)Joshua defeats the great northern coalition under Jabin of Hazor at the waters of Merom, and the conquered kings on both sides of the Jordan are listed - thirty-one in Canaan.
- 5Dividing the land (ch. 13-19)The land is allotted to the tribes by lot at Gilgal and Shiloh; Caleb, still strong at eighty-five, claims Hebron, and Joshua receives his own inheritance last.
- 6Refuge, Levites, and the eastern tribes (ch. 20-22)Cities of refuge and forty-eight Levitical cities are appointed, and the eastern tribes return home, where a misunderstood altar nearly sparks civil war before peace is restored.
- 7Farewell and covenant at Shechem (ch. 23-24)The aged Joshua charges Israel to cleave to the LORD, renews the covenant at Shechem - choose you this day whom ye will serve - and dies at a hundred and ten years old.
People to know
5 figures- JoshuaMoses' successor, the commander who leads Israel across the Jordan, through the conquest, and into covenant renewal at Shechem.
- RahabThe woman of Jericho who hides the Israelite spies and is spared with her family when the city falls.
- CalebJoshua's fellow faithful spy, who at eighty-five claims the hill country of Hebron as his inheritance.
- AchanThe man whose theft of devoted spoil from Jericho brings defeat at Ai and judgment in the valley of Achor.
- Eleazar the priestAaron's son, who with Joshua oversees the division of the land among the tribes.
Words worth carrying with you
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Joshua 1:8 · KJV
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1:9 · KJV
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Joshua 24:15 · KJV
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