Josh, overview
Author: Joshua; perhaps with later editing by
Samuel.
Time: 1406 - 1400 BC.
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 what is called the Former Prophets.
Key verse: "Choose for yourselves this day whom you
will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD" (Josh
24:15).
Outline:
Entrance into the Promised Land: Josh 1:1 - 5:12
- God's commission to Joshua: Josh 1:1-9
- Joshua's mobilization for crossing the Jordan:
Josh 1:10-18
- Mission of the spies: Josh 2:1-24
- Crossing of the Jordan: Josh 3:1 - 5:1
- Renewal of circumcision and Passover observance:
Josh 5:2-12
Conquest of the Promised Land: Josh 5:13 - 12:24
- Appearance of the Captain of the Lord's Host:
Josh 5:13 - 6:5
- The central campaign: Josh 6:6 -
8:29
- Israel's covenant as the Law of the land:
Josh 8:30-35
- The southern campaign: Josh 9:1 -
10:43
- The northern campaign: Josh 11:1-15
- Summary of the conquest: Josh 11:16-23
- Appendix: catalogue of the defeated kings: Josh
12:1-24
Division of the Promised Land: Josh 13:1 - 22:34
- God's command to divide the land: Josh 13:1-7
- Territory of the tribes west of the Jordan
River: Josh 13:8-33
- Beginning of the division of
Canaan: Josh 14:1-15
- Territory of the tribe of
Judah: Josh 15:1-63
- Territory of the Joseph
tribes: Josh 16:1-17:18
- Territories of the seven
remaining tribes: Josh 18:1 - 19:51
- Inheritance
of Levi: Josh 20:1 - 21:42
- Summary of the
conquest and apportionment: Josh 21:43-45
- Appendix: departure of tribes east of the Jordan
River: Josh 22:1-34
Joshua's final speeches: Josh 23:1 - 24:33
- Joshua's farewell address to the leaders of
Israel: Josh 23:1-16
- Renewal of the covenant
commitment at Shechem: Josh 24:1-28
- Joshua dies
and Israel's subsequent conduct: Josh 24:29-33
