The Book of
JOSHUA
Author: Uncertain
Date: 1400–1375 B.C.
Theme: Possessing the Inheritance
Key Words: Obedience, Covenant, Courage
Author. The author of the Book of Joshua cannot be determined from the Scripture. Use of the pronouns “we” and “us” in 5:1, 6 supports the theory that the author must have been an eyewitness to some of the events that occurred during this period. Joshua 24:26 suggests that the author of at least large sections was Joshua himself.
Other passages, however, could not have been written by Joshua. His death is recorded in the final chapter (24:29–32). Several other events are mentioned that did not occur until after his death: Caleb’s conquest of Hebron (14:6–15); Othniel’s victory (15:13–17); and the Danite migration (19:47). Parallel passages in Judges 1:10–16 and Judges 18 confirm that these events occurred after Joshua’s death.
It is most probable that the book was composed in its final form by a later scribe or editor, but was founded on recorded documents written by Joshua.
Date. The Book of Joshua covers some twenty-five years of Israel’s history under the leadership of Joshua, Moses’ assistant and successor.
The commonly accepted date of Joshua’s death is about 1375 B.C. Therefore, the book covers Israel’s history between 1400 B.C. and 1375 B.C. and was likely compiled shortly thereafter.
Background. The book opens at the doorstep of Israel’s entrance into Canaan. Politically, Canaan was divided into many city-states, each with its own autocratic government and all feuding with each other. Morally, the people were depraved; lawlessness and brutality were commonplace. Canaanite religion emphasized fertility and sex, serpent worship, and child sacrifice. The stage was set and the land ripe for conquest.
By contrast, the people of Israel had been without a homeland for four hundred years (Gen. 15:13). They had lived in bondage to Egyptian pharaohs, then had wandered aimlessly in the desert for over forty years. Yet they remained faithful, though imperfectly, to the one true God and clung to the promise He had made to their forefather, Abraham. Centuries before, God had promised to make Abraham and his descendants into a great nation and to give them Canaan as a homeland on the condition that they remain faithful and obedient to Him (Gen. 17). Now, they were at the threshold of experiencing the fulfillment of that promise.
Content. The Book of Joshua is the sixth book of the Old Testament and the first in a group of books called the Former Prophets. Collectively, these books trace the development of God’s kingdom in the Promised Land until the Babylonian captivity—a period of some nine hundred years. Joshua chronicles the period from Israel’s entrance into Canaan through the conquest, division, and settlement of the Promised Land.
Personal Application. The Book of Joshua teaches that the fulfillment of God’s promises of blessing to Israel depend on their cooperation. The blessings of victory, inheritance, abundant provision, peace, and rest all came to the people of God as they obeyed Him. Faithful meditation on His Word and faithful obedience to His commands are the key to blessing and abundance (1:8). Near the end of his book, also, Joshua called the people to a life of obedience and faith (22:5).
Today, this abiding trust provides a clear foundation for our growth and blessing. As surely as blessing follows obedience, judgment follows disobedience. Achan’s sin reveals the principle that no man lives to himself (ch. 7), but the sin of one affects the lives of many. God hates sin and is just as faithful to punish the disobedient as He is to bless the steadfast. These principles of blessing and cursing are object lessons for us on our pathway to maturity. Joshua’s life and leadership demonstrated that spiritual maturity is not independence from God, but responsive dependence on God. To be victorious, we must surrender to Him; to lead others, we must follow Him.
The Book of Joshua provides other valuable lessons: attitudes essential for God-given victory; principles of leadership; the fatal result of pride; the relevance of memorials; God’s faithfulness to His Word; examples of His miracle power.
Christ Revealed. Christ is revealed in the Book of Joshua in three ways: by direct revelation, by types, and by illuminating aspects of His nature.
In 5:13–15, the triune God appeared to Joshua as the “Commander of the army of the LORD.” By His appearance, Joshua was made aware that God Himself was in charge. It was Joshua’s task, as ours, not so much to follow the Commander’s plans as to know the Commander. We need to be on His side, not He on ours.
A type is a symbol, an object lesson. Types can be found in a person, in a religious ritual, even in a historical event. Joshua himself was a type of Christ. His name, which means “Yahweh Is Salvation,” is a Hebrew equivalent to the Greek “Jesus.” Joshua led the Israelites into the possession of their promised inheritance, just as Christ leads us into possession of eternal life.
The scarlet cord in Rahab’s window (2:18, 21) illustrates Christ’s redemptive work on the Cross. The blood-red cloth hanging in the window saved Rahab and her household from death. So, too, Christ shed His blood and hung on the Cross to save us from death.
One of the aspects of Christ’s nature revealed in Joshua is that of fulfilled promise. At the end of his life, Joshua testified, “not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you” (23:14). God, in His grace and faithfulness, had sustained and preserved His people by bringing them out of the wilderness and into the Land of Promise. He will do the same for us through Christ, who is The Promise.
The Holy Spirit at Work. A consistent stream of the Holy Spirit’s work flows through the Book of Joshua. His presence initially surfaces in 1:5, where God, knowing the overwhelming task of leading the nation Israel, provided Joshua with the promise of His ever-present Spirit.
The work of the Holy Spirit was the same then as it is now: He draws people into a saving relationship with God and accomplishes the purposes of the Father. His objective in Joshua, as in all the Old Testament, was the salvation of Israel; for it was through this nation that God chose to save the world (Is. 63:7–9).
Several characteristics of the way in which the Spirit works can be seen in Joshua. The Holy Spirit’s work is continual. “I will not leave you nor forsake you” (1:5). The Holy Spirit is committed to accomplishing the task, no matter how long it takes. His continued presence is necessary for the success of God’s plan in the lives of men. The Holy Spirit’s work is mutual. “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go” (1:7). It has been said, “Without Him, we cannot; without us, He will not.” Cooperation with the Holy Spirit is essential to victory. He empowers us to fulfill our calling and complete the task at hand. The Holy Spirit’s work is supernatural. The fall of Jericho was wrought by the miraculous destruction of its walls (6:20). Victory was attained at Gibeon when the Spirit stayed the sun (10:12, 13). No true work of God, whether deliverance from bondage or possession of blessing, is accomplished without the Spirit’s help.
Jack W. Hayford, Spirit Filled Life Study Bible
JOSHUA
Author: Uncertain
Date: 1400–1375 B.C.
Theme: Possessing the Inheritance
Key Words: Obedience, Covenant, Courage
Author. The author of the Book of Joshua cannot be determined from the Scripture. Use of the pronouns “we” and “us” in 5:1, 6 supports the theory that the author must have been an eyewitness to some of the events that occurred during this period. Joshua 24:26 suggests that the author of at least large sections was Joshua himself.
Other passages, however, could not have been written by Joshua. His death is recorded in the final chapter (24:29–32). Several other events are mentioned that did not occur until after his death: Caleb’s conquest of Hebron (14:6–15); Othniel’s victory (15:13–17); and the Danite migration (19:47). Parallel passages in Judges 1:10–16 and Judges 18 confirm that these events occurred after Joshua’s death.
It is most probable that the book was composed in its final form by a later scribe or editor, but was founded on recorded documents written by Joshua.
Date. The Book of Joshua covers some twenty-five years of Israel’s history under the leadership of Joshua, Moses’ assistant and successor.
The commonly accepted date of Joshua’s death is about 1375 B.C. Therefore, the book covers Israel’s history between 1400 B.C. and 1375 B.C. and was likely compiled shortly thereafter.
Background. The book opens at the doorstep of Israel’s entrance into Canaan. Politically, Canaan was divided into many city-states, each with its own autocratic government and all feuding with each other. Morally, the people were depraved; lawlessness and brutality were commonplace. Canaanite religion emphasized fertility and sex, serpent worship, and child sacrifice. The stage was set and the land ripe for conquest.
By contrast, the people of Israel had been without a homeland for four hundred years (Gen. 15:13). They had lived in bondage to Egyptian pharaohs, then had wandered aimlessly in the desert for over forty years. Yet they remained faithful, though imperfectly, to the one true God and clung to the promise He had made to their forefather, Abraham. Centuries before, God had promised to make Abraham and his descendants into a great nation and to give them Canaan as a homeland on the condition that they remain faithful and obedient to Him (Gen. 17). Now, they were at the threshold of experiencing the fulfillment of that promise.
Content. The Book of Joshua is the sixth book of the Old Testament and the first in a group of books called the Former Prophets. Collectively, these books trace the development of God’s kingdom in the Promised Land until the Babylonian captivity—a period of some nine hundred years. Joshua chronicles the period from Israel’s entrance into Canaan through the conquest, division, and settlement of the Promised Land.
Personal Application. The Book of Joshua teaches that the fulfillment of God’s promises of blessing to Israel depend on their cooperation. The blessings of victory, inheritance, abundant provision, peace, and rest all came to the people of God as they obeyed Him. Faithful meditation on His Word and faithful obedience to His commands are the key to blessing and abundance (1:8). Near the end of his book, also, Joshua called the people to a life of obedience and faith (22:5).
Today, this abiding trust provides a clear foundation for our growth and blessing. As surely as blessing follows obedience, judgment follows disobedience. Achan’s sin reveals the principle that no man lives to himself (ch. 7), but the sin of one affects the lives of many. God hates sin and is just as faithful to punish the disobedient as He is to bless the steadfast. These principles of blessing and cursing are object lessons for us on our pathway to maturity. Joshua’s life and leadership demonstrated that spiritual maturity is not independence from God, but responsive dependence on God. To be victorious, we must surrender to Him; to lead others, we must follow Him.
The Book of Joshua provides other valuable lessons: attitudes essential for God-given victory; principles of leadership; the fatal result of pride; the relevance of memorials; God’s faithfulness to His Word; examples of His miracle power.
Christ Revealed. Christ is revealed in the Book of Joshua in three ways: by direct revelation, by types, and by illuminating aspects of His nature.
In 5:13–15, the triune God appeared to Joshua as the “Commander of the army of the LORD.” By His appearance, Joshua was made aware that God Himself was in charge. It was Joshua’s task, as ours, not so much to follow the Commander’s plans as to know the Commander. We need to be on His side, not He on ours.
A type is a symbol, an object lesson. Types can be found in a person, in a religious ritual, even in a historical event. Joshua himself was a type of Christ. His name, which means “Yahweh Is Salvation,” is a Hebrew equivalent to the Greek “Jesus.” Joshua led the Israelites into the possession of their promised inheritance, just as Christ leads us into possession of eternal life.
The scarlet cord in Rahab’s window (2:18, 21) illustrates Christ’s redemptive work on the Cross. The blood-red cloth hanging in the window saved Rahab and her household from death. So, too, Christ shed His blood and hung on the Cross to save us from death.
One of the aspects of Christ’s nature revealed in Joshua is that of fulfilled promise. At the end of his life, Joshua testified, “not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you” (23:14). God, in His grace and faithfulness, had sustained and preserved His people by bringing them out of the wilderness and into the Land of Promise. He will do the same for us through Christ, who is The Promise.
The Holy Spirit at Work. A consistent stream of the Holy Spirit’s work flows through the Book of Joshua. His presence initially surfaces in 1:5, where God, knowing the overwhelming task of leading the nation Israel, provided Joshua with the promise of His ever-present Spirit.
The work of the Holy Spirit was the same then as it is now: He draws people into a saving relationship with God and accomplishes the purposes of the Father. His objective in Joshua, as in all the Old Testament, was the salvation of Israel; for it was through this nation that God chose to save the world (Is. 63:7–9).
Several characteristics of the way in which the Spirit works can be seen in Joshua. The Holy Spirit’s work is continual. “I will not leave you nor forsake you” (1:5). The Holy Spirit is committed to accomplishing the task, no matter how long it takes. His continued presence is necessary for the success of God’s plan in the lives of men. The Holy Spirit’s work is mutual. “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go” (1:7). It has been said, “Without Him, we cannot; without us, He will not.” Cooperation with the Holy Spirit is essential to victory. He empowers us to fulfill our calling and complete the task at hand. The Holy Spirit’s work is supernatural. The fall of Jericho was wrought by the miraculous destruction of its walls (6:20). Victory was attained at Gibeon when the Spirit stayed the sun (10:12, 13). No true work of God, whether deliverance from bondage or possession of blessing, is accomplished without the Spirit’s help.
Jack W. Hayford, Spirit Filled Life Study Bible
