joshua

Background

Author and date of composition.   The author did not name himself in the book. Those who hold to the documentary hypothesis contend the book had a similar composition history to the books of the Pentateuch. Campbell notes the following points of internal evidence that must be considered when studying the authorship. First, an eyewitness wrote many parts of the book. Second, several references demand an early date, within a generation after the completion of the conquest. Third, Joshua himself wrote some parts of the book. Fourth, some four accounts in the book must have been written following the death of Joshua.[1]

It is plausible that Joshua himself composed most of the book, inasmuch as he was highly qualified for the task. Parts of the book seem to be borrowed from an otherwise unknown “Book of Jashar” (10:13). Much of the book could then have been completed and edited within a few years after his death, allowing for the leadership which survived Joshua also to serve and die (24:31). Date the events of the book 1406–1375.[2]

On the other hand it is highly unlikely that 15:63, a statement about the Jebusites in Jerusalem “to this day,” would have been written before David. Date the final redaction or composition sometime after the establishment of David’s throne in Jerusalem.

Historical setting.   The book opens where Deuteronomy left off: the Israelites were poised on the plains of Moab, on the east side of Jordan river, across from Jericho. Moses had died within the last month; the nation was now forty years past their Egyptian exodus, Red Sea crossing, and Mt. Sinai experience. The oldest people in the nation, aside from Joshua and Caleb, had been but twenty years old at the Exodus, and were now sixty. All those older had been buried in the desert. The nation had only recently defeated the two Amorite kings, Og and Sihon. Two of the tribes and a half of a third had decided to establish themselves in that land on the east side of the Jordan; they also agreed to send their fighting men with the rest of the nation to assist in the conquest of the land west of the Jordan.

The book ends with the distribution of the land among the twelve tribes upon its partial conquest, a reaffirmation of the Sinai covenant, and the death of Joshua.

The land had been dominated by Egypt since 1468, but by 1400 that control greatly diminished. Religiously the land was filled with debased idolatries, including the worship of the gods and goddesses El, Baal, Anath, Ashtoreth, and Molech.

Argument

The book is arranged in two major sections, chapters 1–12 dealing with the conquest of the land, and 13–24 the distribution of the land. In preparation for the conquering of the land, the commission of Joshua as divinely appointed successor to Moses is reviewed (1:1–9). The new leader immediately sets out to fulfill his commission, by ordering the nation to prepare to move out, including the soldiers (men) of the tribes who decided to settle east of the Jordan (1:10–18).

Since the first assignment in the land would be the conquest of Jericho, Joshua immediately dispatched spies to gain an intelligence report (ch 2).[3] The Rahab story provides the information that the Canaanite city-states were well aware of Israel’s recent exploits. It also points up the mercy of God to spare this woman of faith, even though she should otherwise have been under the ‘ban’ (herem).

Equipped with an intelligence report, the nation is ready to enter the land by crossing the river. With the priests carrying the ark in the lead (3:1–13), the nation Israel passes through the Jordan river bed on dry ground, as God repeats the Red Sea miracle (3:14–17; cf. 4:23). After the crossing one man from each tribe carried up a stone from the river bed to become a memorial cairn to God’s miraculous provision while Joshua also took twelve stones back down into the river bed (4:1–14). Finally, the priests carrying the ark came up out of the river bed, and it was restored to its previous flood-stage flow (4:15–18). The stones were then carried to Gilgal (where Israel camped) and set up, and dedicated as a monument to the miracle all Israel had just experienced (4:19–24). As was prophesied by Moses and confirmed by Rahab, all the nations became terrified for their lives because of Israel’s God (5:1). Immediately upon arrival at Gilgal Israel’s relation to the land covenant (Abrahamic) was reaffirmed by the circumcision of the men (5:2–9), and the celebration of the Passover served as a reminder of God’s faithfulness, as he had finished the process begun with Moses: she was in the land (5:10–12).

Celebration could not continue, however, as the land remained to be possessed. As the Jericho story opens, Joshua meets the real leader of the army, the Captain of the Lord’s army—Joshua’s ‘burning bush’ experience—to whom Joshua immediately bows (5:13–15), who apparently gave the strategic orders that Joshua then delivers (6:1–5). Obediently Israel carries out the curious orders, and wins a great victory (6:6–21). The conclusion to the story of Rahab reveals again that God’s response to faith is mercy (6:22–25).

The war was not one battle, however. Presuming on their own might, and corporately ignoring the Lord’s commands (concerning herem), Israel next marched to Ai, only to be chased away in a humiliating defeat (7:1–5). God was not moved to pity at Joshua’s complaint (7:6–10), but rather he accused Israel of the sin of violating the covenant (7:11–15). The culprit was identified the next day (7:16–21) and summarily executed by stoning (7:22–26). Only then was Israel ready to attack and defeat Ai. Following God’s strategy—ambush (8:1–2)—Israel won by a rout (8:3–22), and hanged the king of Ai as a warning to all (8:23–29).

In punctilious observance of the Mosaic Law the nation proceeded to Ebal and Gerizim, where they built an altar and pronounced the blessings and curses of the covenant (8:30–35).

Israel’s obedience was still not complete, however. Verse 14 of chapter 9 is a red flag to the reader: Israel failed to consult her Suzerain in regard to making a peace treaty with a people that, as she later discovered, was under God’s ‘ban.’ While other city-states allied themselves together to resist Israel (9:1–2), Gibeon pursued a different tack: she would seek by a ruse—feigning to come from a distant land—to secure Israel’s promise not to attack her (9:3–13). Soon after making the agreement (9:14–15), Israel discovered her mistake, and to Gibeon’s delight and God’s chagrin, was forced to sentence Gibeon to perpetual slavery (9:16–27).

The (southern) alliance formed in 9:1–2 reacted to Gibeon’s strategy by threatening Gibeon (10:1–5), so that Israel was obligated to come to her defense. This time in complete obedience Joshua and Israel utterly destroyed people and kings of these nations (calling on God miraculously to extend the day; 10:6–27). Israel proceeded from there immediately to attack and completely destroy seven southern cities, including three of those involved in the attack in the first part of the chapter, and their kings (10:28–39). With this measure of obedient conquest Joshua and the army returned to their camp at Gilgal (10:40–43).

With the southern campaign accomplished (though incomplete), Israel had the challenge of a northern coalition to face (11:1–5). God provided them with military victory in accordance with their obedience to his demands (11:6–9), which Joshua followed up with the destruction of their cities, especially Hazor (11:10–15).

The conquest half of the book concludes with a summary of Israel’s victories in their military campaigns, first defining the territories conquered (11:16–23) with the note that this campaign continued for many years (v. 18), and then listing the kings defeated, both east (under Moses, 12:1–6) and west (under Joshua, 12:7–24) of the Jordan. The emphasis of this section is on the positive victories, of which there were many, indicating God’s faithfulness to keep his promise, while ignoring the negative fact of their failure to finish the job, so to speak.

The second half of the book opens immediately, however, with the admission of the incompleteness of Israel’s conquest (13:1). Nevertheless the time had come to assign portions of the land to the different tribes (13:2–7). Owing probably to the fact that their territorial assignment had been settled for some seven years, and by Moses at that, the Transjordanian tribes were the first to gain Joshua’s attention (13:8–33). After surveying the territory fully conquered under Moses as well as that which remained for these tribes to possess (13:8–14), Joshua described the territorial allotments for Reuben (13:15–23), Gad (13:24–28), and the half-tribe of Manasseh (13:29–31). As well, Joshua twice noted that Levi would receive no land, because Yahweh and the offerings made to him are his inheritance (13:14, 33).

Next Joshua began to assign land to the nine and a half western tribes (14:1—19:50). After clarifying the ground rules for these allotments—Mosaic obedience (14:1–5)—Judah received the first allotment (14:6—15:63), with a portion—Hebron—to be given to faithful Caleb, preceding even the tribe (14:6–15). The allotment for Judah concludes with the painfully significant note that they failed to drive the Jebusites out from Jerusalem (15:63).

The next leading tribes and the next to receive their allotment designations were the sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh (16 and 17 respectively). These also failed to possess their lands fully (16:10; 17:12f). The last seven tribes had to be told to survey the land (18:1–9), which Joshua then apportioned by lot (18:10) to Benjamin (18:11–28), Simeon (19:1–9), Zebulun (19:10–16), Issachar (19:17–23), Asher (19:24–31), Naphtali (19:32–39), and Dan (19:40–48). Finally, Joshua himself received an allotment (19:49–50). All that remained was the designating of cities of refuge (20) and cities for the Levites (21:1–42). This allocation could only conclude with praise to God for faithfully keeping His promises (21:43–45).

At this point the warriors of the Transjordanian tribes were free to go home. Immediately after being reminded to be faithful to the Mosaic Covenant (22:5), they built an altar on the east side of the Jordan (22:10–12). When the nine and a half western tribes noticed it, they took up arms, in case the two and a half tribes had apostatized. Hearing the explanation—that it was merely a covenant memorial—the western tribes were satisfied, and blessed God (22:13–34).

The book concludes with Joshua’s farewell addresses, first to the tribal leaders (23), then to the people (24). To the leaders he reiterated that covenant faithfulness will bring full possession of the land (23:1–11), and that unfaithfulness will bring exile from the land (23:12–16). His address to the people was a covenant renewal, reminiscent of Moses’ addresses in Deuteronomy.

Outline

I. Conquest of the land  1–12

A. Entering the land  1:1—5:12

1. Preparations are made for crossing the Jordan.  1

a) Joshua is commissioned to lead Israel.  1:1–9

b) Joshua commands the camp to prepare to move out.  1:10–11

c) The Transjordan tribes agree to send warriors.  1:12–18

2. Joshua sends spies into Jericho.  2

a) The spies are commissioned.  2:1

b) Rahab protects the spies.  2:2–7

c) The spies guarantee Rahab protection.  2:8–22

(1) The agreement is made.  2:8–14

(2) The agreement is confirmed by a sign.  2:15–20

d) The spies return safely.  2:23–24

3. Israel crosses the Jordan.  3:1—5:1

a) Israel is instructed concerning the crossing.  3:1–13

(1) Joshua instructs the people: follow the ark.  3:1–6

(2) God instructs Joshua: priests step out in faith.  3:7–13

b) Israel passes through the Jordan river bed.  3:14–17

c) Israel removes memorial stones from the river bed.  4:1–14

d) The priests come out of the river bed.  4:15–18

e) The stones’ meaning is defined.  4:19–24

f) The nations fear Israel.  5:1

4. Israel observes rituals at Gilgal.  5:2–12

a) The men are circumcised.  5:2–9

b) The people celebrate Passover.  5:10–12

B. Conquering the land  5:13—12:24

1. Israel conquers central Canaan.  5:13—9:27

a) Israel conquers Jericho.  5:13—6:27

(1) Joshua meets the Captain of the Lord’s army.  5:13–15

(2) God gives Joshua strategy for Jericho.  6:1–5

(3) Israel carries out the plan.  6:6–21

(4) Rahab is rescued.  6:22–25

(5) Jericho is cursed; Joshua honored.  6:26–27

b) Israel engages Ai.  7:1—8:29

(1) Failure  7

(a) The cause: Disobedience  7:1

(b) The result: Defeat  7:2–5

(c) Joshua’s complaint: Why?  7:6–10

(d) God’s answer: Sin  7:11–15

(e) Achan’s guilt: Theft  7:16–21

(f) Achan’s punishment: Stoned  7:22–26

(2) Victory  8:1–29

(a) God’s strategy: Ambush  8:1–2

(b) Joshua’s implementation: Rout  8:3–22

(c) Mop-up: Execution of the king  8:23–29

c) Israel confirms the covenant at Ebal and Gerizim.  8:30–35

d) Gibeon tricks Israel into a treaty.  9

(1) Allied strategy: Fight Israel.  9:1–2

(2) Gibeonite strategy: Surrender to Israel.  9:3–27

(a) Gibeon’s deceptive scheme  9:3–13

(b) Israel’s prayerless covenant  9:14–15

(c) Israel’s compromise: Chop wood, draw water.  9:16–27

2. Israel conquers southern cities.  10

a) Battle with allied kings  10:1–27
   Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon

(1) Five southern kings attack Gibeon  10:1–5

(2) Israel defends Gibeon. (Sun, moon stand still.)  10:6–20

(3) Joshua executes the kings  10:21–27

b) Campaign against (seven) southern cities  10:28–39

(1) The Shephelah  10:28–35

(a) Makkedah  10:28

(b) Libnah  10:29–30

(c) Lachish (and Gezer)  10:31–33

(d) Eglon  10:34–35

(2) The Hill Country  10:36–39

(a) Hebron  10:36–37

(b) Debir  10:38–39

c) Summary: Victory, return to Gilgal  10:40–43

3. Israel conquers northern cities.  11:1–15

a) Challenge of northern allied cities  11:1–5

b) God’s victory at Merom  11:6–9

c) Defeat of the cities  11:10–15

4. Summary of the victories  11:16—12:24

a) The conquered territory defined  11:16–23

b) The defeated kings listed  12:1–24

(1) Moses’ victories in Transjordan  12:1–6

(2) Joshua’s victories in the Promised Land  12:7–24

II. Division of the land  13–21

A. The land yet to be conquered  13:1–7

B. The apportioning of the land to the tribes  13:8—19:51

1. The two and a half Transjordanian tribes  13:8–33

a) Survey of the Transjordanian territory  13:8–14

b) The territory allotted to Reuben  13:15–23

c) The territory allotted to Gad  13:24–28

d) The territory allotted to Manasseh half tribe)  13:29–31

e) Summary  13:32–33

2. The nine and a half western tribes  14:1—19:50

a) Introduction  14:1–5

b) The territory allotted to Judah  14:6—15:63

(1) Caleb’s inheritance: Hebron  14:6–15

(a) His claim, for faithfulness  14:6–12

(b) His reward  14:13–15

(2) The tribe’s land  15

(a) Its borders  15:1–12

(b) Caleb’s land  15:13–20

(c) Its cities  15:21–63

c) The territory allotted to Joseph’s sons  16–17

(1) Its borders  16:1–4

(2) The territory allotted to Ephraim  16:5–10

(a) Its borders  16:5–9

(b) Their failure to possess it  16:10

(3) The territory allotted to Manasseh  17

(a) The heirs, including Zelopehad’s daughters  17:1–6

(b) Its borders  17:7–11

(c) Their failure to possess it  17:12–18

d) The remaining seven tribes  18:1—19:50

(1) Joshua divides the land.  18:1–10

(2) Joshua apportions the land.  18:11—19:50

(a) The territory allotted to Benjamin  18:11–28

(b) The territory allotted to Simeon  19:1–9

(c) The territory allotted to Zebulun  19:10–16

(d) The territory allotted to Issachar  19:17–23

(e) The territory allotted to Asher  19:24–31

(f) The territory allotted to Naphtali  19:32–39

(g) The territory allotted to Dan  19:40–48

(h) The territory allotted to Joshua  19:49–50

3. Summary  19:51

C. The apportioning of cities for refuge, Levites  20:1—21:42

1. Cities of refuge  20

a) The purpose of the cities  20:1–6

b) The naming of the cities  20:7–9

2. Cities for Levites  21:1–42

a) The Levites’ claim  21:1–2

b) The lots cast  21:3–8

(1) Kohath’s lot  21:4–5

(2) Gershon’s lot  21:6

(3) Merari’s lot  21:7

c) The cities designated  21:9–42

(1) From Judah and Simeon  21:9–16

(2) From Benjamin  21:17–19

(3) From Ephraim  21:20–22

(4) From Dan  21:23–24

(5) From Manasseh  21:25–27

(6) From Issachar  21:28–29

(7) From Asher  21:30–31

(8) From Naphtali  21:32–33

(9) From Zebulun  21:34–35

(10) From Reuben  21:36–37

(11) From Gad  21:38–39

(12) Summary: forty-eight cities  21:41–42

D. Summary: God has kept his promises!  21:43–45

III. Concluding matters  22–24

A. The Transjordanian tribes return home.  22

1. Joshua sends the soldiers home.  22:1–9

2. Conflict over an altar  22:10–34

a) The Transjordan tribes build an altar.  22:10–12

b) The confrontation: What is this?  22:13–20

c) The reply: A witness  22:21–29

d) The verdict: Peace  22:30–34

B. Joshua’s farewell addresses  23:1—24:28

1. His final charge to the leaders  23

a) Faithfulness will bring full possession of the land.  23:1–11

b) Unfaithfulness will bring exile from the land.  23:12–16

2. His final charge to the people  24:1–28

a) Historical review of God’s faithfulness  24:1–13

b) Contemporary renewal of God’s covenant  24:14–28

C. Joshua’s death and burial  24:29–31

D. Burials of Joseph and Eleazar  24:32–33