THE BOOK OF JOSHUA

INTRODUCTION:

1.The TWELVE HISTORICAL BOOKS break into three natural divisions:

a.The three Theocratic Books (Joshua, Judges, Ruth); Israel was a nation ruled by God (a Theocracy), from 1405 BC to 1043 BC (362 years).

b.The six Monarchical Books (1 & 2Samuel, 1 & 2Kings, 1 & 2Chronicles).

c.The three Restoration Books (Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther).

2.JOSHUA is the first of the three Theocratic Books.

3.The Book of Joshua covers the conquest and settlement of Canaan; And the Fulfillment of Israel’s dreams. In the first five Books, Israel was led up to Canaan; In this Book they are led into Canaan by the power of God - Deu 7:1.

4.NAME: The man JOSHUA is the central figure.

a.“JOSHUA” (meaning “God is salvation”) is Hebrew for the Greek word “JESUS” and the English word “SAVIOUR” (or “SAVIOR”).

b.He was one of the twelve spies sent into Canaan - Num 13-14.

c.He served as assistant to Moses during the Wilderness Wandering - Ex 24:13 (“his minister Joshua”); Ex 33:11 ( “his servant Joshua”).

d.God appointed him to lead Israel after Moses died - Deu 31:14-23.

e.The Book begins with a command for JOSHUA to take up where Moses had left off in leading the people - 1:1-2.

5.AUTHOR: Most of it may have been written by JOSHUA - cf 24:26a.

6.DATE: The Book of JOSHUA covers events of about 25 years between the death of MOSES and the death of JOSHUA (1405 BC to 1380 BC); cf 11:23.

7.THEME: “The Victory of Faith” (In contrast to NUMBERS which deals with disbelief and disobedience) - Cf 1Jn 5:4.

a.JOSHUA emphasizes God’s faithfulness to His promise of a Land for Israel, and His holiness in bringing judgment upon the immoral Canaanites.

b.The Book also shows that God could be depended on in future generations.

c.It Teaches that blessings come through active faith in God, faith which manifests itself in obedience.

8.The Book of JOSHUA is naturally divided into three parts:

1.ENTERING THE LAND -- CHAPTERS 1-5.

A.Ch 1, JOSHUA CHARGED.

1.1:1-9, Joshua’s commission to lead the Israelites, with God’s assurance He would be with him; Note Verses 1-3,5-9.

a.The Victory of Faith always begins with hearing God (This is Authority).

b.Principle - Heb 13:5-6, “HE hath said... so WE may say.”

2.1:10-18, Joshua faithfully responded.

a.According to the Jewish historian Josephus, JOSHUA (at the age of 85) set out in calm and unwavering response to God’s instructions.

b.JOSHUA told the people to prepare to enter the Land; They had a Book -- They must be careful to keep it - Verses 10,11,13,16.

B.Ch 2, JERICHO SPIED.

1.JOSHUA sent two spies to gather information about the Land.

2.Rahab hid the two spies in Jericho (Given as an example of faith - Heb 11:31).

C.Ch 3, JORDAN CROSSED (by a miracle - see Verses 9-13).

D.Ch 4, MEMORIALS RAISED.

1.4:3, A pile of twelve great stones was set up on the Canaan side of Jordan: This was a memorial to GOD’S FAITHFULNESS in fulfilling His promise.

2.4:9, Twelve stones were placed in the river: This was a memorial to GOD’S POWER in holding back the flood and giving them safety across the River.

E.Ch 5, GILGAL OCCUPIED.

1.5:1-9, The circumcision of males born during the wandering.

2.5:10, The Passover was kept: This represented New Fellowship in a New Home.

3.5:11-12, Their diet was changed to the Land’s produce, and the Manna ceased.

4.5:13-15, A Commander of the Army of the Lord appeared to JOSHUA; JOSHUA stood in reverence.

2.CONQUERING THE LAND: -- CHAPTERS 6-12.

A.Ch 6, THE FALL Of JERICHO (POWER OF GOD; TRIUMPH OF FAITH).

1.This was a strategic city which had to be captured if the Israelites were to be successful in conquering Canaan.

2.6:2-5, God’s plan seemed foolish to human wisdom; Israel obeyed every detail, and the walls fell - cf Heb 11:30.

3.This is an illustration of victory by grace through faith.

B.Ch 7, THE SIN OF ACHAN.

1.Jericho was devoted to the Lord; The people were forbidden to take any spoils from the city -- There Must be NO compromise - 6:17-19,24.

2.Achan’s greed brought his sin, and death - Verses 1-5,19-21,25.

3.Achan’s story illustrates one of sin’s tragic features: Innocent people may suffer because of the actions of another.

C.Ch 8, THE DESTRUCTION OF AI.

1.8:1-29, The desolation of Ai by Israel physically divided the Land of Canaan.

2.8:30-35, JOSHUA built an altar to the Lord, wrote a copy of the Law of Moses, and read the Law to the people.

D.Ch 9, THE DECEPTION OF THE GIBEONITES.

1.9:1-15, The Gibeonites tricked the Israelites into making a forbidden agreement.

a.This is a good example to show that we must stay close to the Lord to avoid the wily one - Eph 6:11.

b.Without consulting God, JOSHUA made a league with the deceitful Gibeonites and by so doing, he overlooked faith’s first step - Verses 14-15.

c.NOTE: God does not “defeat us in that which is wrong” (as some pray) when He has already instructed us as to that which is right - cf Psa 119:11.

2.9:16-27, The trickery was discovered, but the damage was done; Complications remained.

E.Ch 10-12, THE DEFEAT OF ENEMIES.

1.Ch 10, Joshua swung left into the SOUTHERN MILITARY CAMPAIGN, and defeated many kings and confederacies (NONE can defeat Jehovah).

2.Ch 11, JOSHUA’S NORTHERN MILITARY CAMPAIGN.

Note Verse 23 (This is the Book of JOSHUA in one verse).

a.Joshua completed the major battles.

b.Critics complain, and say that a God of love would not just exterminate people (as in Verse 20).

c.But the Canaanites were corrupted beyond the hope of redemption - Lev 18:21-30; Deu 18:9-14.

d.GOD IS HOLY; He had the right (and still has the right), and the obligation,
to take vengeance against idolatry and immorality - Jn 2:13-17; 2Th 1:7-9; Rev 21:8.

e.His wrath was tempered with mercy - Josh 2:8-21; 6:22-25.

f.After all has been said and done, we must at all times and in all circumstances remember our position - Rom 9:20 (HE IS GOD; HE created the universe, HE controls it, and HE can destroy it if HE so chooses).

3.Ch 12, THIS IS A SUMMARY OF ISRAEL’S WARS.

a.This summary contains a list of 31 defeated kings.

b.Basically, the Land had now been conquered - cf 1Jn 5:4.

c.The Territory (approximately 150 miles wide and 250 miles long) finally belonged to Israel.

d.The Tribes continued some “clean-up operations” even after the death of JOSHUA.

3.OCCUPYING THE LAND: -- CHAPTERS 13-24.

A.Ch 13-19, THE DIVIDING OF CANAAN.

1.Ch 13, There were small areas yet to be conquered; The Settlement of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh in Gibeon, east of Jordan.

2.Ch 14, The Land west of the Jordan was divided by lot (Showing Impartiality, and God’s Guidance); Caleb inherited Hebron at the age of 85 years.

3.Ch 15, The inheritance of Judah; Caleb inhabited Hebron; The cities of Judah were named.

4.Ch 16, More Land divisions; Israel made a grave mistake by not driving out all the Canaanites - v10; cf 15:63.

5.Ch 17, More Land divisions; They still did not drive out the Canaanites - Verses 12-13; cf 1Jn 2:15.

6.Ch 18, The Tabernacle was set up at Shiloh; More of the Land was divided.

7.Ch 19, Inheritance of six of the Tribes, and of JOSHUA.

a.The great man JOSHUA unselfishly waited to receive his inheritance until everyone else had received their inheritance - Verses 49-50.

b.Then Joshua was given the City of Timnath-Serah.

B.Ch 20, THE CITIES OF REFUGE (Six of the forty-eight cities given to the Levites were set aside for unintentional or mistaken wrongdoers).

C.Ch 21, THE PORTION OF THE LEVITES (FORTY-EIGHT CITIES).

1.These cities were scattered through the Land, spreading the Levites’ influence and their teaching of the Word to all the people of the Land.

2.21:43-45, This key passage shows The Land Promise to Abraham was completely fulfilled as God gave Israel LAND, REST, and ENEMIES - cf Gen 12:6-7.

D.Ch 22, THE ALTAR OF WITNESS.

1.22:1-9, Joseph charged the Eastern Tribes (Reuben, Gad, and The Half-Tribe of Manasseh) to be faithful, and then dismissed them to their possessions east of the Jordan.

2.22:10-34, In spite of Divine Authority for only ONE altar at the ONE tabernacle (At Shiloh, north of Jerusalem, west of the Jordan), the Eastern Tribes proceeded to build a great altar east of the Jordan.

a.This was needless (All males were to appear before the Lord three times a year at the tabernacle at Shiloh).

b.It was presumptuous (God had given no authority for it).

c.The Western Tribes gathered for war against this rebellion.

d.The Eastern Tribes gave the excuse that the altar was not for sacrifice, but only to maintain unity with brethren from whom they were separated.

e.Important lessons in these events WE must not overlook:

1)If the Eastern Tribes had quietly followed instructions without compromise, they would have had no need for artificial monuments.

2)True unity of faith is NOT produced by outward union, but by inward conformity of ALL to TRUTH -- by everyone’s going “through Jordan,” and everyone’s “staying west of Jordan”.

E.Ch 23-24, THE FAREWELL OF JOSHUA.

1.The faithful old leader warned against idolatry.

a.In this last speech did Joshua talk over old campaigns? NO. Did he stir the people to future conquests? NO.

b.On the brink of the grave this aged warrior spoke to them of the one thing needful in life: Holiness, and the fear of the Lord.

2.Seven times he referred to the idolatrous nations still left in Canaan -- He knew they would be a snare, so he exhorted the Israelites:

a.23:6, There Must Be Adherence To God’s Word.

b.23:7, There Must Be Vigilant Separation From The Canaanite Nations.

c.23:8-11, There Must Be A Cleaving To The Lord With True Love.

3.Ch 24, Last words of Joshua; An Account Of His Death.

a.Someone said “In love for God JOSHUA lived, fought, ruled, and passed away to the Promised Land of Eternal Glory to be with Him Whom he had served through life.”

b.Then the close of the Book - Note Verses 14-15,20,26-33.

**JOSHUA IN EIGHT WORDS:

Entering And Conquering (Conquest), Chapters 1-12;

Occupying The Land (Settlement), Chapters 13-24.

**JOSHUA IN THREE WORDS:

Entering -- Conquering -- Occupying.

**CONTRIBUTION OF THE BOOK OF JOSHUA TO THE BIBLE:

1.Here is much emphasis on the certainty of the fulfillment of the promises of God.

2.And also emphasis on the importance of the written Word of the living God - 1:8; 8:32-35; 23:6-16;ÿ24:26-27.

3.And that victory is to be gained through faithful obedience.

**CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF JOSHUA:

1.Joshua (Greek JESUS) was a type of Christ - Heb 2:10; 2Co 2:14; Rom 8:37.

2.Joshua succeeded Moses and won the victory Moses could not reach; The Gospel of Christ succeeded the Mosaic Law and wins the victory the Law could not provide - Jn 1:17; Rom 6:14; 8:2-3; Gal 3:23-25; Heb 7:18-19.