After Moses’ death the LORD told Joshua, “Cross this Jordan to the land!
Be strong and courageous!” By faith God’s people conquered the fortified cities
of the Canaanites (Josh 1-12). Their tribes divided the territory (Josh 13-22)
and pledged to heed Joshua’s final exhortations and warnings (Josh 23-24). Like
them, may we claim God’s promise through obedient faith!
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“To Canaan’s Land I’m
on my Way”
Centuries had passed since God had promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
that their descendants would possess the land of Canaan. The Hebrews passed
that promise down from generation to generation, even though its fulfillment
was delayed by Egyptian slavery and Israelite unbelief. Joshua, born in Egypt
and trained by Moses, took the reins of leadership after his mentor’s death.
God’s repeated call challenged him to be strong, courageous, and unafraid. And
he was. Note the transition as described in the first chapter.
Jos 1:1 Now it came
about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to
Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2 “Moses My
servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this
people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. 3 “Every
place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I
spoke to Moses. 4 “From the wilderness and this
Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of
the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be
your territory. 5 “No man will be able to stand
before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be
with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. 6 “Be strong
and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I
swore to their fathers to give them. 7 “Only be strong and very
courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant
commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may
have success wherever you go. 8 “This book of the law shall
not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that
you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you
will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 9 “Have I not
commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the
Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Let’s consider Joshua the man and then Joshua the book.
Joshua the Man
Born in Egyptian slavery. Of the tribe of Ephraim, key tribe in the North.
Moses’ attendant from his youth. Num 11:28
Groomed to succeed Moses as torch-bearer.
Orig. “Hoshea” (Heb. for “salvation”). Moses called him “Joshua” (“The
LORD is salvation.”) Num 13:16
“Jesus” is the Greek equivalent of “Joshua.” Matt 1:21
Moses’ general vs. Amalekites. Ex 17:8-13
Moses’ servant up to Mt. Sinai. Ex 24:13; 32:17
A tribal leader, chosen as a spy. Num 13:1-16
Faithful with Caleb. Num 14:6-10, 28–30, 38
Outnumbered. Not yet a national leader.
Knew his place. “Second fiddle.”
Grew in influence over time.
Chosen. Num 27:15-23; Deut 31:14-15,
23; 34:9
Military, political, and spiritual leader.
A strategic genius re: battle. Plan and execute.
Quiet and assuming, yet assertive and brave.
Capable administrator. “Go-first” example.
Bridge-builder, maintaining harmony.
Spokesman and statesman. Motivator.
Type or shadow of Jesus Christ. Their names are the same (see above).
Both brought salvation and rest. The Promised Land in Joshua’s time prefigured
the Promised Land of heaven, where the “new Joshua,” Jesus, leads us. Heb 3-4
Great Themes in
Joshua– Stephen J. Andrews
The Divine Warrior In the
book of Joshua God engages in combat as a divine warrior on behalf of Israel.
Just as God fought against the Egyptians at the Red Sea (Exod. 14:14), He now
fights for them in Canaan (Josh. 10:14).
Holy War In battle, every
living being and every piece of property is to be dedicated to the deity. Why
would a loving God order the wholesale extermination of the nations living in
the promised land? Critics of the Bible find fault with such extreme measures. However,
Israel was commanded to drive out the nations living in the promised land
because of their sinful abominations (Deut. 9:4–5; 18:9–14; 20:16–18). Those
who reject God’s wrath against these disobedient Canaanites tend also to
discount or deny the reality and eternal nature of hell. These are parallel,
both reflecting the holiness and righteousness of God and the fact that sin is
an abomination in His sight.
The Promised Land God had
promised to give Israel “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exod. 3:8; Deut.
8:7–9; 11:8–12). The promise of land was conditional. God gave the land to
Israel in its entirety, but Israel had to trust God and follow Him to occupy
the gift. Israel’s tenure on the land was also based on faithful worship of God
(Deut. 7:12–15). The penalty for worshiping other gods was to be driven from
the land (Deut. 6:14–15; 8:19–20; 11:8–9, 17; 28:63).
The Covenant The covenant
renewal ceremony of Josh. 24 has many similarities with the vassal-treaties
formulated by the ancient Hittites. Both types of documents contain an
introduction, a historical prologue, a set of stipulations, provisions for
keeping the documents and for their public reading, a list of divine witnesses,
and finally, curses for disobedience and blessings for obedience. Israel was to
be faithful in keeping the covenant. Disobedience eventually brought about the
exile.
The Holy and Redeeming God In the book of Joshua, a holy and redeeming God is graciously at work on
behalf of Joshua and Israel. God’s mercy is offered to non-Israelites as well.
Both Rahab (6:17–25) and the Gibeonites (9:1–27) are brought within the
covenant community.
A Rest for the People of God Joshua was to lead Israel into their inheritance, into their “rest”
(1:13, 15; 11:23; 14:15; 21:44; 22:4; 23:1). A faithful covenant relationship
with God would secure a peaceful tenure on the land. Nevertheless, the rest
provided by Joshua was temporary (Heb. 3:7–4:11). Soon after the death of
Joshua, Israel would begin to serve the Canaanite gods and break the covenant
relationship.
Outline and Overview
– Stephen J. Andrews
Claiming the Land
(1:1-5:15)
A. After the Death of Moses
(1:1a)
Moses had led Israel for forty years! How would this new nation survive
without him?
B. The Call of Joshua (1:1b-18)
As John C. Maxwell writes, “There is no success without a successor.” Furthermore,
Joshua could not have succeeded Moses effectively without God’s and Moses’
clear endorsement. “AS I was with Moses, so I will be with you.”
C. Rahab and the Spies (2:1-24)
Rahab, though a Canaanite harlot, responded to God in obedient faith. She
became an ancestor of King David and of Jesus Himself (Matt 1). She illustrated
the fact that “Faith without works is dead” (Jas 2).
D. Crossing Over the Jordan
(3:1-4:24)
God powerfully affirmed Joshua’s leadership by parting the Jordan River, as
He had parted the Red Sea through Moses.
E. Covenant Consecration at
Gilgal (5:1-15)
Conquering the Land
(6:1-12:24)
A. The Capture of Jericho
(6:1-27)
The fall of Jericho’s walls proved that the battle belongs to the LORD.
Moreover, that victory may only be claimed by obedient faith.
B. The Campaign at Ai
(7:1-8:35)
Achan violated the ban by taking and hiding prohibited items from
Jericho. His confession outlined the sin cycle. He said, “I saw. I coveted. I
took. I hid.”
C. Victory - Southern Coalition
(9:1-10:43)
The Gibeonites deceived Joshua and the Israelites, who granted them covenant
protection without first seeking God’s guidance. They kept their vow regardless
and expanded their territory by overpowering the Gibenoites’ enemies.
D. Victory - Northern Coalition
(11:1-12:24)
Colonizing the Land
(13:1-21:45)
A. East of the Jordan (13:1-33)
B. West of the Jordan, Part 1
(14:1-17:18)
C. West of the Jordan, Part 2
(18:1-19:51)
D. Cities of Refuge (20:1-9)
E. Levitical Cities (21:1-45)
Consecrating the
Land (22:1-24:33)
A. The Disputed Altar (22:1-34)
Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built a replica altar, not
for worship, but to serve as a reminder that they belonged to the new nation
and its tribes beyond the Jordan River.
B. Covenant Exhortations
(23:1-16)
C. Covenant Renewal at Shechem
(24:1-33)
His Choice, Theirs,
and Ours
Jos 24:14 “Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and
put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and
serve the LORD. 15 “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the
LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve … but as for me and my
house, we will serve the LORD.”
