Joshua

Composition

The Book of Joshua was named for Joshua, the well-known military leader of the Israelite nation. The Talmud, a highly respected Hebrew religious text, historically attributes Joshua as the author of the work. However, some scholars debate his authorship. Because Joshua’s death is recorded in the book’s closing, they contend that others must have at least contributed to the writing. These scholars suggest that Phineas, who is mentioned at the end of the book as being the son of an important Hebrew priest named Eleazer, or several anonymous men wrote the book.

Many Biblical scholars also consider the Book of Joshua as part of the Deuteronomic writings, which is a traditional historical and legal collection of the Bible books of Deuteronomy, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 and 2 Kings. The Deuteronomic books were completed around the sixth century BCE in the court of the Israelite king Josiah, which is when these scholars believe that the Book of Joshua may have been completed. Also, the work contains a variety of information, which ranges from narrative accounts to descriptions of topography and geography, along with commentary and speeches. Because of this, some scholars argue that the book must have been composed from several related source documents at this later time.

Despite the timing of the actual writing, scholars agree that the book centers its narrative in ancient Canaan around the fifteenth century BCE, which was the time of settlement of the Promised Land of the Israelite people. This covers a period of more than twenty years from the time of the Israelites entering Canaan to the year that it is thought that Joshua died in 1450 BCE. The Book of Joshua is the sixth book in the traditional Jewish and Christian Old Testament Bible canon and considered the first Former Prophets in the Jewish cannon. The ancient manuscripts of the Dead Sea Scrolls contain fragments of the Book of Joshua. In addition, other respected documents, such as the Greek Septuagint manuscripts and the historical writings of the Jewish historian Josephus, provide support that the Book of Joshua is part of the accepted Bible canon.

Summary

The Book of Joshua opens by telling the reader that the events occur during the time after the death of Moses, the beloved leader of the Israelites. The book can be divided into three sections. In the first twelve chapters, it describes the conquering of seven Canaanite nations already occupying the land. In the first chapter, it recounts God assigning Joshua to lead the people of Israel to success in obtaining the land for themselves. In turn, Joshua provides instructions to the Israelites to prepare them for entering the land and living in peace there. In the second chapter, men are sent to scout the city of Jericho, and the story of how they are protected by a woman named Rahab is told. Then, the Israelites cross over the Jordan River to establish themselves in the area. Meanwhile, they pause to celebrate the important religious festival of Passover.

In the next several chapters, various military campaigns against Canaanite cities are described, including the destruction of the city of Jericho and the story of a woman named Rahab, who helped Joshua’s men escape when they were discovered. Not all the battles recorded are successful though. Chapter 7 describes the nation’s defeat at the city of Ai, which Joshua later finds out was due to a serious sin against God. The nation is upset with this news and determines that a certain man is responsible for a sin of greed, so they execute him. This restores them in God’s eyes, and the city of Ai is successfully taken.

Next, a nearby nation of Gibeah hears about the success of the Israelite army and approaches the leaders of Israel to make an agreement with them. However, the Gibeonites claim that they are not from the land of Canaan but from much farther away in another area outside the Promised Land. Although Joshua eventually discovers the truth, he still honors the agreement not to destroy their city and gives them the job of supplying firewood and water to the house of God.

Further military exploits are explained as the Israelites move on to conquering other cities. Chapter 10 explains how the sun stood still to give Joshua more time to fight. Because of this, he wins the battle, and five enemy kings are captured and killed. At the end of chapter 11, a summary of all the conquests by the Israelite army is provided.

Next, in Chapters 13–22, the Book of Joshua describes how the land was to be divided among the Israelite tribes. It goes into detail about the land distribution, explaining the area each tribe is assigned and how future generations will be given an inheritance. It also lays out various cities of refuge for protection of citizens and Levitical cities for the priestly class of Israelites.

In Chapters 23 and 24, the final two chapters, Joshua addresses the Israelite nation and gives a farewell speech. He reviews the history of the Israelite nation after their release from exile, which is meant to inspire faith in God and his future promises to them. Joshua makes an agreement with them to continue as a nation united in its faith. Finally, Joshua’s death at age 110 and his burial are recorded in the last Chapter at Joshua 24:29-32. Along with this, the Book of Joshua mentions that Joseph’s bones are finally able to be buried in the Promised Land, since he had died many years prior to the Israelites crossing over the Jordan River.

Themes

Throughout the book, Joshua portrays a divisive political situation among the small Canaanite nations in the area. The work also focuses on Joshua successfully leading the Hebrew nation after the people are released from exile in Babylon and begin to settle in the Canaanite area. The area inhabited by the Canaanites was promised as an inheritance by God to earlier Israelite prophets, so it was referred to as the “Promised Land.” Beginning with the nation crossing the Jordan River, the conquest and cleansing of the land of Canaan starts. It continues with the obedience of the Israelite people to God’s Law, which is directly related to their success.

However, the Book of Joshua tells how the Promised Land was still populated by other peoples and ruled by various small feudal governments who frequently warred with one another. These nations also frequently formed alliances for protection. As the Israelites began to take over the land, the Canaanites sought help from stronger and more politically powerful nations, such as Egypt. Archeological findings such as the Amarna tablets support this theme. Although these tablets do not state all the cites mentioned by in the Book of Joshua that were taken by conquest, one major city is specifically noted as asking Egypt for protection in the form of a letter written by Abdi-Heba, who was governor of Jerusalem. He writes to the current Egyptian pharaoh asking for help to fight the Hebrews. In Joshua 10:26, it says that this king and others were captured and killed.

By the time the Israelites arrived in the Promised Land, the religious practices of the Canaanite nations included various acts that were distasteful to the Hebrew faith. A strong emphasis was on fertility, which brought with it sexual rites such as prostitution into their worship. Archeological evidence has supported that their deities, which were represented by idols that the people worshipped, even required child sacrifice by fire. Joshua and the Israelites viewed removing these pagan nations as a necessary act required for cleansing, as commanded by God through the series of holy wars depicted in the Book of Joshua.

The Israelites knew that could experience God’s wrath for taking actions that he had forbidden. In earlier Bible books, the nation was sent into exile in Babylon as punishment for not following the laws that God gave to Moses. Many times, Joshua urges the people to obey God for their own benefit as they take possession of the land promised by him. When sin occurs prior to the battle at Ai and God becomes angry, which causes them to lose the battle, Joshua is quick to make amends and restore favor with God. Credit is given to God for victory at decisive battles.

In contrast to war, peace is also a major theme of the Book of Joshua. A land allotment is set out for each tribe of Israel, with provisions for the anticipated needs of the nation as it settles in and continues to grow. Joshua tells the Israelites that they will be happy and live in peace if they continue to obey the laws of God. He reads the laws in public so all can understand what is expected. His final words to his people before he dies impress on them the need to obey and not to worship any other Gods, and in turn they will be successful in all they do.

Bibliography

“Archaeology meets Joshua from the Bible.” Bible History. net, 2021, www.biblehistory.net/joshua.html. Accessed 9 April 2022.

“Book of Joshua.” Encyclopedia of the Bible, n.d., /www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Book-Joshua. Accessed 9 April 2022.

Feldman, Louis. “Josephus’s Portrait of Joshua.” The Harvard Theological Review, 1989, www.cambridge.org/core/journals/harvard-theological-review/article/abs/josephuss-portrait-of-joshua/E770A3D435F8670C42E86D4050AADCA7. Accessed 9 April 2022.

Garcia Martinez, Florentino. “The Dead Sea Scrolls and The Book of Joshua.” Qumran and The Bible, 2010, www.academia.edu/871248/The‗Dead‗Sea‗Scrolls‗and‗the‗Book‗of‗Joshua. Accessed 9 April 2022.

“Joshua.” Harper Collins Bible Dictionary, 2022, www.bibleodyssey.org/HarperCollinsBibleDictionary/j/joshua. Accessed 9 April 2022.

“Joshua, The Book of.” Harper Collins Bible Dictionary, 2022, www.bibleodyssey.org/HarperCollinsBibleDictionary/j/joshua‗-the-book-of. Accessed 9 April 2022.