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CHAPTER 6 – Joshua: 1405 B.C.-Approx. 1364 B.C.

Joshua is the sixth book of the Bible. The title of this book in the Hebrew Bible is Yehoshua which is translated “Yahweh is salvation.” The English title comes down to us through Jerome’s Latin Vulgate which has the title Liber Josue, “The Book of Joshua.”

Authorship

It is believed that Joshua wrote the book of Joshua. The book’s record of Joshua’s death is believed to have been written by Eleazar, Aaron’s son. Also, the book’s record of Eleazar’s death is believed to have been written by Phineas, Eleazar’s son.

Summary

The book of Joshua picks up the narrative of Israelite (Hebrew) history near the end of 1405 B.C. where the book of Deuteronomy leaves it. It is chiefly the record of events occurring under Joshua, Israel’s new leader, up to Joshua’s death in approximately 1375 B.C. The two brief additions to the book which were probably made by Eleazar and Phineas takes the book up to about 1364 B.C.

The book opens with God’s charge to Joshua to go into the land of Canaan which God had promised to give Israel. Joshua, therefore, gives Israel preparatory instructions and sends out two men to spy out the city of Jericho on the opposite side of the Jordan River.

The spies enter Jericho and are saved from being discovered by a prostitute named Rahab. As a result, they promise Rahab that she and all those in her house would be saved from destruction by Israel when Israel conquered the city of Jericho.

After the spies return to Israel, God miraculously parts the waters of the Jordan River and Israel crosses over the river on dry ground to the west side. In accordance with God’s commands, all the males are then circumcised and Israel celebrates the Passover. The manna ceases shortly after this.

Israel obeys God’s instructions and God miraculously caused the walls of the city of Jericho to fall down. Thus, Israel conquered Jericho saving only Rahab and those in her house.

Next Israel suffers defeat in the attempt to conquer the city of Ai because one person, Achan, had taken some of the spoils for himself contrary to God’s commands. Achan is put to death for his sin and Israel is then successful in conquering Ai.

The people of the city of Gibeon in the land of Canaan then act deceitfully and thus succeed in getting a peace treaty with Israel. On hearing of this treaty, five kings of the Amorites in Canaan gather themselves to make war against the Gibeonites. However, Joshua defeats these kings and rescues the Gibeonites.

This left Israel in effective control of the central mountainous region of Canaan. Joshua then makes military expeditions in Canaan which bring a large part of the south country under Israel’s control. In addition, he defeats a coalition of Canaanite kings, and conquers much of the north country and other regions.

With the preliminary conquest of Canaan now completed, Joshua proceeds to make allotments of the land of Canaan to the nine and a half tribes. For the remaining two and a half tribes had already received their allotment on the east side of the Jordan River. Six cities are also set aside as cities of refuge and certain cities are allocated to the Levites.

At this time, the men of war of the two and a half tribes returned to their homes east of the Jordan River. However, the people of Israel to the west of the river accuse those to the east of rebelling against God and sought to make war against them. It turns out that there was a misunderstanding and so the matter was settled peacefully.

The book of Joshua closes with Joshua’s farewell address to Israel, the renewal of Israel’s covenant with God, the record of both Joshua’s death and the death of Eleazar, Aaron’s son.

Themes

• The faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises.
• The necessity of loyalty and obedience to God, and of seeking God’s wise counsel if any person or nation is to have victory over their enemies.
• The blessings which God bestows upon those who walk in God’s ways and follow His plans.

God as Revealed in the Book

• God’s desire to rule the earth through a theocracy, that is, as the supreme Ruler governing humanity through His appointed leaders.
• God’s desire for humanity to trust and obey Him.
• God as the One who will root out the wicked among humanity from the land of the living.

Connections with the Rest of the Bible

God says, “There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD [God].” Proverbs 21:30. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Psalm 32:8.

So then, “Every purpose is established by [God’s] counsel: and with [God’s] good advice make war.” Proverbs 20:18. It was at God’s command that Israel made war.

For Satan was at work to cause the Canaanites to “offer their sacrifices unto devils” (Leviticus 17:7), that is, to Satan and his “evil angels” (Psalm 78:49) and “not to God.” Deuteronomy 32:17. God says, “They [the Canaanites] have built…the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake [spoke] it, neither came it into my [God’s] mind.” Jeremiah 19:5.

Now, in naming those who were saved by God from eternal death and who will receive eternal life from Him, God speaks of Rahab, the harlot (prostitute). For God says, “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.” Hebrews 11:31.

Moreover, in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, we read “And Salmon begat [was the father of] Booz [Boaz] of [through] Rachab [Rahab].” Matthew 1:5. That is, Salmon and Rahab were the parents of a son named Boaz. So, Rahab was honoured by God in that she was an ancestor of Christ.

Spiritual Applications

Pray to God sincerely and ask God to help you to do His will, believing that God will help you, and thus you will be enabled to make the spiritual applications noted below:

• Be sure to ask God for His counsel in everything you do.
• Follow God’s plan for your life and not your own.
• Delight in the blessings of God when you walk in His ways and follow His plans for you.
• Have confidence and assurance of your salvation by God when you do His will at all times.

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