The Israelites Conquered Canaan In The Book Of Joshua
- M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University
- B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University
The book of Joshua details how the Israelites conquered Canaan, the Promised Land given to the Jews in God’s covenant with Abraham. It’s a story of miracles, bloody battles, and dividing the land among the 12 tribes. Characterized as a historical account, the book of Joshua tells how a leader’s obedience to God resulted in divine help in the face of overwhelming odds.
Inspiration Of The Book Of Joshua
Even though we believe the book of Joshua was primarily written by Joshua and then after his death Eleazer the priest and his son Phinehas added to the book, we must ask, Is the book of Joshua inspired by God? Does the book belong in the Bible? The answer to the question has two parts. The first proof is that Joshua is inspired is that of Hebrews 13:5 quotes from the book. It quotes Joshua 1:5. The second proof is that Hebrews 11:30 refers to the walls of Jericho falling down in response to faith and the Israelites circling the city seven times.
Only Joshua 6:6-21 records this event. This reveals that the book of Hebrews considers the book of Joshua to be Scripture. It is inspired and belongs in the Bible even though Joshua was not the author of every word.
Other Books Set Around This Time
Judges, Ruth
This is a history book but it falls into the category of what you might call theological history history with a purpose. It is not telling the events just so you can know what happened, but so that you can understand why it happened. Many of the historical books of the Bible are like this.
In all the books of the Deuteronomistic histories, Gods promises are very important. The idea you find time and time again is that God always does what he says he will. Look out for this theme as you read.
Another important theme in this book is identity the questions of what made Gods people who they were. As you read, ask yourself what you can tell about who Gods people were meant to be and what they were meant to do.
Right at the heart of this book lies the covenant, made through Moses with the people and reiterated at the end of the book by Joshua. Look out for the covenant and what it means to God, to Joshua and to the people.
A theme that bubbles away throughout Joshua is faithfulness Gods faithfulness to his people and their unfaithfulness to him. What does faithfulness mean to you and can you learn anything about it from this book?
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The Traditional View Is That Joshua Wrote The Entire Book
This idea is supported by several facts discovered by scholars examining the text. They point to key dates, geographical references, and insider knowledge someone like Joshua would have had. Here are just a few of them.
Cities Of The Other Kohathites
20 And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim. 21 For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer and Gezer with her suburbs, 22 And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Beth-horon with her suburbs four cities. 23 And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs, 24 Aijalon with her suburbs, Gath-rimmon with her suburbs four cities. 25 And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with her suburbs two cities. 26 All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.
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Life History Of Joshua
In the events of Exodus, Joshua played an important role. His name was Hosea. He was from the tribe of Ephriam, and he was the son of a nun. He was faithful to Moses and God.
He commanded a militia group for their first battle and was chosen by Moses. In Rephidim, after exiting Egypt, they fought against the Amalekites. When Moses ascended Mount Sinai to communicate with God, he is known to have gone up there with him. At Mount Sinai, Moses received the ten commandments from God. When Moses came back from Mount Sinai, the Israelites were dancing around a golden calf. Joshua is said to have broken the tablets. The tablets contained the ten commandments. When Moses was conversing with God inside the tent, Joshua was guarding it. He later did not accompany Moses when he was called to Mount Sinai for a second time.
When Joshua and Caleb of faith were sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan as one of the 12 spies, only Cabel and Joshua brought back positive reports. So, only these two entered the promised land as a reward. He conquered Canaan, the land assigned to Abraham in the battle of Jericho. Christ is called the better and more faithful version of Joshua.
God Assigns Joshua As Successor To Moses
1Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, 2 Moses my servant is dead now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. 5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life:
as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
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Survey Of The Conquest
16 So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same 17 Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them. 18 Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. 19 There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle. 20 For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses. 21 And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities. 22 There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained. 23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.
Why Study This Book
The book of Joshua recounts the Israelitesâ entrance into the promised land under the leadership of the prophet Joshua. As students study this book, they will learn principles that can help them to have courage and be strong in the midst of opposition. Students can also learn important lessons from the successes the Israelites experienced because of their obedience to the Lord and from the failures they experienced because of their disobedience.
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Cities Of The Merarites
34 And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with her suburbs, and Kartah with her suburbs, 35 Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs four cities. 36 And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs, 37 Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs four cities. 38 And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer and Mahanaim with her suburbs, 39 Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs four cities in all. 40 So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, which were remaining of the families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities. 41 All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs. 42 These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities. 43 And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. 44 And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel all came to pass.
Landscape Of The Book Of Joshua
The book of Joshua records Joshuas leadership of the people of Israel as they complete their journey into the Promise Land and fulfill the task of conquering its inhabitants. The story opens in Shittim, just north of the Dead Sea and east of the Jordan River. The first great victory was at Jericho. Over seven years, the Israelites captured the entire land of Canaan, from Kadesh-barnea in the south to Mount Hermon in the north.
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Joshua’s Victory Over The Amorite Kings
7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour. 8 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand there shall not a man of them stand before thee. 9 Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night. 10 And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Beth-horon, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah. 11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Beth-horon, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword. 12 Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. 13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies.
Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. 14 And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel. 15 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.
The Characteristics Of Joshua In The Bible
He was courageous and showed tremendous faith in God in life. He taught people the lesson of faithfulness.
His character was a humble one. He was sincere in character in his life. He guided the Israelites to the promised land. He is described by some as an Old Testament type of Christ. His name means God is deliverance. He became a leader of the Israelites after Moses. The most famous line from the book of Joshua is, ‘But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Jehovah’s witness believes in one God and not a trinity.’
He was one of the fiercest warriors of the Israelites. He was born into slavery in Egypt and did not appoint a leader after his death. This led to sin in the people of Israel and they started going astray against the Lord of heaven. A verse in the Bible also states that Joshua said he would never forsake his people. The salvation in history was that Joshua brought people into the promised land and managed to conquer Canaan. Joshua was able to succeed Moses as he was the head of one of the 12 tribes and lived a faithful life and stayed away from sin. The Book of Joshua depicts a lesson that God promised to Israel that was fulfilled.
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When And Where Was It Written
There are varying opinions on when the book of Joshua was written. Some details within the book of Joshua suggest the book may have been written during or shortly after Joshuaâs lifetime . For example, Joshua 6:25 states that Rahab, who was saved from Jericho, âdwelleth in Israel even unto this dayââindicating that Rahab and other contemporaries of Joshua were still alive when this book was written. The book was likely written in the land of Canaan.
What Do We Know About The Author/s
Next to nothing.
The name implies a theological connection with the book of Deuteronomy, since the outlook of all these books seems very similar. It is suggested that the author or, more likely, authors of these histories were influenced by Deuteronomy and told Israels history from that perspective. The key feature here is that Deuteronomy stresses that Gods people will only stay in the land if they remain faithful. Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings tell the story of how Gods people failed to be faithful and so, eventually, went into exile from the land.
No one really knows when these books were written. It is thought that they reached their final form in the sixth century BC in other words, shortly after the Judeans went into exile and were finalised then in order to explain why the exile had happened at all. It is clear, however, that these final documents were drawn together from already existing sources, many of which would have been written during or shortly after the event described.
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Who Wrote The Book Of Joshua In The Bible
Joshua composed the Book of Joshua up to his death, after which Eleazar and Phinehas, the high priests, continued the story. This is the standard interpretation, which is given forth in the Talmud .
Similarly, How many books did Joshua wrote in the Bible?
The Book of Joshua is often seen as the conclusion of a literary unit consisting of the first six books of the Bible since the conquest of Canaan represented the fulfillment of the frequently repeated promise to the patriarchs.
Also, it is asked, Who Wrote the book of Judges and Joshua?
Samuel
Secondly, Where was the Book of Joshua in the Bible written?
a place called Canaan
Also, Why is the Book of Joshua so important?
The book of Joshua demonstrates Gods fidelity to his promise to Abraham to lead the Israelites into the promised land. This book emphasizes the significance of covenant observance before to, during, and after Gods fulfillment of his promises.
People also ask, Who is the father of Joshua?
FatherJoshua the nun Nun, the grandfather of Ammihud, the son of Elishama, and the father of Joshua, was an individual from the Tribe of Ephraim in the Hebrew Bible. Wikipedia
Related Questions and Answers
God is our deliverer.