Author : Keith Sharp
It is not certain who wrote the book of Joshua, but the man Joshua, for whom the book is named, is the probable author (cf. 24:26), except for the postscript (24:29-33).
The name “Joshua” means “Jehovah saves.” In Greek “Joshua” is “Jesus.”
The book was primarily written to Israel.
The theme of Joshua is the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Land Promise (cf. Gen. 12:7; 15:18-21; Josh. 21:43-45). Premillennialists (those who believe in a future, one thousand year, material kingdom of Christ on earth with a restoration of national Israel to Canaan) claim that the Abrahamic Land Promise has not been fulfilled and that national Israel must yet inherit physical Canaan. But Joshua declared, “Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord spoke to the house of Israel. All came to pass.” (21:45)
The lesson of Joshua is “Serve the Lord.” (1:5-9; 5:13-15; 24:13-18). After Israel had conquered Canaan and shortly before Joshua’s death, Joshua challenged Israel:
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (24:15)
Israel responded, “We also will serve the Lord, for He is our God.” (24:18)
Joshua has two major divisions: Conquest (the conquest of Canaan – chapters 1 – 12) and Inheritance (the division of the land – chapters 13 – 24).
B. Conquest (The Lord Causes Israel to Conquer Canaan) – chapters 6 – 12
1. Central Conquest – chapters 6 – 8
2. Southern Conquest – chapters 9 – 10
3. Northern Conquest – chapters 11 – 12
C. Inheritance (The Lord Causes Israel to Inherit the Land) – chapters 13 – 22
D. Farewell (Joshua Bids Israel Farewell & Exhorts Them to Serve the Lord) – chapters 23 – 24
