Joshua: The LORD Gives the Land

Joshua at a Glance

• Author. Joshua, by long tradition. The book never names its writer, but it reads like an eyewitness. Joshua 5:1 says until we were passed over, Rahab was still alive in Israel (Joshua 6:25), and the Jebusites still lived beside Judah in Jerusalem (Joshua 15:63), which was true until David took the city. A later hand, probably a priest, added the report of Joshua's death (Joshua 24:29–33).
• Date. Israel crossed the Jordan in about 1406 BC, forty years after the Exodus (about 1446 BC, counted from 1 Kings 6:1). The conquest took about seven years. Joshua died at 110.
• Written To. The generation that entered the land, and their children (Joshua 4:6–7).
• Setting. Canaan, west of the Jordan, held by many small kingdoms with walled cities. Israel's camp was at Gilgal, near Jericho.
• Key Verse. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest (Joshua 1:9).
• Key Word or Theme. Possession and rest. God keeps His oath and gives the land, and Israel holds it by trusting and obeying Him (Joshua 21:45).