The Book of Joshua: An Introduction and Outline

Author: Joshua ("The LORD saves"). There are a number of reasons why Joshua should   be considered the author:

1) Jewish tradition (i.e., the Talmud) states that Joshua wrote the book that bears his name.

2) The book has eye witness quality (cf. chapters 5-7). Events are described in a vivid manner.

3) Many details suggest that someone who lived in this time period wrote the book. For example:  Old place names are given for Canaanite cities; The Philistines are not a national menace yet as they would be later; Joshua 8:32 and 24:26 indicate that Joshua is writing down the words of the LORD.

Date: The Book of Joshua chronicles events that began ca. 1406 B.C. and was written sometime during the lifetime of the author Joshua.

Recipients: The generation that lived during Joshua's lifetime, as well as all subsequent generations of Israelites.

Purpose: To remind the people that the LORD was responsible for the formation of the nation of Israel, as well as for all of the military victories Israel celebrated.

An Outline of the Book of Joshua

    I. Preparation for War (1:1-5:15)

            A. The Command to Enter Canaan (1:1-18)

            B. Israelite Spies in Jericho (2:1-24)

            C. Israel Crosses the Jordan River (3:1-4:24)

            D. The Circumcision of Israel's Males (5:1-12)

            E. The Captain of the LORD's Host (5:13-15)

II. War Against Canaan (6:1-12:24)

            A. The Conquest of Jericho (6:1-27)

            B. Defeat and Subsequent Conquest at Ai (7:1-8:35)

            C. Dealings With the Gibeonites (9:1-10:28)

            D. The Southern Campaign (10:29-43)

            E. The Northern Campaign (11:1-23)

            F. Kings Defeated by the Israelites (12:1-24)

III. Israel Divides the Land of Canaan into Tribal Allotments 

       (13:1-21:45)

            A. A Summary of Israelite Tribal Allotment (13:1-33)

            B. Caleb's Request (14:1-15)

            C. The Territory of Judah (15:1-63)

            D. The Territory of Ephraim (16:1-10)

            E. The Territory of Manasseh (17:1-18)

            F. Survey of the Remaining Land (18:1-10)

            G. The Territory of Benjamin (18:11-28)

            H. The Territory of Simeon (19:1-9)

            I. The Territory of Zebulun (19:10-16)

            J. The Territory of Issachar (19:17-23)

            K. The Territory of Asher (19:24-31)

            L. The Territory of Naphtali (19:32-39)

            M. The Territory of Dan (19:40-51)

            N. The Six Cities of Refuge (20:1-9)

            O. Forty-Eight Cities for the Levites (21:1-45)

IV. The Tribes On the Other Side of the Jordan River (22:1-34)

            A. Reuben, Gad, and the Half-Tribe of Manasseh Return 

                 Home (22:1-9)

            B. The Issue of the Altar (22:10-34)

 V. Joshua's Final Days (23:1-33)

            A. Joshua's Farewell Address (23:1-24:15)

            B. Israel's Reaction to the Address (24:16-28)

            C. Joshua's Death and Burial (24:29-33)