“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond 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." (Joshua 24:15, ESV)
Joshua
Name and Setting
I begin the introduction to the book of Joshua by first looking at the name. If you are familiar with Moses’ writings you know that Joshua was close to Moses and was considered his assistant (see also Joshua 1:1). But the name alone is worthy of examination, as it essentially means “Yahweh Saves” and in the Septuagint it is translated into Greek as Ie sous, which is identical to the name of Jesus in the New Testament. Having an Old Testament book with the same name as our Lord and Savior tells us that we are about to embark on a powerful Bible study. I can’t say it is important as all of the books of the Bible are important, but expect some interesting insights that point to our redemption and our Promised Land.
Joshua’s original name was Hoshea which means salvation (see Numbers 13:8; Deuteronomy 32:44). We read that Moses gave him the name of Joshua (see Numbers 13:16). Joshua was with Moses since his youth (see Exodus 33:11; Numbers 11:28, see also Exodus 17:8-13; 24:13) and was the tribe of Ephraim’s representative to spy out the Promised Land (see Numbers 13-14). He and Caleb were the only two spies that returned from reconnoitering the land with a positive report, and a “let’s go!” attitude. Because they had faith that God would allow them to be victorious they are the only ones of that generation that will be allowed into the Promised Land.
The generation of those who were afraid to enter the land had either died or were judged for their actions in the last 38 plus years in the wilderness. The next generation has been led by Moses to this point still occupying the land east of the Jordan River near the city of Jericho. The first chapter of Joshua picks up from where Deuteronomy closes.
Narration
In the book of Joshua we return to a narrative format, a literary device rarely used in the last three books (Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). A narrative is typically defined as basic storytelling, an account of a story or series of events, whether true or fictional, that conveys information and meaning through a sequence of related experiences. In other words, there is an expectation that the author will lead the reader in an orderly fashion through a means that makes sense. When a story is read there is also the expectation of the events are being presented in a chronological order with the possible exception of flashbacks and future references that would be identified as such. The book of Joshua will at times give an account of something before the event occurring or report an event in the wrong order (for example see Joshua 24:12). So, we can anticipate that some verses will be out of order. Plus, we will often find something stated without the text explaining where that information came from, perhaps the best way to describe that would be that the author had in mind a narrator to help us readers understand the context of the events.
Joshua the Person
Joshua can be described as a warrior (see Exodus 17:9-14), an assistant for Moses (see Exodus 24:13; 32:17; 33:11; Numbers 11:28); faithful to God (see Numbers 14:6, 30, 38; 26:65; 32:12); led by the Holy Spirit (see Numbers 27:18; Deuteronomy 34:9); familiar with the Israelites (see Numbers 27:22; 32:28; 34:17); and was chosen and trained to replace Moses (see Deuteronomy 1:38; 3:21, 28; 31:3, 7, 14, 23; 34:9).
He was approximately eighty years old when he was appointed to lead the people and died at the age of 110 years old (see Joshua 24:29). Making the events recorded in this book all occurring within a thirty-year period.
Typology
The Bible employs a number of literary devices to help us readers to understand certain concepts. One that is heavily employed is the 'Type', also known as a ‘Model’, where the subject of a type can be a person, thing, position, symbol or even an event that is a foreshadow of something future (a precursor). The Bible contains several types, especially in the Old Testament pointing to people and events in the New Testament. Here are a few examples: Genesis 14:18-20; Exodus 17:6; Psalm 22:1-21; 69:7, 9, 20; 110:4; John 3:14-15; Romans 5:14; 15:3; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 10:1-11; 15:45; 2 Corinthians 6:16-18, etc.
So it should not surprise us that God used an early book of the Bible as a model for a later book. We see that the book of Joshua can be read as a model for the book of Revelation. Where one man named Joshua ousts God's enemy from the land that God promised the Israelites. While perhaps that didn't end perfectly (some enemies remained in the land at the end of Joshua's campaign), he was victorious. Just as the book of Revelation prophesies that Jesus will successfully eradicate all of God's enemies from the planet earth which then ends in another "promised land," known to most as heaven. Eternity with Jesus begins!
Both books have enemies of God, battles, promised lands, and victories. But perhaps the most intriguing is that both lead individuals are named Jesus! (See above)
Miracles
The book of Joshua records several acts of God, each very evident that mankind was not involved. These supernatural events not only served as tangible evidence to the Israelites that God was with them, they were awe inspiring to their enemies to the point that their hearts melted. Not literally melted, but that metaphor aptly describes just how frightened many were as the Israelites came into the land promised to them by God and clear out all of its inhabitants leaving no one alive. The following are five remarkable miracles:
1. The first major miracle was the dramatic entrance into the Promised Land. Just like what God did for Moses on their way out of Egypt by separating the waters of the Red Sea, here He holds the waters of the Jordan River back while the Israelites cross on dry ground under Joshua’s leadership (see Joshua 3:14-17).
2. The first battle was against the occupants of the city of Jericho. God had an unusual battle plan as He had the men march around the city one time for six days and then seven times on the seventh day and when they blew the trumpets and shouted, the walls of Jericho fell down. The language that describes the fall states that the walls fell flat to the ground as if the ground opened up and consumed them, leaving no ruble, allowing quick access to the people inside (see Joshua 6:20-21).
3. During their campaign against five kings and their armies that were attacking Gibeon, God hurled very large and lethal hailstones from the sky, killing more of the enemy from hailstones than the Israelites did with their swords (see Joshua 10:1-11).
4. After the armies that were attacking Gibeon were defeated, Joshua continued the battle campaign against the cities and kingdoms in the southern region of the Promised Land. Joshua called out to God to extend the day and He did, the sun stood still for a long period of time (see Joshua 10:12-14).
5. Not as dramatic as the above miracles certainly were, there is one ongoing miracle that was occurring whenever God was with them (yes, there was one time when they pursued the enemy without God), that the Israelites didn’t lose their lives when they engaged the enemy.
A Popular Verse
The last half of Joshua 24:15 can be found prominently presented in many Christian homes, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (ESV) The Israelites were given a choice as to which deity they were going to serve, Joshua then boldly pronounced this now famous verse.
I. Entering the Land (Joshua 1:1–5:12)
A. Preparations for Entering the Land (Joshua 1:1–18)
1. Directives to Joshua (Joshua 1:1–9)
2. Directives to the Leaders (Joshua 1:10–11)
3. Discussions with the Eastern Tribes (Joshua 1:12–18)
B. Rahab and the Spies in Jericho (Joshua 2:1–24)
1. Directives to the Spies (Joshua 2:1a)
2. Deceiving the King of Jericho (Joshua 2:1b–7)
3. The Oath with Rahab (Joshua 2:8–21)
4. The Report to Joshua (Joshua 2:22–24)
C. Crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3:1–4:24)
1. Initial Preparations for Crossing (Joshua 3:1–6)
2. Directives for Crossing (Joshua 3:7–13)
3. A Miraculous Crossing: Part 1 (Joshua 3:14–17)
4. Twelve-Stone Memorial: Part 1 (Joshua 4:1–10a)
5. A Miraculous Crossing: Part 2 (Joshua 4:10b–18)
6. Twelve-Stone Memorial: Part 2 (Joshua 4:19–24)
D. Circumcision and Passover (Joshua 5:1–12)
1. Canaanite Fear (Joshua 5:1)
2. Circumcision (Joshua 5:2–9)
3. Passover (Joshua 5:10–12)
II. Taking the Land (Joshua 5:13–12:24)
A. Jericho (Joshua 5:13–6:27)
1. Joshua and the Commander of the Lord’s Army (Joshua 5:13–15)
2. Instructions for Capturing the City (Joshua 6:1–5)
3. Obeying the Instructions (Joshua 6:6–21)
4. The Deliverance of Rahab’s Family and the City’s Destruction (Joshua 6:22–25)
5. Curse and Renown (Joshua 6:26–27)
B. Achan and Ai (Joshua 7:1–8:29)
1. The Sin of Achan (Joshua 7:1–26)
a. Narrative Introduction (Joshua 7:1)
b. Defeat at Ai (Joshua 7:2–5)
c. Joshua’s Prayer (Joshua 7:6–9)
d. Process for Identifying the Guilty (Joshua 7:10–15)
e. The Capture of Achan (Joshua 7:16–21)
f. Execution of Achan and His Family (Joshua 7:22–26)
2. The Capture of Ai (Joshua 8:1–29)
a. Narrative Introduction (Joshua 8:1–2)
b. God’s Plan for Capturing the City (Joshua 8:3–9)
c. Implementation of God’s Plan (Joshua 8:10–13)
d. The Successful Ambush (Joshua 8:14–23)
e. Destruction of Ai (Joshua 8:24–29)
C. Renewal at Mount Ebal (Joshua 8:30–35)
1. Building the Altar (Joshua 8:30–31)
2. Copying the Torah (Joshua 8:32–33)
3. Reading the Torah (Joshua 8:34–35)
D. The Gibeonite Deception (Joshua 9:1–27)
1. Response of Canaanite Kings to Jericho and Ai (Joshua 9:1–2)
2. Report of the Gibeonites’ Deception (Joshua 9:3–13)
3. Israel Establishes a Covenant with Gibeon (Joshua 9:14–15)
4. Israel’s First Response to Discovering the Deception (Joshua 9:16–21)
5. The Gibeonites Explain Their Actions to Joshua (Joshua 9:22–27)
E. The Campaign in the South (Joshua 10:1–43)
1. Victory over the Southern Alliance (Joshua 10:1–15)
a. The Southern Alliance (Joshua 10:1–5)
b. The Gibeonite Request (Joshua 10:6–7)
c. Divine Reassurance (Joshua 10:8)
d. Victory at Gibeon (Joshua 10:9–11)
e. Affirmation of God’s Unique Involvement (Joshua 10:12–15)
2. Execution of the Five Kings of the Southern Alliance (Joshua 10:16–27)
a. The Kings Held in the Cave (Joshua 10:16–21)
b. The Kings Brought Out from the Cave (Joshua 10:22–25)
c. The Kings Executed (Joshua 10:26–27)
3. Victory over Southern Cities (Joshua 10:28–39)
a. Makkedah (Joshua 10:28)
b. Libnah (Joshua 10:29–30)
c. Lachish (Joshua 10:31–33)
d. Eglon (Joshua 10:34–35)
e. Hebron (Joshua 10:36–37)
f. Debir (Joshua 10:38–39)
4. Summary of the Campaign in the South (Joshua 10:40–43)
F. The Campaign in the North and Summary List of Kings (Joshua 11:1–12:24)
1. Victory over the Northern Alliance (Joshua 11:1–15)
a. The Northern Alliance (Joshua 11:1–5)
b. Divine Reassurance (Joshua 11:6)
c. Victory at Merom (Joshua 11:7–9)
d. Destruction of Hazor (Joshua 11:10–11)
e. Summation of Obedience and Victory (Joshua 11:12–15)
2. Summaries of Taking the Land (Joshua 11:16–12:24)
a. Taking the Land (Joshua 11:16–20)
b. Extermination of the Anakim (Joshua 11:21–22)
c. Narrative Pivot: Taking and Allotting (Joshua 11:23)
d. Capture of Land and Kings (Joshua 12:1–24)
1- East of the Jordan (Joshua 12:1–6)
2- West of the Jordan (Joshua 12:7–24)
III. Allotting the Land (Joshua 13:1–21:45)
A. Preparations for Distributing the Land (Joshua 13:1–14:15)
1. Joshua Directed to Distribute the West Jordan Inheritance (Joshua 13:1–7)
2. The East Jordan Inheritance (Joshua 13:8–33)
a. The East Jordan (Joshua 13:8–14)
b. Reuben (Joshua 13:15–23)
c. Gad (Joshua 13:24–28)
d. East Manasseh (Joshua 13:29–31)
e. Summary (Joshua 13:32–33)
3. Summary of the West Jordan Inheritance (Joshua 14:1–5)
4. Caleb’s Inheritance (Joshua 14:6–15)
B. The Allotment for Judah (Joshua 15:1–63)
1. Judah’s Boundaries (Joshua Joshua 15:1–12)
2. Achsah’s Blessing (Joshua Joshua 15:13–19)
3. The Cities of Judah’s Inheritance (Joshua 15:20–63)
C. The Allotment for Joseph (Joshua 16:1–17:18)
1. Joseph’s Allotment (Joshua 16:1–4)
2. Ephraim’s Inheritance (Joshua 16:5–10)
3. Manasseh’s Inheritance (Joshua 17:1–13)
4. Additional Land for Joseph (Joshua 17:14–18)
D. Land Distribution at Shiloh (Joshua 18:1–19:51)
1. Directions for the Remaining Allotment (Joshua 18:1–10)
2. Tribal Inheritances (Joshua 18:11–28)
a. Benjamin (Joshua 18:11–28)
b. Simeon (Joshua 19:1–9)
c. Zebulun (Joshua 19:10–16)
d. Issachar (Joshua 19:17–23)
e. Asher (Joshua 19:24–31)
f. Naphtali (Joshua 19:32–39)
g. Dan (Joshua 19:40–48)
3. Joshua’s Inheritance (Joshua 19:49–50)
4. Summary Statement (Joshua 19:51)
E. Levitical Distribution and Conclusion (Joshua 20:1–21:45)
1. Cities of Refuge (Joshua 20:1–9)
a. Regulations for Cities of Refuge (Joshua 20:1–6)
b. Designation of Cities of Refuge (Joshua 20:7–9)
2. Levitical Cities (Joshua 21:1–42)
a. Approach to Joshua and Eleazar (Joshua 21:1–3)
b. Initial Summary (Joshua 21:4–8)
c. Priestly Kohathite Allotment (Joshua 21:9–19)
d. Non-Priestly Kohathite Allotment (Joshua 21:20–26)
e. Gershonite Allotment (Joshua 21:27–33)
f. Merarite Allotment (Joshua 21:34–40)
g. Levitical Summary (Joshua 21:41–42)
3. Summary of Divine Faithfulness (Joshua 21:43–45)
IV. Preparations for Life in the Land (Joshua 22:1–24:33)
A. The Jordan Altar (Joshua 22:1–34)
1. Joshua’s Charge to the East Jordan Tribes (Joshua 22:1–8)
2. The Construction of the Altar and a Possible Civil War (Joshua 22:9–12)
3. Meeting Between Phinehas and the East Jordan Tribes (Joshua 22:13–29)
a. Phinehas Challenges the East Jordan Tribes (Joshua 22:13–20)
b. The East Jordan Tribes Explain (Joshua 22:21–29)
4. Phinehas Returns to the West (Joshua 22:30–32)
5. The Altar Named (Joshua 22:33–34)
B. Joshua’s Farewell (Joshua 23:1–16)
1. The Setting (Joshua 23:1–2a)
2. The Assurance of the Allotment (Joshua 23:2b–5)
3. Encouragement to Enduring Faithfulness (Joshua 23:6–13)
4. The Certain Fulfillment of God’s Word (Joshua 23:14–16)
C. Covenant and Conclusion (Joshua 24:1–33)
1. Covenant at Shechem (Joshua 24:1–28)
a. Summoning the Tribes (Joshua 24:1)
b. Review of Covenant History (Joshua 24:2–13)
c. Joshua’s Challenge to Faithful Worship (Joshua 24:14–24)
1- Joshua’s Opening Challenge (Joshua 24:14–15)
2- The People’s Response (Joshua 24:16–18)
3- Dialogue on Faithful Worship (Joshua 24:19–24)
d. Covenant Made at Shechem (Joshua 24:25–28)
2. Conclusion: Three Burials (Joshua 24:29–33)
a. Joshua (Joshua 24:29–31)
b. Joseph (Joshua 24:32)
c. Eleazar (Joshua 24:33)
A Commentary on the Book of Joshua © 2025 by David A. Heywood. All rights reserved. Published by Rediscover the Bible Ministries, Inc.
Unless otherwise noted or verses marked ESV, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Verses marked CSB are taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Verses marked NASB are taken from The New American Standard Bible® Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation A Corporation Not for Profit, La Habra, California. All Rights reserved. www.lockman.org
Verses marked NET are taken from The NET Bible (Second Edition). Copyright © 1996, 2006, 2019. Used by permission of Biblical Studies Press. Thomas Nelson.
Verses marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
All sections and chapter of this book were written using the following reverse interlinears as the primary source of the original Scriptural texts:
Old Testament
McDaniel, C. (2009). The English-Hebrew Reverse Interlinear Old Testament English Standard Version. Lexham Press. This reverse interlinear aligns the ESV Old Testament with the Lexham Hebrew Bible. Copyright 2009 Lexham Press.
New Testament
Schwandt, J. (2009). The English-Greek Reverse Interlinear New Testament English Standard Version. Lexham Press. This reverse interlinear aligns with the ESV New Testament with the SBL Greek New Testament. Copyright 2009 Lexham Press.