Joshua

Joshua is an action-filled account of military campaigns and strategies in the conquest of Canaan. After the death of Moses the newly appointed successor Joshua, probably now in his seventies, took up the heavy responsibility of bringing the people into the Promised Land, being one of two sole survivors of the former generation.

Having secured possession on the east side of Jordan with two victories over the armies of Sihon and Og, and distributed their lands to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half-tribe of Manasseh, Israel is poised to take on the Canaanite armies. Through three major military campaigns involving central, southern and northern Canaan under the capable and courageous leadership of Joshua, the young and inexperienced nation engaged and defeated more than thirty armies, many of whom are better equipped and superior in military might. These victories underscored an important lesson for Israel and believers alike, that faith in God and obedience to His Word are what really matter when it comes to winning any battle—physical or spiritual.

The conquest of Canaan, however, was more than fighting for possession of the land between nations; it was a 'holy war' in which God, through His people, executed divine judgment on the sins and wickedness of the inhabitants, and in the process prepared His people to occupy the land only after it had been cleansed of the filth of idolatry and immorality.

Ultimately, we will have to make up our mind which sides we want to take—God or the world, the devil and self. Joshua left no room for doubt or dispute:

24:15  Choose this day whom you will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

OUTLINE OF JOSHUA

1. Preparation (1:1-5:15)

a. Joshua the New Leader (1:1-18)

Commissioned by God | Accepted by the People

b. Military Preparation (2:1-5:1)

Jericho City—The Two Spies and Rahab

Jordan River—Miraculous Crossing | Memorial

c. Spiritual Preparation (5:2-15)

Circumcision Performed | Passover Observed

Manna Ceased | Corn Consumed

Commander of the Lord's Armies Appeared

2. Subjugation (6:1-13:7)

a. Central Campaign (6:1-8:35)

Fall of Jericho | Ai—Defeat and Victory

b. Southern Campaign (9:1-10:43)

Gibeonites-Alliance | Amorites Annihilated

c. Northern Campaign (11:1-15)

d. Summary of Conquests

Under Moses | Under Joshua

3. Occupation (13:8-24:33)

a. East of Jordan (13:8-33)

Levi | Reuben | Gad | Half-Manasseh

b. West of Jordan (14:1-19:51)

Judah | Joseph—Ephraim and Half-Manasseh

Benjamin | Simeon | Zebulun |Issachar | Asher

Naphtali | Dan | Joshua

c. Cities for the Levities (20:1-21:45)

Cities of Refuge

Cities for Kohathites | Gershonites | Merarites

d. Covenant Renewal (22:1-24:33)

Altar of Witness | Challenge to the People

Death of Joshua and Eleazar