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About this book: Joshua

Joshua tells how Israel, led by Moses' successor, enters the land God had promised to Abraham's descendants. After Moses' death, Joshua is commissioned to lead, and God tells him to be strong and courageous. With Rahab's help in Jericho, the people cross the Jordan on dry ground and see the walls of Jericho fall. The story is not all victory: Achan's sin brings defeat at Ai, and the people of Gibeon win a treaty by trickery. The middle chapters list the battles and then divide the land among the tribes, with cities of refuge and towns for the Levites. The book closes with Joshua's farewell, where he calls the people to choose whom they will serve. The conquest raises hard questions about warfare and judgment, and Christians read these passages in different ways, often alongside the whole story of God's patience and promise.

Author
Unknown; tradition credits Joshua for much of it, and some scholars see later editing.
Date
The events fall in the 15th or 13th century BC; scholars debate both the date of the conquest and when the book was written.
Audience
Israel, remembering how God gave the land and calling the people to stay faithful to him.

Themes

God keeps his promisesCourage and obedienceHoliness and the cost of sinRest in the landChoosing whom to serve

Outline

  1. 1:1–5:15Preparing to cross the Jordan
  2. 6:1–8:35Jericho, Ai and the cost of sin
  3. 9:1–12:24The southern and northern campaigns
  4. 13:1–21:45Dividing the land
  5. 22:1–24:33Joshua's farewell and the covenant at Shechem

Key verses

Joshua 1:9 →Joshua 21:45 →Joshua 24:15 →
About this chapterAfter Moses' death, God commissions Joshua to lead Israel across the Jordan into the land promised to their ancestors. He repeatedly tells Joshua to be strong and courageous, promises his presence, and charges him to meditate on the book of the law day and night so that he will act wisely. Joshua orders the officers to prepare the people to cross in three days. He reminds the eastern tribes of their promise to fight beside their brothers, and they answer that they will obey him as they obeyed Moses. The book opens with leadership grounded in God's word and presence.

After Moses' death, God commissions Joshua to lead Israel across the Jordan into the land promised to their ancestors. He repeatedly tells Joshua to be strong and courageous, promises his presence, and charges him to meditate on the book of the law day and night so that he will act wisely. Joshua orders the officers to prepare the people to cross in three days. He reminds the eastern tribes of their promise to fight beside their brothers, and they answer that they will obey him as they obeyed Moses. The book opens with leadership grounded in God's word and presence.

Themes

  • Joshua commissioned
  • Courage and God's presence
  • Meditating on the law

Key verses

Audio Bible · Joshua 1

Listen while you go about your day.

Joshua 1

Berean Standard Bible18 verses · 3 min read

1Now after the death of His servant Moses, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying, 2“Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise, you and all these people, and cross over the Jordan into the land that I am giving to the children of Israel. 3I have given you every place where the sole of your foot will tread, just as I promised to Moses. 4Your territory shall extend from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great River Euphrates—all the land of the Hittites—and west as far as the Great Sea. 5No one shall stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6Be strong and courageous, for you shall give these people the inheritance of the land that I swore to their fathers I would give them. 7Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go. 8This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do. 9Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” 10Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people: 11“Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you will cross the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’” 12But to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 13“Remember what Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you when he said, ‘The LORD your God will give you rest, and He will give you this land.’ 14Your wives, your young children, and your livestock may remain in the land that Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But all your mighty men of valor must be armed for battle to cross over ahead of your brothers and help them, 15until the LORD gives them rest as He has done for you, and your brothers also possess the land that the LORD your God is giving them. Then you may return to the land of your inheritance and take possession of that which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the east side of the Jordan.” 16So they answered Joshua, “Everything you have commanded us we will do, and everywhere you send us we will go. 17Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. And may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses. 18Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words, all that you command him, will be put to death. Above all, be strong and courageous!”
Verses in Joshua 1
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Chapters of Joshua

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