Welcome To The Study Of The Book of Joshua
The Book of Joshua shows us how after the death of Moses, Joshua begun his leadership role over Israel. Moses had successfully led the Israelites out of Egypt but now, Joshua was to lead them into the Promised Land. This is an exciting adventure to say the least, we read about Israel’s highs and lows, their faithfulness and their unfaithfulness, we read about their heroes and their villains.
God performs some great miracles throughout this book and time and time again, the Israelites are reminded of who God is and what He has done for them in the past. We see the fulfillment of God’s promise to receive the land which He promised to Abraham many years before. It’s really a book about choices, to serve God fully or not! This same choice still applies to us today on a daily basis. Lets chose wisely!
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Full Study
Joshua was a man who lived much of his life in the shadow of the great Moses. Moses was such a towering personality that anyone who came immediately after him would seem small by comparison. Incidentally, I must say that I find it rather strange that Hebrews 4:8 is the only chapter in the New Testament, where we find the name of Joshua. Complete Study of the Book of Joshua
Chapter By Chapter
Now Moses is dead and God tells Joshua to take up where Moses left off. What Joshua had been prepared for he must now do.
In many ways, Joshua is like an athlete who must train, but then it comes time for the game.
He has been training for the game, yet he is stricken with fear. Joshua 1
As we enter Joshua 2 we read about an immoral woman named Rahab who found grace. She was a harlot, despite some people who have tried to suggest that Rahab was merely an innkeeper. That was a role filled many times by women.
The word translated harlot comes from a root word meaning to nourish. However, this particular word can only have this meaning. Joshua 2
Too many times we go through life thinking this or that is just too big and therefore, impossible to do.
In many ways, I guess, the Jordan River looked like one of those impossible problems to the Israelites.
They had to learn to trust God and not themselves. Joshua 3
We love our memorials even today, Nelson’s Column in London, the Arches of Constantine and Titus in Rome, the Arch of Triumph in Paris, the Washington Arch in New York City.
All these serve as reminders, and so it is that God wants His people to construct reminders. A pile of stones may not seem much to us today, but to the Israelites, it was a reminder for generations to come. Joshua 4
Just as any modern army must make preparations before going into battle, so must Joshua’s army.
Back in Joshua 3:5, Joshua instructs the people to consecrate themselves.
They are to dedicate themselves for holy use and it was only then, they could cross the river. Joshua 5
All games have their rules for competition and to play ‘by the rules’ is the only legitimate way to win. To not play by the rules bring disqualification or forfeiture. So, in order for us to win in life we must ‘play’ by God’s rules. Joshua and the Israelites had to realise that they could achieve victory over Jericho only by doing just exactly what God had said, no matter how crazy it seems. Joshua 6
Joshua 7 begins with the word ‘but,’ for it stands in contrast to chapter 6. Joshua 6 tells of the overwhelming victory of Israel over Jericho.
Surely the people were excited beyond their wildest dreams over the events of the day.
Their joy is soon going to turn to grief, as they come face to face with defeat. Joshua 7
Joshua is told not to fear again, though this is not the first-time God has said this.
He was told not to be afraid when the spies are sent out and when Moses passed the leadership to Joshua.
The very fact that God reminds him not to be afraid should tell that he was. Joshua 8
Sometimes Satan attacks us when we least expect it, the same occurs to Israel.
They had gotten themselves realigned with God and had taken Ai.
Following the defeat of Ai the people went on a type of spiritual pilgrimage. It’s here we see Joshua building an altar to the Lord. Joshua 9
Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem is quite disturbed because he knows Ai has been utterly destroyed, just as Jericho was and he also, that the Gibeonites had made peace with Israel. Gibeon was one of the royal cities and Gibeon had many mighty men, therefore, in all of this, he greatly feared and he then sends word to four other kings to come up and fight against Gibeon. Joshua 10
It seems that every time a nation goes to war, it has someone who it recognises to be the enemy.
It may be one who has attacked them, it may be one who has threatened to attack or it may be one who can become just another pawn in the hand of a tyrant ruler.
It seems Israel had her fair share of enemies. Joshua 11
East of Jordan, two kings were defeated east of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, Moses led this victory.
The land was given to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh. West of Jordan, the Canaanites were defeated from east to west and from north to south. In all, 31 kings are listed as being defeated. God had truly been with them. Joshua 12
What do you think of when you hear the word ‘inheritance’? You might think of money, or land, or furniture, or some valuable object that someone would leave to you.
Sometimes we inherit things that are not so pleasant to us. If Israel want to accept God’s blessing of the land, they must take it all. Joshua 13-17
The people who keep up with such things used to tell us that the average British family moved approximately every three years. With interest rates, what they are now, I’m sure that could be just as true today. We are a mobile society.
And where that was said mainly of the younger generations in times past, more and more people in the golden years are traveling. Joshua 18
Simeon is first but didn’t receive a portion of land. Simeon and Levi, through a colossal lie, killed Shechem and his people for the rape of their sister Dinah.
Jacob had prophesied that they would be dispersed and they were.
Their cities were found in Judah’s territory. Joshua 19
One of the provisions God made for his people were the cities of refuge. These were for the person who killed by accident. These cities area powerful illustration of the work of Christ.
When someone was killed, a kinsperson took it upon himself to get revenge by slaying the slayer.
He was known as the avenger of blood. Joshua 20
Levi, like Simeon, had sinned grossly and their punishment was to be their dispersion throughout the people.
However, twice the Levites showed themselves to be faithful to God.
They sided with Moses when the golden calf was built and the people were ready to give themselves to idolatry. Joshua 21
Joshua 22 deals with false criticism, he starts off by commending the 2 ½ tribes because they had obeyed Moses. Following the defeat of the Midianite kings, the 2 ½ tribes requested that the land east of Jordan be given to them as their possession.
Moses at first was suspicious of the idea because he felt it would prevent the rest of the people from crossing over. Joshua 22
Joshua 23 begins by explaining what God has done, He has fought against the nations, it would be easy for them to sit back and boast about the battles ‘they won’.
God had promised His people a land and now they had it and basically God dividing it out. But only that but God dispossessed off the nations around, He would thrust them out and they would no longer possess the land. Joshua 23
God is different from idols, men created and worshiped images they could see. Sometimes in animal form, sometimes in human form and sometimes in a combination of both forms, yet, these so-called gods were not gods at all. God cannot be seen; however, He created the universe, He gave His law and He rules in the affairs of men. God is better than idols. Joshua 24