Journey through
Joshua
Theme
Victory Through Obedience
Time of Writing
1405-1385
Victory comes by faith in God and obedience to His word, not military power or numerical superiority. Faithful obedience is the victory. This truth is communicated through the lives of the people you will meet in this book, such as Joshua, Caleb, Rahab, Achan, the Canaanites, the Gibeonites, the Anakim, Eleazer, and Phinehas.
The Israelities, led by Joshua, are victorious over their enemies against all odds. They conquer and divide the Promised Land which demonstrates the faithfulness of God toward His people by keeping His promises.
In Joshua, God is glorifying Himself through victory through obedience, so that He might demonstrate His superior goodness in the salvation sinners, the damnation of the wicked, and for the preservation of His people for His eternal glory, and their eternal joy.
While the book of Joshua does not clearly identify its author, it does tell us that Joshua himself wrote words “in the Book of the Law of God” (Josh. 24:26), making Joshua a likely candidate. Also, the book bears the marks of eyewitness testimony. While a secondary author could have drawn from Joshua’s memoirs to produce the book in its final form, the fact that Joshua himself wrote his account “in the Book of the Law of God” makes it highly unlikely that a secondary author would have taken it upon himself to edit Joshua’s work. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that Joshua himself wrote the book that bears his name.
Joshua would have written his book sometime between Moses’ death (1405 B.C.) and his own death (no later than 1385 B.C.).
“And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal. Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: ‘When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, “What are these stones?” then you shall let your children know, saying, “Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land”; for the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.’ ”
Joshua 4:20–24
“Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed.”
Joshua 23:14
“And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of 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
Entering the Land (Josh. 1–5)
Conquering the Land (Josh. 6–12)
Dividing the Land (Josh. 13–24)
Chapters 1–10
What is the theme of the book of Joshua?
Victory Through Obedience.
What is the key verse in the book of Joshua?
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1:8–9).
What command is given three times to Joshua in the first chapter?
Be strong and of good courage (Josh. 1:6, 7, 9).
Where did Rahab hide the spies?
With the stalks of flax on the roof of her house (Josh. 2:6).
How did Rahab help the spies escape from the city?
She let them down by a rope through her window (Josh. 2:15).
How did Rahab mark her house to distinguish it from the other houses in Jericho?
She bound a scarlet cord in her window (Josh. 2:17–18, 21).
What happened when the priests who were carrying the ark stepped into the Jordan River?
The waters upstream stood still, and all Israel crossed over on dry ground (Josh. 3:14–17).
Why did Joshua command twelve men to build a stone memorial?
As a reminder to tell the next generation what God had done (Josh. 4:4–7).
Why did Joshua circumcise the men who were born in the wilderness?
Because their fathers had not circumcised them like they were commanded (Josh. 5:4–5).
When did God stop giving Israel manna?
The day after they started eating the produce of Canaan (Josh. 5:12).
Why was Joshua commanded to take off his sandals?
Because he was standing on holy ground (Josh. 5:15).
How many times were the Israelites supposed to march around Jericho each day?
Once each day for six days, and then seven times on the seventh day (Josh. 6:3–4).
What happened to the wall of Jericho when the people shouted with a great shout?
It fell down flat (Josh. 6:20).
Who was spared from destruction in Jericho?
Rahab and her family (Josh. 6:22–23).
What did Joshua say about the man who would rebuild Jericho?
“Cursed be the man before the Lord who rises up and builds this city Jericho; he shall lay its foundation with his firstborn, and with his youngest he shall set up its gates” (Josh. 6:26).
What was the sin that Achan committed?
He took of the accursed things (Josh. 7:1).
What three things did Achan covet and take?
What was the punishment that Achan received for his sin?
The Israelites stoned him with stones, burned him with fire, and buried him under a great heap of stones (Josh. 7:24–26).
What lie did the Gibeonites tell Joshua?
That they had come from a far country (Josh. 9:3–13).
Why did Joshua make a covenant with the Gibeonites?
Because he had not asked for counsel from the Lord (Josh. 9:14–15).
What did Joshua do when he learned the Gibeonites had lied to him?
He cursed them, and made them woodcutters and water carriers (Josh. 9:22–23).
How did God make Israel victorious when they defended the Gibeonites?
He routed the Amorites before Israel, cast down large hailstones on them as they fled, and caused the sun to stand still while the Israelites pursued them (Josh. 10:10–14).
Chapters 11–24
Why didn’t any cities besides Gibeon attempt to make peace with Israel?
Because the Lord had hardened their hearts (Josh. 11:19–20).
How many kings did Israel defeat during the conquest of Canaan?
Thirty-one (Josh. 12).
How did Joshua divide the inheritance?
He sent men to survey the land and divide it into seven parts, and then cast lots for each tribe (Josh. 18:3–10).
How was Israel supposed to protect those who killed someone accidentally?
By appointing cities of refuge (Josh. 20:1–6).
Who said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”?
Joshua (Josh. 24:2, 15).
How old was Joshua when he died?
110 years old (Josh. 24:29).