Joshua Bible Study Resources
Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study the Old Testament book of Joshua.
“The importance of Joshua for Christians lies chiefly in that it a) shows God’s faithfulness to his covenant; b) records the development of his purpose for the nation; c) gives reasons for a failure, already foreshadowed, to carry out the divine plan; d) provides analogies for discipleship, since the spiritual issues of faith, obedience and purity were clearly at stake in the invasion (New Bible Dictionary, p. 624).”
Jump to: Background; ** Maps; ** Encyclopedias; ** Key Words; ** Commentaries; ** Articles; ** GotQuestions ** History; ** Next **Joshua Basics
- Setting: 1250-1240 BC
- Purpose: To fulfill the program set out in Deuteronomy by establishing Israel in the promised land.
- Themes: Fulfillment of the Lord’s promises about the land; YHWH as faithful; divine control over events; YHWH as holy warrior; unity of “all Israel”.
Joshua Structure
- 1:1-13:7 – Conquest of the land
- 12:8-22:34 – Division of the land and settlement
- 23-24 – Covenant renewal
Joshua Content
- Calling of Joshua (1:1-9)
- Entry into the land (3:14-17 & 4:23-24)
- Spiritual preparations (4-5)
- Jericho, Sin of Achan & Ai (6-8)
- Summaries of Conquests (10:40-43; 11:16-23)
- Hints of future trouble (15:63; 16:10; 17:12-13)
- Summary of division & settlement in the land (21:43-45)
- Joshua’s exhortation (23)
- Tribes renew the covenant (24)
Genre: Understanding Narrative
Background & Outlines
Chart: Bible History at a glance
Blue Letter Bible: Old Testament Timeline
Jensen’s Survey of the Old Testament
What was the Canaanite religion?
Bible Atlas: Valley of Jericho
Bible Atlas: Plains of Moab (opposite Jericho)
Ray C Stedman: Overview of the Book
John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background
Audio file: Overview of Joshua by Dale Ralph Davis
ESV The Global Message of Joshua
Maps from Holman Bible Atlas
Ancient Near East from 1200-100 BCE
Joshua’s Central and Southern Campaigns
Limits of Israelite Settlement
Israel in Canaan from Joshua to Samuel to Saul
Division of the Land Among the Tribes
Levitical Cities and Cities of Refuge (1)
More Maps
Twelve tribes in Canaan Joshua to Saul 1400-1100BC
Book of Joshua OT Map at Time of Conquest (enlarged)
Joshua, Conquest of Canaan, Central & Southern Campaigns
Joshua, Conquest of Canaan, Northern Campaign
Jezreel, Jezreel Valley – Joshua 15:56
Hazor – Joshua 11:1, 10, 13
ESV Maps
Key Words in Joshua
Lord (172v); God (62v); Joshua (151v); Israel (140v).
land (84v) -Strong’s H776 in Jos 1:2; Jos 1:4; Jos 1:6; Jos 1:11; Jos 1:13; Jos 1:14; Jos 1:15; Jos 2:1; Jos 2:2; Jos 2:3; Jos 2:9; Jos 2:14; Jos 2:18; Jos 2:24; Jos 5:6; Jos 5:11; Jos 5:12; Jos 6:22; Jos 6:27; Jos 7:2; Jos 7:9; Jos 8:1; Jos 9:7; Jos 9:16; Jos 9:22; Jos 9:24; Jos 10:1; Jos 10:40; Jos 11:3; Jos 11:16; Jos 11:22; Jos 11:23; Jos 12:1; Jos 12:7; Jos 13:1; Jos 13:2; Jos 13:4; Jos 13:5; Jos 13:7; Jos 13:21; Jos 13:25; Jos 14:1; Jos 14:4; Jos 14:5; Jos 14:7; Jos 14:9; Jos 14:15; Jos 15:19; Jos 17:5; Jos 17:6; Jos 17:8; Jos 17:12; Jos 17:15; Jos 17:16; Jos 18:1; Jos 18:3; Jos 18:4; Jos 18:6; Jos 18:8; Jos 18:9; Jos 18:10; Jos 19:49; Jos 19:51; Jos 21:2; Jos 21:43; Jos 22:4; Jos 22:9; Jos 22:10; Jos 22:11; Jos 22:13; Jos 22:15; Jos 22:19; Jos 22:32; Jos 22:33; Jos 23:5; Jos 23:13; Jos 23:15; Jos 23:16; Jos 24:3; Jos 24:8; Jos 24:13; Jos 24:15; Jos 24:17; Jos 24:18.
commanded (31v) – Strong’s H6680 in Jos 1:7; Jos 1:9; Jos 1:10; Jos 1:13; Jos 1:16; Jos 3:3; Jos 4:8; Jos 4:10; Jos 4:17; Jos 6:10; Jos 7:11; Jos 8:4; Jos 8:8; Jos 8:27; Jos 8:31; Jos 8:35; Jos 9:24; Jos 10:40; Jos 11:12; Jos 11:15; Jos 11:20; Jos 13:6; Jos 14:2; Jos 14:5; Jos 17:4; Jos 18:8; Jos 21:2; Jos 21:8; Jos 22:2; Jos 22:5; Jos 23:16; command (13v; same word) – Jos 1:11; Jos 1:18; Jos 3:8; Jos 4:3; Jos 4:16; Jos 8:29; Jos 8:33; Jos 10:27; Jos 15:13; Jos 17:4; Jos 19:50; Jos 21:3; Jos 22:9.
ark of the Lord / ark of the covenant (25v) – Jos 3:3; Jos 3:6; Jos 3:8; Jos 3:11; Jos 3:13; Jos 3:14; Jos 3:15; Jos 3:17; Jos 4:5; Jos 4:7; Jos 4:9; Jos 4:10; Jos 4:11; Jos 4:16; Jos 4:18; Jos 6:4; Jos 6:6; Jos 6:7; Jos 6:8; Jos 6:9; Jos 6:11; Jos 6:12; Jos 6:13; Jos 7:6; Jos 8:33.
covenant (21v) – Strong’s H1285 in Jos 3:3; Jos 3:6; Jos 3:8; Jos 3:11; Jos 3:14; Jos 3:17; Jos 4:7; Jos 4:9; Jos 4:18; Jos 6:6; Jos 6:8; Jos 7:11; Jos 7:15; Jos 8:33; Jos 9:6; Jos 9:7; Jos 9:11; Jos 9:15; Jos 9:16; Jos 23:16; Jos 24:25.
inheritance (48v) – Strong’s H5159 in Jos 11:23; Jos 13:6; Jos 13:7; Jos 13:8; Jos 13:14; Jos 13:15; Jos 13:23; Jos 13:24; Jos 13:28; Jos 13:29; Jos 13:32; Jos 13:33; Jos 14:1; Jos 14:2; Jos 14:3; Jos 14:9; Jos 14:13; Jos 14:14; Jos 15:20; Jos 16:4; Jos 16:5; Jos 16:8; Jos 16:9; Jos 17:4; Jos 17:6; Jos 17:14; Jos 18:2; Jos 18:4; Jos 18:7; Jos 18:20; Jos 18:28; Jos 19:1; Jos 19:2; Jos 19:8; Jos 19:9; Jos 19:10; Jos 19:16; Jos 19:23; Jos 19:31; Jos 19:39; Jos 19:41; Jos 19:48; Jos 19:49; Jos 21:3; Jos 23:4; Jos 24:28; Jos 24:30; Jos 24:32.
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology: Joshua, Theology Of
American Tract Society: Joshua
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Joshua, book of
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Joshua, Book of
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Joshua, the Book of
Holman Bible Dictionary: Joshua Book of
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Joshua
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Joshua, Book of
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Joshua
McClintock and Strong’s Bible Encyclopedia: Joshua, Book Of,
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Joshua, the Book of
The Jewish Encyclopedia: Joshua, Book of
ESV Resources
Introduction to Joshua – see map
The Conquest of Canaan: The Northern Campaign
The Conquest of Canaan: The Southern Campaign
Joshua 1:1–9 as a “Table of Contents”
Joshua Fact #1: The Historical Books
Joshua Fact #2 not available on web
Joshua Fact #3: The Jordan River
Joshua Fact #5: Jericho – see also The City of Jericho
Joshua Fact #6: How did the people of Israel consecrate themselves
Joshua Fact #16: Dividing the spoils
Commentaries
Ligionier.org Top 5 Commentaries: Joshua
Tim Challies Best Commentaries: Joshua
#1 choice of both Challies and Mathison = Joshua- No Falling Words – Dale Ralph Davis (and I agree)
Commentary Reviews: Joshua
The Best Old Testament Commentaries You’ve Never Heard Of – Justin Taylor
Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: Joshua
Matthew Henry: Joshua
Albert Barnes Notes: Joshua
Reformation Study Bible Notes: Joshua
Geneva Study Bible: Joshua
Adam Clarke: Joshua
Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: Joshua
Alfred Edersheim on Joshua
Joshua 1-2 The Charge To Joshua – Dispatch Of The Two Spies To Jericho – Rahab
Canaanite Religion
- The Canaanite religion was a constant temptation to Israel.
- It was basically a nature religion. They worshiped Gods who controlled nature (rain, sun, etc).
- Most gods were personified natural powers. Myths and rituals were meant to keep balance between the gods and win their favor to keep nature in order.
- It was a cosmological religion with a focus on the divine order of the cosmos and the human relationship to it.
- There were hundreds of Canaanite gods (syncretism). Principally: El (father); Baal (god of storm, rain & fertility); Asherah, Anat, & Astarte (3 female goddesses of childbirth & fertility).
Canaanite Religious Practices
- Fertility rites in honor of Baal and his wives (temple prostitutes both male & female)
- System of sacrifice, altars and temples
- Used “high places” for worship (raised outdoor altars)
- Burning of incense before a female deity and offering baked cakes
- Burning of incense to the storm-god, Baal
- Worshiping the sun, moon and stars as gods
- Strongly encouraged caring for parents in their old age
More: What was the Canaanite religion?
Journal Articles
Eugene D. Stockton, “Fortress temple of Shechem and Joshua’s covenant,”Australian Journal of Biblical Archaeology1.1 (1968): 24-28.
David Merling, “The book of Joshua. part I: its evaluation by nonevidence,”Andrews University Seminary Studies39.1 (Spring 2001): 61-72.
David Merling, “The book of Joshua. Pt II, Expectations of archaeology,”AndrewsUniversity Seminary Studies39.2 (Autumn 2001): 209-221
John A, Beck, “Why Do Joshua’s Readers Keep Crossing the River? The Narrative-Geographical Shaping of Joshua 3-4,”Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society48.4 (Dec. 2005): 689-699
Peter C. Craigie, “The Conquest and Early Hebrew Poetry,”Tyndale Bulletin20 (1969): 76-94.
Richard S. Hess, “The Book of Joshua as a Land Grant,” Biblica 83 (2002): 493-506.
J.P.U. Lilley, “The Altar in Joshua and Judges,”Tyndale Bulletin5/6 (1960): 32-33
Lewis Bayles Paton, “Israel’s conquest of Canaan,”Journal of Biblical Literature32.1 (1913): 1-53.
Pekka Pitkänen, “Ethnicity, Assimilation and the Israelite Settlement,”TyndaleBulletin55.2 (2004): 161-182
Have NASA computers really proven Joshua’s ‘long day’? (Jonathan Sarfati)
Got Questions.org
Has Israel’s territory ever encompassed the promise in Joshua 1:4?
Does God’s promise to Joshua and Israel in Joshua 1:9 apply to us?
Why did the Israelite spies visit the house of Rahab the prostitute?
What was the significance of the Jordan crossing?
Who was the commander of the army of the LORD in Joshua 5:14?
What should we learn from the walls of Jericho falling down?
Why did Joshua curse Jericho in Joshua 6:26?
Why did God judge the sin of Achan so severely?
Why did God command the extermination of the Canaanites?
Is it true that the sun stood still?
Did the geographic positioning of the tribes fulfill Jacob’s blessing?
Why was the altar in Joshua 22:10–34 such a big deal?
What does the Bible say about the hornet?
What does “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” mean in Joshua 24:15?
Next: Judges
Previous: Deuteronomy
Series: Resources by Book
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