The Conquest and Division of the Promised Land

The Entrance into the Land (1:1—5:12)

• The Exhortations to Conquer (ch. 1)
  • God commissions Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, promising His presence and urging courage and obedience.
• The Reconnaissance of Jericho (ch. 2)
  • Joshua sends two spies to Jericho, where they are hidden by Rahab, who expresses faith in Israel’s God and secures her family’s safety during the coming conquest.
• The Crossing of the Jordan (chs. 3–4)
  • The Israelites cross the Jordan River on dry ground as the Ark of the Covenant leads the way, miraculously halting the river’s flow.
• The Consecration at Gilgal (5:1–12)
  • At Gilgal, Joshua renews the covenant through circumcision and the observance of the Passover, marking the Israelites’ entrance into the land.

The Conquest of the Land (5:13—12:24)

• The Initial Battles (5:13—8:35)
  • The victory at Jericho (5:13—6:27):
    • The Israelites, led by Joshua, conquer Jericho by following God’s instructions to march around the city, causing the walls to collapse.
  • The failure at Ai because of Achan’s sin (ch. 7):
    • Israel suffers a defeat at Ai due to Achan’s sin of taking forbidden items. After Achan’s sin is dealt with, Israel is able to conquer Ai.
  • The victory at Ai (8:1–29):
    • After repenting for Achan’s sin, Israel successfully captures Ai through a strategic ambush.
  • The covenant renewed at Shechem (8:30–35):
    • Joshua renews the covenant at Shechem, reminding the people of God’s laws and the blessings of obedience.
• The Campaign in the South (chs. 9–10)
  • The treaty with the Gibeonites (ch. 9):
    • The Gibeonites deceive Israel into making a treaty by pretending to be distant travelers. Joshua honors the treaty but later defends the Gibeonites when other Canaanite kings attack them.
  • The long day of Joshua (10:1–15):
    • God miraculously extends the day to allow Joshua to defeat the southern kings of Canaan.
  • The southern cities conquered (10:16–43):
    • Joshua and the Israelites capture a series of southern cities, defeating the kings in battle and taking possession of their land.
• The Campaign in the North (ch. 11)
  • Joshua leads the Israelites in a northern campaign, defeating the forces of King Jabin of Hazor and other Canaanite kings, completing the conquest of the region.
• The Defeated Kings of Canaan (ch. 12)
  • A summary of the kings defeated by Moses and Joshua, including the 31 kings in Canaan.

The Distribution of the Land (chs. 13–21)

• The Areas Yet to Be Conquered (13:1–7)
  • Joshua is told that there are still areas in the land that need to be conquered, but the remaining territory will be given to the tribes of Israel.
• The Land Assigned by Moses to the Tribes in Transjordan (13:8–33)
  • The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh are allotted land on the eastern side of the Jordan River.
• The Division of the Land of Canaan (chs. 14–19)
  • Introduction (14:1–5):
    • The division of Canaan begins with the inheritance of Caleb, who receives the land he was promised.
  • The town given to Caleb (14:6–15):
    • Caleb receives Hebron as his inheritance for his faithfulness in spying out the land.
  • The lands given to Judah and “Joseph” at Gilgal (chs. 15–17):
    • The tribes of Judah and the descendants of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) are given their allotments.
  • The allotments for Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and Dan at Shiloh (18:1—19:48):
    • The remaining tribes receive their land at Shiloh.
  • The town given to Joshua (19:49–51):
    • Joshua receives his own inheritance at Timnath-serah.
• The Cities Assigned to the Levites (chs. 20–21)
  • The 6 cities of refuge (ch. 20):
    • Six cities of refuge are designated where individuals who accidentally killed someone could flee to for asylum.
  • The 48 cities of the priests (ch. 21):
    • The Levites receive 48 cities in which to live, with pasturelands surrounding them.

Epilogue: Tribal Unity and Loyalty to the Lord (chs. 22–24)

• The Altar of Witness by the Jordan (ch. 22):
  • The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half-tribe of Manasseh set up an altar by the Jordan as a witness to their commitment to God and unity with the rest of Israel.
• Joshua’s Farewell Exhortation (ch. 23):
  • Joshua delivers a final speech urging the Israelites to remain faithful to God and His commandments.
• The Renewal of the Covenant at Shechem (24:1–28):
  • Joshua leads Israel in renewing the covenant at Shechem, reaffirming their commitment to serve God alone.
• The Death and Burial of Joshua and Eleazar (24:29–33):
  • Joshua dies at the age of 110 and is buried in the land he helped conquer. Eleazar, the high priest, also dies, and the people of Israel serve the Lord.

Summary

The Book of Joshua chronicles the Israelites’ conquest of the Promised Land and the division of the land among the twelve tribes. Under Joshua’s leadership, Israel overcomes the Canaanite nations, fulfilling God’s promises to Abraham. The people renew their covenant with God, committing to serve Him faithfully. The land is divided and allotted to the tribes, with special provisions for the Levites and cities of refuge. The book concludes with Joshua’s final exhortation to remain faithful to God, marking the transition from the wilderness journey to a settled life in the Promised Land.