The Book of Joshua - Conquest and Settlement

By Kenneth B. Alexander JD

The Book of Joshua is the sixth book of the OT - the first of the Former Prophets (i.e., the historical books, which conclude with Nehemiah). In broad outline, the book tells of Israel's conquest of Canaan under Joshua after the death of Moses (chaps. 1-12) and Joshua's subsequent distribution of the land among the tribes (chaps. 13-19). Six cities are then designated places of asylum (chap. 20), and forty-eight are reserved for Levites (chap. 21). The east Jordan tribes then return to their Transjordanian territory (chap. 22). In his old age, Joshua delivers a valedictory address (chap. 23). In another address, he challenges the tribes to commit themselves to God alone (chap. 24). The book ends with notices of Joshua's death, the interment of Joshua's remains and Israel's faithfulness to God until Joshua's contemporaries died (24:29-33).

• Language: English
• Publisher: eBookIt.com
• Release date: Apr 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781456618209

Book preview

The Book of Joshua

Conquest and Settlement

Battle of Jericho

Jean Fouquet 1452

By: Kenneth B. Alexander J.D.

Book Six – Bible Book By Book Series

Table of Contents

Title Page – The Book of Joshua

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction to Series - Bible Book By Book

Introduction to Joshua

OUTLINE OF CONTENTS

Instructions and Crossing the Jordan

Memorials and the Commander

Jericho

Ai and the Ban

Ceremonies and the Gibeonites

The Conquering of Five Kings – Sun Stood Still

Northern Conquest

Dividing the Land

Miscellaneous

Conclusion

Bibliography and End-Notes

Preface

Thanks to John Robert Stevens, Pastor and My Mentor, deceased; Pastors Gary and Marilyn Hargrave; The Living Word, a World Wide Fellowship of Churches (thelivingword.org); Logos Bible Study System 5; Fellow Believers

©Author: Kenneth B. Alexander, JD

[e-mail]

Web: www.christianfreelance. vpweb.com

Scripture references: The New American Standard, 95 ed; The New American Standard,

1977 ed.; King James Authorized Version; Unless Otherwise Noted

Scripture References In Italics and quotation marks

Bold Emphasis Author’s Discretion

CAPS USED FROM  BIBLE SCRIPTURES or PER AUTHOR’S DISCRETION

Man or Men when used alone is gender negative and is meant to include: men, women, mankind, humanity etc.

Introduction to Series

Bible Book By Book

This Series of Books will treat the scriptures and the Bible as the full and complete Word of God compiled by God through the pens of men inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible says this about itself: "All Scripture is inspired [God breathed] by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God left for us a record of all that is needed to be known to enable His people full access to His salvation and entrance to His glorious Kingdom. Each scripture, group of scriptures, each Book as a whole has a point; it is saying something from God that we can take away with us just as if God Himself descended and spoke to us in person. It speaks both to the beginner in Christ and to the most mature. Its meaning is ever expanding according to the spiritual growth of the individual.

Christ Himself quoted scripture on many occasions. In his very first public appearance He spoke scripture. "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,  AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,  TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE DOWNTRODDEN, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD" (Lk 4:18–19). He quoted Old Testament scripture written down by Isaiah from the Book of Isaiah 61:1-2. Christ went on to say: Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. Amazingly enough Isaiah spoke this scripture a millennium before Christ and a millennium before Christ fulfilled the words. Many, many times you will read in the scriptures of Christ fulfilling a prophecy that was spoken millenniums before His birth.

The authenticity of the Bible is the subject of great dispute among men, mainly Biblical scholars and scientists. Many see the Bible as a book of myths or moralistic stories. Many hold that the named authors of the Books of the Bible were not their true authors. Others notice inconsistencies in the Bible and criticize the text of those grounds (for a full history of the Bible with criticisms see The Bible and history - From Wikipedia).

The scriptures, Old Testament and New, speak exclusively of Christ. He said to the Pharisees: "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is  these that testify about Me; (John 5:39). They had been deceived into thinking that life, peace and happiness could be found by following rigid rules and traditions, such as rituals of washings and Sabbath day rests. They studied the Torah endlessly trying to find its secrets when the real secret was its revealing of the Messiah to come. The purpose of the Scriptures was to point mankind to Christ wherein dwells life, but they were not willing to come to Jesus so that they might have this life. The direct typological references to Christ in the Old Testament are much too many to enumerate here (see References to Christ In the Old Testament Scriptures by this author at lulu.com). 

The first thing to learn about the Bible is that it is incapable of human mental interpretation. It is unique in that respect out of all books written. John 1:1 makes that clear: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.  The Word is just not a collection of literary works; it is and conveys the Spirit of God - it IS God.

The Word of God is recorded in the Bible. The operative Greek word is "Logos meaning The Word. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words partially defines Logos as: …the phrase The word of God i.e. the revealed Word of God is used as a direct revelation of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:15) of the gospel…(citations)… in this respect it is the message from the Lord, delivered with His authority and made effective by His power…The personal word is a title of the Son of God…His distinct super-finite personality…His relation to the Godhead, His creative power… (Vine’s Page 1241-1242).

So the Word is God Himself as revealed by the Word (Jesus Christ) appearing on the earth. Human interpretation or mental understanding is not God; the Bible can only be understood spiritually by revelation from God. John 4:23-24 says that God is a Spirit and we can only know Him or relate to Him in the spirit. The Word is literally God’s power and authority going out from Him and made effective through the Word. Christ is the Word, God made manifest. All things were created in and through Him. God created the heavens and the earth