Bible 110 Old Testament
Deuteronomic History
Joshua
A. Deuteronomic history of Israel; principle of interpretation in the theology of inheritance: The land is a gift of Yahweh; the gift is conditional by obedience to
Yahweh. Because of disobedience, ultimately, the Exile took place.
Sin → judgment, loss of land Repentance → retention of land.
Deuteronomic “histories” are not histories in the way that we think of them; rather, they are evangelical preachers using their version of their history to prove a point.
B. Joshua – the conquest of the land; holy war
The conquest is actually made by God himself. But some sites are not conquered, Tyre and Sidon, Jerusalem, strong Canaanite cities in the Valley of
Jezreel. Joshua 1-9 reflects a background of the tribe of Benjamin.
C. Appears to be southern invasion; central invasion (Gilgal, Ephraim,
Manasseh brought Mosaic tradition by way of Kadesh into Central Palestine): whether by sweeping invasion or by long historical settlement, God still gave
Israel the land.
D. Conquest of Canaan 1:1
– 12:24

Joshua’s commission 1:1-9


Preparation for crossing Jordan 1:10-11
Earl – Jordan tribes pledge assistance 1:12-18
Spies sent to Jericho 2:1-24
 Spies hidden in Rahabs house 2:1-7


Promise of deliverance for Rahab 2:8-14
Spies escape 2:15-24
Crossing the Jordan 3:1-5:1
 Divine instruction given 3:1-13


Flow of Jordan stopped; people cross 3:14-17
Crossing memorialized 4:1-5:1
Camp at Gilgal 5:2-15
 Rite of circumcision renewed 5:2-9

Bible 110 Old Testament


Passover observed 5:10-12
The ophany of “commander of army of Lord” 5:13-15
Fall of Jericho 6:1-27
 Plan of conquest 6:1-7


Walls collapse; city captured and devoted to destruction 6:8-21
Rahab and household spared 6:22-27
Conquest of Ai 7:1-8:29
 Achan is disobedient; Israel defeated 7:1-5
 Ai destroyed 8:1-29
Covenant ceremony at Shechem 8:30-35
Peace treaty with Gibeonites 9:1-27
 West Jordan coalition 9:1-2
 Gibeonites punished 9:16-27
Joshua’s Southern Campaign 10:1-43


Rout of five Amorite kings 10:1-15
Slaying of five Amorite kings 10:16-27
 Conquest of Southern Canaanite cities 10:28-43
Northern Campaign 11:1-15
Summary of regions conquered 11:16-23
Summary of kings conquered 12-1-24


Kings of trans Jordan defeated under Moses 12:1-6
Kings of Canaan defeated under Joshua 12:7-24
Allotment of land 13:1-21:45
 Territory yet unconquered; division of land ordered 13:1-7
Inheritance of Trans-Jordan tribes 13:8-33
Introduction to allotment of Canaan 14:1-15


General explanation
Caleb awarded Hebron 14:6-15
Allotment to Joseph tribes 16:1-17:18


Territory of Ephraim 16:1-10
Manasseh’s inheritance 17:1-6

Bible 110 Old Testament


Border of Manasseh; cities unconquered 17:7-13
Joseph demands additional allotment 17:14-18
Allotment to other seven tribes 18:1-19:51
 Remaining territory surveyed and divided 18:1-10




Inheritance of Benjamin 18:11-28
Inheritance of Simeon 19:1-9
Inheritance of Galilean tribe 19:10-39
Conclusion; inheritance of Joshua 19:49-51
Cities of refuge 20:1-9
Levitical cities 21:1-42


Allotment to Levites 21:1-7
Cities assigned by tribes to Levite families 21:8-42
 Occupation concluded 21:43-45
Conclusion 22:1-24:33
 Trans-Jordan tribes return 22:1-34
 Tribes are blessed and dismissed 22:1-9
 Misunderstanding over an altar 22:10-34
Joshua’s farewell address 23:1-16
Covenant ceremony at Shechem 24:1-28

God’s providence to Israel 24:1-13

Joshua’s exhortation to serve the Lord 24:14-15
Three burial traditions 24:29-33