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Joshua 1:1–24:33

Joshua

Israel's initial success in entering Canaan (Joshua 1–8)

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. a
    opening focus on "Book of the Law of Moses"1:1–18Joshua encouraged to follow all the law that Moses gave; he is to meditate in this Book of the Law day and night and is not to let it "depart out of your mouth"; Joshua gives orders to Israelites
  2. b
    encouragement from a believing Canaanite: Rahab hides spies2:1–24Rahab secretly hides (ṭāman) the spies in her respect for Yahweh's power; her life is to be spared for her act of faith in Yahweh; good result from Rahab's report—Joshua is encouraged: "Yahweh has given into our hands (nātan bəyāḏ) the whole land; all the people are melting (mūg) in fear because of us!" (2:24); from Rahab's report: when we heard (šāmaʿ), our hearts (lēḇāḇ) melted (māsas) (2:11)
  3. c
    Jordan "stands up"! Yahweh miraculously enables Israel to cross the Jordan to enter Canaan3:1–4:24Yahweh gives Joshua puzzling marching orders, with promise of success—then delivers miracle at the perfect time; people follow the priests carrying the ark, who play key role; miracle involves Yahweh's removing a barrier—Jordan River (by earthquake?), which "stands up" so Israelites can enter Canaan
  4. d
    CENTER: Israel worships Yahweh in promised land5:1–15Canaanites are disheartened; circumcision; Passover; arrival of the "commander of Yahweh's army"; manna ceases; Israel eats produce of Canaan for first time; they are now "on holy ground"!
  5. c′
    Jericho falls down! Yahweh miraculously enables Israel to cross over walls to enter and conquer Jericho6:1–27Yahweh gives Joshua puzzling marching orders, with promise of success—then delivers miracle at the perfect time; people follow the priests carrying the ark, who play key role; miracle involves Yahweh's removing a barrier—a city wall (by earthquake?), which "falls down" so Israelites can enter Jericho
  6. b′
    discouragement from a faithless Israelite: Achan hides plunder7:1–8:29Achan secretly hides (ṭāman) the plunder in disrespect of Yahweh's orders; he is put to death for his act of unfaithfulness against Yahweh; bad result from Achan's sin—Joshua is discouraged: "Yahweh has given us into the hands of (nātan bəyāḏ) the Amorites"; the Israelites' hearts (lēḇāḇ) melted (māsas); and now "when the Canaanites and the other people . . . hear (šāmaʿ)," they will come and defeat Israel
  7. a′
    closing focus on "Book of the Law of Moses"8:30–35Joshua leads ceremony at Mount Ebal, according to what is written in the book of the law of Moses (repeated); copies on stones the law of Moses; afterward "Joshua read all the words of the law . . . just as it is written in the law"

Israel's conquest of the rest of Canaan (Joshua 9–12)

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. a
    all the kings of Canaan oppose Joshua as one9:1–2includes kings west of the Jordan, as far as Lebanon, highlands, Shephelah, etc.; image of kings gathering to oppose Joshua as one (ʾeḥāḏ) (cf. together, yaḥdāw)
  2. b
    mercy for a believing remnant: Israel makes peace with Gibeonites9:3–27they come in submission—compelled by their respect for Yahweh—and are spared; the Hivites . . . living in Gibeon make a treaty of peace with the Israelites; the believing Gibeonites are spared
  3. c
    defeat of southern coalition, led by king of Jerusalem10:1–15begins: "when King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem heard (šāmaʿ) . . . he sent to (šālaḥ ʾel) . . ."—followed by a list of kings of coalition; kings "gather together . . . to fight (ləhillāḥēm) Israel"; Yahweh reassures Joshua: do not be afraid of them (ʾal-tîrāʾ mēhem); I will give them into your hands (nātan bəyāḏ); Joshua and the entire army with him (wəkol-ʿam hammilḥāmâ ʿimmô) carry out surprise attack (piṯʾōm) against enemy; Israel struck (nākâ) the enemy and pursued them (wayyirdəpêm) as far as (ʿaḏ) [name] and as far as (wəʿaḏ) [name]
  4. d
    CENTER: ritual ceremony at Makkedah and conquest of seven cities (and "all the kings") of the south10:16–43
  5. c′
    defeat of northern coalition, led by king of Hazor11:1–15begins: "when King Jabin of Hazor heard (šāmaʿ) . . . he sent to (šālaḥ ʾel) . . ."—followed by a list of kings of coalition; kings "gather together (yaḥdāw) . . . to fight (ləhillāḥēm) Israel"; Yahweh reassures Joshua: do not be afraid of them (ʾal-tîrāʾ mippənêhem); I will give them into your hands (nātan bəyāḏ); Joshua and the entire army with him (wəkol-ʿam hammilḥāmâ ʿimmô) carry out surprise attack (piṯʾōm) against enemy; Israel struck (nākâ) the enemy and pursued them (wayyirdəpûm) as far as (ʿaḏ) [name] and as far as (wəʿaḏ) [name]
  6. b′
    no mercy for hardened Canaanites: Israel makes peace with none but Gibeonites11:16–23all others come against Israel in hardness of heart—compelled by Yahweh in order to annihilate them—and are destroyed; the Hivites living in Gibeon . . . make a treaty of peace with the Israelites; the hardened Canaanites are all put to death
  7. a′
    all the kings of Canaan whom Joshua conquered are listed one by one12:1–24includes kings west of the Jordan, from valley of Lebanon, in the highlands, Shephelah, land of the Hittites; image of kings conquered by Joshua as shattered forces, falling to the Israelites one (ʾeḥāḏ) by one (ʾeḥāḏ); the term is repeated thirty-one times, once after each king

Conquest of Canaan (Joshua 1–12)

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. a
    introduction to first phase1:1–18no one will be able to oppose Joshua; all land west of Jordan will be given to Joshua: the Great Sea, Lebanon, land of Hittites
  2. b
    believing Canaanite is spared: Rahab2:1–24Rahab sides with Israel, against own people; makes agreement with Israel; Rahab's act of faith involves deception; she is spared; her testimony: we have heard about what Yahweh did in "Egypt . . . to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan"
  3. c
    miracle of the stopping (ʿāmad) of the Jordan River3:1–4:24
  4. d
    ceremonies at Gilgal, after Jordan stopped5:1–15evening (ʿereb) ceremony; Yahweh's commander and Joshua's feet (regel); kings' "hearts melted and they had no courage to face Israel"; Israel's humiliation is rolled away (gālal)
  5. e
    conquest and burning of city of Jericho6:1–27
  6. f
    faithless Israelite, Achan, put to death7:1–8:29Achan secretly takes forbidden plunder; hearts of Israelites melted; Canaanites may attack; Israel allowed to take plunder and livestock at Ai
  7. g
    conclusion to first phase: assembly of twelve (victorious) Israelite tribes8:30–35
  8. a′
    introduction to second phase9:1–2kings of all the land west of the Jordan join to oppose Joshua; from along the Great Sea, Lebanon, including the Hittites
  9. b′
    believing Canaanites are spared: Gibeonites9:3–27Gibeonites side with Israel, against own people; make agreement with Israel; Gibeonites' act of faith involves deception; they are spared; their testimony: we have heard about what Yahweh did in "Egypt . . . and to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, Sihon . . . and Og"
  10. c′
    miracle of the stopping (ʿāmad) of the sun10:1–15
  11. d′
    ceremony at Makkedah, after sun stopped and victory achieved10:16–31evening (ʿereb); Joshua's commanders and feet (regel); "the five kings hid in a cave"; stones rolled (gālal) to seal in kings
  12. e′
    conquest and burning of city of Hazor11:1–15
  13. f′
    hardened Canaanites put to death11:16–23Israelites now allowed to take plunder and livestock; hearts of Canaanites are hardened; must attack
  14. g′
    conclusion to conquest: list of thirty-one conquered Canaanite kings12:1–24

Allotment of land of Canaan (Joshua 13–24)

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. a
    introduction13:1–7Yahweh's challenge to Joshua, when he is old, to divide the land; theme: see that remains—whose inhabitants Yahweh will drive out
  2. b
    Transjordanian tribes13:8–33their allotments outside of Canaan
  3. c
    Levites14:1–5their allotments outside of Canaan
  4. d
    personal allotment for hero of Kadesh: Caleb14:6–15
  5. e
    Rachel tribal allotment: Judah15:1–63
  6. f
    Rachel tribal allotment: Joseph16:1–17:18
  7. g
    CENTER: allotment at Shiloh: seven tribes receive land by Yahweh's lot18:1–10
  8. f′
    Rachel tribal allotment: Benjamin—next to Joseph18:11–28
  9. e′
    Rachel tribal allotment: Simeon (inside Judah) and others19:1–48
  10. d′
    personal allotment for hero of Kadesh: Joshua19:49–50
  11. c′
    Levites20:1–21:45their towns in other tribes and their cities of refuge
  12. b′
    Transjordanian tribes22:1–34their return to their allotments outside of Canaan, and their memorial altar to commemorate their share with the tribes in Canaan
  13. a′
    conclusion23:1–24:33Joshua's closing challenge to Israel, when he is old; theme: see that remains—whose inhabitants Yahweh will drive out