Author

Joshua and/or one of his scribes

Written

1375 BC Covering the time period of 1400 BC to 1375 BC

Main Themes

This book begins the story of Israel as a nation and contains the first events to take place after the Exodus.

The first eight chapters of Joshua cover the first battle for Israel, which was Jericho. They also cover the battle to win Ai, which gave the nation two pieces of land.

In Joshua 9 through 12, the army continues fighting with Joshua as their leader. They conquer and obtain more of the Promised Land, with one great miracle being the sun stopping in the sky.

In the rest of the chapters, 13 to 24, Joshua and his team divide the lands they conquered among the tribes. In chapters 23 and 24, Joshua gives a farewell address and dies at age 110.

Key Verses

Joshua 6 Joshua and the troops surrounded Jericho, blew trumpets, and shouted, which made the walls fall down. Rahab the harlot protected the spies of Israel, so she and her family were saved, and she married into one of the families in Israel.

Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Joshua 6:10 But Joshua had commanded the army, "Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!"

Joshua 10:12-14 The sun stood still in the sky so Joshua and his men could see to fight.