Introduction
to the Book of Joshua
I am beginning a new series of sermons based in the book of
Joshua. As I do, it is always
helpful to become familiar with some of the basic information concerning the
book.
Place of the Book
The book of Joshua is considered to be in the "Historical
Books" of the Old Testament. Joshua
along with Judges, Samuel and Kings are referred to as "the Former
Prophets." This suggests
these books are primarily theological in nature.
It is the first in the Bible to be called by the name of an
individual. Thus denoting the
record of this book exclusively relates to the events of the history of Israel
during the life and times of the man for whom it’s named.
Joshua is to the first five books of Moses what Acts is to
the four gospels. It is "the completion" of what was started by
someone else.
Arthur Pink says the book of Joshua uniquely bridges Israel
"as the end of Israel's trials and wanderings in the wilderness, and the
beginning of their new life in the land."
Author of the Book
While the name of the book bears the name of Joshua, there
is little internal evidence in the book of who the author is. Yet it is not like Ezra and Nehemiah
who expressingly declare themselves as authors and nothing in either book
invalidates the claim.
Jewish tradition generally ascribes the book to Joshua and
nothing from the bulk of the book would cause us suspicion of any other.
23:26 "Then Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the
Law of God. And he took a large
stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the
Lord."
We know from this verse Joshua wrote the details of the
covenant (verse 23) between God and the people made at Shechem. But this one lone verse can not be
extended to cover all of the previous writings to be claimed by Joshua.
8:32 "And there, in the presence of the children of
Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had
written."
Again, this was Joshua writing the law of Moses. It is not a reference to Joshua having
written all of the book.
We know the last part of chapter 24 relating his death could
not have been written by Joshua.
Joshua 19:47 records the taking of Leshem (Laish) by the
tribe of Dan. If this record is of
the same event (and most believe it is) of Judges 18:27-29, then this occurred
after the death of Joshua. This
addition to Joshua's book has been attributed to Eleazar, Samuel, or even
Isaiah or Ezra.
Dr. Lightfoot writes Phinehas wrote the book. Others believe Eleazer was it's
author. What we do know it was
written by the primary person, an eyewitness to the events alongside of the
primary person or one reading from the collection of the writings of the
primary person.
The divine authorship of the book is not questioned due to
our firm lack of knowledge of who its author is. God through the Holy Spirit wrote the book perfectly
choosing whomever He wished granting us a perfect revelation of Himself and a
"peek" into the history of His people as it relates to the overall
pattern of redemption.
Date of the
Writing
The book seems to have been written either during the life of
Joshua or soon thereafter.
5:9 - "to this day" (NKJV) 6:25 - "to
this day" (NKJV)
15:63 - "to this day" (NKJV) 16:10 - "to this day" (NKJV)
Because of these phrases, Avravanel attributed it to Samuel.
The division of the land (13-21) shows evidence of being
recorded at the time of the actual events. See 13:7, 19:51
The book covers a period of time of about 26-27 years,
according to George Bush.
Message
In the series of messages, I will seek to show how the book
of Joshua is "The Gospel of Joshua." I will not approach this book as one of exemplary leadership
(though it is) and certainly not as the people of God entering Heaven, though
some wrongly have tried to do so.
It is about the Gospel. Joshua saves God's people just as
Jesus saves us.
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