This book under consideration derives its name from the one now leading the nation. For forty years Moses had been God’s tool in leading and guiding the people, but as the result of his foolish and self-exalting disobedience (Numbers 20:7-12) Moses died on Mount Nebo overlooking the much desired, blessed land. Likewise, as the one physically in charge of all of Israel’s actions and goings, it had been Moses who had penned the first five books of the Bible; but now Joshua, Moses minister and apprentice, has been appointed by God to lead the people as capably as did Moses. And just as Moses’ leadership proved him worthy and qualified to pen the inspired texts of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, so does Joshua’s leadership prove him worthy and qualified to write of the nations’ battles fought and victories achieved as it enters and inhabits the promised land.
The date in which Joshua wrote is agreed upon by most scholars to not be exactly known. However, the general span of somewhere between 1400-1350 B.C. can be safely known to be the time this literary work was done. This conclusion is reached based on the fact that Moses died shortly before 1400 B.C., and the events of Joshua supposedly cover a span of up to fifty years. Therefore given the fact that Joshua wrote over a period of time as he found time, the writing would fall between these dates, with it being finished before 1350 B.C.
Wherein the first five books of the Bible are referred to as the books of law, Joshua begins a section of scripture that continues through Esther that is rightly designated the books of history, for they record the events of the nation of Israel covering almost 1,000 years. Joshua’s experiences and writings include the beloved records of “the spies sent to Jericho and received by Rahab; crossing the Jordan, the invasion of the land, the fall of Jericho, the sin of Achan and the defeat at Ai, Israel at Ebal and Gerazim, the battle of Beth-eron when the sun stood still, the division of the land, the appointment of six cities of refuge, and Joshua’s farewell address and death” (Dunn).
The essential message drawn from Joshua’s record of sacred history is the faithfulness of God in the keeping of His promises (Dunn). For hundreds upon hundreds of years now, God’s promise made to Abraham about his children inhabiting a blessed land has, in man’s mind, been hanging in the balance. However, what man’s eye could not see was God’s providence working behind the scenes for those hundreds of years, ensuring everything to work out exactly as had been promised. Many still today will say that God never did fulfill His promise to Abraham and the children of Israel concerning this inheritance of land, but Joshua boldly declares it to have been done (Joshua 24:13—see also 24:18). God is faithful to fulfill His promises. He has proven that faithfulness in the past to the people of old, and that proof serves as confirmation of the fact that He will be faithful to the promises He has made unto man today (II Peter 3:9).
Perhaps, though, the most intriguing of the studies in which one can engage in Joshua is how Christ is pictured. One can find Christ’s presence in Joshua in at least two ways. First of all Christ can be seen in Joshua himself who is a type of Christ. In fact Joshua’s name in the Hebrew language is Yeshua and means “Yahweh (God) is Salvation.” But likewise is the fact that the name “Joshua” is the Hebrew equivalent of the name “Jesus” illustrated by Hebrews 4:8 in which it is said of Joshua, “For if Jesus (Joshua) had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.” It was Joshua who in victoriously leading the children of God to their possessions foreshadowed Christ who will bring “many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10). Second, though, Christ is seen figuratively through Rahab’s scarlet cord, for it was through Rahab’s bloodline that Christ was born incarnate into this world (Matthew 1:5).
The book of Joshua is a book of hope, faithfulness, blessing, and redemption. As it is studied, analyzed, and applied, may its message resound deep within the heart of each Christian for the hope, faithfulness, blessing, and redemption found in Christ.