Joshua

Definition and Meaning

Joshua is the sixth book of the Old Testament and consists of twenty-four chapters. It immediately follows the Pentateuch. In the Protestant arrangement of the Bible, it is the first of the historical books; in the Hebrew Bible, it is the first of the Former Prophets.

The book takes its name from its central figure, Joshua, whose Hebrew name is usually interpreted to mean "the LORD is salvation." His original name was Hoshea, but Moses renamed him Joshua (Numbers 13:16). The son of Nun and a member of the tribe of Ephraim, he first appears in Exodus and Numbers as Moses' attendant and as a military leader.

Biblical and Historical Background

The book falls into three main sections:

• Entry into and conquest of Canaan (chapters 1–12): This section includes the crossing of the Jordan River, the account of Rahab the harlot, the fall of the walls of Jericho, Achan's sin and the defeat at Ai, and the battle at Gibeon, during which the sun and moon stood still.
• Distribution of the land (chapters 13–21): The land is divided among the twelve tribes, and the cities of refuge and the Levitical cities are designated.
• Farewell addresses and covenant renewal (chapters 22–24): Joshua renews the covenant with the people at Shechem.

Carrying forward the themes of Deuteronomy, the book emphasizes that obedience to God leads to possession of the Promised Land. In the New Testament, Hebrews 11 refers to Jericho and to the faith of Rahab, and Rahab also appears in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1.

Opinions differ on who wrote the book and when. Jewish tradition holds that Joshua wrote most of it. In critical scholarship, the view that the book is part of the "Deuteronomistic History," which extends from Deuteronomy through Kings, is widely held. Scholars also differ on the date of the conquest (with proposals in the fifteenth and thirteenth centuries BC) and on how to interpret the archaeological evidence. Conservative scholars generally accept the historicity of the account as written.

Practice in the Korean Church

The verse most frequently cited in Korean churches is "Be strong and of a good courage" (Joshua 1:9). It is commonly used as a New Year's motto; in blessings for students entering school, young people beginning military service, and those preparing for examinations; and at the commissioning of missionaries. "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15) is widely used as a family motto and as a text for family worship.

Drawing on the account of the Israelites marching around Jericho seven times (chapter 6), some churches hold special early-morning prayer meetings or commitment prayer under the name "Jericho prayer meetings." Congregations also sometimes walk around a church building site or sanctuary while praying.

The command, given during the wars of conquest, to utterly destroy the inhabitants is a passage on which interpretations diverge. How it is understood varies more with theological orientation than with denominational affiliation. Some explain it in terms of ancient warfare practices and divine judgment, while others read it as a symbol of the spiritual warfare of faith. Denominations reportedly differ little in how they treat the book in preaching.