Book 6 · Old Testament · History
Joshua
To show God keeping his promise of the land and to call Israel to stay loyal to him.
World at a glance
Canaan's city-states · contested hill country
Unknown; traditionally linked to Joshua and later editors
Usually placed in the late second millennium BC
Israel thinking back on the land, the covenant, and faithfulness
What was happening in the world
In the late Bronze Age, Canaan was a patchwork of walled city-states — Jericho, Ai, Hazor — loosely under Egyptian control, and Egypt's own letters from that era describe a land in chaos. Israel's arrival happened in the middle of that instability. The warfare language needs careful reading alongside archaeology, the way ancient conquest stories were told, and the rest of the Bible's witness.
What this helps us see
Rahab — a Canaanite outsider — becomes a hero of faith. That alone breaks any reading based on ethnicity: what matters is turning toward God.
The shape of the book
- 01Entering the land (1–5)
- 02The battles (6–12)
- 03Dividing the land (13–22)
- 04Renewing the covenant (23–24)
Grace and holy living
Courage is trusting obedience, never an excuse for modern conquest. Holy love receives God's gifts and welcomes anyone who turns toward him.
For reflection
Where is God’s grace inviting you beyond knowledge into wholehearted love and faithful action?