Bible Book of Joshua | Conquest of the Promised Land

Witness the conquest of Canaan as Joshua leads Israel to claim their promised inheritance through faith and battle. Joshua chapters with summary and commentary.

Genre: Historical Book. Theme: Conquest of the Promised Land

  • Author: Joshua
  • Date: c. 1400 - 1370 BC
  • Read Time: 105 mins
  • Purpose: To record the conquest of Canaan and the land distribution.
  • Key Verse: Josh 1:8 - This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth.
  • Christ: Captain of the Lord’s Host (5:14).
  • Audience: The conquering tribes occupying the territory of Canaan
  • Theme: Victory through faith.
  • Transition: Marks shift from wandering to possession.
  • Military Strategy: The central, southern, and northern campaigns to break the backbone of Canaanite resistance.
  • Territorial Division: The administrative allotment of land to the twelve tribes by lot.

Joshua documents the military campaigns and the subsequent administrative division of Canaan, fulfilling the ancient promises made to Abraham.

The book transitions from the 'Way into the Land' (crossing Jordan) to the 'Way across the Land' (conquest) and finally 'Rest in the Land'.

Portrays Jesus as the 'Captain of the Lord's Host' (5:14) who leads His people into their spiritual inheritance.

Joshua 1 - Story of Joshua

The LORD said to Joshua, "Arise, cross into the land. Be strong and courageous." So Joshua told the officers to prepare provisions.

Joshua 2 - Story of Rahab the Prostitue in Jericho

Joshua sent two spies to Jericho. A prostitute called Rahab hid them, so they promised to spare her family. They reported to Joshua.

Joshua 3 - Crossing the Jordan

The Israelites camped by the Jordan. When the priests carrying the ark reached the river it stopped, so Israel crossed on dry ground.

Joshua 4 - Memorial stones in the Jordan river

The LORD told Joshua to set up memorial stones from the Jordan. When the priests brought the ark up to the bank the waters returned.

Joshua 5 - The New Generation Circumcised

The LORD told Joshua to circumcise the men. They called the place Gilgal. Joshua met the commander of the LORD's army and bowed down.

Joshua 6 - The Fall of Jericho walls

The LORD said that the army should march around Jericho. On the seventh day they shouted and the walls fell. They destroyed the city.

Joshua 7 - Israel Defeated at Ai

Achan took some banned items. When the army went against Ai they were defeated. The LORD identified Achan and the people stoned him.

Joshua 8 - Story of Ai

The LORD told Joshua to take the army against Ai. They set up an ambush and destroyed the city. Joshua read out the book of the law.

Joshua 9 - The Gibeonite Deception

The Gibeonites sent envoys. They pretended that they were from far away and made a treaty. The Israelites found out but spared them.

Joshua 10 - The Sun stood still

Five Amorite kings attacked the Gibeonites. The sun stood still while the Israelites took revenge. Joshua defeated the whole region.

Joshua 11 - Conquests in Northern Canaan

The kings of the north joined forces to fight against Israel but the LORD gave Joshua victory. So Joshua took the whole land.

Joshua 12 - Kings Defeated by Moses

Israel defeated the kings east of the Jordan under Moses and the kings west of the Jordan under Joshua. Thirty-one kings in total.

Joshua 13 - Land Still to Be Conquered

Now Joshua was old. The LORD said, "Divide the remaining land among the tribes." Moses had given land to Reuben, Gad and Manasseh.

Joshua 14 - The Inheritance West of the Jordan

Judah came to Joshua. Caleb said, "Moses promised me the mountain because I obeyed the LORD fully." So Joshua gave Hebron to Caleb.

Joshua 15 - The Allotment for Judah

Judah's land bordered with Edom to the south. Caleb took Hebron, Othniel took Kiriath-sepher but Judah could not defeat Jerusalem.

Joshua 16 - The Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh

Joseph's land was from the Jordan to the sea. Ephraim's territory was within Manasseh's. Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites.

Joshua 17 - Then allotment was made to the people of Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of

There was a lot for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh and a lot for the rest of Manasseh. Manasseh did not drive out the Canaanites.

Joshua 18 - Allotment of the Remaining Land

Joshua sent surveyors from the remaining tribes and then divided the land. Benjamin's lot was from Kiriath-jearim to the Salt Sea.

Joshua 19 - The Inheritance for Simeon

Simeon's lot was within Judah's. There were lots for Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and Dan. The Israelites gave Joshua a city.

Joshua 20 - The Cities of Refuge

The LORD said to Joshua, "Appoint the cities of refuge." So they set apart Kedesh, Shechem, Hebron, Bezer, Ramoth and Golan.

Joshua 21 - Cities and Pasturelands Allotted to Levi

The Israelites gave cities and pasture lands to the Levites. So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had promised to their fathers.

Joshua 22 - The Eastern Tribes Return Home

Reuben, Gad and Manasseh went back to their land and built an altar. They reassured Phinehas that they had not turned from the LORD.

Joshua 23 - Joshua's Charge to Israel's Leaders

Joshua summoned Israel and said, "You have seen all that the LORD has done. Hold fast to the LORD or you will perish from the land."

Joshua 24 - The Covenant Renewal at Shechem

Joshua said to the people, "Choose this day whom you will serve," and they replied, "We will serve the LORD." Then Joshua died.