King James Version
Joshua
Joshua in the King James Version (1769), public domain in the United States.
Background and History
The chapters above are the King James text. This essay is the setting of Joshua: who is said to have written it, when and where, what happens in it, and how the text has been copied.
At a Glance
| Author | Joshua, in the Talmud, with the account of his death added by Eleazar and Phinehas. Many critical scholars see it as part of a Deuteronomistic History compiled about the seventh to sixth centuries BC. |
|---|---|
| Date | Traditional about 1400–1370 BC. Critical scholars commonly date the compilation to about 640–560 BC. |
| Place written | Not stated. The setting is Canaan, modern Israel and the West Bank. |
| Genre | Narrative history of conquest and land allotment. |
| Chapters | 24 |
| Verses | 658 in the King James Version |
| Key verse | Joshua 1:9Joshua 1:9 · King James VersionHave not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.Joshua 1:9 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
Who Wrote It
The book does not name its author. Joshua 24:26Joshua 24:26 · King James VersionAnd Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.
Joshua 24:26 · King James VersionOpen the Source (1) says Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God. Joshua 6:25Joshua 6:25 · King James VersionAnd Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
Joshua 6:25 · King James VersionOpen the Source says Rahab dwells in Israel unto this day, which implies the writer lived within her lifetime or used a source from it. The Talmud in Bava Batra 14b–15a says Joshua wrote his book, and that Eleazar and Phinehas finished it with the account of his death. (2) (3) Josephus counts the books after Moses as written by prophets. (4)
Critical scholars, following Martin Noth, often treat Joshua through Kings as a Deuteronomistic History written in the late monarchy and exile. They point to the language of Deuteronomy throughout. Traditional scholars note eyewitness-like details and the phrase unto this day as signs of early sources.
Who It Is Not
Joshua did not write the account of his own death in Joshua 24:29Joshua 24:29 · King James VersionAnd it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
Joshua 24:29 · King James VersionOpen the Source. The Talmud gives it to Eleazar and Phinehas. (3)
When and Where
Bible Gateway gives 1400–1370 BC, possibly oral tradition recorded under Josiah in the late 600s BC. (5) That pair reflects the traditional and critical views.
Audience and Setting
Israel settled in the land. The purpose is to show God giving the land as promised and to call Israel to serve him alone.
Rulers at the Time
Adonizedek king of Jerusalem, in Joshua 10:1Joshua 10:1 · King James VersionNow it came to pass, when Adonizedec king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;
Joshua 10:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source, and Jabin king of Hazor, in Joshua 11:1Joshua 11:1 · King James VersionAnd it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
Joshua 11:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source, are named. This page does not assign them dates.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Entry | Crossing the Jordan, Jericho, Ai. Joshua 1–8 |
| Conquest | Southern and northern campaigns. Joshua 9–12 |
| Allotment | Division of the land. Joshua 13–22 |
| Farewell | Joshua’s covenant at Shechem. Joshua 23–24 |
| Composition | Traditional 1400–1370 BC. Possibly recorded under Josiah. (5) |
Places in This Book
| Ancient name | Modern-day location | References |
|---|---|---|
| Jericho | Tell es-Sultan, near Jericho, West Bank. | Joshua 6:1Joshua 6:1 · King James VersionNow Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.Joshua 6:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| Hazor | Tel Hazor, northern Israel. | Joshua 11:10Joshua 11:10 · King James VersionAnd Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.Joshua 11:10 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| Shechem | Tell Balata, Nablus, West Bank. | Joshua 24:1Joshua 24:1 · King James VersionAnd Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.Joshua 24:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| Gilgal | Near Jericho. The exact site is uncertain. | Joshua 4:19Joshua 4:19 · King James VersionAnd the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.Joshua 4:19 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
What Is Happening
Joshua 1–5 prepare and cross the Jordan. Joshua 6–12 narrate the conquest. Joshua 13–21 divide the land. Joshua 22 is the altar by the Jordan. Joshua 23–24 are Joshua’s farewell and covenant renewal.
Key Themes
Courage from God’s presence in Joshua 1:9Joshua 1:9 · King James VersionHave not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1:9 · King James VersionOpen the Source. God’s faithfulness in Joshua 21:45Joshua 21:45 · King James VersionThere failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.
Joshua 21:45 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Choosing whom to serve in Joshua 24:15Joshua 24:15 · King James VersionAnd if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Joshua 24:15 · King James VersionOpen the Source.
Apologetics Questions
Archaeology of Jericho and Ai is debated. Excavators have dated Jericho’s destruction differently, and Ai’s site is disputed. This page does not choose. Moral objections to the conquest are discussed on the Deuteronomy page.
How the Book Points to Christ
Joshua’s name is the Hebrew form of Jesus. The captain of the Lord’s host, in Joshua 5:13–15Joshua 5:13–15 · King James Version5:13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
5:14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
5:15 And the captain of the LORD’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.
Joshua 5:13–15 · King James VersionOpen the Source, receives worship and tells Joshua to remove his shoes, and many Christians have read him as the pre-incarnate Son. Jesus is God.
Text and Manuscripts
Joshua is among the books found at Qumran. (6) The Greek Septuagint of Joshua differs in places from the Hebrew.
Canon Reception
Never disputed. Josephus counts it among the prophets. (4)
Further Reading
References
- Book of Joshua, 1:1; 6:25; 24:26; 24:29Joshua 1:1 · King James Version
Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,
Joshua 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source. King James Version - Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b, 14b (The English on Sefaria is the William Davidson edition, which is copyrighted. This page paraphrases it and does not reprint it. The baraita gives the order of the Prophets and the Writings and asks who wrote each book.)
- Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 15a, 15a (The William Davidson English on Sefaria is copyrighted. This page paraphrases it and does not reprint it. The page continues the list of writers and the debate about it.)
- Against Apion, 1.8Josephus, Against Apion 1.8 · William Whiston
For we have not an innumerable multitude of books among us, disagreeing from, and contradicting one another: [as the Greeks have:] but only twenty two books: which contain the records of all the past times: which are justly believed to be divine. And of them five belong to Moses: which contain his laws, and the traditions of the origin of mankind, till his death.
Josephus, Against Apion 1.8 · William WhistonOpen the Source (Flavius Josephus, Against Apion 1.8, translated by William Whiston. Josephus counts twenty-two books: five of Moses, thirteen of the prophets from Moses to Artaxerxes, and four of hymns and precepts.) - When Was Each Book of the Bible Written?, Joshua (Jacob Edson, Bible Gateway, 16 September 2024. The survey gives Joshua as 1400–1370 BC, possibly oral tradition recorded during the reign of Josiah (late 600s BC). It is one editor’s approximation, not a manuscript date.)
- Dead Sea Scrolls, introduction, Biblical manuscriptsDead Sea Scrolls, biblical manuscripts · Israel Antiquities Authority
Among the Scrolls are partial or complete copies of every book in the Hebrew Bible (except the book of Esther).
Dead Sea Scrolls, biblical manuscripts · Israel Antiquities AuthorityOpen the Source (Israel Antiquities Authority. Biblical manuscripts from the Qumran caves date from the third century BC into the first century AD, and every book of the Hebrew Bible except Esther is represented.)
The King James Version (1769) is in the public domain in the United States.