Joshua

After Moses’ death God installs Joshua as leader, promises every place his foot treads, and commands strength, courage, and constant meditation on the Torah. Joshua readies the nation to cross the Jordan in three days and the Trans-Jordan tribes pledge armed support before returning home.

Two spies lodge with Rahab in Jericho; she hides them, professes faith in Israel’s God, and secures safety for her household signalled by a scarlet cord. The spies escape, report that the Canaanites’ hearts melt, and affirm that God has delivered the land.

Priests bearing the Ark step into the flood-stage Jordan; the waters pile up at Adam and the people cross opposite Jericho on dry ground, maintaining a 2 000-cubit distance behind the Ark as a sign of God’s presence.

Twelve stones are taken from the riverbed and erected at Gilgal as a memorial for future generations; a second pile is set where the priests had stood. The miraculous crossing exalts Joshua and terrifies Canaan’s kings.

Wilderness-born males are circumcised at Gilgal, ‘rolling away Egypt’s reproach’. Passover is celebrated; manna ceases as Israel eats Canaan’s produce. Joshua meets the sword-wielding Commander of the LORD’s army and is told to remove his sandals on holy ground.

Jericho’s walls fall after six silent marches and a seventh-day sevenfold circuit with trumpet blast and shout. City and inhabitants are devoted to destruction; Rahab’s family is spared; valuables go to the treasury. Joshua curses any future rebuilder.

Israel is routed at Ai because Achan stole devoted items. Lots expose him; he, his family, and goods are destroyed in the Valley of Achor. God’s anger turns and the nation is cleansed.

With God’s encouragement Joshua seizes Ai by ambush: a feigned retreat draws defenders out, hidden troops burn the city, and Ai’s king is hanged. On Mount Ebal Joshua builds an altar, writes the Law on stones, and reads blessings and curses to the assembled tribes facing Gerizim and Ebal.

Gibeonites, fearing Israel, trick Joshua into a peace treaty by posing as distant travellers. The oath cannot be broken, so they become perpetual wood-cutters and water-carriers for the Tabernacle, preserving their lives.

Five Amorite kings attack Gibeon; Joshua’s overnight ascent from Gilgal, hailstones, and an extended day (sun over Gibeon, moon over Aijalon) secure total victory. The kings are executed and southern strongholds from Makkedah to Debir are conquered.

A massive northern coalition led by Jabin of Hazor is crushed at the waters of Merom; horses are hamstrung, chariots burned, and Hazor itself destroyed. Joshua captures remaining northern cities, eliminating Anakim except in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.

Catalog of defeated kings: two east-Jordan monarchs (Sihon and Og) under Moses and thirty-one west-Jordan kings under Joshua, from Jericho to Megiddo.

Joshua, now old, is told large areas still await conquest (Philistine and Phoenician zones); God will drive them out. Moses’ eastern allotments to Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh are reviewed; Levites receive no territory but God Himself.

Land division begins at Gilgal. Caleb, aged 85, claims Hebron because of his faithful spy report, driving out Anakim. The chapter underscores distribution by lot and wholehearted obedience.

Judah’s boundaries and cities are listed. Caleb gives Achsah to Othniel for capturing Debir; she secures upper and lower springs. Jebusites in Jerusalem remain, dwelling with Judah to this day.

Joseph’s descendants receive territory from the Jordan at Jericho to the Mediterranean. Ephraim’s specific border is set, but the Canaanites in Gezer are not expelled and become forced labour.

West-Jordan Manasseh’s allotment is described; Zelophehad’s daughters obtain inheritance. Joseph tribes, claiming the hill country is too small, are told by Joshua to clear forest and drive out iron-charioted Canaanites.

Tabernacle is installed at Shiloh. Joshua dispatches surveyors and casts lots for the seven remaining tribes. Benjamin’s inheritance, including Jerusalem, Jericho, and Gibeon, is detailed.

Lots for Simeon (within Judah), Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan are described. Dan later captures Leshem (Laish) and renames it. Joshua receives Timnath-serah as his own inheritance.

Six cities of refuge are designated—Kedesh, Shechem, Hebron west of Jordan; Bezer, Ramoth, Golan east—offering asylum to manslayers until trial and the high priest’s death.

Forty-eight Levitical cities with pasturelands are assigned by lot among the tribes. The chapter concludes: ‘Not one word failed of all the LORD had promised; all came to pass.’

Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh are dismissed with blessings. Their large altar by the Jordan alarms western tribes; Phinehas’ delegation learns it is a memorial of shared worship, averting civil war.

Aged Joshua exhorts leaders to cling to the LORD, avoid intermarriage and idolatry, recalling past victories and warning that disobedience will bring loss of land and God’s wrath.

At Shechem Joshua recounts God’s acts from Abraham to conquest, challenges Israel to choose whom to serve. The people covenant loyalty; Joshua erects a witness stone. Joshua dies at 110, Joseph’s bones are buried at Shechem, Eleazar also dies—closing the conquest generation.