Introduction to Joshua

 It's September and the new study year is starting!  This year, we are studying Joshua and Judges (and maybe Ruth, if there is time).  HERE IS THE STUDY GUIDE WITH THE TEXT INCLUDED.  Here is the study guide without the text.  I have decided to post my notes and some thoughts/questions/links/ideas each week, hopefully on Fridays if I can get it together.  Our discussion group meets on Tuesdays, so I will try to post the Friday before we meet.

    Whenever you study Scripture, context is key.  This means you have to do a little digging before you start a new book.  Since we will start with Joshua for this study, I'm going to give you what I found to answer some key background questions.

1.) Who wrote Joshua?  The Talmud (the set of writings and commentaries on the Torah that Jewish law is based on) traditionally assigns authorship to Joshua himself (we'll explore who Joshua is when we study chapter 1).  The last few verses are held to be written by either Eleazar or Phinehas, the priests at that time.  While this is tradition and maybe even probable, no one knows for sure as the author is unnamed in the text.    

2.) When was Joshua written?  I found several different answers to this question.  One commentary points out that, because of Joshua 15:63, it had to be written before David captured Jerusalem (1000BC).  Other options include before 1200BC, sometime between Joshua's death and 1050BC, or sometime between 1405BC and 1385BC (this is around the suggested time for the dates of the events of Joshua, so, if he is indeed the author, this is the most likely time of the writing).

3.) To or for whom was Joshua written?  Joshua is written as a historical record for the nation of Israel and for us.  It gives us the historical record of God keeping His promise to Abraham.

4.) In what style was Joshua written?  Joshua is written as a historical narrative with some military reports thrown in.

5.) Why was Joshua written?  What are some main themes? Joshua is written to show us God's faithfulness.  He fulfills His promise to Abraham by giving the nation of Israel ownership of the land.  We learn that possession of this land and blessings in it are conditional, that the people must obey God's Law to continue in the land and to receive the blessings.  We also see that faith is what determines a person's place among God's people, not just birthright (for example, Rahab).  We see God's power to overcome Israel's enemies and their dependence on that power.  Most of all, we see our need for a Savior, because we, like Israel, cannot obey God perfectly.  

6.) A note about timeline - this book, like many historical narratives, does not follow a strictly linear timeline.  There will be times when reading where we are given a summary and then we go back and get details in later chapters, just like in other books (Genesis, for example).  

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