The Book of Joshua
Joshua is the book where promise becomes possession. For four hundred years God had sworn to Abraham's family a land of their own, and now, with Moses buried and the wilderness behind them, the LORD raises up Joshua to lead Israel across the Jordan and into Canaan. It is a book of bold beginnings and hard battles, of a river that parts and walls that fall, of a prostitute named Rahab who hides spies and is welcomed into God's people, and of a soldier named Achan whose secret sin brings disaster. Through it all runs one steady refrain: God is faithful, not one good word of his has failed, and the land he promised he truly gives. Joshua's repeated charge, 'be strong and courageous,' calls each generation to trust the God who goes before them, and his final plea, 'choose this day whom you will serve,' still presses its question on every heart.
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Whole-Book Overview
God keeps the promise he swore to the fathers, leading Israel across the Jordan to conquer and inherit the Promised Land under Joshua's faithful command.
Open overview → Chapter 1Be Strong and Courageous
After Moses dies, God commissions Joshua to lead Israel across the Jordan, promising his presence and pressing him to courage rooted in the Word.
Open study → Chapter 2Rahab and the Spies
Two spies enter Jericho and find refuge with Rahab, a Canaanite woman whose faith in Yahweh leads her to risk everything and be saved.
Open study → Chapter 3Crossing the Jordan
Following the ark, Israel crosses the flooding Jordan on dry ground as the waters stand in a heap, and God magnifies Joshua before all the people.
Open study → Chapter 4Stones of Remembrance
Twelve stones from the riverbed become a memorial at Gilgal, a lasting witness so that coming generations will know the mighty hand of God.
Open study → Chapter 5Commander of the Lord's Army
A new generation is circumcised and keeps the Passover, the manna ceases, and Joshua meets the commander of the Lord's army on holy ground.
Open study → Chapter 6The Walls Fall Down
At God's strange command Israel marches around Jericho, and when the people shout the walls fall flat, while Rahab and her household are saved.
Open study → Chapter 7The Sin of Achan
Hidden sin in the camp brings defeat at Ai, until Achan's theft of the devoted things is exposed and judged before the Lord.
Open study → Chapter 8Victory and Covenant Renewed
With sin removed, Israel takes Ai by ambush, then gathers at Mount Ebal to build an altar and hear the whole law read aloud.
Open study → Chapter 9The Gibeonite Deception
Fearing Israel, the Gibeonites trick Joshua into a covenant with worn-out provisions, and Israel is bound by an oath made without seeking God.
Open study → Chapter 10The Day the Sun Stood Still
When five kings attack Gibeon, Israel rushes to its defense, and the Lord fights with hailstones and a day when the sun stands still.
Open study → Chapter 11The Northern Campaign
A vast coalition of northern kings gathers against Israel, but the Lord delivers them, and Joshua takes the whole land as Moses was commanded.
Open study → Chapter 12A List of Conquered Kings
A summary roll of the kings defeated east and west of the Jordan, thirty-one in all, testifying that the Lord faithfully gave the land.
Open study → Chapter 13Land Still to Be Possessed
Joshua is old, much land remains unconquered, and God commands the inheritance to be divided among the tribes, beginning with those east of the Jordan.
Open study → Chapter 14Give Me This Mountain
The land is divided by lot, and Caleb, eighty-five and still strong, claims the hill country God promised him because he wholly followed the Lord.
Open study → Chapter 15The Inheritance of Judah
Judah receives its wide borders and many cities, Caleb drives out the giants, and Achsah asks her father for springs of water.
Open study → Chapter 16The Portion of Joseph
The children of Joseph receive their inheritance, and Ephraim is settled, though they fail to drive out the Canaanites of Gezer.
Open study → Chapter 17Daughters and Iron Chariots
Manasseh receives its inheritance, the daughters of Zelophehad gain their portion, and Joshua urges Joseph's tribes to clear the land in faith.
Open study → Chapter 18How Long Will You Wait?
Israel gathers at Shiloh, Joshua rebukes the seven tribes' delay, and the remaining land is surveyed and divided by lot before the Lord.
Open study → Chapter 19Portions for the Tribes
The remaining tribes receive their inheritance by lot at Shiloh, and last of all the people give Joshua his own city in the hill country.
Open study → Chapter 20Cities of Refuge
God commands six cities of refuge where one who kills accidentally may flee from the avenger of blood and find protection until judgment.
Open study → Chapter 21Cities for the Levites
The Levites receive forty-eight cities among the tribes, and the chapter declares that God gave Israel rest and that not one promise failed.
Open study → Chapter 22The Altar of Witness
The eastern tribes are sent home and build an altar by the Jordan, sparking alarm until they explain it is a witness, not rebellion.
Open study → Chapter 23Joshua's Farewell Charge
Old and near death, Joshua gathers Israel's leaders to remember God's faithfulness, cling to the Lord, and beware the snare of the surrounding nations.
Open study → Chapter 24Choose This Day
At Shechem Joshua rehearses God's grace, calls Israel to choose whom they will serve, renews the covenant, and then dies, having served the Lord.
Open study →Study together
Gather a group, work through a chapter at a time, and journey through Joshua together. Invite a friend to join you.