Joshua

In Joshua 4:21 Joshua it says the instructions are intended for the future generations of Israelites. Joshua made a covenant with the people, “…committing them to follow the decrees and regulations of the Lord.”(Joshua 24:25) This covenant would have been for all Israelites and generations to come. It would have been their history and a book containing the fulfillment of Gods promise to them and how they took the land.

I think Joshua wrote the book of Joshua, but agree with the SourceView insights that the book was composed later and additions may have been by the priest Eleazar.  God speaks directly to Joshua as He appoints him as “…a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites.”(Joshua 3:7) Joshua is also the commander of the army and speaks intimately with The Lord, or an angel of the Lord.(Joshua 6:1-5 ) It also says “Joshua recorded these things in the Book of God’s Instructions.”(Joshua 24:25)

A main theme and repeated idea of Joshua is God fighting powerfully for Israel and giving them the victory as they come into the fulfillment of the promise! God encourages Israel and their leader to “…not be afraid of discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”(Joshua 1:9) This theme of God going with Israel and fighting for them is echoed throughout the whole book. Also, God’s powerfulness is a theme we see. Twice armies come together to fight against Israel and both times God’s gives Israel the victory in His strength.

I think this book was written to remind the future generations of Israelites of God’s faithfulness and to testify to the incredible victorious He won on Israel’s behalf. Joshua said God “…did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.”(Joshua 4:24) This book would also would have been an important document for Israel to know the allotments of land assigned to the tribes.(Joshua 13-24)

Joshua foreshadows Jesus as he leads the Israelites into their promise, just as the Jesus will lead many into salvation. The scarlet cord that provides safety for Rahab and her house(Joshua 2:17-21) represents safety and a covering found in the blood of Jesus.(Hebrews 9:19-20)