The Book of Joshua

Bible Timeline
 
Here is a good timeline to see the book of Joshua in the history of the Bible
http://www.sundayschoolresources.com/timeline.htm

Joshua 1


God talks to Joshua. Joshua is God's new leader of the Israelites.


After Moses died, the Lord God talked to Joshua. God told Joshua that Moses was dead. Now Joshua should lead the Israelites. They should cross the Jordan River and move into Canaan. Canaan is the land that God promised to the Israelites.
[1] 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,
[2] Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

God gave the whole land of Canaan to them. They will own every place they walk on. Canaan will have these borders: south--the desert, north--Lebanon mountains, east--the Euphrates River, and west--the Mediterranean Sea.
[3] Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
[4] From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.


God helped Moses, and God said He will help Joshua the same.  No one will be able to defeat Joshua.  God will never fail the Israelites. God will never abandon (leave) the Israelites.
[5] There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.


Joshua should be strong and brave.  Each tribe will get some land in Canaan. This is the land that God promised to the Israelites' ancestors.
[6] Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.


Joshua should be strong and brave.  Joshua should obey God's laws. Moses gave God's laws to Joshua and the Israelites.  He should not turn away from God's laws. If he obeys God's laws, he will be successful everywhere he goes.  
[7] Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.


Joshua should read the book of laws everyday and every night. He should always obey the laws.  Then he will be successful.
[8] This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.


God commanded (told) Joshua to be strong and brave.  He should not be afraid or discouraged (frustrated). God is with him everyplace he goes.
[9] Have 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 tells the Israelites to get ready to move into Canaan.

Joshua talked to the leaders of the tribes. They should go through the camp. They should tell the Israelites to get some food ready.  They will cross the Jordan River 3 days from now. They will move into Canaan like God promised them.
[10] Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
[11] Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.
 

Some of the Israelite families will not cross over the Jordan River.  They will live on the east side of the river.


Joshua talked to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh. Moses said they could have the land on the east side of the Jordan River. Their children, wives, and cattle can move there now. But the soldier men must go to Canaan. They should travel in front of the other Israelites. They must help the other Israelites fight the Canaanites.
[12] And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,
[13] Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.
[14] Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them;


After all of the Israelites get their land in Canaan, they can go back to their families on the east side of the Jordan River.
[15] Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD's servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.
 

They agreed. They said they will do everything Joshua tells them to do. They will go anyplace he tells them to go.
[16] And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.


They said they obeyed Moses. Now they will obey Joshua.  They prayed for God to be with Joshua the same as he was with Moses.
[17] According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.

If anyone does not obey Joshua, he will be killed.  They pray for Joshua to be strong and brave.
[18] Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.
 

Joshua 2


A Canaanite woman named Rahab helps Israelite spies in the city of Jericho.
 

Joshua sent 2 spies into Canaan. He wanted them to look around and learn about Canaan. He wanted them to check the city named Jericho.  The spies went into Canaan and traveled to Jericho. They stayed at a house. It was Rahab's house.  Rahab was a prostitute.
[1] And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.


The king of Jericho heard about the spies. He heard they were in Canaan looking around. The king told Rahab to bring the spies to him.
[2] And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.
[3] And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.


Rahab did not obey the king.  She helped the spies hide. Then she lied and told the king that she didn't know where the men went. She told the king that the men escaped at night. She said they escaped before the city closed the gate. She told the king that he should chase the men.
[4] And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
[5] And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.
 

Rahab hides the Israelite spies. From the La Vista Church of Christ web site.

But really, Rahab took the men to the roof of her house.  She hid them under flax (a plant, like wheat).
[6] But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.


The king's soldiers left the city of Jericho. Then the city people shut the gate. The soldiers were looking for the spies. They looked all the way to the Jordan River.  
[7] And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.


Rahab went back up to her roof. The Israelite spies were still awake. She told the spies that she knew God gave Canaan to the Israelites. The Canaanites are afraid of the Israelites.
[8] And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
[9] And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.


Rahab said the Canaanites heard about what happened at the Red Sea. They knew that God made the Red Sea divide so the Israelites could walk through on dry land. They also heard about how the Israelites defeated King Sihon and King Og. Sihon and Og were kings of the Amorites. They lived on the east side of the Jordan River.
[10] For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.


Rahab said that now the Canaanites are very afraid. They know that God is powerful. They know that the Lord God is the God of heaven and earth. 
[11] And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.


Rahab helped the Israelites. Then she asked them to help her. She asked them to save her family--her parents, her brothers, her sisters, and her brothers' and sisters' families. She asked them to give her a sign--something to show they made a promise.
[12] Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:
[13] And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.


The Israelite men agreed. If she didn't tell anyone about them, they would save her family. If they did not keep their promise, they (the spies) would die.
[14] And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.
 

Rahab's house was built in the wall around Jericho. That means she had a window that was looking outside the city. She got a rope and put the rope out the window. Then the Israelite spies climbed down the rope.
[15] Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.


Rahab told the spies to go hide in the mountains. They should hide there for 3 days. After 3 days, the Canaanite soldiers would give up looking for them. The soldiers would come back to the city. Then the spies could escape.
[16] And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.

The Israelite spies said they would keep their promise. Rahab's family would be safe. Rahab should put a red rope in her window.  All of her family should be in the house with her.
[17] And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.
[18] Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.


The Israelite spies made a promise. Everyone in Rahab's house will be safe. They must stay in the house, though. If someone goes outside the house, he may get hurt. It will be his own responsibility. The Israelites are responsible only for the people inside Rahab's house.
[19] And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.

Rahab promised that she would not tell the Canaanites about the spies. But if she breaks her promise, then the Israelites will not keep their promise. Her family will not be safe.  
[20] And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.


Rahab agreed. The Israelite spies went out the window and escaped. Then she put the red rope in her window.
[21] And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.

The Israelite spies went to the mountains. They stayed there for 3 days.  The Canaanite soldiers looked for them but did not find them.
[22] And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.


After the Israelite spies left the mountains, they traveled east over the Jordan River.  They talked to Joshua. They told Joshua everything that happened to them in Canaan.
[23] So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them:


The spies told Joshua that God is giving Canaan to the Israelites. The people in Canaan are afraid of the Israelites.  
[24] And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.
 

Joshua 3


The Israelites cross the Jordan River and move into Canaan.
 

The Ark of the Covenant. The stone tablets with the Ten Commandments  are in this box. Photo from Bible-History.com

This is a replica (copy) of the Ark. You can see copies of the Ten Commandments inside. Photo from BiblePlaces.com

None of the Israelites had been in Canaan before. They needed to follow the Ark so that they would know which way to go.  But they must not follow too close.  They should stay back 2,000 cubits (about ½ mile).
[4] Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.


Joshua told all of the Israelites to be clean for worship.  God will do miracles tomorrow.
[5] And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.


Joshua told the Levite priests to pick up the ark and go in front of the Israelites. They obeyed Joshua.
[6] And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.


God talked to Joshua.  Today God will help Joshua. The other Israelites will see God help Joshua. The other Israelites will know that God is with Joshua. It is the same as God was with Moses.
[7] And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.


God told Joshua to tell the priests this:  they should carry the Ark into the Jordan River.  They should walk into the river a little and then stop.
[8] And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink
of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.


Joshua talked to the Israelites.  He told them to come and listen to God's words. They will know that God is with them. God will help them. God will make the people who live in Canaan leave. The groups of people who live in Canaan now are the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
[9] And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God.
[10] And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.


Joshua told the Israelites to look at the Ark in front of them. The Ark belongs to God, and God is ruler of the whole earth.
[11] Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.


Each tribe should pick 1 man.
[12] Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.


Joshua said that when the priests' feet touch the Jordan River, God will be in the river.  The water in the river will stop. It will make a wall like a dam.
[13] And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.


The priests obeyed Joshua. They picked up the Ark of the Covenant, and they walked into the Jordan River.  The Israelites followed them.

[14] And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people;


It was the time of year for the harvest.  The Jordan River was very high and was flooding.  But when the priests stepped into the river, the water stopped.  The water made a wall like a dam.  There was a lot of water near the city named Adam. But no water flowed south to the Dead Sea.   Then the Israelites walked across the dry land.
[15] And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
[16] That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.


The priests who carried the Ark stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan River.  They stood there until all of the Israelites went across the river.
[17] And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of
Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
 

Joshua 4


The Israelites use rocks from the river and build 2 monuments.


After all of the Israelites finished crossing the river, God talked to Joshua.
[1] And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,


God told Joshua to take one man from each tribe. Each man should pick up a rock from the dry river bed. They should pick up a rock from where the priests stood. The 12 men should carry the rocks with them to the place where they camp for the night.
[2] Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
[3] And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.


Joshua obeyed God. He told the 12 men what to do. He told them to go where the priests were standing. They should each pick up a rock. 
[4] Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:
[5] And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:


In the future, children will ask their fathers about the rocks. The fathers will tell them about how God made the Jordan River dry. The Ark was in the water, and the water stopped. The stones will help the Israelite children remember this forever.
[6] That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?
[7] Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.
 

The men obeyed Joshua. 12 men (1 man from each of the 12 tribes) picked up 12 big rocks from the dry river. They carried them to the place where the Israelites camped.
[8] And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.


Joshua also made a monument (a marker for history) in the middle of the river. He set up 12 big rocks at the place where the priests stood. Joshua's monument was still there when this book of the Bible was written.
[9] And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.


The priests continued to stand in the middle of the river. They were holding the Ark. They waited while the Israelites obeyed God. They did what God told Joshua they should do. They did what Moses told Joshua.  The people hurried and crossed over the river.  
[10] For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until everything was finished that the LORD  commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.


After all of the Israelites crossed the river, the priests carried the Ark to the side of the river.
[11] And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.

The soldiers of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh crossed the river first. Moses told them in the past that they should do this.  There were 40,000 men in this army. God was with the army. They went to the flat land near the city of Jericho.
[12] And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed
before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:
[13] About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.



The Israelites saw many great things this day.  They saw that Joshua was a great leader. They respected Joshua the same as they respected Moses.  They respected Joshua for the rest of his life.
[14] On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.
 

God talked to Joshua.  He told Joshua to tell the priests to come up from the river.  Joshua obeyed God.  He told the priests to come up from the river.  As soon as the priests' feet were out of the river, the river became normal again.  The river was full of water and was flooding.
[15] And the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
[16] Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.
[17] Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.
[18] And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.

This day was the 10th day of the 1st month (the 1st month is called Nisan). The Israelites camped in Gilgal. Gilgal is east of Jericho.
[19] And 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 used the 12 rocks that the men carried from the river. He used them to build a monument at Gilgal.
[20] And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.


Joshua talked to the Israelites.  In the future, their children will ask about the stone monument. The children will ask what the monument means.
[21] And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?
 

The fathers should tell their children how the Israelites walked across dry land in the Jordan River. God made the water stop so that all of the Israelites could walk across.  God did the same thing when the Israelites left Egypt. God made the Red Sea dry so they could walk across. 
[22] Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.
[23] For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:


God helped the Israelites cross the river and the sea so that everyone on earth will know that He is powerful.  Everyone should worship and honor the Lord God always.
[24] That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.