The Book of Joshua: Literary Analysis

Literary Analysis

Outline of the book

Original audience/message- The audience of the book of Joshua would have been the Lord’s people Israel, so that they knew their heritage and where their ancestors had came from and what they had done.

Genre-

The book of Joshua is a historical narrative. It gives historical truths of Gods people (Jews) during their exodus into their land that God promised them in Canaan. To read Joshua in parts, one must see the focus towards the climatic passage of the Israelites in their conquest of the land of the Canaanites, Jos. 6:1-13:7. When reading Joshua one will see the importance that the writer gives to showing how the Israelites prepared to take their land, Jos. 1- 5:15. After their conquering of the land, the writer then gives the historical sequence of how the land was separated and given to the twelve tribes. The significance of the interpretation of Joshua is important in understanding how God fulfills his covenants to his people throughout time. The author gives information throughout the book to show the promises that were being fulfilled over time and the importance of the people obeying God’s word. The writer of Joshua uses the historical view that the previous and following books did as well to show the connection of the Lord’s people conquering the land that God had promised.The most important fact to see here is that the writer uses this historical narrative to link together what Moses had previously written to the following historical books of the Old Testament. This can be easily seen that the writer would have been well trained in writing historical narratives like that of Moses.

The following is a great table made up by Mark E. Briddle:

Joshua compared with Moses

Commission (1:1-9) Commission (Exod 3-4; cf esp. Josh 1:9 and Exod 3:12)

sends spies sends spies (Num 13//Deut 1:19-25; (2:1; 7:2; cf. 18:4-9) Num 21:32)

Israel’s fame among the nations inspires fear nations (2:22-24; 5:1; 6:1,27; (Exod 15:15-16; Num 22:3; passim) 9:1-2; 10:1-5; 11:1-5)

crossing the Jordan crossing the Reed Sea (Exod 14) (3:1-4:24)

circumcision (5:2-9) (Exod 4:24-26)

Passover celebration in Passover celebration in conjunction with preparation (Exod 12-13) (5:10-11)

cessation of manna (5:12) beginning of manna (Exod 16)

Joshua’s encounter with Moses’ encounter with divine figure (5:13-15 YHWH (Exod 3:5, remove shoes)

Joshua’s complaint (7:6-9) Moses complains (Num 14)

Joshua’s outstretched hand Moses outstretched hand (Josh 8:18,26) (Exod 9:22; 10:12, 21; passim)

Ritual at Mt. Ebal Ebal and Gerizim prescription (8:30-35) (Deut 11:26-32; 27:1-8)

Land grant to Caleb Promise of Land to Caleb (Num (14:6-15) 14:24, 29//Deut 1:36)

Division of the land by Lot Instructions for the division of (18-19) land by lot (Num 34)

Problem of daughter’s Problem of daughter’s inheritance (15:13-19; (Zelophehad’s – Num 36) Zelophehad’s -17:3-6)

Cities of Refuge Cities of Refuge (20:1-9) (Num 35)

Trans-Jordanian tribes Trans-Jordanian tribes placed under released from their obligation (Num 32//Deut 3:12- obligation (22:1-12) 17)

Joshua’s farewell (23:1-15) Moses’ farewell address(Deut 29:2-30:20)

Covenant at Shechem Covenant in Moab (Deut 31) (24:1-28)

Joshua’s death and burial Moses’ death and burial (24:29-30) (Deut 34:1-8)

Priest’s (Eleazar) Aaron’s death and burial (Num death and burial (24:33) 20:22-29)[1]