December 1, 2002, Vol.2,
No.23.
Two new articles every two weeks.
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us.
THIS ISSUE: "Introduction
to Joshua" (see below)
and "Introduction to Judges"
Overview of the Bible:
Introduction to Joshua
by Keith Sharp
 It
is not certain who wrote the book of Joshua, but the man Joshua,
for whom the book is named, is the probable author (cf. 24:26),
except for the postscript (24:29-33).
The name "Joshua" means "Jehovah saves."
In Greek "Joshua" is "Jesus."
The book was primarily written to Israel.
The theme of Joshua is the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Land
Promise (cf. Gen. 12:7; 15:18-21; Josh. 21:43-45). Premillennialists
(those who believe in a future, one thousand year, material kingdom
of Christ on earth with a restoration of national Israel to Canaan)
claim that the Abrahamic Land Promise has not been fulfilled
and that national Israel must yet inherit physical Canaan. But
Joshua declared, "Not a word failed of any good thing which
the Lord spoke to the house of Israel. All came to pass."
(21:45)
The lesson of Joshua is "Serve the Lord." (1:5-9;
5:13-15; 24:13-18). After Israel had conquered Canaan and shortly
before Joshua's death, Joshua challenged Israel:
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for
yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which
your fathers served that were on the other side of the River,
or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as
for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (24:15)
Israel responded, "We also will serve the Lord, for He
is our God." (24:18)
Joshua has two major divisions: Conquest (the conquest
of Canaan - chapters 1 - 12) and Inheritance (the division
of the land - chapters 13 - 24).
Outline
A. Entrance (The Lord Causes Israel to Enter Canaan)
- chapters 1 - 5
B. Conquest (The Lord Causes Israel to Conquer Canaan)
- chapters 6 - 12
1. Central Conquest - chapters 6 - 8
2. Southern Conquest - chapters 9 - 10
3. Northern Conquest - chapters 11 - 12
C. Inheritance (The Lord Causes Israel to Inherit the
Land) - chapters 13 - 22
D. Farewell (Joshua Bids Israel Farewell & Exhorts
Them to Serve the Lord) - chapters 23 - 24
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