{"id":50709,"date":"2021-12-13T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-13T17:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/?p=50709"},"modified":"2023-06-13T10:56:24","modified_gmt":"2023-06-13T17:56:24","slug":"joshua-theological-overview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/joshua-theological-overview\/","title":{"rendered":"Joshua: A Theological Overview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>How familiar are you with the book of Joshua? Whether you studied it briefly or are crafting a commentary of your own, this narrative continually teaches you something new. For some perspective, here is an excerpt from the introduction to Joshua from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/store\/product.php?productid=77366\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ESV Expository Commentary (9 Vols.)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-background\" style=\"background-color:#dadada\"><em>We adapted the below content from the newly-released <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/store\/product.php?productid=64151\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>ESV Expository Commentary: Deuteronomy-Ruth<\/strong><\/a> volume.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Contents<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-theology-of-joshua\" data-level=\"2\">Theology of Joshua<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-relationship-to-the-rest-of-the-bible-and-to-christ\" data-level=\"2\">Relationship to the Rest of the Bible and to Christ<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-preaching-from-joshua\" data-level=\"2\">Preaching from Joshua<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-theology-of-joshua\">Theology of Joshua<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The theology of Joshua naturally shares many of the contours that take shape in God\u2019s deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. God is sovereign over the elements and the natural world, just as he is over Egypt\u2019s king and its supernatural world, demonstrating both his <strong>power<\/strong> and his <strong>authority<\/strong>. God demands that his people be sanctified as he meets with them at the mountain, demonstrating his <strong>holiness<\/strong>. God\u2019s presence accompanies his people on the way and provides for their needs, demonstrating his <strong>graciousness<\/strong>. He fights on their behalf to deliver them from hostile nations, showing him to be <strong>victorious<\/strong> over every form of opposition. He judges his own people in their rebellion, displaying his <strong>justice<\/strong>. God brings them to a good land in accordance with his promise, showing himself to be <strong>faithful<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Parallels to Exodus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Each of these theological disclosures encountered in the exodus finds a counterpart in Israel\u2019s entry into the Promised Land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>God\u2019s <strong>sovereignty<\/strong> over the elements and natural world is seen in his stopping the Jordan River to allow Israel to cross on dry land (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Josh+3-4&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Joshua 3\u20134<\/a>) and spectacularly in the celestial events accompanying the battle of the Valley of Aijalon, as Israel delivers its new covenant partner, the people of Gibeon, from hostile kings (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Josh+10%3A6-14&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">10:6\u201314<\/a>).<\/li><li>His <strong>power and authority<\/strong> (cf. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=ex+19%3A5&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ex. 19:5<\/a>; \u201c<em>all the earth is mine<\/em>\u201d) are seen in his vanquishing every king that opposes him\u2014for every Canaanite king does so (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Josh+12&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Joshua 12<\/a>; cf. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Ps+2&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Psalm 2<\/a>).<\/li><li>God requires his people to be <strong>sanctified<\/strong> at the river (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Josh+3%3A5&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Josh. 3:5<\/a>) and as they enter the land (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Josh+5%3A2-9&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">5:2\u20139<\/a>), for his presence makes it holy (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Josh+5%3A15&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">5:15<\/a>).<\/li><li>God requires his people\u2019s <strong>purification<\/strong> when he judges them for polluting sacred things in an act of disobedience (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Josh+7&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ch. 7<\/a>).<\/li><li>His <strong>presence<\/strong>, represented by the ark, accompanies Israel as they cross the Jordan (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Josh+3-4&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">chs. 3\u20134<\/a>) and march around Jericho (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Josh+6%3A11-13&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">6:11, 13<\/a>).<\/li><li>He <strong>fights<\/strong> for them, so that Israel\u2019s victories could truly be said to be God\u2019s victories in the first place (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Josh+10%3A42&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">10:42<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Josh+23%3A9-10&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">23:9\u201310<\/a>).<\/li><li>In gifting Israel this good land he graciously <strong>provides<\/strong> also for their needs (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Josh+5%3A10-12&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">5:10\u201312<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Josh+24%3A13&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">24:13<\/a>).<\/li><li><strong>It is a book of promises kept<\/strong> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Josh+21%3A43-45&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">21:43\u201345<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Josh+23%3A14&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">23:14<\/a>).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Joshua&#8217;s fundamental truths<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Theologically, it is important to affirm that God\u2019s holiness is destructive of sin; his presence requires the eradication of that which is contrary to his nature. However, <strong>God\u2019s love expresses itself in fellowship<\/strong>, and so his removal of sin graciously makes redemption possible. As we affirm these deep truths regarding God\u2019s nature (cf. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Ex+34%3A6-7&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ex. 34:6\u20137<\/a>), much of Joshua comes into focus. Insofar as God\u2019s creatures recognize and respect God\u2019s holiness\u2014that is, as they worship him\u2014his holiness is redemptive, delivering and saving those who thus turn to him. This is, for the most part, Israel\u2019s experience in the book, although the episode featuring Achan in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Josh+7%3A10-26&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Joshua 7<\/a> demonstrates that this is not a blessing to be enjoyed automatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Likewise, for the most part the experience of the Canaanites is to know the inexorable force of God\u2019s judgment and his purpose to eradicate that which is abhorrent to him, although this fate is not inevitable for those Canaanites who, like Rahab (chs. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Josh+2&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Josh+6&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">6<\/a>) or even the Gibeonites (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Josh+9-10&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">chs. 9\u201310<\/a>), acknowledge God\u2019s right to their lives and, as a consequence, to save them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#dadada\">This truth is conveyed <strong>through narrative<\/strong> in the bulk of the book, but the theological concepts are also <strong>expressed explicitly<\/strong> in Joshua\u2019s closing speeches in chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Josh+23-24&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">23-24<\/a> (cf. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Josh+24%3A19&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">24:19<\/a> for their culmination).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-relationship-to-the-rest-of-the-bible-and-to-christ\">Relationship to the Rest of the Bible and to Christ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Joshua occupies a pivotal place between the preceding books of Moses and the subsequent developments of the federal life of the nation on its way toward monarchy in Judges and the books that follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Joshua&#8217;s Old Testament connections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Especially as Israel crosses the Jordan we find numerous echoes of the exodus experience, as the exit from the land of Egypt and the entry to the land of Canaan bookend the narrative. Many passages in Numbers anticipate developments realized in the conquest accounts and form significant cross-references with them. The sermons of Moses on the plains of Moab in Deuteronomy that prepare Israel for its next phase of life likewise forge strong links with some of the diction and outlook of Joshua\u2019s opening chapters in particular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the other direction, the book of Judges is often thought to contrast sharply with the outlook of Joshua. While at a surface level and in terms of overall tone this is certainly true, one of the burdens of this commentary is to demonstrate that, at a deeper level, Joshua and Judges are intrinsically connected, that the relationship between them is organic and intertwined rather than forced or juxtaposed. The trajectory followed so precipitously in Judges is not alien to the outlook of Joshua but emerges almost inevitably, given the seeds sown in the narrative of this book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Joshua&#8217;s New Testament connections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to NT connections, a distinction must be borne between the man and the book of Joshua. The figure of Joshua as Moses\u2019 successor has only a few echoes in the NT, but these sometimes have to do with episodes outside the book of Joshua itself. However, Joshua is named explicitly only twice in the NT (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=acts+7%3A45&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Acts 7:45<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Heb+4%3A8&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Heb. 4:8<\/a>), while even Rahab gets three mentions (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Matt+1%3A5&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Matt. 1:5<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Heb+11%3A31&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Heb. 11:31<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=James+2%3A25&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">James 2:25<\/a>). The nonmention of Joshua is all the more surprising when one remembers that in Greek he shares Jesus\u2019 name: Hebrew \u201c<em>Joshua<\/em>\u201d is Greek \u201c<em>Jesus<\/em>\u201d. On this basis the Joshua\/Jesus type\/antitype was exploited in some early Christian writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The book is never quoted directly in the NT, although its wording or episodes are alluded to on a number of occasions. Some of these are quite subtle, however, and the connection is not very illuminating. On the other hand, broad resonances can be discerned between the conflicts represented in the book of Revelation and the battles of Joshua, and these are suggestive for Christian interpretation. On the whole, however, in later reception Joshua and the book that bears his name are very much in the shadow of his great predecessor, Moses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-preaching-from-joshua\">Preaching from Joshua<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Given the particular difficulties Joshua presents, preaching from the book poses challenges. As the book is notorious for its violence, the option of simply spiritualizing its stories to provide pious object lessons is unacceptable: this would in any case be a failure to hear what the book can teach contemporary Christians who are willing to attend to it with patience and care. Perhaps it does not need saying, but it is worth being clear that <strong>Joshua\u2019s violence cannot be proclaimed as a template for Christian action of any kind<\/strong>\u2014in the same way that the fate of Ananias and Sapphira (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Acts+5&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Acts 5<\/a>) is not a persistent model for church discipline\u2014in spite of this having occurred in times past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>&#8220;What is God doing in this text?&#8221;<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As ever, the preacher\u2019s first question should be <em>\u201cWhat is God doing in this text?\u201d<\/em> rather than <em>\u201cWhere am I in this text?\u201d<\/em> In the book of Joshua <strong>God is directing<\/strong> his people to look to him, <strong>calling<\/strong> to strangers, <strong>fulfilling<\/strong> his promises, <strong>embedding<\/strong> memories of his acts of deliverance, <strong>purifying and providing<\/strong> for those he has called, <strong>subduing<\/strong> their enemies, <strong>disciplining<\/strong> his people\u2019s transgressions, <strong>upholding<\/strong> his covenant, <strong>establishing<\/strong> justice, <strong>provoking<\/strong> godly responses, <strong>meeting<\/strong> his people at worship, <strong>rewarding<\/strong> those who diligently seek him, <strong>reminding<\/strong> his people of his fidelity, <strong>exhorting<\/strong> them to a corresponding faithfulness, and <strong>preparing<\/strong> them to display his holiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This sketch is hardly exhaustive, but it suggests a dynamic that works through the book and informs the proclamation of good news from a book that often elicits hostile reactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It would be too easy, however, to ignore the Canaanites. The book also contains abiding truths concerning the holiness of God\u2019s love, the reality of judgment, the inevitability of serving something or someone, the choice of what or whom that master will be as a matter of life-and-death, and the inevitable tragedy of opposing the true and living God. The book of Joshua deepens the gravity of God\u2019s word through Ezekiel, \u201c<em>I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live<\/em>\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/bible\/?query=Ezek.+18%3A32&amp;version=ESV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ezek. 18:32<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Preaching from the <em>entire<\/em> book of Joshua<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The narratives of Joshua 1\u201312 and the three closing chapters lend themselves readily to preaching that attends to the faithfulness of the God of promise, the patterns God weaves in his redemptive work, and the covenant-shaped engagement of God with people that points to the foundations of divine indicatives (the truth of who God is for his people) for hearing the claim of divine imperatives (the obedience God requires of his people). Each of these, too, has a natural trajectory to its fuller realization in the gospel of Jesus Christ and the faithful community life of the church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The land distribution chapters (13-21) should not be neglected, however. They may call for more creative handling, but the framing of this phase of Israel\u2019s life in the land still has significant things to say about what it means to settle well, what responsiveness to God\u2019s gracious gifts looks like, how God shapes his people for being a nation rather than nomads, and how a place is found for the exercise of justice and the practice of gathered worship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">ESV Expository Commentary (9 Vols.)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-background\" style=\"background-color:#dadada\"><em>Get the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/store\/product.php?productid=77366\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ESV Expository Commentary<\/a><\/strong> to continue reading &#8211; we found the next section, <strong>&#8220;Interpretive Challenges&#8221;<\/strong>, to be particularly engaging!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.olivetree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ESVExpositoryCommentaryBookSetSocial-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-52870\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ESVExpositoryCommentaryBookSetSocial-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ESVExpositoryCommentaryBookSetSocial-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ESVExpositoryCommentaryBookSetSocial-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ESVExpositoryCommentaryBookSetSocial-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Get your copy of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/store\/product.php?productid=77366\"><strong>ESV Expository Commentary<\/strong><\/a> and go in-depth with helpful introductions, outlines, and verse-by-verse exposition. Whether you&#8217;re preparing your next sermon, studying the Word academically, or doing your daily devotions, there&#8217;s something here for you. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/store\/product.php?productid=77366\">Visit the store page<\/a> to see which volumes are inside this ESV commentary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-background\" style=\"background-color:#dadada\"><em>For an example of this commentary&#8217;s exposition, take a look at this blog post: <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.olivetree.com\/being-of-one-mind\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Being of One Mind<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-499968f5 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-499968f5 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/store\/product.php?productid=77366\" style=\"background-color:#77aa3c\">ESV EXPOSITORY COMMENTARY (9 VOLS.)<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How familiar are you with the book of Joshua? Whether you studied it briefly or are crafting a commentary of your own, this narrative continually teaches you something new. For some perspective, here is an excerpt from the introduction to Joshua from the ESV Expository Commentary (9 Vols.). We adapted the below content from the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":50715,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5339],"tags":[5927],"class_list":{"0":"post-50709","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-old-testament-articles","8":"tag-esv-expository-commentary-set"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Joshua: A Theological Overview - Olive Tree Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How familiar are you with the book of Joshua? 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