Welcome to Bible Gateway’s weekly Look at the Book series of short blog posts and infographics introducing you to the books of the Bible. Moving on from the Pentateuch, this post examines Joshua, the first of the historical books, picking up right after the death of Moses at the end of Deuteronomy.
Scroll to the bottom if you’d prefer to see (and save) this article as an infographic. You’ll also find a handy 30-day reading guide. Or, for a challenge, you can do it in one week using the 7-day reading guide below.
Summary
Joshua describes the possession of the land, but the focus is the fulfillment of God’s promises. The land Israel receives is a good and fertile land, but more importantly, a promised land.
- Category: History
- Theme: Conquest
- Timeline: About 1406 to 1375 BC
- Written: Early 14th century BC, traditionally attributed to Joshua
Key Verse
“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” — Joshua 24:15 (NIV)
Joshua’s Timeline
The events of the book of Joshua span about twenty-five years, starting soon after the death of Moses, before the conquest commenced. The conquest of Canaan took about seven years, and Joshua’s final address and subsequent death came almost twenty years later.
7 Day Reading Guide
(See 30-day guide below.)
- Day 1: Joshua 1-3
- Day 2: Joshua 4-7
- Day 3: Joshua 8-11
- Day 4: Joshua 12-15
- Day 5: Joshua 16-18
- Day 6: Joshua 19-21
- Day 7: Joshua 22-24
Consider
Joshua was born in Egyptian slavery, trained under Moses, and by God’s choice rose to his key position of leading Israel into Canaan.
Access the rest of the series here. Browse Bible studies for each book of the Bible. Or right-click on the infographic below to download and save the image for your reference.
Chris Fann is the Senior Digital Marketing Manager for Harper Christian Resources. He loves the smell ofa baseball glove, coffee, and old books. He lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his wife, 2 teenage boys, and their dog, Freya.
