Macro-Structure of Joshua
Audience
Joshua concerns Israel's entry into Canaan, the distribution of the land, and covenant exhortations. It identifies Joshua's leadership and records his writing in Joshua 24:26, but that does not establish that he wrote every later event in the book.
Key References
Explore the Structure
Explore the structure of each book.
| Section | Focus | Connection to the whole |
|---|---|---|
| Entering the land Joshua 1:1–5:12 Interpretation | Commission, crossing, and covenant signs | Joshua's commission and the Jordan crossing lead into renewed covenant signs before the campaigns begin. |
| Conflict and the taking of the land Joshua 5:13–12:24 Interpretation | Victory, failure, and the LORD's commands | The campaigns include both victories and Israel's failure concerning the devoted things; the record ends with a list of defeated kings. |
| The land distributed Joshua 13:1–21:45 Interpretation | Inheritance and provision | Boundaries, allotments, refuge cities, and Levitical cities describe the ordering of Israel's inheritance. |
| The tribes and the covenant Joshua 22:1–24:33 Interpretation | Unity, loyalty, and final exhortation | The closing events and Joshua's speeches urge the tribes to serve the LORD and warn against abandoning the covenant. |
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.