The book of Joshua recounts the events which accompany the entry of the people of Israel into the land of Canaan, the Promised Land: the vocation of Joshua and the mission he receives, the crossing of the Jordan, the capture of the cities of Jericho and Ai, the solemn renewal of the alliance at Mount Ebal, the strange agreement with the Gibeonites, then the overview of the military campaigns of the South and the North. The second half of the book details the division of the land between the tribes, before summarizing the history of the conquest of the land and concluding with farewell speeches and the death of Joshua.
Joshua is an action-packed book, more so than many others in the Bible. But it is also a biblical book that troubles today's readers: doesn't it contain too much violence? Does it not contradict the rest of the Bible, and the Gospel in particular?
David Firth, in this commentary, begins by providing a reasoned and useful response to these questions. He suggests that readers read Joshua with God's mission in mind, his project centered on Israel in the Old Testament, but which finds its ultimate culmination in Jesus Christ. The book of Joshua shows us that God includes in his mission those who choose to join him, but that he excludes those who choose to oppose him.
David Firth is Professor of Old Testament and Director of Research at Saint John's College, Nottingham, Great Britain. He is the author of several biblical commentaries and various books on the interpretation of the Old Testament.
ISBN: 9782853310680