The book of Joshua portrays key events in early Israel 's life by vivid means. These include:

•  The actions of crossing the Jordan River ( 1-5 ).

•  Conquering the land ( 6-12 ).

•  Allocating the tribal territories ( 13-21 ).

•  Learning how to worship God as a united people ( 22-24 ).

The title of the book is appropriately named for its key figure. Joshua's name means salvation, however, Moses would add to or change his name to mean, “Yahweh is Salvation” ( Numbers 13:16 ). Joshua would succeed Moses as the new leader of Israel .

The Greek title given the book in the Septuagint is “Joshua the son of Nun”. The Latin title is the “Book of Joshua”.

The author is not disclosed, however, he must have been an eye witness to the events described in the book (he speaks of the Lord's blocking the Jordan “until we were passed over” 5:1 – he identifies Israel's previous generation by saying, “He would not show them the land which the Lord had sworn to their fathers that He would give us ” 5:6 ).

The theme of the book is the conquest and division of the land of Canaan (the Promised Land). This theme includes the Divine judgment of the Canaanites for their sins; and Israel is given the land according to the promise made to Abraham ( Genesis 12:7 ).

There is much for the Christian to learn from reading the book of Joshua:

•  Victory comes through faith in God and obedience to His word.

•  The conquest of Canaan is symbolic to the Christian's life, to be won by warfare – Romans 7:23-25 ; I Timothy 6:12 .

•  The post conflict division of the Promised Land and the ensued rest ( 11:23 ), is symbolic to the rest of the soul the Christian receives at the end of their good fight – II Timothy 4:7-8 ; Hebrews 4:1 .

•  In the faithfulness of Joshua we additionally find an outstanding example of faith based on true fear and obedience of God, apart from the choices of others and alternative or hostile environments that may surround them, note:

Joshua 24:15 “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 ."