Biblical Theology VI: Joshua

The Book of Joshua is the beginning of what is referred to as the Deuteronomistic History that stems from Joshua to 2 Kings. The history in general, as is the book of Joshua in particular, is concerned with Israel’s possession of the land as the inheritance of those who follow God.  Israel’s residence in the land, or lack thereof, therefore, is the result of Israel’s allegiance to YHWH, as it is displayed in their obedience to Him. YHWH must be worshiped through obedience to the law, which is represented by sacrificing at the tabernacle/temple, where the ark of the covenant resides. To worship at another altar is to symbolize the worship of an alternate religion (via pagan means of worship) that YHWH rejects, and therefore, to do this is to reject the covenant made with YHWH, even while claiming to worship Him.

Theology: The land belongs to YHWH. It is His land. The land, and its filling up of God’s people, is given as the inheritance granted by God to His people. To be an Israelite, one must follow YHWH by obeying Him, as the book of Deuteronomy had taught. Anyone who does not obey Him has broken the treaty of Deuteronomy to love YHWH, and therefore, must be removed from the land by death or exile. Anyone who obeys YHWH, even if he is a Canaanite, or if she is a woman who cannot normally inherit land, will, indeed, inherit the land as his or her possession. Hence, the blessings of creation that run through the Abrahamic promises given to the patriarchs belong, not necessarily to the physical descendents of Abraham, but to those who are his descendents in terms of their allegiance to the God of Abraham. God will remove everyone who does not have allegiance to Him from the land, either by way of His people removing them, or directly. Allegiance to Joshua (Greek: Jesus), who delivers them into the land, is allegiance to YHWH.

Ethics: Israel is to respond in obedience to YHWH and His servant Joshua if they are to consider themselves true Israelites. If they do not, they will be considered Canaanites. If Canaanites respond in obedience to YHWH as well, they will be shown mercy and considered Israelites. This is brought out the most in the contrast between Rahab, a Canaanite, and Achan, an Israelite from the royal tribe of Judah.

²² Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her.” ²³ So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel. ²⁴ Then they burned the whole city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the Lord’s house. ²⁵ But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day. (6:22-25)

²⁴ Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. ²⁵ Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.” Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. ²⁶ Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger. (7:24-26)

Similarly, Caleb and his daughters will also inherit the land because of his allegiance to YHWH. The idea is that, regardless of ethnicity or gender, those who have their allegiance with YHWH, displayed by their obedience to Him, will inherit and live in the land forever, and those who do not, regardless of ethnicity or gender, will be removed from the land through death and exile. God requires obedience to His servant, Joshua to enter the land, and He requires a commitment to the covenant to love and worship Him by being creational in one’s works toward Him and His people in order to keep the inheritance. The communal responsibility of faith in YHWH, taught by Deuteronomy, therefore, is a large part of Joshua.

It is important to note that the inheritance of the land follows faith in YHWH. As is with the rest of biblical teaching, whether one is truly in covenant with Him is displayed by his obedience or lack thereof. Hence, works identify the true Israelite, but they do not make the true Israelite, since such is according to God’s election in the Deuteronomistic History and will be manifest itself in his or her confession (24:1-28), and the validity of that confession, in works (e.g., Rahab and Achan).