1. AUTHOR. — Not certainly known, perhaps Joshua or one of the elders who outlived him. (Judg. 2:7.)

2. DATE. — Soon after the conquest of Canaan. If it was written by Joshua, it was not later than 1425 B. C., according to the commonly received chronology.

3. HISTORICAL OCCASION. — After the Israelites had taken possession of the land that had been promised them, and for the conquest of which they had been brought out of Egypt.

4. LEADING TOPIC. — The account of the con quest and the division of the land under the leadership and the direction of Joshua.

5. CHIEF PURPOSE. — To show how the Israelites became settled in the land of Canaan according to the promise made to Abraham (Gen. 13:14, 15; 15:16), and to the Israelites while in Egypt (Ex. 3:8). It shows how God gave to his people a pos session, and punished the Canaanites for their sins. Its more permanent purpose may have been to indicate that God's people are heirs of the earth, and that the wicked shall finally be dispossessed. (Matt. 5:5.)

6. GENERAL ANALYSIS.

Part I. The conquest of Canaan, Ch. 1-12.

(a) The invasion, Ch. 1-5.

(b) Jericho taken, Ch. 6.

(c) Conquest of the South, Ch.7–10.

(d) Conquest of the North, Ch. 11.

(e) Recapitulation, Ch. 12.

Part II. The division of the land, Ch. 13–22.

(a) Territory of the different tribes, Ch. 13–19.

(b) Cities of refuge, Ch. 20.

(c) Cities of the Levites, Ch. 21.

(d) Return of Eastern tribes, Ch. 22.

Part III. An appendix; Addresses by Joshua, Ch. 23, 24.

(a) Exhortation to fidelity, Ch. 23.

(b) Farewell address at Shechem, Ch. 24.

7. POINTS OF ESPECIAL INTEREST. — Manner of crossing the Jordan; fall of Jericho; battle of Beth-horon; altar built by the Eastern tribes.

8. RELATION TO OTHER O. T. BOOKS. — It is closely related to the Pentateuch, which gives an account of the choosing of Israel and of the promise to them of a land to dwell in, and especially to Numbers, which shows their former failure to take the land. It is related to the history that follows, which shows how the people thus settled. in the land rebelled against Jehovah who gave it to them; how they oppressed one another in it, and defiled it by their sins; and how, at last, they were removed from it.

9. MESSIANIC IDEAS. — Joshua may be regarded as a type of Christ in leading his people into rest. The conquest of the enemies of God's people which is here illustrated is dwelt upon by the prophets as a Messianic idea.

10. TOPICS FOR SPECIAL STUDY. — The destruction of the Canaanites; the geography of Palestine; the interpretation of the ac count of the sun and moon standing still.