The Old Testament
A Historical, Theological, and Critical Introduction
Chapter
6. Joshua
Bible Reading Guide
- Which tribes did Joshua command to cross the Jordan River first?
- What did Rahab need to do to save her family?
- Who stayed longest in the Jordan riverbed when Israel crossed over?
- Why did God dry up the Jordan River, according to Joshua?
- Why did Joshua circumcise the Israelite males?
- Where did Rahab and her family go after the battle of Jericho?
- Why did Israel lose its first battle against Ai?
- What ruse brought victory at the battle of Ai?
- What ruse did the Gibeonites use?
- What happened at Makkedah?
- Where did Jabin fight Joshua?
- How much land east of the Jordan River did the Israelites take?
- Which tribe received the territory of Og king of Bashan?
- What did Caleb receive as an inheritance?
- Who took Debir (Kiriath Sepher)?
- From which city of Canaan did Ephraim fail to drive out the Canaanites?
- What did Joshua give to the Joseph tribes in addition to their allotment?
- How did Joshua divide the land for the remaining seven tribes?
- Which tribe received an inheritance that was entirely within another tribe?
- For what sort of situation were the cities of refuge envisioned?
- The levitical allotments included what in addition to the cities?
- What was the purpose of the altar of the Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh tribes?
- God will push out the remaining nations, but what must Israel do?
- How did Israel repeatedly respond to Joshua’s challenge at the covenant renewal?
Study Questions
- In comparison with the Pentateuch, how similar are the MT and LXX of Joshua?
- What became of Joshua’s encounter with the commander of the Lord of Hosts?
- The allotment of the Levitical towns forms what kind of a gift?
- What premodern reading of Joshua was most popular in interpretation?
- What does the Deuteronomistic History seek to explain?
- In the Deuteronomistic History, how has Joshua been regarded?
- How should Joshua 11:16–23 be best understood?
- How do Joshua and Rahab compare in Joshua 1 and 2?
- Contrast Rahab’s answers to the Canaanites and to the Israelites.
- What lies at the heart of Rahab’s confession?
- What is the major problem with modeling Israel’s formation as a Marxist revolt?
- Which ancient city’s destruction level supports the conquest model?
- The theory of gradual immigration from the east is supported by what?
- Who were among the Sea Peoples?
- The book of Joshua most closely resembles what type of ancient document?
- Where does Joshua first appear in the Bible?
- How can one view Joshua 1 in comparison with the book?
- What forms the basis for all successful mission?
- If Joshua will not succeed because he obeys God’s law, how will he succeed?
- How does Joshua persuade the Transjordanian tribes to follow him?
- What were Jericho and Ai?
- What likely happened to most of the Canaanites in the areas Israel invaded?