The Book of Joshua - Conquest and Settlement

The Book of Joshua is the sixth book of the OT – the first of the Former Prophets (i.e., the historical books, which conclude with Nehemiah). In broad outline, the book tells of Israel's conquest of Canaan under Joshua after the death of Moses (chaps. 1-12) and Joshua's subsequent distribution of the land among the tribes (chaps. 13-19). Six cities are then designated places of asylum (chap. 20), and forty-eight are reserved for Levites (chap. 21). The east Jordan tribes then return to their Transjordanian territory (chap. 22). In his old age, Joshua delivers a valedictory address (chap. 23). In another address, he challenges the tribes to commit themselves to God alone (chap. 24). The book ends with notices of Joshua's death, the interment of Joshua's remains and Israel's faithfulness to God until Joshua's contemporaries died (24:29-33).