Book of Joshua in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE
LITERATURE
I. Title and Authorship.
The name Joshua signifies "Yahweh is deliverance" or
"salvation" (see JOSHUA). The Greek form of the name is
Jesus (Iesous, Acts 7:45; Heb 4:8). In later Jewish history
the name appears to have become popular, and is even found
with a local significance, as the designation of a small
town in Southern Israel (yeshua`], Neh 11:26). The use of
the title by the Jews to denote the Book of Joshua did not
imply a belief that the book was actually written or
dictated by him; or even that the narratives themselves were
in substance derived from him, and owed their authenticity
and reliability to his sanction and control. In the earliest
Jewish literature the association of a name with a book was
not intended in any case to indicate authorship. And the
Book of Joshua is no exception to the rule that such early
writings, especially when their contents are of a historical
nature, are usually anonymous. The title is intended to
describe, not authorship, but theme; and to represent that
the life and deeds of Joshua form the main subject with
which the book is concerned.
II. Contents.
With regard to the contents of Joshua, it will be found to
consist of two well-marked divisions, in the first of which
(Joshua 1-2) are narrated the invasion and gradual conquest
under the command of Joshua of the land on the West of the
Jordan; while the 2nd part describes in detail the allotment
of the country to the several tribes with the boundaries of
their territories, and concludes with a brief notice of the
death and burial of Joshua himself.
1. Invasion and Conquest of Western Israel:
Joshua 1: Renewal of the Divine promise to Joshua and
exhortation to fearlessness and courage (1:1-9); directions
to the people to prepare for the passage of the river, and a
reminder to the eastern tribes (Reuben, Gad, and half and
Manasseh) of the condition under which they held their
possession beyond Jordan; the renewal by these tribes of
their pledge of loyalty to Moses' successor (1:10-18)...
Link: https://bible-history.com/isbe/J/JOSHUA,+BOOK+OF/