1. Overview of Historical Books & Joshua
OT Survey I
Overview of Historical Books
&
Joshua

2. Overview of the Historical Books
The historical books continue the story of God’s covenant people, the nation of Israel:
The Theocratic Books - Joshua records the conquering and division of the promised land. Judges and Ruth describe the period of the theocracy, led by regional judges, before a formal monarchy was established in Israel.
The Monarchical Books - Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles record the development and subsequent division of Israel’s kingdom, ending with the captivity of the Southern Kingdom at the hands of the Babylonians in 586 B.C.
The Restoration Books - Ezra/Nehemiah and Esther describe God’s preservation of Israel during the exile and the return of a remnant of Jews to their homeland after seventy years of exile.

3. Integration of OT Books
MAJOR PROPHETS
Isaiah – Daniel
New Covenant
TORAH
Gen - Deut
HISTORICAL BOOKS
Joshua - Esther
Patriarchs & Moses
Abrahamic, Mosaic, Priestly, & Deut Covenants
Theocracy to Monarchy, Exile and Restoration
Davidic Covenant
MINOR PROPHETS (aka THE TWLEVE)
Hosea - Malachi

4. Joshua

5. Setting
The book of Joshua takes place in Canaan, the land of promise. The story picks up at the end of Deuteronomy with the death of Moses (1406 B.C.) and continues until the death of the elders associated with Joshua (1375 B.C.)

6. Purpose Statement
Yahweh gave Israel the land by Holy War, fulfilling His original promise to Abraham, and the land was divided to each of Israel’s tribes.

7. Major Themes The Faithfulness and Power of God
Joshua as Israel’s New Leader
The Land – Both Conquered and Remaining (13:1; 21:43-45)
The Law (1:7, 8; 8:30-32, 34; 22:1-5; 23:4-6)
Obedience and Disobedience of Israel

8. Structure Conquering the Land (Chaps 1 – 12)
Preparation and entrance into Canaan (1 – 5)
Victory in central Canaan (6 – 8)
Victory over southern kings (9 – 10)
Victory over northern kings (11 – 12)
Dividing the Land (Chaps 13-24)
Allotments for the twelve tribes and cities for refuge and Levites (13 – 22)
Joshua’s last messages (23 – 24)

9. Central and Southern Campaigns

10. Northern Campaign

11. Kedesh
Golan
Ramoth
Shechem
Bezer
Hebron

12. Key Concluding Passage
Joshua 24:1-28

13. Next Week
Judges/Ruth