Chapter VIII.

Joshua’s Conquest.

Joshua.

The Facts of History Recorded.  The history recorded in this period follows closely upon and completes the story of the deliverance begun in the Exodus.  But for the sin of Israel in believing the evil spies and turning back into the wilderness, none of the events of the last twenty-one chapters of Numbers and none of those found in Deuteronomy would have occurred and Joshua would have followed Exodus and have completed the story of Israel’s deliverance out of Egypt into Canaan.  As it is, this history follows close upon that of Deuteronomy.  Joshua, who had been duly chosen and set apart for the work, took command of the hosts as soon as Moses died.  He was trained in the school of Moses and exhibited the same devotion to Jehovah and the same dependence upon His guidance.

The Story Naturally Falls Into Three Parts. (1) The conquest of Canaan, (Chs. 1-12).  In this section we have the story of the crossing of the Jordan, fall of Jericho and the conquest of the land both south and north. (2) The division of the territory of Canaan (Chs. 13-22).  In this section we have the assignment of the territory of Canaan, the cities of Refuge, the cities of Levites and the return of the two and half tribes to the east of the Jordan. (3) Joshua’s last counsel and death (Chs. 23-24), in which we have his exhortations to fidelity and farewell address and death.

While the war itself probably did not continue but seven years, the entire period was not less than twenty-five and may have been as much as fifty-one years.  The period marks a new era in Biblical history.  Instead of the experiences of Nomadic or semi-Nomadic tribes, a people with a fixed abode and with a growing body of customs and institutions is described.

The Land of Canaan.  It is well to consider at least three things concerning this little, yet wonderful country. (1) Its geography.  It is about four hundred miles long and from seventy-five to one hundred miles wide and is made up of plains, valleys, plateaus, gorges and mountains fashioned together in wonderful variety.  There are many small bodies of land capable of supporting a group of people and yet so secluded as to allow them to develop their own individuality and become independent.  Every traveler between Egypt and Babylonia must pass through Palestine which thereby became the bridge for the civilization and commerce of tie world.  Here the Hebrew could easily keep in touch with the world events of his day.  Later it became the gateway of travel from east to west.  The territory naturally falls into three divisions:  (a) Judah or Judea which is in the southern portion and about seventy-five miles long, (b) Ephraim or Samaria occupying the center of the country, (c) Galilee occupying the northern portion.  Along the entire coast line there is a continuous coast plain.  There are many mountains, the most important being Hermon, Carmel and Gerizim.