24 chapters · 85 video commentaries · covered in 17 courses
The Book of Joshua narrates Israel's entry into the Promised Land, detailing the conquest of Canaan and the subsequent division of the land among the Israelite tribes. It serves as a bridge between the Torah and the Former Prophets, marking the transition from Moses's leadership to Israel's establishment in Canaan.
AuthorThe book of Joshua is anonymous, a common feature of Old Testament narrative traditions, and is part of the Deuteronomistic History.
WrittenLikely compiled during the Babylonian exile (6th century BCE), incorporating earlier traditions.
GenreHistorical narrative, theological history
AudienceWritten for the exiled Israelite community, offering a theological explanation for their displacement.
PurposeTo explain Israel's history through the lens of obedience and disobedience to God's covenant, justifying the exile as divine judgment.
Covered inThe Bible and Abortion: When Does Life Begin in the Bible? · Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years · Before the Bible: Mesopotamia and the Myths that Shaped Scripture · Did Jesus Really Exist? Evidence That Even Atheist Historians Accept · Digging Up Dirt on Joshua · Earliest Christian Heresies +11
What our scholars get into
Our commentary on Joshua delves into the significant archaeological discrepancies that challenge the biblical account of a swift, unified conquest, as Bart Ehrman and other scholars discuss. You'll explore internal contradictions within Joshua itself, where claims of total conquest are immediately followed by acknowledgments of unconquered land and ongoing Canaanite presence. We examine the concept of 'herem' (holy war) not as a historical event, but as a rhetorical device used by the Deuteronomistic historians to explain the absence of Canaanites and emphasize divine judgment. Furthermore, we'll see how Joshua is presented as a 'second Moses,' mirroring his predecessor's actions and emphasizing unwavering obedience to the Torah, a key theme for the Deuteronomistic History.
Introduction drafted from the lecture transcripts by AI, pending the team's edit.
Joshua as a Bridge Between Torah and Former Prophets
The book of Joshua holds significant importance in the Hebrew Bible as it serves as a bridge between the Torah (the first five books) and the Former Prophets. It marks the transition from Moses's leadership at the end of Deuteronomy to Israel's entry into and establishment in the promised land, making it the inaugural book of the Former Prophets collection.
Summarized by AI · Digging Up Dirt on Joshua · Digging Up Dirt on Joshua: Historical Conquest or Fan Fiction? · watch the clip
Joshua and the Deuteronomistic History
Joshua is an integral part of what scholars call the Deuteronomistic History, a collection of books (Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings) that narrate Israel's history from entering Canaan to the Babylonian exile. This history is framed by significant theological themes, particularly covenant and divine judgment, interpreting Israel's successes and failures through the lens of obedience or disobedience to God's covenant.
Summarized by AI · Digging Up Dirt on Joshua · Digging Up Dirt on Joshua: Historical Conquest or Fan Fiction? · watch the clip
Anonymity in Old Testament books
Armin Baum suggests that the anonymity of the Gospels might be a deliberate choice, mimicking Old Testament books like Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings, which also begin their narratives without explicitly naming their authors. This would imply the evangelists saw themselves as writing new sacred, authoritative scripture.
Summarized by AI · The Mysteries of the Synoptic Gospels: Discovering Matthew, Mark, and Luke · Lecture 11: Who Wrote the Synoptic Gospels? · watch the clip
Anonymity and Old Testament Narrative Tradition
The anonymity of the gospels may reflect a continuation of the Old Testament narrative tradition. Books like Exodus, Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings, which recount God's interactions with Israel, are also anonymous. By not attaching their names, the gospel authors might have intended to present their accounts as a continuation of this sacred, anonymous narrative of God's plan, rather than personal interpretations.
Summarized by AI · The Unknown Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John · Lecture 8: Why These Four Gospels | How We Got the New Testament · watch the clip
The Deuteronomistic History as a Theological Explanation
The Deuteronomistic History (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings) explains Israel's history through the lens of Deuteronomy's ideology. It portrays the period from the conquest of Canaan to the Babylonian exile as a working out of God's predictions, where Israel's fate is directly tied to its obedience or disobedience to divine laws.
Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 11: The History | From Joshua to Josiah · watch the clip
Joshua's leadership and the conquest of Canaan
The Deuteronomistic history begins with Joshua taking over leadership after Moses' death, directing the conquest of Canaan. Joshua 2-14 details battles and destruction, concluding with the statement that the land had rest from war. Following the conquest, the land is divided among the tribes in Joshua 15-22, and the book ends with Joshua's final words and death.
Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 11: The History | From Joshua to Josiah · watch the clip
Archaeological evidence contradicts the conquest model of Israel's entry into Canaan
Archaeological findings do not support the biblical account of the Israelite conquest of Canaan as described in the book of Joshua. This aligns with previous conclusions that the Exodus, which would precede such a conquest, also lacks historical and archaeological substantiation. Therefore, the traditional 'conquest model' of Israel's entry into Canaan is not supported by evidence.
Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 12: Joshua and Judges · watch the clip
Deuteronomistic History: Books and Scope
The Deuteronomistic History encompasses the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings. It chronicles the period from Moses' death through the conquest and destruction of the Judean kingdom by the Babylonians and the subsequent exile. The term 'Deuteronomistic' indicates its theological alignment with the book of Deuteronomy.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · An Editor Built Israel’s History & Picked the Villains · watch the clip
Deuteronomistic History's External Reference to Torah
Unlike Deuteronomy's internal self-reference, the Deuteronomistic History refers to Deuteronomy externally, calling it 'the Torah of Moses' or 'the book of the Torah of Moses.' This distinction suggests that the Deuteronomistic History views Deuteronomy as a foundational text from a historical distance, rather than being part of the same continuous literary work.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · An Editor Built Israel’s History & Picked the Villains · watch the clip
Book Divisions as Scroll Technology
The divisions between books like Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings are not indicative of separate literary works but rather practical divisions based on ancient scroll technology. Longer continuous narratives had to be broken into smaller volumes because a single scroll could not contain the entire text.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · An Editor Built Israel’s History & Picked the Villains · watch the clip
Historian's Voice in Shaping Sources
The Deuteronomistic historian's unique voice is not always in the factual recounting of events, but in shaping disparate historical sources into a cohesive theological program derived from Deuteronomy. This allows the historian to incorporate conflicting accounts, such as those in Joshua and Judges regarding Israel's settlement, while still imposing a consistent theological interpretation.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · An Editor Built Israel’s History & Picked the Villains · watch the clip
Core Concerns of the Deuteronomistic Historian
The Deuteronomistic historian consistently emphasizes two main concerns: worshipping foreign gods and failing to worship Yahweh correctly at the designated central sanctuary. These themes, rooted in Deuteronomy's historical framework, become prominent markers of the historian's voice throughout the narrative, highlighting deviations from divine law.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · An Editor Built Israel’s History & Picked the Villains · watch the clip
Contradictory Accounts of Israelite Settlement
The Bible presents two conflicting narratives regarding the Israelite settlement of Canaan. Numbers and Joshua describe a swift military conquest and destruction of Canaanites, followed by land apportionment. In contrast, Judges depicts a slower, less systematic process where land is allotted first, and then individual tribes attempt to take possession, leaving significant cities like Jerusalem under Canaanite control.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Joshua Never Conquered Canaan. Here’s What Really Happened · watch the clip
Israel's External Origin in Biblical Narratives
All biblical origin stories, despite their differences, consistently portray the Israelites as originating from outside the promised land. Abraham comes from Mesopotamia, Moses' people are in Egypt, and in Numbers and Joshua, they are outsiders entering Canaan. This recurring theme of external origin is a notable feature across these diverse narratives.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Joshua Never Conquered Canaan. Here’s What Really Happened · watch the clip
Background and context
Military campaigns as divinely mandated in the Bible
Neo-Assyrian military campaigns were framed as divinely mandated efforts to bring order, a concept also found in the Bible. Israelite conquests and battles are often presented as being commanded and supported by God, emphasizing a divine mandate for their actions.
Summarized by AI · Before the Bible: Mesopotamia and the Myths that Shaped Scripture · Lecture 1: Writing, Gods, and the Rise of the First City · watch the clip
Israelites' Exodus and Conquest: Quranic Parallelism
According to some scholars, the Quran's narrative of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt suggests they conquer Egypt rather than Canaan, as depicted in the Bible. This reinterpretation creates a parallelism with the early Muslim community's desire to liberate the Holy Sanctuary from the Meccans. The Quran thus adapts the historical narrative to serve its theological and rhetorical purposes, making the ancient story relevant to its contemporary audience's struggles.
Summarized by AI · The Bible and the Quran: Comparing Their Historical Problems · Lecture 4: The Quran | How Much History, How Much Story? · watch the clip
Israelites as Canaanites
A prominent theory suggests that the Israelites were originally Canaanites who migrated from the coastal city-states into the highlands during the Late Bronze Age collapse. Archaeological evidence shows numerous small settlements appearing in the Judean hills around the 12th century BCE, supporting the idea that Israelites were an indigenous group that developed a distinct identity and culture, rather than an invading force.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · History vs Myth: Can We Trust the Stories in the Hebrew Bible? · watch the clip
Shiloh as a central cultic site
Joshua 19:51 indicates that the Tent of Meeting and the Ark of the Covenant were set up in Shiloh, making it a central cultic site for Israel. This is where the assignment of territories was done before the Lord, signifying its importance in early Israelite history.
Summarized by AI · The Rise and Fall of Biblical Israel: The Books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings · Lecture 4: Samuel | Who Needs a King? · watch the clip
Israelite Cultural Indistinguishability from Canaanites
Archaeologically, the culture of the early hillside settlements, which later became Israelite, is nearly indistinguishable from that of the Canaanites living in the urban centers. This suggests that these early Israelite settlements were likely made up of people who migrated from Canaanite urban areas into the highlands, challenging the biblical narrative of a distinct, invading Israelite people.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Joshua Never Conquered Canaan. Here’s What Really Happened · watch the clip
Biblical Admonitions Reflect Canaanite Origins
The frequent biblical admonitions against worshipping Baal and adopting Canaanite practices make more sense if the Israelites originated from Canaanite culture. Rather than being tempted by new foreign gods upon entering the land, these warnings reflect an anxiety about 'backsliding' into ancestral practices. This suggests that the Israelites were being urged to abandon long-standing traditions they were accustomed to, rather than resisting new ones.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Joshua Never Conquered Canaan. Here’s What Really Happened · watch the clip
The Evolution of Israelite Identity
The archaeological evidence reverses the biblical narrative of Israel's origins, suggesting a ground-up formation rather than a top-down unity. Instead of starting as a unified nation that conquered Canaan and then fragmented, Israel likely emerged from Canaanites gradually moving into the highlands, forming small settlements that coalesced into clans and tribes. These groups developed distinct cultural markers, including dietary and religious practices, to differentiate themselves from their origins, eventually banding together to form a nation.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Joshua Never Conquered Canaan. Here’s What Really Happened · watch the clip
Preservation of Canaanite City Names
Despite biblical commands to erase Canaanite influence, Israelite-occupied cities, including Jerusalem, retained their original Canaanite names. Jerusalem was a Jebusite city before its conquest, and its name's etymology is debated, though it appears as 'Salem' in Genesis 14. Similarly, Bethel, meaning 'House of El' (a chief Canaanite deity), was a Canaanite town whose name was adopted by the Israelites, who reinterpreted 'El' to refer to Yahweh.
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Joshua Never Conquered Canaan. Here’s What Really Happened · watch the clip
Mount Ebal curse tablet claims
A folded lead tablet found at Mount Ebal was claimed by the Associates for Biblical Research to be the oldest Hebrew inscription, dating to the Late Bronze Age (1400-1200 BCE), and containing a curse by Yahweh. This claim is significant because Mount Ebal is associated with curses in Deuteronomy 27, and the find would predate other attestations of Hebrew and Yahweh by centuries. However, critical scholars remain unconvinced due to the organization's apologetic agenda, the magnitude of the claims, and the lack of clear visible writing on the "lump of metal."
Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · The oldest Biblical text isn't in Genesis. And it's brutal · watch the clip
Courses that cover Joshua
The Bible and Abortion: When Does Life Begin in the Bible?
Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years
Before the Bible: Mesopotamia and the Myths that Shaped Scripture
Did Jesus Really Exist? Evidence That Even Atheist Historians Accept
Digging Up Dirt on Joshua
Earliest Christian Heresies
Everyday Life in Ancient Israel
Finding Moses: What Scholars Know About the Exodus and the Jewish Law
Judaism Before Jesus
The Bible and the Quran: Comparing Their Historical Problems
The Dark Side of Christmas
The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel
The Mysteries of the Synoptic Gospels: Discovering Matthew, Mark, and Luke
The Rise and Fall of Biblical Israel: The Books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings
The Ten Commandments
The Unknown Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
