a. The bookâs goal and procedure (1:1â18)
i. Past connections (1:1). This statement joins the book of Joshua with the event narrated at the end of Deuteronomy. It is a time of transition in which Moses, who was the chief human character of the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, will no longer feature. The term servant of the LORD appeared in Deuteronomy 34:5, describing Moses at his death. This expression will occur another thirteen times in the book of Joshua as an epithet of Moses. The expression âservant of Xâ, where X is a deity, appears frequently outside the Bible.1 However, until the death of Joshua (when it is also applied to him), only Moses is called servant of the LORD. Besides expressing the relationship of servanthood which Moses would have towards the LORD, it also stresses the personal relationship which the LORD had towards Moses, as described in the ďŹnal verses of Deuteronomy.
Joshua, the bookâs main human character, is introduced as son of Nun. This identiďŹes him with the Joshua of Deuteronomy who will succeed Moses. The designation of Joshua as Mosesâ assistant (Heb. mÄĹĄÄrÄt) serves two purposes. Firstly, it links this Joshua with the ďŹgure in Exodus 24:13; 33:11 and in Numbers 11:28. This term does not appear again in Deuteronomy. This Joshua is the same person who ascended the mountain of God with Moses and who served as Mosesâ assistant in the wilderness wanderings. Secondly, this term is different from the more common word for servant (Heb. âebed), which is used of Moses. Although the two terms overlap in their meaning and usage, the concern here is to preserve the distinctive relationship of Moses and the LORD and to afďŹrm that the relationship between Joshua and Moses was different from this. However, it was a special relationship and one that further qualiďŹed Joshua for the task he received. In this verse, the LORD speaks directly to Joshua, just as he did with Moses. It further conďŹrms the special role of Joshua as a successor of Moses.2 Although the servant of the LORD was an honoured position in the Old Testament, Jesus introduces a whole new category of relationship. In John 15:15, he explicitly rejects the term servants for his disciples and replaces it with friends. For all those who follow Christ, this describes a new and fuller relationship with him. At the same time, the response of the apostle Paul is to continue to recognize that he is a âslaveâ of Christ (Rom. 1:1; 1 Cor. 7:22; Eph. 6:6). Thus the Christian, elevated by Jesus to a new relationship, willingly submits to the discipleship to which God calls believers.
ii. Promises: the book in outline (1:2â5). This text summarizes the book. Verse 2 describes the crossing of the Jordan as found in 1:1 â 5:12. Verse 3 outlines the âconquestâ of 5:13 â 12:24. Verse 4 implies the distribution of the land in 13:1 â 22:34. The emphasis on all the days of Joshuaâs life in verse 5 is found at the end of Joshuaâs life in the ďŹnal two chapters of the book. These verses also introduce the character of the LORD God of Israel. He is one of the main actors in the book. Here he reveals himself through his promises on behalf of Joshua and Israel.
2â3. A note of Mosesâ death is repeated to conďŹrm that Joshuaâs leadership can now begin. The land is presented as a gift which the LORD is about to give to his people. However, the two occurrences of this verb alternate with verbs describing how Joshua and the Israelites are to cross (Heb. âÄbar) the Jordan River and how they will possess wherever they set their feet (tidrĹk). There is a twofold aspect to this. God promises the land but the people must take it for themselves. They must ďŹght in accordance with Godâs explicit direction and their allotment of the land must follow his guidance. The parallel passage of Deuteronomy 11:24â25 is also set within the context of commands of loyalty to God and his commandments. Joshua adds the command to âcross overâ, something that the people are prepared to do.
A second twofold aspect of the bookâs message is implied in the two occurrences of the adjective all (Heb. kol)...