Joshua

by Nelson, Richard D.

• ISBN13: 9780664219413
• ISBN10: 0664219411
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-08-01
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Pr

Summary

The book of Joshua details the conquests of land in Palestine by ancient Israel. For modern readers, the story can touch a nerve; its chronicle of brutality and genocide can be seen to parallel more recent history. The book of Joshua has many textual problems - primarily differences between the Hebrew and Greek texts. Much of the inconsistency stems from the varied forms of storytelling in the book, including war narratives, folktales, sermons, and city lists. In this commentary, Richard D. Nelson addresses the textual issues and offers historical, literary, and theological insights into Joshua.

Author Biography

Richard D. Nelson is Kraft Professor of Biblical Studies at Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii	(2)
Abbreviations	ix	(4)
Select Bibliography	xiii
Introduction	1	(26)
1. The Character and Relevance of Joshua	1	(1)
2. Joshua and History	2	(3)
3. Formation of the Book	5	(4)
4. Form Criticism	9	(3)
5. Literary Analysis	12	(3)
6. Theological Themes	15	(6)
7. The Figure of Joshua	21	(1)
8. Text	22	(5)
JOSHUA	27	(258)
1:1-18 Preparations	27	(9)
2:1-24 Rahab Outsmarts the Scouts	36	(17)
3:1-17 Crossing the Jordan	53	(9)
4:1-24 Completing the Crossing	62	(9)
5:1-15 Beginning in the New Land	71	(12)
6:1-27 Capturing Jericho	83	(12)
7:1-26 Achan's Sin and Its Consequences	95	(12)
8:1-29 Capturing Ai	107	(8)
8:30-35 Reading the Law	115	(5)
9:1-27 The Gibeonite Trick	120	(14)
10:1-43 Triumphant Campaign in the South	134	(14)
11:1-23 Triumphant Campaign in the North	148	(8)
12:1-24 List of Defeated Kings	156	(7)
13:1-7 The Command to Divide the Land	163	(4)
13:8-33 The Tribes East of the Jordan	167	(7)
14:1-15 Prelude to the Distribution	174	(7)
15:1-63 Judah	181	(12)
16:1-10 Ephraim	193	(5)
17:1-18 Manasseh	198	(7)
18:1-10 Division at Shiloh	205	(5)
18:11-28 Benjamin	210	(5)
19:1-51 The Six Remaining Tribes	215	(11)
20:1-9 Cities of Refuge	226	(5)
21:1-45 Levitical Cities	231	(12)
22:1-34 A Witness to Solidarity	243	(10)
23:1-16 Joshua's Farewell	253	(9)
24:1-28 Assembly at Shechem	262	(16)
24:29-33 Three Grave Traditions	278	(7)
Appendix: Site Identifications	285	(5)
Index of Ancient Sources	290	(17)
Index of Subjects	307