The Historical Books: Joshua-Esther
Even though these books record history, they were
written for theological purposes.
Themes of the Historical books:
1. God is the supreme ruler
over
2. God calls the leaders of
his people 7.
God is merciful
3. God is active in the world 8.
God punishes disobedience and unfaithfulness
4. God is Holy 9.
Man must decide whether he will obey God or not
5. Only God is worthy of
worship and obedience
The Historical books of the
Old Testament assure the reader that history is not a mystery and that God has
not forsaken history, only to wait for appropriate moments when he can again
break into it. God was active in history, and he is still active.
Joshua:
Hebrew title “Yehoshua” meaning “Yaweh is
salvation.”
In the Hebrew Bible Joshua is
in the section known as the Prophets. Along with Judges, Samuel, and Kings,
they make up what are known as the “Former Prophets.”
Name Joshua is the Hebrew
equivalent of Jesus.
Theme: Be strong and courageous
(1:6,7,9,18; 10:25)
God’s promises come true (21:45; 23:3-6; 13-16)
Content: Covers time from
death of Moses to death of Joshua and Eleazar. Tells
how
In places the book seems to
contain eye-witness testimony—perhaps from Joshua himself (5:1,6; first person in MT “we had crossed,” “give to us”).
Joshua himself is said to have written words in the Book of the Law of God
(24:26). Joshua would not have recorded the account of his own death.
Structure:
1-14: Invasion and Conquest of
13-22: Allotment of the Land
23-24: Joshua’s Farewell