Joshua

After Moshe's death, YHWH commissions Yehoshua to lead Yisrael across the Yarden into the promised land, repeatedly urging him to be strong and courageous while obeying the Torah, and promises His presence as with Moshe. Yehoshua commands the people to prepare provisions within three days, and the tribes of Re'uven, Gad, and half-Manasseh pledge their allegiance and commitment to fight alongside their kin.[1][3][4]

Yehoshua sends two spies from Shittim to Yericho, where Rahab the zonah hides them from the Melekh of Yericho and confesses faith in YHWH, securing their safety and extracting a promise to spare her family when Yisrael conquers the city. The spies return after seven days, reporting that the land's inhabitants tremble before Yisrael.[1]

YHWH instructs Yehoshua that when the Kohanim carrying the Aron HaBrit step into the Yarden, its waters will part as at the Yam Suf, confirming Yehoshua's leadership like Moshe's. The people cross on dry ground with the Aron halting the waters upstream until all have passed.[1][3]

YHWH commands Yehoshua to select twelve men, one from each tribe, to take stones from the Yarden's dry riverbed where the Kohanim stood and erect a memorial at Gilgal to commemorate the crossing for future generations. After all Yisrael crosses, the waters resume, and Yehoshua is exalted in the people's sight.[1][3]

Upon hearing of the Yarden crossing, the Kena'ani Melekhim fear; YHWH then commands Yehoshua to circumcise the benai-Yisrael born in the midbar at Gilgal with flint knives, rolling away the 'cherpat Mitzrayim' after healing. A sar-tzva-YHWH appears to Yehoshua near Yericho, instructing him to remove his sandals on qodesh ground.[1]

YHWH instructs Joshua to march around Yericho with priests bearing the ark and shofarot for six days, then seven times on the seventh day; the people shout, the walls collapse, and Israel devotes the city to destruction, sparing Rahab and her household.[1][2][3]

Israel's defeat at 'Ai results from 'Achan's theft of devoted items from Yericho; YHWH reveals the sin, 'Achan and his household are identified, stoned, and burned in the Valley of 'Achor to purify the camp.[1][5]

YHWH directs Joshua to set an ambush behind 'Ai; after feigning retreat to draw out the defenders, Israel captures and burns the city, executes its king, and builds a mizbe'ach to renew the berit.[1][2][5]

The Gibe'onites deceive Joshua and the leaders into a berit by posing as travelers from afar; upon discovery of the ruse, Israel spares them but enforces servitude as woodcutters and water-drawers.[2]

Five 'Amori kings attack Gibe'on for allying with Israel; YHWH hurls large stones from heaven and causes the sun to stand still at Joshua's command, enabling Israel to defeat and execute the kings while conquering southern cities.[1][2][5]

Northern Canaanite kings, led by Yābîn king of Ḥăṣôr, assemble a vast army at waters of Merom against Israel; YHWH assures Joshua of victory, leading to swift defeat, destruction of Ḥăṣôr by fire, hampering of horses and chariots, and complete obedience to YHWH's commands via Mōšeh.

The chapter lists the kings defeated by Mōšeh east of the Yarden and by Yehôšua west of it, from Sîḥôn and ʻÔḡ to the 31 kings of Canaan, cataloging the conquests.

YHWH commands Yehôšua at age 85 to divide the remaining land, detailing territories still held by Philistines, Kenaʻanîm, and others, with instructions for allotting inheritance to tribes Re'uḇēn, Gâd, and half-Manasseh east of Yarden.

Ḳāleḇ, aged 85, reminds Yehôšua of YHWH's promise via Mōšeh, receiving Ḥeḇrôn as inheritance for his faithfulness; Yehôšua blesses him, and the nine-and-a-half tribes receive lots at Šilô for western land division.

Boundaries of Yehûḏâ's inheritance are detailed from Neḡeḇ to Philistine Sea; Ḳāleḇ allots city portions including Ḥeḇrôn to his nephew ʻÔṯnîʼēl who captures Dəḇîr, with lists of Yehûḏâ's cities and unconquered areas.

The allotment of land to the descendants of Joseph, specifically Ephraim, is described with detailed borders from the Jordan at Jericho through the hill country to the sea; Ephraim fails to drive out the Canaanites in Gezer, subjecting them to forced labor instead.[1][4]

Further land is allotted to Manasseh, including inheritance to the daughters of Zelophehad; Joseph's descendants complain of insufficient territory, but Joshua exhorts them to clear the forested hill country and conquer the Canaanites despite their iron chariots.[1][5]

Joshua rebukes the remaining tribes for delaying possession of the land, sends surveyors from each of the seven tribes to divide the remaining territory into seven parts, and casts lots before YHWH in Shiloh for their allotments.[1][2]

Lots are cast for the territories of Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, Dan, and Joshua himself receives Timnath-serah in Ephraim's territory, completing the tribal land divisions.[2][6]

YHWH commands Joshua to designate six cities of refuge—three west and three east of the Jordan—for those who unintentionally kill someone, providing protection from the avenger of blood until a fair hearing by the city elders.[1][2][6]

The Levites are allocated forty-eight cities scattered throughout the territories of the twelve tribes, including six cities of refuge, fulfilling YHWH's command to Moses.[1][2] The conquest and settlement of the land is completed as each tribe proportionally contributes cities and pasture lands to the Levites.[1]

Joshua sends the Transjordanian tribes (Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh) home across the Jordan after they faithfully complete their military duties.[2][3] A near-civil war erupts when these tribes build an altar, but conflict is averted when they explain it is a memorial witness to their unity with the other tribes, not a place for sacrifice.[1][3]

An aged Joshua addresses all Israel, reminding them that YHWH has fought for them and commanding them to remain obedient to the law of Moses and cleave to YHWH.[2] He warns that if they turn to serve other gods and transgress YHWH's covenant, He will bring evil upon them and destroy them from the land.[2]

Joshua gathers all tribes at Shechem and recounts YHWH's faithfulness from Abraham through the conquest, calling the people to choose whom they will serve.[1][2] The people covenant to serve YHWH alone, and Joshua establishes a statute and ordinance, setting up a stone as a witness to their commitment.[2]