Author

Joshua (traditionally)

Written

~1400–1370 BC

Testament

Old Testament

Chapters

24

Key Theme

The conquest and division of the Promised Land under God's command.

Written For

The people of Israel

Introduction of Joshua

Joshua is named after its central figure, whose name means “The Lord saves.” Traditionally attributed to Joshua or a contemporary and written around the late 14th to 13th centuries BC, the book records Israel’s conquest and settlement of Canaan. Joshua, Moses’ successor, leads a new generation across the Jordan alongside figures like Caleb and Rahab. What unfolds is both military campaign and spiritual test: a people claiming the land promised to Abraham while learning that victory depends less on military strength than on obedience. The dramatic tension of conquest and faithfulness makes this one of the Bible’s most action-filled turning points.