outline as you read: Chapter Event Significance Charge to Joshua Task identified Spying Jericho Enemy studied Crossing Jordan Leader magnified Stones set up Deliverance memorialized Circumcision and Passover Hearts prepared Conquest (6:1—12:24) To possess Canaan meant to drive out the enemy But the enemy was many—Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and others—each to be reckoned with as Joshua planned his strategy of conquest There is no record of God explicitly instructing Joshua as to the pattern of that strategy, though the divine direction was ever present Actually, the geographical location of entrance into the north-south-oriented Canaan, at Jericho, determined the plan See Map H for the general movements of the central, southern, and northern campaigns The strategy was simply to (1) gain the bridgehead at Jericho; (2) extend the battle in this central region to e ect a wedge between the northern and southern armies; (3) then engage each, one after the other, the nearer armies (southern) rst The account of the book of Joshua follows the sequence of that plan in recording the highlights10 of Israel’s conquest of the enemies in Canaan Chart 30 outlines this section of Joshua Study the chart as you read the Bible text Allocations (13:1—21:45) The activities of Israel during the years of chapters 1-12 were not terminal in themselves The terminus was reached when it could be said that “Joshua took the whole land” (11:23) and that he could now divide the land “for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes” (11:23) The action of the unhappy though necessary wars was the prelude to the gratifying and pleasant business of the allotment of the lands to the Israelites Chart 31 shows how these chapters report the various allocations made to the tribes and individuals While there is no record of any pageantry or colorful ceremony attending the drawing of lots for the land assignments for each tribe, the importance of such allotments cannot be overstated This was the climactic moment in Israel’s young life, when for the rst time she could claim a land as her own, given by God In the days of the patriarchs— Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph—the land was too large for total claim When by propagation Israel grew to the size of a formidable nation, the people were dwelling in bondage in a foreign land, Egypt The wilderness years were spent on the way to the land The seven years of ghting after crossing the Jordan were used to conquer the land Now the hour had come to claim the land, build homes, and live with God in peace The day of land allotment was turly a happy for Israel Consecration (22:1—24:33) The rst ... extend the battle in this central region to e ect a wedge between the northern and southern armies; (3) then engage each, one after the other, the nearer armies (southern) rst The account of the. .. book of Joshua follows the sequence of that plan in recording the highlights10 of Israel’s conquest of the enemies in Canaan Chart 30 outlines this section of Joshua Study the chart as you read the. .. business of the allotment of the lands to the Israelites Chart 31 shows how these chapters report the various allocations made to the tribes and individuals While there is no record of any pageantry