Chapter VI.

Joshua.

Historical Books of the Old Testament. The twelve books, including
those from Joshua to Esther, are called historical. They narrate the
history of Israel from the entrance of Canaan to the return from
captivity, which is divided into three periods or epochs. (1) _The
Independent Tribes_. This consists of the work of the conquest of
Canaan and of the experiences of the Judges and is recorded in Joshua,
Judges and Ruth. (2) _The kingdom of Israel_. (a) Its rise, 1 Sam. (b)
Its glory, 2 Sam., 1 K. 1-11, 1 Chron. 11-29, 2 Chron. 1-9. (c) _Its
division and fall_, 1 K. 12-22, 2 K. 1-25; 2 Chron. 10-36. (3) _The
Return from Captivity_, Ezr. Neh. and Est.

Name. Taken from Joshua, the leading character, who may be described
as a man of faith, courage, enthusiasm, fidelity to duty, and
leadership.

Connection with Former Books. Joshua completes the story of the
deliverance begun in Exodus. If Israel had not sinned in believing the
evil spies and turning back into the wilderness, we would not have had
the last twenty-one chapters of Numbers and the book of Deuteronomy.
Joshua then would have followed the fifteenth chapter of Numbers, thus
completing the story of God leading Israel out of Egypt into Canaan.

The Key-Word is redemption with the emphasis put upon possession while
redemption in Exodus put the stress upon deliverance. The two make
full redemption which requires being "brought out" and "brought in."