Outline of Joshua: The LORD gives the land and calls for loyalty

God’s presence and written word equip Joshua to lead Israel into its promised inheritance.

God appoints the successor of Moses 1:1–6 · Courage obeys God’s written word 1:7–9 · The tribes prepare to enter together 1:10–15 · The people pledge obedience 1:16–18

Rahab confesses the LORD’s rule and protects the spies, seeking mercy for her household.

Rahab conceals the spies 2:1–7 · She confesses the LORD and asks mercy 2:8–14 · The oath receives clear conditions 2:15–21 · The spies return with confidence 2:22–24

The LORD stops the Jordan so Israel crosses on dry ground and knows He is among them.

Follow the ark and prepare for God’s work 3:1–6 · The crossing will confirm God’s presence 3:7–13 · The river stops and Israel crosses 3:14–17

The memorial stones call Israel’s children and the nations to recognize the LORD’s mighty hand.

Twelve stones preserve the crossing’s memory 4:1–9 · The whole people complete the crossing 4:10–18 · The memorial explains God’s mighty hand 4:19–24

Israel renews its covenant signs, and Joshua submits to the holy Commander of the LORD’s army.

The new generation receives circumcision 5:1–9 · Passover gives way to the land’s produce 5:10–12 · Joshua submits on holy ground 5:13–15

Jericho falls by the LORD’s power, while Rahab’s household receives the promised mercy.

God announces the city’s fall 6:1–5 · The people follow the appointed procession 6:6–16 · Judgment and mercy accompany the victory 6:17–25 · The rebuilt city receives a warning 6:26–27

Achan’s theft breaches the covenant and brings defeat until the LORD exposes and judges the offense.

Covenant theft precedes defeat 7:1–5 · God answers lament by exposing the breach 7:6–15 · Achan is identified and confesses 7:16–21 · The offense receives judgment 7:22–26

The LORD restores Israel’s advance, and Joshua brings the whole assembly under the covenant word.

The LORD gives a renewed command 8:1–9 · The ambush draws the enemy out 8:10–23 · Ai and its king are judged 8:24–29 · The whole assembly hears the law 8:30–35

Israel fails to seek the LORD’s counsel but honors the oath that preserves the Gibeonites’ lives.

Gibeon constructs a false account 9:1–13 · Israel acts without seeking counsel 9:14–15 · The oath protects the deceivers’ lives 9:16–21 · Joshua imposes service while preserving life 9:22–27

God answers Joshua, defeats the southern coalition and gives Israel victory over its cities.

Joshua answers Gibeon’s appeal 10:1–9 · The LORD intervenes in the battle 10:10–15 · The five kings are brought to judgment 10:16–27 · The southern campaign succeeds 10:28–43

The LORD defeats the northern kings through Joshua and gives the land rest from the major campaigns.

The larger army cannot overturn God’s promise 11:1–9 · The cities fall under the commanded judgment 11:10–15 · The long campaign reaches its conclusion 11:16–23

The record of defeated kings joins Moses’ and Joshua’s victories in one account of Israel’s inheritance.

Moses’ eastern victories are remembered 12:1–6 · Joshua’s western victories are counted 12:7–24

God directs the aging Joshua to assign the remaining inheritance and recalls the eastern tribes’ portions.

God names the unfinished task 13:1–7 · The eastern inheritance is recalled 13:8–14 · Reuben receives its portion 13:15–23 · Gad receives its portion 13:24–28 · Manasseh’s eastern portion and Levi’s inheritance 13:29–33

The LORD preserves Caleb and grants the inheritance promised to his persevering faith.

The western land is distributed as commanded 14:1–5 · Caleb appeals to the promise 14:6–12 · Joshua grants Hebron 14:13–15

Judah receives its borders and towns, while Caleb’s faith contrasts with Jerusalem’s remaining Jebusites.

Judah’s boundaries are defined 15:1–12 · Caleb’s family takes possession 15:13–19 · Southern and lowland towns are listed 15:20–47 · Hill and wilderness towns are listed 15:48–62 · Jerusalem remains contested 15:63

Ephraim receives its inheritance within Joseph’s portion but leaves the Canaanites of Gezer in forced labor.

Joseph’s allotment is introduced 16:1–4 · Ephraim’s borders and settlements are specified 16:5–9 · Gezer’s inhabitants remain 16:10

Manasseh’s daughters receive their promised shares, and Joseph’s tribes are called to take possession with courage.

The daughters receive the commanded inheritance 17:1–6 · Manasseh’s towns and remaining inhabitants 17:7–13 · Joshua answers the demand for more land 17:14–18

At Shiloh, Joshua directs the survey and allotment, beginning with Benjamin’s territory.

The land is surveyed before the LORD 18:1–10 · Benjamin’s boundaries are traced 18:11–20 · Benjamin’s towns are named 18:21–28

The remaining tribes and Joshua receive their portions as the distribution concludes before the LORD.

Simeon receives towns within Judah 19:1–9 · Zebulun and Issachar receive their shares 19:10–23 · Asher and Naphtali receive their shares 19:24–39 · Dan receives land and later moves north 19:40–48 · Joshua receives his city 19:49–51

The LORD appoints refuge for the unintentional killer, protecting life while preserving justice.

God commands refuge for accidental killing 20:1–3 · The elders hear and protect the fugitive 20:4–6 · Six cities serve both native and foreigner 20:7–9

The Levites receive their cities, and the LORD’s gift of land and rest confirms His faithfulness.

The Levites claim the commanded provision 21:1–8 · Aaron’s descendants and other Kohathites receive towns 21:9–26 · Gershon and Merari receive their towns 21:27–40 · The record ends with God’s fulfilled promise 21:41–45

The tribes preserve their unity when an investigation shows the eastern altar is a witness, not a rival sanctuary.

Joshua sends the eastern tribes home 22:1–9 · The altar raises fear of rebellion 22:10–20 · The eastern tribes explain their purpose 22:21–29 · The explanation preserves peace 22:30–34

Joshua warns Israel to love the LORD, for the God who kept His promises will also enforce His covenant warnings.

Remember who fought and gave the land 23:1–5 · Love the LORD and obey His word 23:6–11 · The warnings are as sure as the promises 23:12–16

God’s saving acts call Israel to renounce idols and serve Him as Joshua’s generation comes to its end.

The LORD recounts His saving initiative 24:1–13 · Joshua demands exclusive allegiance 24:14–18 · The holiness of God confronts easy promises 24:19–24 · A record and stone witness to the covenant 24:25–28 · The leaders die within the inherited land 24:29–33