Deuteronomy

1576 Words4 Pages

At the end of the Book of Deuteronomy, God’s promise to the Israelites to reach the Promise Land of Canaan was not accomplished due to Moses’ death. The story continues in the book of Joshua, where God needed to appoint someone to lead the Israelites after Moses’ death. The book of Joshua was the first book in the Nevi’im, telling the story of Joshua leading the Israelites across the Jordan River and fulfilling the promise to reach the Promise Land, Canaan, which leads to the questions, “Was Joshua the most important biblical figure in the Hebrew Bible?” and if so “Were Joshua and Moses different from each other even though Joshua was Moses’ successor after his death?” If it was not for Joshua then the Israelites could have possibly never reached …show more content…

“It was thought that Joshua was the author of the book but the last verses, 24:29-32, that describes his death were thought to be written by Eleazar. Also, Joshua was written during the Deutoromonic History where the books were all written in Deutoronomic style”. “Deuteronomy ends with the death of Moses and Israel is camped on the eastern border of the land of Canaan. A central theme in the Torah was the promise that Israel will reach the Promise Land but the Israelites are just outside of the land.” The book of Joshua is about Joshua being appointed the successor of Moses by God, and under his leadership will lead the Israelites across the Jordan River and into the Promise Land. It is also about the division of the land among the tribes, and leads them in swearing allegiance to the covenant. Motifs in the book of Joshua are, Joshua becoming the new Moses and leading the Israelites, the Israelites possessing the Promise Land of Canaan, Military glorification of Yahweh, and the execution of the ban on the Canaanites. “Researchers believe that even though the completed book may date to the middle of the first millennium BCE, some of its elements may be much older. It mentions town lists, battle stories, and etiologies that are similar to ancient historiographic and folkloristic traditions known from other ancient Near Eastern cultures of the second and first millennia BCE. Also, it mentions twelve personal names of non-Israelites such as Rahab and Jabin, that are attested in Near Eastern documents dating form or before the period of early

More about Deuteronomy

Open Document