The book of Joshua tells the action-packed story of Israel's entry into and conquest of Canaan, the promised land. Yet it is often troubling for contemporary Christian readers, perhaps more than any other part of the Old Testament - isn't the violence shown inconsistent with the gospel of Jesus?
In The Message of Joshua, David G Firth explores this story as part of God's mission, which goes on to find its ultimate focus in Jesus Christ. He illuminates the meaning that the book of Joshua still has for Christians today; it challenges us, just as it challenges those who have read it down through the ages, to recognize that God not only includes those who join him in his mission, he also excludes those who choose to set themselves against it.
Part of the loved and trusted The Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Joshua offers an clear, readable exposition of the Biblical text and thought-provoking discussion of how its meaning relates to contemporary life. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, The Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for anyone studying or preaching Joshua and who want to delve deeper into the text.
This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NRSV Bible text.
The Message of Joshua will help for anyone looking for a commentary on Joshua that makes clear its meaning both in its original context and for Christians in the twenty-first century.

David G. Firth is Tutor in Old Testament and Academic Dean at Trinity College, Bristol, UK. He is the author of 1 & 2 Samuel in the Apollos Old Testament Commentary series and The Message of Esther in the Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries. He is also the author of Including the Stranger: Foreigners in the Former Prophets in the NSBT series.

Contents
General preface ix
Author's preface xi
Chief abbreviations xiii
Select bibliography xiv
Introduction 1
1. New leader, new land, same God (1:1-18) 13
2. New light from a lady of the night (2:1-24) 24
3. Crossing the Jordan and remembering (3:1 - 4:24) 35
4. Faithfulness first (5:1-12) 46
5. Yahweh fought the battle of Jericho (5:13 - 6:27) 56
6. Yahweh at war against sin (7:1 - 8:29) 67
7. As Moses commanded: law and blessing in renewal (8:30-35) 81
8. Who's in, who's out? Gibeon's deception and covenant (9:1-27) 88
9. Faithful to the promises: the southern campaign (10:1-43) 99
10. Obedient to God: the northern campaign (11:1 - 12:24) 110
11. Living the promise (13:1 - 14:15) 121
12. Judah's allotment (15:1-63) 131
13. Joseph's allotment (16:1 - 17:18) 141
14. Seven more allotments at Shiloh (18:1 - 19:51) 152
15. Taking God at his word: cities of refuge and the allotment
for Levi (20:1 - 21:45) 163
16. Keeping together (22:1-34) 174
17. Parting words (23:1-16) 185
18. Confessing faith anew (24:1-33) 195