The Key-Word.  “Thou shalt,” so often repeated as, “thou shall,” and “shalt not.”  The key-verses are 11:26-28.

Analysis.

I. Review of the Journeys, Chs. 1-4.

  1.  Place of their camp, 1:1-5.

  2.  Their history since leaving Egypt, 1:6-3 end.

  3.  Exhortation to obedience, 4:1-40.

  4.  Three cities of refuge on this side of Jordan. 4:41-49.

II.  Review of the Law, Chs. 3-26.

  1.  Historical and hortatory section, Chs. 5-11.

  2.  Laws of religion. 12:1-16:17.

  3.  Laws of political life. 16:18-20 end.

  4.  Laws of society and domestic relations, Chs. 21-26.

III.  Future of Israel Foretold, Chs. 27-30.

  1.  Memorial tablets of stone.  Ch. 27.

  2.  Blessing and cursing, Ch. 28.

  3.  Renewed covenant and Israel’s future foretold.  Chs. 29-30.

IV.  Moses’ Last Days, Chs. 31-34.

  1.  Charge to Joshua, Ch. 31.

  2.  Song of Moses, Ch. 32.

  3.  Blessing of Moses, Ch. 33.

  4.  Death of Moses, Ch. 34.

For Study and Discussion. (1) Make a list of the principal their past history of which Moses reminds Israel in Chapters 1-4, and find where in the previous books each incident is recorded. (2) From Chapter 11 make a list of reasons for obedience, the rewards of obedience and the importance of the study of God’s law. (3) The laws of blessing and cursing (Ch. 28), make a list of the curses, the sin and the penalty, the blessings, indicating the blessing and that for which it is promised. (4) Make a list of the different countries or peoples concerning whom Israel was given commandment or warning. (5) Moses’ farewell blessing on the several tribes (Ch. 33).  Make a list of what shall come to each tribe. (6) The names, location and purpose of the cities of refuge and the lessons for today to be drawn from them and their use. (7) The inflexibility of God’s law.

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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.