Book of Joshua — New World Translation Study Guide
Section: Hebrew Scriptures · Chapters: 24 · Written by: Joshua (and others) · Approximate date: c. 1380 BC · Theme: Conquest & Jehovah's Faithfulness
Summary of the Book of Joshua
Joshua records Israel's conquest and settlement of Canaan under Joshua's leadership, demonstrating that Jehovah is faithful to every promise he made to Abraham and that courage comes from trusting in Jehovah.
Why the Book of Joshua Matters Today
Joshua proves that 'not a word failed out of all the good things that Jehovah had spoken' (Joshua 21:45). Every promise made to Abraham about the land was kept. For Witnesses encouraging themselves about Kingdom promises that still wait fulfillment, Joshua is essential reading: what Jehovah has promised, he performs. The book also contains one of the strongest personal-choice scriptures in the Hebrew Scriptures — 'As for me and my household, we will serve Jehovah' (Joshua 24:15) — frequently used in family worship and in field ministry to challenge sincere people to take a personal stand.
Key Verses in Joshua
- Josh 1:9
- Josh 24:15
Notable Passages in Joshua
Joshua 1:9
Jehovah's command 'be courageous and strong' assures Joshua that divine presence removes the basis for fear — a promise equally relevant to Jehovah's servants today.
Joshua 24:15
Joshua's declaration 'as for me and my household, we will serve Jehovah' represents the personal choice every family must make for exclusive devotion.
Joshua 21:45
The affirmation that 'not a word failed out of all the good things that Jehovah had spoken' establishes the perfect reliability of every divine promise.
Study Questions for Joshua
As you read the book of Joshua, reflect on these questions to deepen your understanding and appreciation of Jehovah's Word:
- How did Jehovah prepare Joshua for leadership, and what qualities of courage and faith did Joshua demonstrate that we can imitate?
- What does the account of Rahab (Joshua 2; 6) teach about how Jehovah's mercy can extend to those outside Israel who act in faith?
- Why was the sin of Achan (Joshua 7) so serious, and what does it teach about how individual sin can affect the whole congregation?
- How did Joshua's farewell address (Joshua 24) challenge the people to make a clear choice for Jehovah, and what choice must we make today?
- What does Joshua's record of Jehovah fulfilling every promise (Joshua 21:45; 23:14) teach about Jehovah's faithfulness?
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua
- Who wrote the book of Joshua?
- Joshua himself wrote most of the book, completing it around 1450 BCE. The account of Joshua's own death and subsequent events was added by Eleazar or Phinehas.
- When was the book of Joshua written?
- Joshua was written approximately 1450 BCE, covering about 20 years from Israel's crossing of the Jordan in 1473 BCE through Joshua's death.
- What is the main theme of Joshua?
- Joshua records the conquest and division of Canaan, demonstrating that Jehovah faithfully fulfills every promise. The central call of the book is to choose Jehovah wholeheartedly, as Joshua himself did.
How to Study Joshua with JW Study
Track your progress through all 24 chapters of Joshua in the New World Translation, mark completed chapters as you read, save personal notes on key passages, and build a consistent daily Bible reading habit. Use it alongside JW Library and the publications available at wol.jw.org to deepen your understanding of Jehovah's Word.
Reading Plans That Include Joshua
The book of Joshua is covered in the following structured reading plans on NWT Progress. Each plan divides the reading evenly across a set number of days to help you stay consistent.
- NWT in 1 Year — Read the entire New World Translation, all 66 books, in 365 days. (365 days, 1189 chapters)
- Hebrew Scriptures in 1 Year — Read all 39 books of the Hebrew Scriptures over the course of a year. (365 days, 929 chapters)
- Intensive: Bible in 90 Days — Cover all 66 books in 90 days with a steady, focused schedule. (90 days, 1189 chapters)
Related Bible Study Topics
Deepen your study of the Bible with these related topics from JW Study:
- Is Jesus God? — Understanding Jesus' identity as the Son of God — distinct from Jehovah
- Jesus and Michael the Archangel — Scriptural evidence that Jesus Christ is Michael the archangel
- Holy Spirit — Person or Force? — The Bible shows the holy spirit is God's active force, not a third person
- Holy Spirit Is Not a Person — Key Verses — Scriptural proof that the holy spirit is God's active force, not a person
- The Trinity Is Not Biblical — Key Verses — Scripture consistently distinguishes the Father from the Son — the Trinity doctrine has no Bible basis
- The Angel of the Lord Is Michael — Key Verses — Scriptural evidence connecting the angel of Jehovah, Michael the archangel, and Jesus Christ
- What Is the Soul? — The Bible defines the soul as a living being — not an immortal inner entity
- What Happens When We Die? — Death is a state of unconscious sleep — not heaven, hell, or purgatory
- God's Kingdom — What Is It? — A real government in heaven that will rule over a paradise earth
- Why Does God Allow Suffering? — Understanding the issue of universal sovereignty and why Jehovah permits evil for now
- The Sanctity of Blood — Why Jehovah commands us to abstain from blood — and what this means today
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