been made with them. More of the enemy forces perished as a result of a miraculous hailstorm than died in the actual warfare. Jehovah even listened to Joshua’s voice in lengthening the daylight hours for the battle.—Josh. 9:3–10:14.

Joshua followed up this God-given victory by capturing Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron and Debir, thus breaking the power of the Canaanites in the southern part of the land. Next the northern Canaanite kings, under the leadership of Jabin the king of Hazor, assembled their forces at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel. Though faced with horses and chariots, Joshua was divinely encouraged not to give way to fear. Again Jehovah granted victory to the Israelites. As instructed, Joshua hamstrung the horses and burned the chariots of the enemy. Hazor itself was consigned to the fire. (Josh. 10:16–11:23) Thus, within a period of about six years (compare Numbers 10:11; 13:2, 6; 14:34-38; Joshua 14:6-10), Joshua defeated thirty-one kings and subjugated large sections of the Promised Land.—Josh. 12:7-24.

Now came the time for distributing the land to the individual tribes. This was done initially from Gilgal, under the supervision of Joshua, High Priest Eleazar and ten other divinely appointed representatives. (Josh. 13:7; 14:1, 2, 6; Num. 34:17-29) After the tabernacle was located at Shiloh the apportioning of the land by lot continued from there. (Josh. 18:1, 8-10) Joshua himself received the city of Timnath-serah in the mountainous region of Ephraim.—Josh. 19:49, 50.

FINAL ADMONITION TO ISRAELITES, AND DEATH

Toward the end of his life Joshua assembled Israel’s older men, heads, judges and officers, admonishing them to serve Jehovah in faithfulness and warning them of the consequences of disobedience. (Josh. 23:1-16) He also called together the entire congregation of Israel, reviewed Jehovah’s past dealings with their forefathers and the nation, and then appealed to them to serve Jehovah. Said Joshua: “Now if it is bad in your eyes to serve Jehovah, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve, whether the gods that your forefathers who were on the other side of the River served or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are dwelling. But as for me and my household, we shall serve Jehovah.” (Josh. 24:1-15) Thereafter the Israelites renewed their covenant to obey Jehovah.—Josh. 24:16-28.

At the age of 110 years Joshua died and was buried at Timnath-serah. The good effect of his unswerving loyalty to Jehovah is evident from the fact that “Israel continued to serve Jehovah all the days of Joshua and all the days of the older men who extended their days after Joshua.”—Josh. 24:29-31; Judg. 2:7-9; see CHRONOLOGY, page 336, for details on the time period that may have been involved.

2. Owner of a field at Beth-shemesh where the sacred Ark first came to rest and was exposed to view after being returned by the Philistines.—1 Sam. 6:14, 18.

3. Chief of Jerusalem in the time of King Josiah. It appears that high places used for false worship were located near Joshua’s residence, but Josiah had these pulled down.—2 Ki. 23:8.

4. Son of Jehozadak; the first high priest to serve the repatriated Israelites following their return from Babylonian exile. (Hag. 1:1, 12, 14; 2:2-4; Zech. 3:1-9; 6:11) In the Bible books of Ezra and Nehemiah he is called Jeshua.—See JESHUA No. 4.

JOSHUA, BOOK OF

This Bible book provides a vital link in the history of the Israelites by showing how God’s promises to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were fulfilled. Probably covering a period of more than twenty years (1473-c. 1450 B.C.E.), it tells of the conquest of Canaan, followed by the distribution of the land to the Israelites, and concludes with Joshua’s discourses encouraging faithfulness to Jehovah.

The fact that the book contains ancient names for cities (Josh. 14:15; 15:15) and detailed instructions and then relates how these were carried out indicates that it is a contemporary record. (For examples see Joshua 1:11-18; 2:14-22; 3:2–4:24; 6:22, 23.) In fact, the writer identifies himself as living at the same time as Rahab of Jericho and therefore as an eyewitness.—Josh. 6:25.

AUTHENTICITY

In the estimation of some, however, the book of Joshua is not true history. This view is primarily based on the assumption that, since the miracles mentioned in the book are foreign to recent human experience, they could not have happened. It therefore calls into question God’s ability to perform miracles, if not also his existence, as well as the writer’s integrity. For the writer to have embellished his account with fiction while presenting himself as an eyewitness would have made him guilty of deliberate deceit. Surely it is illogical to conclude that a book that honors God as the Fulfiller of his word (Josh. 21:43-45), encourages faithfulness to him (Josh. 23:6-16; 24:14, 15, 19, 20, 23) and openly acknowledges Israel’s failures was produced by a false witness.—Josh. 7:1-5; 18:3.

No one can deny that the Israelite nation came into existence and occupied the land described in the book of Joshua. Likewise, there is no valid basis for challenging the truthfulness of that book’s account concerning the way in which the Israelites gained possession of Canaan. Neither the psalmists (Ps. 44:1-3; 78:54, 55; 105:42-45; 135:10-12; 136:17-22), Nehemiah (9:22-25), the first Christian martyr Stephen (Acts 7:45), the disciple James (Jas. 2:25) nor the learned apostle Paul (Acts 13:19; Heb. 4:8; 11:30, 31) doubted its authenticity. And 1 Kings 16:34 records the fulfillment of Joshua’s prophetic curse uttered about five hundred years earlier at the time of Jericho’s destruction.—Josh. 6:26.

WRITER

Some scholars, although acknowledging the book to have been written in or near the time of Joshua, reject the traditional Jewish view that Joshua himself wrote it. Their main objection is that some of the events recorded in the book of Joshua also appear in the book of Judges, which commences with the words, “And after the death of Joshua.” (Judg. 1:1) Nevertheless, this opening statement is not necessarily a time indicator for all the events found in the Judges account. The book is not arranged in strict chronological order, for it mentions an event that definitely is placed before Joshua’s death. (Judg. 2:6-9) Therefore, some things, such as the capture of Hebron by Caleb (Josh. 15:13, 14; Judg. 1:9, 10), Debir by Othniel (Josh. 15:15-19; Judg. 1:11-15) and Leshem or Laish (Dan) by the Danites (Josh. 19:47, 48; Judg. 18:27-29) could likewise have taken place before Joshua’s death. Even the action of the Danites in setting up an idolatrous image at Laish could reasonably fit Joshua’s time. (Judg. 18:30, 31) In his concluding exhortation, Joshua told the Israelites: “Remove the gods that your forefathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt, and serve Jehovah.” (Josh. 24:14) Had idolatry not existed, this statement would have had little meaning.

Logically, then, with the exception of the concluding portion that reports his death, the book may be attributed to Joshua. As Moses had recorded the happenings of his lifetime, so it would have been fitting for Joshua to do likewise. The book itself reports: “Then Joshua wrote these words in the book of God’s law.”—Josh. 24:26.

NOT CONTRADICTORY

Some have felt that the book is contradictory in making it appear that the land was completely subdued by Joshua while at the same time reporting that much of it remained to be taken. (Compare Joshua 11:16, 17, 23; 13:1.) But such seeming discrepancies are easily resolved when one bears in mind that there were two distinct aspects in the conquest. First, national warfare under Joshua’s leadership broke the power of the Canaanites. Next, individual and tribal action was required to take full possession of the land. (Josh. 17:14-18; 18:3) Probably while Israel was warring elsewhere, the Canaanites reestablished themselves in cities such as Debir and Hebron so that these had to be retaken by individual or tribal effort.—Compare Joshua 11:21-23 with Joshua 14:6, 12; 15:13-17.

OUTLINE OF CONTENTS

I. Joshua commissioned by Jehovah to lead Israelites across Jordan; also assured of success and admonished to be courageous and obey Law (1:1-9)

A. Commands officers to instruct Israelites to prepare for crossing Jordan (1:10, 11)

B. Reminds Reubenites, Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh about obligation to share in conquest; they agree to cooperate (1:12-18)

C. Sends two spies to investigate Jericho and vicinity (2:1)

1. Spies lodge with Rahab, a prostitute of Jericho (2:1)

a. Because of faith in Jehovah, Rahab hides spies and then misdirects men sent by king of Jericho to look for them; requests that she and entire family be preserved alive for having exercised loving-kindness (2:2-13)

b. If not informed on by her, spies assure Rahab of preservation and instruct her to tie cord of scarlet thread in window and gather family into house to be spared (2:14, 16-21)

2. Spies descend by means of rope from window of Rahab’s house and, after remaining three days in mountainous region, return with good report to Joshua (2:15, 21-24)

D. Israelites, under Joshua, leave encampment at Shittim, spend night near Jordan and cross river (3:1-17)

1. As divinely instructed, priests with Ark lead march (3:8, 11, 14)

2. At instant feet of priests carrying Ark dipped into edge of Jordan’s waters, river miraculously dammed up, fulfilling Jehovah’s earlier words to Joshua and assuring that Jehovah was with Joshua and that Israel would defeat inhabitants of land (3:7, 9-16)

3. Israelites cross while priests remain standing with Ark in middle of Jordan (3:17)

4. According to Joshua’s command, twelve stones picked up from middle of Jordan to be deposited at first Israelite lodging place W of Jordan; twelve stones also set up in middle of Jordan where priests stood (4:1-10)

5. Priests with Ark cross last and Jordan again overflows banks (4:11-19)

6. Twelve stones taken from bed of Jordan set up at Gilgal as memorial (4:20-24)

7. Israel’s crossing Jordan by means of miracle throws fear into inhabitants of land (5:1)

II. Circumcision of Israelite males at Gilgal followed by observance of Passover; manna ceases as Israelites begin eating fruitage of land (5:2-12)

III. Angelic prince appears to Joshua near Jericho and outlines procedure for taking city (5:13–6:5)

IV. Jericho devoted to destruction after Jehovah causes walls to fall; Rahab and household spared (6:6-25, 27)

A. Joshua pronounces prophetic curse on Jericho’s future rebuilder (6:26)

B. Achan wrongly appropriates to himself things devoted to destruction (7:1)

V. Israelites defeated by men of Ai because Jehovah withholds aid due to Achan’s sin; Achan and his household stoned and then burned (7:2-26)

VI. With Jehovah’s blessing, second effort against Ai successful (8:1-29)

A. Joshua employs ambush against city (8:2-21)

B. Inhabitants devoted to destruction, their domestic animals taken as spoil, city reduced to desolate mound and its king hanged on stake until evening (8:22-29)

VII. Joshua builds altar at Mount Ebal and reads blessings and maledictions to Israelites, as half of congregation stands in front of Mount Gerizim and the other half in front of Mount Ebal (8:30-35)

VIII. While other peoples of Canaan prepare for war against Israel, Gibeonites shrewdly get Joshua to conclude covenant of peace (9:1-15, 24)

A. Covenant honored, although Gibeonites had misrepresented facts to save their lives; Gibeonites constituted slaves (9:16-27)

B. Five kings ally themselves against Gibeonites for having made peace with Israel (10:1-5)

1. Israel’s army marches all night from Gilgal to defend Gibeonites in response to their request for aid (10:6-9)

2. Enemy defeated as Jehovah fights for Israel (10:10-27)

C. Joshua follows up victory by taking cities of Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron and Debir respectively and capturing mountainous region, Negeb and Shephelah in southern Canaan (10:28-43)

IX. A coalition of northern Canaanite kings, headed by Jabin of Hazor, assemble forces at waters of Merom to fight against Israel (11:1-5)

A. Jehovah gives Israel victory; as divinely directed, Joshua hamstrings horses and burns chariots of enemy (11:6-9)

B. Hazor captured and burned (11:10-15)

X. Major conquests completed; listing of thirty-one defeated kings (11:16–12:24)

XI. Land, including unsubjugated sections, apportioned to Israelites as an inheritance (13:1-7)

A. Gadites, Reubenites and half tribe of Manasseh granted possession of inheritances E of Jordan earlier received from Moses; Levites received no inheritance (13:8-33)

B. Joshua gives Hebron to Judean Caleb, this being a special inheritance promised him by Jehovah through Moses (14:6-15)

C. Other inheritances W of Jordan assigned by lot (14:1-5)

1. Judah’s inheritance (15:1-63)

2. Territory assigned to Ephraim and Manasseh (16:1–17:18)

a. Inheritance of Ephraimites, including enclave cities in Manasseh (16:5-10)

b. Manassites, including daughters of Manassite Zelophehad, receive inheritance; ten allotments of land for Manassites W of Jordan and enclave cities in Issachar and Asher (17:1-13)

c. Tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh consider inheritances too small; told by Joshua to cut down forests and drive out Canaanites (17:14-18)

D. Tabernacle located at Shiloh and distribution of land by lot continues from there (18:1-10)

1. Tribes of Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and Dan have inheritances apportioned to them by lot; Joshua receives Timnath-serah as special inheritance (18:11–19:51)

2. Six cities of refuge set aside for unintentional manslayers (20:1-9)

3. Assignment of forty-eight Levite cities, thirteen of these being priestly cities (21:1-42)

E. With assignments of territory made, Jehovah’s promises to Israel fulfilled (21:43-45)

XII. Reubenites, Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh return to inheritance E of Jordan after being admonished and blessed by Joshua (22:1-9)

A. Build an altar, causing tribes W of Jordan to plan military action against them for unfaithfulness (22:10-12)

B. Issue over altar settled peaceably when tribes E of Jordan reveal purpose of altar to be a memorial of faithfulness to Jehovah (22:13-34)

XIII. Joshua assembles Israel’s older men, heads, judges and officers, admonishing them to carry out Jehovah’s word (23:1-16)

XIV. Joshua convenes all Israel at Shechem, reviews with them God’s dealings and encourages them to serve Jehovah; Israelites renew covenant to do God’s will (24:1-28)

XV. Death of Joshua, burial of Joseph’s bones at Shechem and death of Eleazar the high priest (24:29-33)

See the book “All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial,” pp. 42-46.

JOSIAH

(Jo·siʹah) [let (or, may) Jehovah give; or, Jehovah heals].

1. Son of Judean King Amon by Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah. (2 Ki. 22:1) Josiah had at least two wives, Hamutal and Zebidah. (2 Ki. 23:31, 34, 36) Of his four sons mentioned in the Bible, only the firstborn, Johanan, did not rule as king over Judah.—1 Chron. 3:14, 15.

After the assassination of his father and the execution of the conspirators, eight-year-old Josiah became king of Judah. (2 Ki. 21:23, 24, 26; 2 Chron. 33:25) Some six years later Zebidah gave birth to Josiah’s second son, Jehoiakim. (2 Ki. 22:1; 23:36) In the eighth year of his reign, Josiah sought to learn and to do Jehovah’s will. (2 Chron. 34:3) It was also about this time that Jehoahaz (Shallum), Josiah’s son by Hamutal, was born.—2 Ki. 22:1; 23:31; Jer. 22:11.

During his twelfth year as king, Josiah began a campaign against idolatry that apparently extended into the eighteenth year of his reign. Altars used for false worship were torn down and desecrated by burning human bones upon them. Also, sacred poles, graven images and molten statues were destroyed. Josiah even extended his efforts as far as the northern part of what had once been territory of the ten-tribe kingdom but had been desolated because of the Assyrian conquest and subsequent exile. (2 Chron. 34:3-8) Evidently Zephaniah’s and Jeremiah’s denunciations of idolatry had a good effect.—Jer. 1:1, 2; 3:6-10; Zeph. 1:1-6.

After King Josiah completed cleansing the land of Judah and while he was having Jehovah’s temple repaired, High Priest Hilkiah found the “book of Jehovah’s law by the hand of Moses,” doubtless the original copy. Entrusted by Hilkiah with this sensational find, Shaphan the secretary reported on the progress of the temple repair work and thereafter read the book to Josiah. On hearing God’s word, this faithful king ripped his garments apart and then commissioned a five-man delegation to inquire of Jehovah in his behalf and in behalf of the people. The delegation went to the prophetess Huldah, then dwelling in Jerusalem, and brought back a report to this effect: ‘Calamity will come as a consequence of disobedience to Jehovah’s law. But because you, King Josiah, humbled yourself, you will be gathered to your graveyard in peace and will not see the calamity.’—2 Ki. 22:3-20; 2 Chron. 34:8-28; see HULDAH.

Subsequently Josiah assembled all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, including the older men, the priests and the prophets, and read God’s law to them. After this they concluded a covenant of faithfulness before Jehovah. Then followed a second and evidently a more intensive campaign against idolatry. The foreign-god priests of Judah and Jerusalem were put out of business, and Levite priests who had become involved in improper worship at high places were deprived of the privilege of serving at Jehovah’s altar. The high places built centuries earlier during Solomon’s reign were made completely unfit for worship. In fulfillment of a prophecy uttered about three hundred years previously by an unnamed man of God, Josiah pulled down the altar built by Israel’s King Jeroboam at Bethel. Not only at Bethel but also in the other cities of Samaria the high places were removed, and the idolatrous priests were sacrificed on the altars where they had officiated.—1 Ki. 13:1, 2; 2 Ki. 23:4-20; 2 Chron. 34:33.

Still in the eighteenth year of his reign, Josiah arranged for the celebration of the Passover, on Nisan 14. It transcended any Passover that had been observed since the days of the prophet Samuel. Josiah himself contributed thirty thousand passover victims and three thousand cattle.—2 Ki. 23:21-23; 2 Chron. 35:1-19.

About four years later Josiah became father to Mattaniah (Zedekiah) by his wife Hamutal.—2 Ki. 22:1; 23:31, 34, 36; 24:8, 17, 18.

Toward the close of Josiah’s thirty-one-year reign (659-c. 629 B.C.E.) Pharaoh Necho led his armies northward to fight the “king of Assyria,” that is, the Babylonian conqueror of Assyria, at Carchemish. For a reason not revealed in the Bible, King Josiah disregarded a divine warning and tried to turn the Egyptian forces back at Megiddo but was mortally wounded in the attempt. He was brought back to Jerusalem in a war chariot and died either en route or upon arrival there. Josiah’s death brought much grief to his subjects. “All Judah and Jerusalem were mourning over Josiah. And Jeremiah began to chant over Josiah; and all the male singers and female singers keep talking about Josiah in their dirges down till today.”—2 Chron. 35:20-25; 2 Ki. 23:29, 30.

Although three of Josiah’s sons and one grandson ruled as kings over Judah, none of them imitated his fine example of turning to Jehovah with all his heart, soul and vital force. (2 Ki. 23:24, 25, 31, 32, 36, 37; 24:8, 9, 18, 19) This also indicates that, although Josiah’s efforts had removed the outward appendages of idolatry, the people generally had not returned to Jehovah with a complete heart. Consequently future calamity was certain.—Compare 2 Kings 23:26, 27; Jeremiah 35:1, 13-17; 44:15-18.

2. “Son of Zephaniah” residing at Jerusalem after the exile. (Zech. 6:10) Probably the same as Hen.—Zech. 6:14.

JOSIPHIAH

(Jo·si·phiʹah) [Jehovah adds].

A member of the paternal house of Bani whose son Shelomith, as head of the paternal house, went to Jerusalem with Ezra in 468 B.C.E.—Ezra 8:1, 10.

JOTBAH

(Jotʹbah) [pleasantness].

The home of Haruz, Judean King Amon’s maternal grandfather. (2 Ki. 21:19) Jotbah is often identified with modern Khirbet Jefat, about nine miles (c. 14 kilometers) N of Nazareth.

JOTBATHAH

(Jotʹba·thah) [possibly, pleasantness or goodness].

A well-watered wilderness encampment of the Israelites. (Num. 33:33, 34; Deut. 10:7) Its exact location cannot be determined. However, ʽAin Tabah, located in a swampy depression about twenty-four miles (c. 39 kilometers) N of Ezion-geber, has been suggested as a possible identification.

JOTHAM

(Joʹtham) [may Jehovah complete].

1. A descendant of Judah designated as a ‘son’ of Jahdai.—1 Chron. 2:47.