As the fulfilment of promises made to Abraham and Moses, Joshua is structured after the patterns of the Torah.
Overview
The Book of Joshua works simultaneously through the Covenant, Creation, Tabernacle, and Feasts patterns. It has seven “days,” but due to the dual events on Day 3 (the land and its first fruit-bearers, or the Bronze Altar and the Golden Table), it has eight steps.
- In terms of the Covenant, God prepares the nation for the mission of conquest, then sends them on the mission. The first part wipes out the old order, and the second part establishes the new.
- In terms of the Creation Week, Joshua, as the sixth book, is an “Adam” who is given dominion over the Land because he was faithful in the Garden (Exodus 33:11; Numbers 14:6-9). Naked Adam and Eve were given the tunic of a servant for their entrance into the Land (Genesis 3:21), but Joshua and the adult Israelites were given the robes of holy rulers (Numbers 15:37-39).
- In terms of the Tabernacle, Joshua’s exploits in the Land are the equivalent of Aaron in the Sanctuary. Blood is sprinkled before the Ark, after which the Man enters a Land rendered clean by the Lord.
- In terms of the Feasts, this sixth book corresponds to the sixth feast in Leviticus 23, the Day of Atonement. The conquest of Canaan is God’s vengeance upon the corrupt nations of the land. Internally, the correspondences replicate the way in which the weekly feast (Sabbath) was measured out across the entire year. Notice that the Day 6 cycle within the Book of Joshua concerns the inheritance of the Levites, the priestly tribe. They were given no land, but this section details the cities they were given among the territories of the other tribes as outposts of the “heavenly country,” the Kingdom of God.
TRANSCENDENCE
(Day 1 – Creation – Initiation – Ark – Sabbath)
The preparation of Israel (Joshua 1-5)
(Day 1 – Creation – Initiation – Ark – Sabbath)
The preparation of Israel (Joshua 1-5)
HIERARCHY
(Day 2 – Division – Delegation – Veil – Passover)
The “circumcision” of all flesh (Joshua 5-8)
(Day 2 – Division – Delegation – Veil – Passover)
The “circumcision” of all flesh (Joshua 5-8)
ETHICS: Priesthood
(Day 3 – Ascension – Presentation – Altar & Table – Firstfruits)
Victories across the Land (Joshua 9-11)
Dynasties crushed (Joshua 12-14)
(Day 3 – Ascension – Presentation – Altar & Table – Firstfruits)
Victories across the Land (Joshua 9-11)
Dynasties crushed (Joshua 12-14)
ETHICS: Kingdom
(Day 4 – Testing – Purification – Lampstand – Pentecost)
The royal tribes (Joshua 15-17)
(Day 4 – Testing – Purification – Lampstand – Pentecost)
The royal tribes (Joshua 15-17)
ETHICS: Prophecy
(Day 5 – Maturity – Transformation – Incense Altar – Trumpets)
The seven remaining tribes (Joshua 18-19)
(Day 5 – Maturity – Transformation – Incense Altar – Trumpets)
The seven remaining tribes (Joshua 18-19)
OATH/SANCTIONS
(Day 6 – Conquest – Vindication – Laver & Mediators – Atonement)
The priestly tribe (Joshua 20-21)
(Day 6 – Conquest – Vindication – Laver & Mediators – Atonement)
The priestly tribe (Joshua 20-21)
SUCCESSION
(Day 7 – Glorification – Representation – Shekinah – Booths)
Succession arrangements (Joshua 22-24)
(Day 7 – Glorification – Representation – Shekinah – Booths)
Succession arrangements (Joshua 22-24)
As a reminder and a reference, here is the Bible Matrix legend.
Analysis
