Joshua

Hubbard’s volume is much more substantial exegetically than the NIV Application Commentary format might suggest and provides an unusually successful synthesis of literary observation, theological interpretation and contemporary usefulness. Particularly strong are his treatments of Rahab and Achan as contrasting examples of belonging and exclusion, the Gibeonite episode, the significance of the land-allotment material in chapters 13–21, and the unity of Israel across the Jordan in chapter 22. Hubbard takes the geographical and administrative-looking portions of Joshua seriously rather than rushing through them, showing how they express God’s faithfulness, Israel’s identity and the concrete realization of the promise of land. The application sections occasionally occupy more space than readers seeking purely technical exegesis will need, but the underlying exegetical work is consistently thoughtful. For pastors and teachers wanting serious scholarship that readily moves toward theology and proclamation, this is among the best choices available.

Hubbard explores ethical and archaeological questions about Joshua, outlining Israel’s entry into the land and addressing moral concerns over ethnic cleansing and divinely-mandated warfare. Hubbard navigates these issues while making the book relevant to a wide audience. [Full Review]