Joshua (Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 7 | WBC)
Overview
Reconstruct the formative years of the people of Israel with Trent C. Butler. Address a range of issues emerging from Joshua, including the historicity and form of its narratives, its textual history, and its theological significance. Combine the tools of textual and literary analysis to provide a new perspective from which to appreciate the value of the book, and evaluate modern critical scholarship’s perspectives on its origins and development. Organized for easy reference, Word Biblical commentaries make an ideal Bible study companion whether you are studying a single passage or a complete biblical book.
The Word Biblical Commentary delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars of our day who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation. This series emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology. These widely acclaimed commentaries serve as exceptional resources for the professional theologian and instructor, the seminary or university student, the working minister, and everyone concerned with building theological understanding from a solid base of biblical scholarship.
This is the first edition of Trent C. Butler’s masterful commentary. To get his more recent, updated edition, check out Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 7A: Joshua 1–12 (Second Edition) and Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 7b: Joshua 13–24 (Second Edition).
Top Highlights
“The interesting point is that Israel is charged with false worship not only in the time of their ancestors, but also in the time of their stay in Egypt. The presupposition appears to be that Israel has never yet served Yahweh correctly. They have merely cried, to him in time of need (cf. v 7). Israel is in the new land. The new land presents them with a new life style. The land has known a life style worshiping Baal and El and the other gods and goddesses for many centuries. On the other hand, Israel has a history of worship, worship connected with the gods of the patriarchs and the gods of Egypt. Over against this history, stands the quite brief history of God’s actions for Israel.” (Page 273)
“The second component is the divine command to fulfill the promise. Leadership in Israel stands tied to the gift of the land.” (Pages 13–14)
“At the narrative level, Josh 1:1–9 introduces the narrative of the conquest of the land. At this level the threefold task given to Joshua corresponds to the three major sections of the book: a) Conquer the land, chaps. 1–12; b) distribute the land, chaps. 13–19); c) obey the law, chaps. 20–24. The section thus functions as a formal introduction to the book, giving in summary fashion a brief survey of the contents. More than that, it sets the tone for the book, a tone dominated by the divine imperative, directing, demanding and yet encouraging his people into action. Behind all that follows stands word and will of God, not man.” (Page 13)
“He demands two actions be taken. First, the people are to enter into the proper relationship to Yahweh. Second, they are to rid themselves of all other claimants to lordship over them. The proper relationship includes the proper attitude of reverence and awe in response to the majestic acts of God and the proper action of service in its widest sense (see Comment on v 2).” (Page 272)
- Title: Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 7: Joshua
- Author: Trent C. Butler
- Series: Word Biblical Commentary
- Volume: 7
- Publisher: Word
- Print Publication Date: 1984
- Logos Release Date: 2002
- Pages: 344
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Bible › Commentaries--Collected works; Bible. O.T. Joshua › Commentaries
- ISBNs: 9781418503567, 1418503568
- Resource ID: LLS:29.11.2
- Resource Type: Bible Commentary
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-06-05T19:28:17Z