The Lord Gives Rest

In chapter 1, verses 1-9, God's word to Joshua, "after the death of Moses" (verse 1) is dominated by God's promise first made to Abraham, namely the giving of the land to the Old Testament church (Gen. 12:7; 13:15)—a symbol of his global kingdom realized in the coming of Jesus and his fulfilling the covenant of grace. In response in verse 10, Joshua ordered his officers in response to the Lord's command. The goal of God's gift of the land is often referred to as rest (e.g. 11:23; 21:44; 22:4; 23:1), a concept that links the land with God's purposes in the six creation days of ordering the world (Gen. 2:2-3). For the New Testament extension of this idea, see Hebrews 3:7-4:11).