Joshua maps & timelines

Geographic Context

The action of Joshua unfolds in the land of Canaan, west of the Jordan River, roughly the territory of modern Israel and the West Bank. Israel enters from the plains of Moab by crossing the Jordan near Jericho, the first city taken, and makes its base camp at Gilgal. From there the campaigns fan out: a central thrust through Jericho and Ai into the hill country, a southern campaign against the Amorite coalition around Gibeon, Lachish, and Hebron, and a northern campaign against Hazor at the waters of Merom.

The division of the land then settles each tribe in its region — Judah and Simeon in the south, Ephraim and Manasseh in the central highlands, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali in the north around Galilee, Benjamin and Dan in the center, and Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh east of the Jordan. The tabernacle is set up at Shiloh, in Ephraim’s hill country, which becomes Israel’s center of worship, and the covenant is renewed at Shechem, between Mounts Ebal and Gerizim, where the patriarchs had first been promised the land.

Timeline of Major Events

• c. 1406 BC - Israel crosses the Jordan; Jericho and Ai fall; covenant read at Ebal and Gerizim.
• c. 1406-1400 BC - The southern and northern campaigns; thirty-one kings defeated; the land largely subdued.
• c. 1399 BC - The land divided among the tribes by lot at Gilgal and Shiloh; cities of refuge and Levitical cities appointed.
• c. 1399-1376 BC - Israel settles the land; the eastern tribes return home; the altar of witness by the Jordan.
• c. 1375 BC - Joshua’s farewell charge and the covenant renewal at Shechem; Joshua dies at 110.