The Authorship of the Book of Joshua

[The following notes were distributed in Sunday school at Kosmosdale Baptist Church by Tim Scott. I found these notes to be particularly interesting because, though I've read and heard persuasive arguments for how we can know Moses was author of the Pentateuch-- the most notable for the Christian being statements by Jesus such as recorded in John 5:46-47-- I was not aware of the following argument for how we can know Joshua was author of the book bearing his name.]

Joshua.

Technically, the author for the book of Joshua is anonymous since the book does not actually state who is the author. However, there are several indications within the book which point to the identity of the author:

1. The author was an eyewitness to the events of the book (5:1,6; 15:4).

2. Certain parts of the book are said to be written by Joshua himself (24:26, cf. 8:32). This text seems to be the most conclusive evidence that Joshua wrote at least part of the book.

3. Rahab was still living at the time of the writing (6:25). This fact would point to the reality that the book was written during the life of Joshua himself.

4. Since the Jebusites are said to be in control of Jerusalem, the book must have been written before the time of David since David drove the Jebusites from Jerusalem.

All of these facts point to Joshua as the author of the book that bears his name. However, it stands to reason that Joshua did not write the final chapter of the book which describes his death and declares that the people were faithful to the Lord all the days of Joshua and the elders who outlived Joshua.