Since the book of Joshua contains also a de scription of the territories of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, situated on the left bank of the Jordan, which tribes entered into pos session before the death of Moses, the Pentateuch itself may be considered as one of the sources from which the second part of the book of Joshua has been compiled. That the author of the book of Joshua derived part of his information from the Pentateuch is evident, if we compare Deut. xviii: 1, 2, and Num. xviii :2o, with Josh. xiii:14, 33; xtv :4. Compare also Num. xxxi :8, with Josh. Riii :21 and 22.
The author of the book of Joshua frequently repeats the statement of the Pentateuch in a more detailed form, and mentions the changes which had taken place since the Pentateuch was written. Compare Num. xxxiv :i3 and 14, with Josh. xiv: 1-4; Num. xxxit :37, with Josh. xiii :i7, sq.; Num. xxxv with Josh. xxi.
(7) Similarities. There is also considerable similarity between the following passages in the books of Joshua and Judges: Josh. xiii :3; Judg. iii :3 ; Josh. xv:I.3, sq.; Judg. i 20 ; JOS11. xv: 15-19; Judg. :11-15; Josh. xv :63 ; Judg. i :21 ; Josh. xvi :To; Judg. :29 ; Josh. xvii :12 ; Judg. i :27 ; Josh. xix:47; Judg. xviii. The book of Joshua seems to explain the text of the book of Judges by brief notices; as, for instance, the names Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai (Josh. xv:i4), (comp. Judg. :to), and makes use of more regu lar grammatical forms, instead of the more un usual forms in the book of Judges.
(8) Authentic Records. It seems to have been the intention of the author of chapters xiii xxii to furnish authentic records concerning the arrangements made by Joshua after the conquest of Canaan. Since we do not find in the subse quent history that the tribes, after the death of Joshua, disagreed among themselves about the ownership of the land, it would appear that the object of the book of Joshua, as a 'Doomsday Book,' was fully attained. The circumstance that the book of Joshua contains many Canaanitish names of places to which the Hebrew names are added, seems also to indicate that the second part originated in an early age, when neither the Canaanitish name was entirely forgotten, nor the Hebrew name fully introduced; so that it was expedient to mention both.
(9) Authorship. In the last two chapters occur two orations of Joshua, in which he bids farewell to the people whom he had commanded.
In chapter xxiv:26, we read, 'And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God.' The expression, these words, seems to refer only to his last address, and the subsequent resolution of the people to follow his example. We are here, however, expressly informed that Joshua did write this much ; and consequently, we deem it the more likely that he also committed to writing the other memorable events connected with his career, such as the conquest and the distribution of the land.
Viewing all the circumstances together, we consider it highly probable that the whole book of Joshua was composed by hitnself up to the twenty eighth verse of the last chapter ; to which a friendly hand subjoined some brief notices, con tained in verses 29-33, concerning the death, age, and burial of Joshua; the continuance of his in fluence upon the people; the interment, in She client, of the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel had brought from Egypt; and the death and burial of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, whom his son Phinehas interred in his allotment on Mount Ephraim.
(10) Authority. The authority of the book of Joshua mainly rests upon the manner in which it is treated in other parts of the Bible.
Besides the above allusions in the book of Judges, we find Joshua referred to in Kings xvi:34:—'In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho; he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram, his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.' (Comp. Josh. vi:26.) The second and third verses of Psalms xliv contain a brief sum mary of the whole book of Joshua :—`Thou didst •drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out. For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them ; but thy right hand and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favor unto them.' (Compare Psalm lxviii:x2-14; lxxviii:54, 55; cxiv :3 and 5, which refer to the book of Joshua.) Also, Hab. :t : 'The sun and moon stood still in their habitation,' etc. Heb. xiii :5: 'For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.' (Compare Josh.