Below is a collection of Sefer Yehoshua resources, created by The Lookstein Center staff or contributed to the site by Jewish educators.

This is a growing collection. Check back soon or write to us at content@lookstein.org if you didn’t find what you’re looking for.

 

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Sefer Yeshoshua Overview

Sefer Yehoshua tells the story of Bnei Yisrael‘s entrance into and conquest of the land of Canaan (Israel) after their journey in the desert. In addition, highlights include the leadership of Joshua, the division of the land according to tribe, and the interplay between the individual and the community.

Sefer Yehoshua Themes
  • Leadership (Yehoshua’s leadership)
  • Personal and collective responsibility (Story of Yericho/Achan/Ai)
  • Reward and Punishment (Achan/Ai)
  • The growth and evolution of the nation
  • National unity (the story of the 2.5 shevatim) and tribal identity (settling the tribes into their own portions)
  • The importance of Eretz Yisrael
Key Characters in Sefer Yehoshua

Yehoshua, Bnei Yisrael, Rachav, Kaleiv, Achan, the Givonim, 2.5 shevatim (Reuven/Gad/Menashe), Elazar HaKohein

Key Pesukim in Sefer Yehoshua

1:6  – חֲזַק וֶֽאֱמָץ כִּי אַתָּה תַּנְחִיל אֶת הָעָם הַזֶּה אֶת־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לַֽאֲבוֹתָם לָתֵת לָהֶֽם

This pasuk contains the phrase חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ which is repeated multiple times in the opening chapter of Sefer Yehoshua. 

10: 12– וַיֹּאמֶר לְעֵינֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁמֶשׁ בְּגִבְעֹון דֹּום וְיָרֵחַ בְּעמֶק אַיָּלֹון׃

This pasuk contains the miracle of the sun standing still in the middle of the stories of conquering the land. 

Lesson Plans, Resources, and Activities

Teaching Sefer Yehoshua: Perek Gimmel – This lesson plan for elementary school students explores the emotions felt by Bnei Yisrael when crossing the Yarden River, comparing and contrasting this episode to the crossing of the Yam Suf. By The Lookstein Center.
Teaching Sefer Yehoshua: Perek Dalet – This lesson plan for elementary school students focuses on the events of the Gilgal monument along with a text analysis. By The Lookstein Center.
Achan Takes the Spoils of Jericho – This 5-part lesson unit focuses on the story of Achan taking from the spoils of Jericho in Sefer Yehoshua Perek Zayin. By The Lookstein Center.
Kivunim: Maps and Directions in Tanakh – This unit teaches upper elementary school students about the use of directions and maps in Tanakh, based on a close analysis of Yehoshua 12. By The Lookstein Center. 

 

Close Reading Questions on Sefer Yehoshua for High School Students

The questions below were designed for high school students by Zvi Grumet. They are meant to drive a closer reading of certain passages and a broader reading of the Navi as a whole, including the ability to see different parts of the sefer “speaking” with each other as well as to begin to explore the meaning of certain passages, language, themes, and imagery in the broader context of Tanakh. Ultimately, when used regularly, they can help students learn how to be more thoughtful and more careful readers of Tanakh, paying attention to things they would have otherwise glossed over quickly.

There are many ways that teachers can use these questions. They can be given to students prior to their first encounter with the text to help focus that encounter, or they can be given to the students after they have become familiar with the text. One possibility is for the teacher to select some questions and use them as catalysts for guided exploration in class. Another option is to provide opportunities for students to do their own exploration, with guidance from the teacher, as individual or group work.

It should be noted that while some of the questions have specific correct answers, most are designed to inspire thinking in which there are no answers which are necessarily more correct than others. This is a very powerful tool for drawing students into the learning and drawing from them unique ideas which they can truly call their own, binding them in deep ways to the Torah which they are learning and generating.