Taking the Land (1:1–12:24): 1:1–5:15 Review · The beginning of the book marks the beginning of a new era. Moses, the servant of the Lord who led the Israelites out of Egypt and brought them to the threshold of the land promised to their forefathers, is now dead (1:1). The task of leading the people into Canaan to take possession of the land has now fallen on Joshua, the one chosen by the Lord to succeed Moses (cf. Num. 27:12–23; Deut. 31:1–8, 14, 23). But as much as the book focuses on Israel’s success in taking possession of the land under Joshua’s leadership, the actual account of battles with the Canaanites does not begin until Joshua 6. Joshua 1–5 thus concerns the preparation Joshua and Israel have to make before they are battle-ready. Such preparation begins with the Lord’s commissi…