Joshua 24 : some literary and theological remarks

Abstract

The aim of this article is to discuss the role and function of Joshua 24 in the current Pentateuch/Hexateuch/Enneateuch debate. Although Joshua 24 presents several textual issues, the emphasis of the article is to augment the role of Joshua 24 as an inclusive text, with the aim of uniting Judeans and Samaritans in the Persian era by emphasising loyalty to the Torah. The article highlights several shared traditions between Judeans and Samaritans in Joshua 24. This approach leads to the conclusion that Joshua 24 was probably written to replace Joshua 23, a Deuteronomistic text with an exclusive stance towards the other nations.