Old Testament
The Book of Joshua
The Book of Joshua is the sixth of the 46 books of the Old Testament: 24 chapters and 658 verses. The Douay-Rheims calls it Josue.
About Joshua
About Joshua · Conquest narrative
Joshua recounts Israel's entry into the promised land — the Jordan crossing, Jericho, the division of the territory among the tribes. It is anonymous, part of a long history written in the spirit of Deuteronomy, and it was composed to make one point to later Israel: God kept the promise to the ancestors, down to the last town on the list. Its battle stories are hard reading, and the Church reads them as the record of a people's faith told in the manner of its age, not a model for war. Its closing scene — choose this day whom you will serve — is the whole book in one line.
| Testament | Old Testament — book 6 of 46, 6 of 73 in the Bible |
|---|---|
| Canon | Protocanonical (in every Christian canon) |
| Chapters | 24 |
| Verses | 658, as Bless numbers them |
| In the Douay-Rheims | Josue |
| Latin | Clementine Vulgate, every chapter |
| Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 24 chapters · 25 notes |
| Catechism | 2 paragraphs cite it |
Chapter by chapter
All 24 chapters, in brief.
Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text.
Joshua 1
18 versesJosue, encouraged by the Lord, admonisheth the people to prepare themselves to pass over the Jordan.
Joshua 2
24 versesTwo spies are sent to Jericho, who are received and concealed by Rahab.
Joshua 3
17 versesThe river Jordan is miraculously dried up for the passage of the children of Israel.
Joshua 4
25 versesTwelve stones are taken out of the river to be set up for a monument of the miracle; and other twelve are placed in the midst of the river.
Joshua 5
16 versesThe people are circumcised: they keep the pasch. The manna ceaseth. An angel appeareth to Josue.
Joshua 6
27 versesAfter seven days' processions, the priests sounding the trumpets, the walls of Jericho fall down: and the city is taken and destroyed.
Joshua 7
26 versesFor the sins of Achan, the Israelites are defeated at Hai. The offender is found out; and stoned to death, and God's wrath is turned from them.
Joshua 8
35 versesHai is taken and burnt, and all the inhabitants slain. An altar is built, and sacrifices offered. The law is written on stones, and the blessings and cursings are read before all the people.
Joshua 9
27 versesJosue is deceived by the Gabaonites: who being detected are condemned to be perpetual servants.
Joshua 10
43 versesFive kings war against Gabaon. Josue defeateth them: many are slain with hailstones. At the prayer of Josue the sun and moon stand still the space of one day. The five kings are hanged. Divers cities are taken.
Joshua 11
23 versesThe kings of the north are overthrown: the whole country is taken.
Joshua 12
24 versesA list of the kings slain by Moses and Josue,
Joshua 13
33 versesGod commandeth Josue to divide the land: the possessions of Ruben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasses, beyond the Jordan.
Joshua 14
15 versesCaleb's petition; Hebron is given to him and to his seed.
Joshua 15
63 versesThe borders of the lot of Juda. Caleb's portion and conquest. The cities of Juda.
Joshua 16
10 versesThe lot of the sons of Joseph. The borders of the tribe of Ephraim.
Joshua 17
18 versesThe lot of the half tribe of Manasses.
Joshua 18
28 versesSurveyors are sent to divide the rest of the land into seven tribes. The lot of Benjamin.
Joshua 19
51 versesThe lots of the tribes of Simeon, Zabulon, Issachar, Aser, Nephtali and Dan. A city is given to Josue.
Joshua 20
9 versesThe cities of refuge are appointed for casual manslaughter.
Joshua 21
43 versesCities with their suburbs are assigned for the priests and Levites.
Joshua 22
34 versesThe tribes of Ruben and Gad, and half the tribe of Manasses return to their possessions. They build an altar by the side of the Jordan, which alarms the other tribes. An embassage is sent to them, to which they give a satisfactory answer.
Joshua 23
16 versesJosue being old admonisheth the people to keep God's commandments: and to avoid marriages and all society with the Gentiles for fear of being brought to idolatry.
Joshua 24
33 versesJosue assembleth the people, and reneweth the covenant between them and God. His death and burial.
Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries
In the comments
What the saints said.
2 quotations from 2 saints linked to passages of Joshua in Bless. Each names the work it comes from.
St. Jerome · on Joshua 1:8
On this theme
Read often and learn as much as you can. Let sleep find you holding your Bible, and when your head nods let it be resting on the sacred page.
Letter 22 to Eustochium, 384
St. John Chrysostom · on Joshua 24:15
On this theme
Make your house a church.
Homily on Ephesians, 20, c. 395
Coming up
Read at Mass.
From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, Joshua is read at the principal Mass on 4 days in the US calendar. The next 5 readings:
| Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| computed | Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Joshua 3:7-10a, 11, 13-17 |
| computed | Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Joshua 24:1-13 |
| computed | St. Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr | First Reading | Joshua 24:14-29 |
| computed | Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b |
| computed | Fourth Sunday of Lent | First Reading | Joshua 5:9a, 10-12 |
No more readings are listed here; the liturgical calendar has every date through December 31, 2028.
Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.