[1] According to Jewish tradition the book was attributed to Joshua, with additions by the high priests Eleazar and Phinehas,[2][3] but modern scholars view it as part of the Deuteronomistic History, which spans the books of Deuteronomy to 2 Kings, attributed to nationalistic and devotedly Yahwistic writers during the time of the reformer Judean king Josiah in 7th century BCE.

[7] Fragments containing parts of this chapter in Hebrew were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls including XJoshua (XJosh, X1; 50 BCE) with extant verses 9–12.

[8][9][10] Extant ancient manuscripts of a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint (originally was made in the last few centuries BCE) include Codex Vaticanus (B;

The narrative of Israelites entering the land of Canaan comprises verses 1:1 to 5:12 of the Book of Joshua and has the following outline:[16] This section forms a transition from the narratives of the wilderness wanderings of Israel into the settlement of the land of Canaan, which YHWH has promised to give to his people (verses 3-4; cf Genesis 15:17-21; Exodus 3:17; Deuteronomy 1:7-8), as an overture to the book of Joshua.

Numbers 32; Deuteronomy 3:12-21) — that they should send their men to fight with other tribes to conquer the land west of Jordan and only return after the conquest is considered complete.