[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 4Q47 (4QJosha; 200–100 BCE) with extant verses 12–17.

[8][9][10] [11] 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;

[18] Meanwhile, Joshua turns his attention to Ai (literally 'the heap') a city east of Bethel in the central mountain ridge, to get an important foothold in the heartland.

[18] Joshua first sends spies (7:2–3), recalling both the first mission that he had authorized (2:1), and the earlier one sent by Moses (Numbers 13–14; Deuteronomy 1).

[18] Joshua's prostration and the elders dust-strewn heads as signs of mourning are also evident in other biblical text (Genesis 37:54; 44:13; 1 Samuel 4:12; 2 Samuel 1:2; Job 1:20; 2:12; Lamentations 2:10; Ezekiel 27:30[26]) as well as in extrabiblical texts, such as in Ugaritic Baal epic that even the gods mourn in similar ways.

[29] The remaining narrative (7:16–26) records the execution of the divine command including to collectively stone Achan and his family to death.

[32] Archaeological works in the 1930s at the location of Et-Tell or Khirbet Haijah showed that the city of Ai, an early target for conquest in the putative Joshua account, had existed and been destroyed, but in the 22nd century BCE.