4. Authorship of the Book of Joshua: "Viewing all the circumstances together, we consider it highly probable that the whole book of Joshua was composed by himself up to the twenty-eighth verse of the last chapter; to which a friendly hand subjoined some brief notices, contained in verses 29-33, concerning the death, age, and burial of Joshua; the continuance of his influence upon the people; the interment, in Shechem, of the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel had brought from Egypt; and the death and burial of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, whom his son Phinehas interred in his allotment on Mount Ephraim." (Cyclopaedia of Biblical Literature, Kitto, Vol. II, p. 156.)
5. Roman Catholic View of Authorship: "This book is called Josue, because it contains the history of what passed under him, and according to the common opinion was written by him. The Greeks call him Jesus; for Josue and Jesus in the Hebrew are the same name, and have the same signification, viz., a savior." (Introduction to the Book of Josue.)
6. Character of Joshua: "So Joshua, when he had thus discoursed to them [upon their obligations and duty to God], died, having lived a hundred and ten years; forty of which he lived with Moses, in order to learn what might be for his advantage afterward. He also became their commander after his death for twenty-five years. He was a man that wanted not wisdom nor eloquence to declare his intentions to the people, but very eminent on both accounts. He was of great courage and magnanimity, in action and in dangers; and very sagacious in procuring the peace of the people, and of great virtue at all proper seasons. He was buried in the city of Timnah, of the tribe of Ephraim. About the same time died Eleazar, the high priest, leaving the high priesthood to his son Phineas. His monument also and sepulchre are in the city of Gabbatha." (Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews, p. 104.)
7. Literature of Power: By "literature of power" is here meant that class of utterance that rests upon its own inherent strength for its influence or acceptance as truth. An American popular writer (Hubbard) in giving an illustration of this class of literature quoted this passage from the Bible:
"The Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him."
Explanation, comment upon such a passage, he argues, would but mar it. One feels a force, a strength in it that admits of no doubt about its power, or truth. A still better example of the literature of power is Psalms xix, also Doctrine and Covenants, Sec. lxxxiv: 99-102. It is such a passage in Joshua that the student is directed to find.
8. Book of Ruth: "The Book is called Ruth, from the name of the person, whose history is here recorded: who being a Gentile, became a convert to the true faith, and marrying Boaz, the great-grandfather of David, was one of those from whom Christ sprung, according to the flesh, and an illustrious figure of the Gentile church. It is thought this book was written by the prophet Samuel." (Douay Bible, Introduction to the Book of Ruth, p. 303.)
Footnotes
[1]. The Pentateuch Historically has already been considered in Lesson III of Part II; and its historical character considered under subdivision II. (a) Anti-diluvian History. (b) Postdiluvian History, bringing its historical events down to the death of Moses. It is here written into the analysis only that the student may be reminded that the Pentateuch is recognized as being classed with the historical books of the Bible.