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Focus on the Bible Commentaries
Joshua: No Falling Words
This exposition is rooted first in a thorough analysis of the Hebrew text, employing helpful insights from archaeology and linguistics, and second in the major theological and literary themes discovered in each section. Finally the author brings the fragments together in an expository treatment ‘that is not ashamed to stoop to the level of application.’
221 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1988
23 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
Dale Ralph Davis
31 books60 followersDale Ralph Davis is Minister in Residence, First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina. Prior to that he was pastor of Woodland Presbyterian Church, Hattiesburg, Mississippi and Professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
May 18, 2021
Whatever book of the Bible I'm studying, I will check to see if Davis has written a commentary on it. If so, I will read it.
No Falling Words is a true pastoral, accessible commentary that was convicting, encouraging, and enlightening. As I trudged through the land allotments to the 12 tribes, Davis helped me to see God's faithfulness in every rock, tree, and boundary. Obedience is a major theme in the book of Joshua, and Davis helped me to see the importance of regular, obedience to God in the small things in a way that was faithful to the text without wild extrapolation.
If you're reading Joshua, be sure to read this book along with it.
No Falling Words is a true pastoral, accessible commentary that was convicting, encouraging, and enlightening. As I trudged through the land allotments to the 12 tribes, Davis helped me to see God's faithfulness in every rock, tree, and boundary. Obedience is a major theme in the book of Joshua, and Davis helped me to see the importance of regular, obedience to God in the small things in a way that was faithful to the text without wild extrapolation.
If you're reading Joshua, be sure to read this book along with it.
November 26, 2019
Davis has a wonderful writing style. It’s colloquial but not casual. He is exacting in his exposition, continually entreating us to face the realities of the book of Joshua head-on, and yet his pastoral heart shines through. I’m glad to have discovered him.
November 8, 2023
When studying a book of the Old Testament, always see if Dale Ralph Davis has a commentary on it. He will be well worth your time. Davis brings out exegesis and application in a God-honoring way.
September 12, 2021
This is a 5-Star book by Dale Ralph Davis, now retired Presbyterian minister and professor of Old Testament. It's readable as a devotional work, it's scholarly for research, and it'll preach! The author's easy manner can almost be disarming because he doesn't slack off from the harder details. one who picks up this volume and dives in will not be disappointed, and will walk away with a better comprehension of Joshua, and greater appreciation for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Davis does a masterful job helping readers, teachers, and preachers grasp what's going on in the scroll of Joshua, and why it matters. He helps students to see the big picture of each section, and then draws their attention into the specific features of every episode. Afterward, he often turns the caring eyes of his searching analysis on the hearts and lives of those reading, until you come to actually believe that the scroll of Joshua is God speaking to his people in every age, even our present situation.
I'm preaching through Joshua at my church presently and have enjoyed getting reacquainted with this work. But instead of reading it as sermon prep, I have read it on Sundays as an extra devotional time. It's just one of those kinds of books. I highly recommend it for academics, pastors, parishioners, and seminarians.
Davis does a masterful job helping readers, teachers, and preachers grasp what's going on in the scroll of Joshua, and why it matters. He helps students to see the big picture of each section, and then draws their attention into the specific features of every episode. Afterward, he often turns the caring eyes of his searching analysis on the hearts and lives of those reading, until you come to actually believe that the scroll of Joshua is God speaking to his people in every age, even our present situation.
I'm preaching through Joshua at my church presently and have enjoyed getting reacquainted with this work. But instead of reading it as sermon prep, I have read it on Sundays as an extra devotional time. It's just one of those kinds of books. I highly recommend it for academics, pastors, parishioners, and seminarians.
July 14, 2023
Second time through this book and it still just as good!
AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME! Anyone who has read some of the narratives in the OT can have a hard time seeing the point or the modern day application. This is the hard work of the pastor/preacher and a quality commentary will do it as well. And this commentary does it in spades! I love this commentary, the Book of Joshua came alive to me. So very good. Go buy this commentary and read it as you feast on God’s Word!! Highest recommendation
AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME! Anyone who has read some of the narratives in the OT can have a hard time seeing the point or the modern day application. This is the hard work of the pastor/preacher and a quality commentary will do it as well. And this commentary does it in spades! I love this commentary, the Book of Joshua came alive to me. So very good. Go buy this commentary and read it as you feast on God’s Word!! Highest recommendation
February 27, 2020
Davis has written a solid, accessible, commentary dealing with the main themes of the book, though its length necessitates that much is left out. The style is a blend between technical and pastoral.
July 26, 2023
This was not only my favorite commentary for Joshua, but it was my favorite commentary ever. I have never read Davis before, but he was thorough like a commentary, but engaging (not like a commentary!)
To be clear, this is still a commentary, and ranks highly among other technical and exegetical commentaries. Some of the more devotional or pastoral commentaries are so weak, I almost never use them. But Davis is different, and it is refreshing. It feels like the new standard of how commentaries ought to be. You can tell he's a real person and a communicator just as much as he is a scholar. I appreciated the style as much as the content, to be honest. I laughed, I cried (not really), and I learned.
I always started with NICOT and then moved to NAC. Either of those could have come first for all the pertinent exegetical/historical/grammatical/archaeological/theological info one might want, and I liked each of them equally. My favorite, though, was Dale Davis' FOCUS ON THE BIBLE. If you want one book on Joshua, go here.
To be clear, this is still a commentary, and ranks highly among other technical and exegetical commentaries. Some of the more devotional or pastoral commentaries are so weak, I almost never use them. But Davis is different, and it is refreshing. It feels like the new standard of how commentaries ought to be. You can tell he's a real person and a communicator just as much as he is a scholar. I appreciated the style as much as the content, to be honest. I laughed, I cried (not really), and I learned.
I always started with NICOT and then moved to NAC. Either of those could have come first for all the pertinent exegetical/historical/grammatical/archaeological/theological info one might want, and I liked each of them equally. My favorite, though, was Dale Davis' FOCUS ON THE BIBLE. If you want one book on Joshua, go here.
July 6, 2021
This is probably the one commentary on a seemingly dull book in the Bible (at least the second half) that I would recommend to anyone, not just to educated folks. Again, Davies is very pastoral, has lots of convicting and comforting things to say, and has just a few tiny points about the text that are helpful. For instance, he contrasts Caleb's righteous response with the response of some of the Israelites to be less aggressive in pursuing the land (such as the people of Joseph). He also says that the text describes Ephraim taking his land before Manasseh (chapters 16 and 17), which fulfills Jacob's prophecy that Ephraim would be greater. That's a nice touch. He also has a bunch of moments where he calls exegetes to be careful not to be too quick to moralize. So, good stuff.
May 7, 2021
This is much more of a critical book review that I had to do for my Hebrew class. Therefore, it will include an introduction, summary (spoilers??), a critical evaluation, and conclusion. Thus, it will look different and be longer than my other reviews.
Introduction
It seems important for a person who is learning the language of a people to also learn the culture and history of that people. The book of Joshua, in the Old Testament, can help with that endeavor. Such a book is filled with references, direct or indirect, to previous books of the Bible, as well as contemporary (to Joshua’s day) events such as the taking of the Canaanite land. Dale Ralph Davis’s book Joshua: No Falling Words looked to be a helpful resource in grappling with some of the lexical or historical complexities of the book.
Summary
Davis split Joshua: No Falling Words into four sections as he interprets the book of Joshua itself to have. Part 1 is about entering the land, made up of Joshua: chapters 1-4. Part 2 is on taking the land, made up of Joshua 5-12. Part 3 is about possessing the land, chapters 13-21. Finally, the fourth part is about retaining the land in chapters 22-24.
In Part 1, Davis discussed the entrance into the promised land, beginning with the death of Moses and ending in the crossing of the Jordan River. In chapter three of his book, Davis showing God’s hand in Israel’s possessing the land wrote,
On the ‘tenth day of the first month’ the people went up form the Jordan and camped at Gilgal. C. F. Keil pointed out that it was on the same day forty years before that Israel had begun to prepare for going out of Egypt by setting apart the Passover lamb (Exod. 12:2-3). Therefore, we might say this day had marked the beginning of redemption; now it marked its completion. What Yahweh began he brought to completion, (40).
Part 2, containing nine chapters, began with observing the sacraments (circumcision), discussed the major campaigns against Jericho, Ai, and the others, as well as what seemed to be minor blurbs about other cities and towns being conquered. In these pages are, of course, the contrasting displays of the faithfulness in the Jericho story by most of Israel and the unfaithfulness of Achan leading to the demise of Israel against Ai. However, having dealt with the issue of Achan, the author shows how God gave victory over Ai through human means. While Jericho was a supernatural event that crumbled thick walls, Ai was a very human ambush. However, “Even the ambush was no bright idea of Joshua or Israel but part of Yahweh’s instructions,” (69). This part of the book also deals with the covenant with the Gibeonites, as well as the rest of the southern and northern campaigns.
Within the southern campaign is the famous sun standing still in the sky. However, Davis believes it was actually the moon that stood still rather than the sun. There are multiple reasons for his argument, but it can be summarized with two Hebrew words “damam” and “amad,” (88-89). He certainly makes a convincing case.
Part 3 takes up chapters 13-18 (Joshua 13-21) in the book. Here Davis makes an important difference between the conquering of Canaan and the possession of Canaan. In this section, the author contrasts the faith of Caleb and Joshua (again) with the unfaithfulness of the rest of Israel (again). Chapter 13 tells the story of Caleb’s claim upon his promised land and takes possession of it, along with his soon to be son-in-law. Chapter 18 has Joshua receiving his promised land. In between on reads how Israel failed to possess the land that God had given them. Though they had the upper hand and the strong arm of God, they did not complete the task they were called to do. “Yahweh’s promises are intended not as sedatives but as stimulants. God does not want us to swallow his promises but to seize them,” (146). Unfortunately, this is not what Israel did.
Finally, in Part 4, one reads about the closing of the contests and the death of Joshua. The author explains the reason the altar set up by the Transjordan tribes was such a major deal. Yet most striking of perhaps the entire book, was the exposition on Joshua’s final summons of Israel. In this final summons, Davis notes that Joshua called the people to Yahweh, but if they would not have Yahweh, they still must choose which false god they would follow. “He presses Israel to the wall; they must come down somewhere. . .You will say, ‘But that’s stupid; choosing between pagan gods is really absurd.’ Joshua retort: ‘That’s precisely my point. If you reject Yahweh, you are stupid, and the only options left are so absurd that they make no sense at all,’” (205-206).
Critical Evaluation
In the preface of the book, the author wrote his purpose for the book. “My purpose has been to provide a model of what a pastor can do in biblical study if he will sweat over the Hebrew text and assume that the text as we have it was meant to be bread from God for his people.” This may lead one to think that the book will contain quite a bit of Hebrew vocabulary and lexical usage. However, that is not the case. This cannot be considered an exegetical commentary. That is not to say that there was no textual or lexical information within the book, but not nearly as the preface led this reviewer to believe. At least, it was not as overt as initially thought. There were many places in which the author used his own translation. Other places he would use a translation that he believed rightly expressed the meaning of the text, such as the NASB, RSV, etc. It did not seem as though Davis was finding a translation to match his thoughts, but showing a translation that expressed the full meaning of the text which led to thoughts.
This commentary is much more of a devotional commentary. It is probably one of the best that this reviewer has ever read. Dale Ralph Davis clearly has a pastor’s heart and a heart that loves God, His Word, and His Son. The introductions, illustrations, and applications in this book are moving and relatable. They cut at times but also can heal the wounds. The way that the author pulls in other texts of Scripture (especially “pre-Joshua” texts, but also many from the New Testaments, Psalms, or prophets) displays his love of Scripture’s unity.
Conclusion
For the pastor or teacher who will be going through the book of Joshua, this book is certainly a must have. His exposition is quite good. The application is purposeful and helpful for those who have difficulty with such matters. However, if the pastor/teacher is looking for an exegetical commentary that goes into details about tense or if a verb is qal, niphal, of hitpael, he will be vastly disappointed. He will need to look elsewhere. Dale Ralph Davis will not help one in their translation, but he will certainly guide one in their understanding and explanation to others.
Introduction
It seems important for a person who is learning the language of a people to also learn the culture and history of that people. The book of Joshua, in the Old Testament, can help with that endeavor. Such a book is filled with references, direct or indirect, to previous books of the Bible, as well as contemporary (to Joshua’s day) events such as the taking of the Canaanite land. Dale Ralph Davis’s book Joshua: No Falling Words looked to be a helpful resource in grappling with some of the lexical or historical complexities of the book.
Summary
Davis split Joshua: No Falling Words into four sections as he interprets the book of Joshua itself to have. Part 1 is about entering the land, made up of Joshua: chapters 1-4. Part 2 is on taking the land, made up of Joshua 5-12. Part 3 is about possessing the land, chapters 13-21. Finally, the fourth part is about retaining the land in chapters 22-24.
In Part 1, Davis discussed the entrance into the promised land, beginning with the death of Moses and ending in the crossing of the Jordan River. In chapter three of his book, Davis showing God’s hand in Israel’s possessing the land wrote,
On the ‘tenth day of the first month’ the people went up form the Jordan and camped at Gilgal. C. F. Keil pointed out that it was on the same day forty years before that Israel had begun to prepare for going out of Egypt by setting apart the Passover lamb (Exod. 12:2-3). Therefore, we might say this day had marked the beginning of redemption; now it marked its completion. What Yahweh began he brought to completion, (40).
Part 2, containing nine chapters, began with observing the sacraments (circumcision), discussed the major campaigns against Jericho, Ai, and the others, as well as what seemed to be minor blurbs about other cities and towns being conquered. In these pages are, of course, the contrasting displays of the faithfulness in the Jericho story by most of Israel and the unfaithfulness of Achan leading to the demise of Israel against Ai. However, having dealt with the issue of Achan, the author shows how God gave victory over Ai through human means. While Jericho was a supernatural event that crumbled thick walls, Ai was a very human ambush. However, “Even the ambush was no bright idea of Joshua or Israel but part of Yahweh’s instructions,” (69). This part of the book also deals with the covenant with the Gibeonites, as well as the rest of the southern and northern campaigns.
Within the southern campaign is the famous sun standing still in the sky. However, Davis believes it was actually the moon that stood still rather than the sun. There are multiple reasons for his argument, but it can be summarized with two Hebrew words “damam” and “amad,” (88-89). He certainly makes a convincing case.
Part 3 takes up chapters 13-18 (Joshua 13-21) in the book. Here Davis makes an important difference between the conquering of Canaan and the possession of Canaan. In this section, the author contrasts the faith of Caleb and Joshua (again) with the unfaithfulness of the rest of Israel (again). Chapter 13 tells the story of Caleb’s claim upon his promised land and takes possession of it, along with his soon to be son-in-law. Chapter 18 has Joshua receiving his promised land. In between on reads how Israel failed to possess the land that God had given them. Though they had the upper hand and the strong arm of God, they did not complete the task they were called to do. “Yahweh’s promises are intended not as sedatives but as stimulants. God does not want us to swallow his promises but to seize them,” (146). Unfortunately, this is not what Israel did.
Finally, in Part 4, one reads about the closing of the contests and the death of Joshua. The author explains the reason the altar set up by the Transjordan tribes was such a major deal. Yet most striking of perhaps the entire book, was the exposition on Joshua’s final summons of Israel. In this final summons, Davis notes that Joshua called the people to Yahweh, but if they would not have Yahweh, they still must choose which false god they would follow. “He presses Israel to the wall; they must come down somewhere. . .You will say, ‘But that’s stupid; choosing between pagan gods is really absurd.’ Joshua retort: ‘That’s precisely my point. If you reject Yahweh, you are stupid, and the only options left are so absurd that they make no sense at all,’” (205-206).
Critical Evaluation
In the preface of the book, the author wrote his purpose for the book. “My purpose has been to provide a model of what a pastor can do in biblical study if he will sweat over the Hebrew text and assume that the text as we have it was meant to be bread from God for his people.” This may lead one to think that the book will contain quite a bit of Hebrew vocabulary and lexical usage. However, that is not the case. This cannot be considered an exegetical commentary. That is not to say that there was no textual or lexical information within the book, but not nearly as the preface led this reviewer to believe. At least, it was not as overt as initially thought. There were many places in which the author used his own translation. Other places he would use a translation that he believed rightly expressed the meaning of the text, such as the NASB, RSV, etc. It did not seem as though Davis was finding a translation to match his thoughts, but showing a translation that expressed the full meaning of the text which led to thoughts.
This commentary is much more of a devotional commentary. It is probably one of the best that this reviewer has ever read. Dale Ralph Davis clearly has a pastor’s heart and a heart that loves God, His Word, and His Son. The introductions, illustrations, and applications in this book are moving and relatable. They cut at times but also can heal the wounds. The way that the author pulls in other texts of Scripture (especially “pre-Joshua” texts, but also many from the New Testaments, Psalms, or prophets) displays his love of Scripture’s unity.
Conclusion
For the pastor or teacher who will be going through the book of Joshua, this book is certainly a must have. His exposition is quite good. The application is purposeful and helpful for those who have difficulty with such matters. However, if the pastor/teacher is looking for an exegetical commentary that goes into details about tense or if a verb is qal, niphal, of hitpael, he will be vastly disappointed. He will need to look elsewhere. Dale Ralph Davis will not help one in their translation, but he will certainly guide one in their understanding and explanation to others.
July 21, 2012
The Old Testament tends to be avoided by many preachers because of the difficulty in connecting its narratives and seemingly sterile passages to modern life, but Davis succeeds in Joshua in bucking this trend. He makes even the apparently tedious passages come alive with truths about our God and his faithfulness to his people. He also brings those truths into the present and provides relevant and interesting application for us today. His scholarly wisdom is clear throughout, but it is his pastor’s heart and ability to explain complex doctrines at the level of the layman that makes this book invaluable as a pastoral resource. For personal edification, as an example of preaching well from the Old Testament, and as an example of how a pastor should engage God’s word, I truly enjoyed the book and would highly recommend it.
June 29, 2015
Joshua: No Falling Words was an excellent commentary. It has truly helped me to grow in my understanding of the book of Joshua. In my previous readings of Joshua, without this book as a companion, I was overwhelmed with historical information and details I did not understand, and often found myself simply trudging through for the sake of finishing. Davis’s work helped me see the beauty of these seemingly difficult and uninteresting details. I now see that Joshua is more than just a historical book about battles and land; it is a reminder of God’s grace, sovereignty, and faithfulness to His people.
March 9, 2016
I think this is the third time I've read this book, and it remains as valuable as ever. Davis has a great gift for exposition of the Scriptures, including ones that seem to modern eyes to be uninspiring (as in the lists of allotments of land in this book). His humour and wit are in evidence throughout, as well as his knowledge and insight. He never boasts of his considerable understanding of the academic side; his aim is to make things accessible to the average person, and in this he greatly succeeds.
December 24, 2013
The book of Joshua is not an easy one to travel through, as many theological and practical questions are raised almost instantly (not to mention land divisions and city listings that tend to glaze over even the most tenacious readers). While not skirting difficult issues, Davis refuses to get bogged down in them and instead traces an insightful and immensely helpful trail through these pages, speaking in a highly accessible and pastoral tone. Easy to recommend.
September 6, 2023
Very solid commentary. Pastoral, and quite good with the structure of the book of Joshua as a whole as well as the structure of specific passages, which Davis uses to help readers understand the text. On a number of occasions, Davis also sheds light on the significance of certain geographical information which might otherwise seem like merely "factual" sections in Joshua. For a lay-level commentary, there is also a surprising amount of discussion of Hebrew in certain areas. In addition to this, there is also a healthy amount of interaction with other scholarship. From my recollection, Davis interacts most with John Calvin, Matthew Henry, and Marten Woudstra (NICOT).
One part of this book I especially appreciated was Davis' discussion of Joshua's prayer (or, command) in Joshua 10:12–14. Against the more common view that Joshua requested an extension of daylight, Davis presents a persuasive case for the view that Joshua was actually requesting an extension of darkness (pp. 88–90).
One issue I have with this book, however, is its lack of biblical theology and intertextuality. One will have to look elsewhere for these things.
One part of this book I especially appreciated was Davis' discussion of Joshua's prayer (or, command) in Joshua 10:12–14. Against the more common view that Joshua requested an extension of daylight, Davis presents a persuasive case for the view that Joshua was actually requesting an extension of darkness (pp. 88–90).
One issue I have with this book, however, is its lack of biblical theology and intertextuality. One will have to look elsewhere for these things.
June 20, 2025
There are many theologians who do a masterful job of sharing biblical knowledge, of dissecting a scripture passage deftly, and who stay true to the text. There are very few who can speak to both head and heart at the same time. I have learned from many commentators over the years and am thankful for every one of them whom I have gleaned truths from. However, Dale Ralph Davis speaks to both my head & heart every single time I read him!
Although I used this book as one of my sources from which to study the book of Joshua from (as I preached through Joshua in the church I lead), it often spoke to my heart in ways in which I was challenged personally in my walk with God. Davis is a master at presenting biblical truth while weaving in illustrations and overlooked nuggets which made me stop and slowly ponder the truths personally he was presenting as I worked my way through the book.
The number of underlines, notes, markups, "Amens," "That was good!" and other notations in the book are far too many to count. Suffice it to say, if Davis has a commentary on a book you are preaching or teaching from, GET IT! You will not regret it!
Although I used this book as one of my sources from which to study the book of Joshua from (as I preached through Joshua in the church I lead), it often spoke to my heart in ways in which I was challenged personally in my walk with God. Davis is a master at presenting biblical truth while weaving in illustrations and overlooked nuggets which made me stop and slowly ponder the truths personally he was presenting as I worked my way through the book.
The number of underlines, notes, markups, "Amens," "That was good!" and other notations in the book are far too many to count. Suffice it to say, if Davis has a commentary on a book you are preaching or teaching from, GET IT! You will not regret it!
January 15, 2025
This book reads less like a commentary (which is what I was expecting) and more like an expository sermon (which I loved). The writing style is relatable and often humorous. It was a very easy and enjoyable read.
I have some major theological differences with Davis but they only came up a handful of times in this book. Overall I found it very helpful and greatly appreciated that it emphasized application points that helped make the text practical even at the more tedious and repetitive sections of Joshua.
Would not recommend for those who cannot read with a filter. Would highly recommend to those who cannot discern wheat from chaff.
I have some major theological differences with Davis but they only came up a handful of times in this book. Overall I found it very helpful and greatly appreciated that it emphasized application points that helped make the text practical even at the more tedious and repetitive sections of Joshua.
Would not recommend for those who cannot read with a filter. Would highly recommend to those who cannot discern wheat from chaff.
May 31, 2017
A great devotional to read along with Joshua. Dale has found a way to keep even the "boring, repetitive" parts of Joshua fresh and helpful. This work is faithful to the text while providing many anecdotes which keep you engaged and makes for quick reading.
April 9, 2020
Davis sets a wonderful example of careful exegetical teaching that is also richly devotional. Using this commentary has ensured one thing: if Davis has written a commentary on a book I'll be preaching, I'll be buying it.
March 14, 2019
A good commentary if you’re looking for an introduction to the major themes of the book of Joshua. I love Dale Ralph Davis for his insights and brevity.
July 28, 2024
This is a great commentary on Joshua, practical and points us to the God who has no failing words. David shows us how even the land portions point to our good covenant keeping God.
November 23, 2023
Quality commentary that reads like a book. Dale Ralph Davis brings a unique freshness to the text of the Bible. You won't be disappointed.
February 27, 2025
1/8 references for my big scary paper grrrrr. very good tho
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August 8, 2021Really enjoyed this thorough but very readable study of the book of Joshua. I’ve been reading a chapter each Sunday afternoon and it has been both challenging and encouraging.
January 18, 2008
I have used all of Dale Ralph Davis' commentaries (Judges, Joshua, I Sam., II Sam., I Kgs) -- every one of them is consisently excellent. In fact, if I had just one commentary on each of thsoe books I'd select Davis.
Davis is a former Old Testament seminary professor, with a PhD., but has also been a pastor (Presbyterian PCA) for many years. These are all non-technical, unfootnoted, homiletical treatments. They are theologically rich, always Christocentric (or at least Christo-telic), well-illustrated, and relentlessly practical. Davis can turn a clever phrase like no other commentator, often tweaking a cliche to turn it on its head. Indispensible.
I was shocked that fellow PCAer Tremper Longman did not even include any Ralph Davis books in his survey of commentaries (though Longman analyzes lots and lots of inferior works).
I have two copies of each of Davis' commentaries (one for home, one for the office).
I have not really found other works on Joshua nearly as helpful. James M. Boice (1991) is solid but dry. Woudstra in the fine NICOT series is scholarly, more technical, and reliable; Peter Jeffrey (1999) is decent, but somewhat moralistic; John A. Huffman (1986, Word Communicator's Comm.) was disappointing.
Davis is a former Old Testament seminary professor, with a PhD., but has also been a pastor (Presbyterian PCA) for many years. These are all non-technical, unfootnoted, homiletical treatments. They are theologically rich, always Christocentric (or at least Christo-telic), well-illustrated, and relentlessly practical. Davis can turn a clever phrase like no other commentator, often tweaking a cliche to turn it on its head. Indispensible.
I was shocked that fellow PCAer Tremper Longman did not even include any Ralph Davis books in his survey of commentaries (though Longman analyzes lots and lots of inferior works).
I have two copies of each of Davis' commentaries (one for home, one for the office).
I have not really found other works on Joshua nearly as helpful. James M. Boice (1991) is solid but dry. Woudstra in the fine NICOT series is scholarly, more technical, and reliable; Peter Jeffrey (1999) is decent, but somewhat moralistic; John A. Huffman (1986, Word Communicator's Comm.) was disappointing.
February 8, 2015
I joined a Bible study group a couple of years ago that was studying Deuteronomy. Since then, we've just kept on going through Joshua and now Judges. For the last two books, we've used commentaries by Dale Ralph Davis to help guide us through the text. I learned about his commentaries through Ligonier Ministries, which has recommendations on the best commentaries on each book of the Bible. We haven't been disappointed. In Joshua: No Falling Words, Davis helps us understand that even passages in the Bible that describe the metes and bounds of land could help us see the truth that "Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass." Joshua is not just a historical book, it is a book encouraging God's people that He was fulfilling His promises to His people as they conquered the Promised Land. It is also a book of prophecy extending those promises to each new generation of His people.
May 27, 2014
This is the first Dale Ralph Davis commentary I've read, but I will certainly be buying and reading all of his others. These commentaries from Davis on the historical books of the Old Testament are great for any person reading through Joshua, Judges, or 1, 2 Samuel, or books like that. They are not too scholarly, they're easy to read and understand, and they have a ton of great devotional insights. Davis is excellent at pulling out encouraging and relevant lessons from the parts of the Bible that seem to be more dry and "boring". But that's because he's got a proper view of the Bible. None of it is boring because all of it is God's word. We just might have to work a little harder at certain points to pull out the useful lessons. Davis is also exceptional at getting the mood of the text right as there are many times in the Old Testament when it can be hard to know how the author intended the passage to be read. Excellent commentary!
February 27, 2019
I took a tour of Israel this week, during which I had conversations with my Israeli tour guide (a Messianic Jew) and my Palestinian tour guide (a Catholic of Arab descent) about the current state of the self-governed West Bank and the security of Golan Heights. At some point during the week, it occurred to me that all the conflict over Israel’s current borders has its roots in the book of Joshua. I decided to reread the book on the plane and use Dale Ralph Davis’ commentary as a supplemental study guide.
For the most part, Joshua does not need a commentary. The narrative text is clear and its lessons about God’s sovereignty are easy to digest. Davis was primarily useful in illuminating connections between episodes in Joshua and other parts of Scripture.
Much of his commentary is focused on modern-day application (his book seems to have a secondary goal to help pastors learn how to preach Old Testament texts). Archaeological and historical references, as well as comments on opposing interpretations and textual difficulties are in the footnotes, which are often more interesting (to me, at least) than the main text.
Key takeaways and learnings included:
-- The promise of Josh 1:5 is not only specific to Joshua during the period of the Conquest. (“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”) It was applied to all believers by the New Testament writer of Hebrews 13:5-6.
-- Story of Rahab is important because it is one of the earliest examples that the saving grace of the Gospel was never intended “just” for the Jewish race. Also establishes a direct historical connection between the taking of the Promised Land and the coming of the Messiah.
-- Joshua 5:7 contains a proper and straightforward understanding of God’s teaching on circumcision but the message did not take. 1000 years later, Jesus was still stressing the fact that obedience and attitude are more important than the outward sign of circumcision.
-- Modern readers often struggle with Joshua’s brutality toward the Canaanites, Ammorites, etc. Proper understanding of these campaigns is rooted in Gen 15:16 and Deut 9:4-5 which make it clear God was punishing those civilizations for prolonged sinful abuses.
-- There is an interesting link between the sad story of Achan and Hosea’s prophecies concerning the coming Messiah. (Unfortunately, I felt Davis avoided dealing with the apparent conflict between the killing of Achan’s family and the mandate in Deut 24:16 -- “children should not be punished for the sins of their father”! Davis would later address similar controversies in his commentary on 1 Samuel.)
-- There is a valid translation of chapter 10 that would indicate Joshua prayed to prevent the sun from shining during the battle rather than to prevent the sun from rising. God could have accomplished this through an eclipse or some natural means other than stopping the orbit of the earth around the sun.
-- Israel never occupied the whole Promised Land all the way to Euphrates River
-- Joshua and Judges benefit from being studied together because they are in many ways mirror images. One key theme is the unity of Israel in Joshua vs increasing fragmentation in Judges. Certain contradictions between the books only appear because English translations do not distinguish between the verbs ‘lakad’ (to take or conquer) and ‘yarash’ (to possess). Much of Israel’s problems stemmed from the fact they successfully broke the military might of the Canaanites, but then they failed to press their advantage and fully drive them from the land.
-- Despite being an overwhelmingly feel-good story, the writer of Joshua also shows how the seeds of Israel’s future problems were present even amidst their initial victory and prosperity: pockets of Canaanites were never driven out; some tribes complained about their portion of land (Davis provides a great contrast between the response of Caleb vs. the responses of the House of Joseph)
-- Joshua’s famous verse “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” highlights a unique truth about covenant grace. Joshua as leader of Israel did not have the power to commit the whole country to faith. Nor, apparently, could a tribal leader speak for his whole tribe. The covenant promise begins at the level of the family unit.
For the most part, Joshua does not need a commentary. The narrative text is clear and its lessons about God’s sovereignty are easy to digest. Davis was primarily useful in illuminating connections between episodes in Joshua and other parts of Scripture.
Much of his commentary is focused on modern-day application (his book seems to have a secondary goal to help pastors learn how to preach Old Testament texts). Archaeological and historical references, as well as comments on opposing interpretations and textual difficulties are in the footnotes, which are often more interesting (to me, at least) than the main text.
Key takeaways and learnings included:
-- The promise of Josh 1:5 is not only specific to Joshua during the period of the Conquest. (“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”) It was applied to all believers by the New Testament writer of Hebrews 13:5-6.
-- Story of Rahab is important because it is one of the earliest examples that the saving grace of the Gospel was never intended “just” for the Jewish race. Also establishes a direct historical connection between the taking of the Promised Land and the coming of the Messiah.
-- Joshua 5:7 contains a proper and straightforward understanding of God’s teaching on circumcision but the message did not take. 1000 years later, Jesus was still stressing the fact that obedience and attitude are more important than the outward sign of circumcision.
-- Modern readers often struggle with Joshua’s brutality toward the Canaanites, Ammorites, etc. Proper understanding of these campaigns is rooted in Gen 15:16 and Deut 9:4-5 which make it clear God was punishing those civilizations for prolonged sinful abuses.
-- There is an interesting link between the sad story of Achan and Hosea’s prophecies concerning the coming Messiah. (Unfortunately, I felt Davis avoided dealing with the apparent conflict between the killing of Achan’s family and the mandate in Deut 24:16 -- “children should not be punished for the sins of their father”! Davis would later address similar controversies in his commentary on 1 Samuel.)
-- There is a valid translation of chapter 10 that would indicate Joshua prayed to prevent the sun from shining during the battle rather than to prevent the sun from rising. God could have accomplished this through an eclipse or some natural means other than stopping the orbit of the earth around the sun.
-- Israel never occupied the whole Promised Land all the way to Euphrates River
-- Joshua and Judges benefit from being studied together because they are in many ways mirror images. One key theme is the unity of Israel in Joshua vs increasing fragmentation in Judges. Certain contradictions between the books only appear because English translations do not distinguish between the verbs ‘lakad’ (to take or conquer) and ‘yarash’ (to possess). Much of Israel’s problems stemmed from the fact they successfully broke the military might of the Canaanites, but then they failed to press their advantage and fully drive them from the land.
-- Despite being an overwhelmingly feel-good story, the writer of Joshua also shows how the seeds of Israel’s future problems were present even amidst their initial victory and prosperity: pockets of Canaanites were never driven out; some tribes complained about their portion of land (Davis provides a great contrast between the response of Caleb vs. the responses of the House of Joseph)
-- Joshua’s famous verse “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” highlights a unique truth about covenant grace. Joshua as leader of Israel did not have the power to commit the whole country to faith. Nor, apparently, could a tribal leader speak for his whole tribe. The covenant promise begins at the level of the family unit.
September 11, 2023
Are you looking for an accessible Bible commentary on the book of Joshua to understand this book better? If so this commentary might be what you are looking for! This was a very edifying and enjoyable Bible commentary authored by Dale Ralph Davis who previously was a professor of the Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS). I have read previously his commentary on the book of Judges and also parts of the Psalms. Here his commentary doesn’t disappoint and lived up to my expectations!
There’s twenty one chapters grouped together into four parts with part one focusing on entering the land covering Joshua 1-4. Part two is the biggest section covering Joshua 5 through 12 and is titled “Taking the Land.” Part three is on Joshua 13 through 21 and is titled “Possessing the Land” while Part 4 is on “Retaining the Land” which comments on Joshua 22 through 24.
This commentary helped a lot with the parts of the book of Joshua that mentioned a lot of names and places. Not an easy area to preach on and the author did a good job with exposition! Furthermore he made it applicable and relevant to the daily Christian life; that’s a great thing when a commentator can do that. I learned a lot from reading this book and below are some of the highlights:
I learned the last three chapters are optimistic endings to the book of Joshua in which the people proved themselves to be faithful to God; this is in contrasts to other chapters in the book where the people compromised. This does not mean its promoting works righteousness or self-righteousness for Joshua 21 ends with the last three verses emphasizing that God is faithful. Since God is faithful, we are motivated to be faithful!
The chapter on Joshua 7 is rather sobering concerning hidden sin. The “Sins of Achan” is a warning for us today and Davis wittingly titled the chapter “The Church in the Hands of an Angry God.” The attention to details concerning the geography when Davis looks at Joshua 15 is also informative.
Overall I recommend this commentary. I used this as a resource for being equipped for my family devotions with my daughters and their feed back was positive which tells me this commentary was useful.
There’s twenty one chapters grouped together into four parts with part one focusing on entering the land covering Joshua 1-4. Part two is the biggest section covering Joshua 5 through 12 and is titled “Taking the Land.” Part three is on Joshua 13 through 21 and is titled “Possessing the Land” while Part 4 is on “Retaining the Land” which comments on Joshua 22 through 24.
This commentary helped a lot with the parts of the book of Joshua that mentioned a lot of names and places. Not an easy area to preach on and the author did a good job with exposition! Furthermore he made it applicable and relevant to the daily Christian life; that’s a great thing when a commentator can do that. I learned a lot from reading this book and below are some of the highlights:
I learned the last three chapters are optimistic endings to the book of Joshua in which the people proved themselves to be faithful to God; this is in contrasts to other chapters in the book where the people compromised. This does not mean its promoting works righteousness or self-righteousness for Joshua 21 ends with the last three verses emphasizing that God is faithful. Since God is faithful, we are motivated to be faithful!
The chapter on Joshua 7 is rather sobering concerning hidden sin. The “Sins of Achan” is a warning for us today and Davis wittingly titled the chapter “The Church in the Hands of an Angry God.” The attention to details concerning the geography when Davis looks at Joshua 15 is also informative.
Overall I recommend this commentary. I used this as a resource for being equipped for my family devotions with my daughters and their feed back was positive which tells me this commentary was useful.
March 13, 2020
Every one of Dale Ralph Davis's commentaries is worth reading for anyone wanting to mine the spiritual lessons of the Old Testament historical books. They read like devotionals but the footnotes frequently reveal the depth of scholarship Davis brings to his exposition. Serious students may wish for more detail, but Davis still manages to touch on just about every practical question an interested reader will likely bring to the text itself, and he writes with an inviting tone, clarity, and wit so that it's easy to get swept along for the ride. No preacher should be without Davis's works (they are easily among the best exposition-focused commentaries I've come across), and lay readers will find Davis to be a marvelous companion to their personal devotions or small-group study.
This one on the book of Joshua is slightly less stellar than the others he's written, but that still puts it head-and-shoulders above most other commentaries geared toward preaching or devotional reading. Considering the second half of Joshua is rather dry reading about tribal allotments and land divisions, it's impressive that Davis is able to catalog as many spiritual takeaways as he does, proving how it is that "every passage of Scripture is God-breathed and useful" (2 Tim 3:16).
This one on the book of Joshua is slightly less stellar than the others he's written, but that still puts it head-and-shoulders above most other commentaries geared toward preaching or devotional reading. Considering the second half of Joshua is rather dry reading about tribal allotments and land divisions, it's impressive that Davis is able to catalog as many spiritual takeaways as he does, proving how it is that "every passage of Scripture is God-breathed and useful" (2 Tim 3:16).
May 29, 2021
The author has a pleasant style and a knack for relating the world of the Old Testament with the world of the modern church. While he can delve into the meaning of Greek words and talk about when the book might have been written, this commentary seemed more devotional than I expected. This isn't a bad thing and he offers good insights into how this book can be taught in a relevant way.
The only negative is the simple fact that the second half of Joshua where the land is divided amongst the tribes is, along with the genealogies and parts of the law code, the least interesting part of Scripture to the modern reader. Faced with a list of city names that often no longer even exist and a case where a single map is worth thousands of words, Davis struggles valiantly. He often succeeds in drawing out lessons from these passages, but there are times where he struggles and the ideas he presents are strained pietism.
Still it is impressive that he succeeds as often as he does in the latter part of the book and the first half is an excellent pastoral or devotional commentary. I can't wait to see what he does with the far more interesting world of the Judges.
The only negative is the simple fact that the second half of Joshua where the land is divided amongst the tribes is, along with the genealogies and parts of the law code, the least interesting part of Scripture to the modern reader. Faced with a list of city names that often no longer even exist and a case where a single map is worth thousands of words, Davis struggles valiantly. He often succeeds in drawing out lessons from these passages, but there are times where he struggles and the ideas he presents are strained pietism.
Still it is impressive that he succeeds as often as he does in the latter part of the book and the first half is an excellent pastoral or devotional commentary. I can't wait to see what he does with the far more interesting world of the Judges.
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