The Land Promise

After spending forty years in the desert the Israelites started their march toward the promised land. Their first major military encounters were with two armies of Amorites in the highlands east of the Jordan River. They routed their opponents and took possession of the lands held by the defeated kings (Num. 21:21-35).

Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan River and into the land of Canaan. Josh. 5-12 describes the conquest of the land. When the land had been secured, Joshua divided it among the twelve tribes of Israel. At this point it could be written: So the Lord gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it (Josh. 21:43).