Joshua
My commentary on Joshua for the Apollos Old Testament Commentary series
(Leicester: IVP) was released in September 2010.
Characteristic features
of the commentary include the following: extensive comparisons with
ancient near Eastern parallels, archaeological survey of all places mentioned in the MT text of Joshua with specific
excurses on key/problematic sites that relate to the portrayed Israelite conquest, and comparisons with genocide
studies and their relation to reading the book as part of the Christian canon in today's post/neocolonial age.
I also draw in certain sociological and anthropological issues. In addition, comments are made on literary features
of the book, both as a whole, and chapter by chapter, and also particularly on literary links between Joshua
and the Pentateuch and Judges-2 Kings. I argue that the book of Joshua should best be understood as a conquest
document from the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age written in the style of ancient Near Eastern
historiography. The book
should also be understood as a document that helps define Israelite identity in Yahwistic terms, at the same time
promulgating Yahwism in Israel as the exclusive religious ideology. As regards composition, in addition to a very
plausible early dating in its essential features, the book has
in my view undergone further editing in the time of the monarchy, most notably in terms of the town lists
of Judah.
A link to the table of contents is provided here:
Joshua AOTC Pitkanen table of contents (PDF)
Publisher's web page on the book
Praise for Joshua AOTC
"Author Pekka Pitkänen provides a comprehensive analysis of the context, significance and message of the Old Testament book of Joshua. He also grapples masterfully with the controversies surrounding the text, making this commentary both one of the most in-depth and wide-ranging available today." (from editorial review)
"It’s not very often that a commentary can be described as historically critical, theologically insightful, and spiritually uplifiting. Somehow or other, though, P. has managed to accomplish all three in this intriguing volume." ... "Our author goes to great pains to discuss, incredibly fairly, the most pressing of questions attached to Joshua. So, for instance, he describes ‘history’ in Joshua. ‘Genocide’ in Joshua. ‘Theology’ in Joshua. The problem of war in Joshua. And most impressively, Joshua, Israel and the Palestinians." ... "One could wish that all commentators were as even handed with the material, as intelligent in their approach, and as insightful. P’s perspective on the text of Joshua itself is just as poignant." ... "Here we have a volume worth reading more than once." (from a review by Dr Jim West, Dec 2010, full review available at http://www.scribd.com/doc/44896570/pitkanen, also see http://zwingliusredivivus.wordpress.com/ for a popular blog by the reviewer)
"In Pekka M A Pitkänen's, Joshua (Apollos, £24 .99) this objective (of providing not only tools of excellence for the academy but also tools of function for the pulpit) is admirably fulfilled and I hope that the result will be a salutary increase in the number of sermons which take the exciting content of Joshua as the basis for their message." ... "The writer has provided the book with an exhaustive bibliography and excellent indexes and this serves to make this commentary one of the most user-friendly on the market." Rev John Job, Methodist Recorder, Jan 2011, the full review can be viewed here.
"It is ages since I read 'Joshua' but this excellent commentary has reminded me that it forms a coda to the Pentateuch and has great stories which could enliven a sermon. The author has written the sixth book in the attractively produced Apollos OT series and given a thorough, scholarly response both to 'Joshua' and to what has been written about it. After an informative general introduction, the biblical text of each chapter is followed by sections on notes, form and structure, comment and explanation, which offers a contemporary Christian response. There are references to key Hebrew words, supporting sections on archaeological findings, and very helpful page headings and indexes. The whole is clearly expressed, within my reach and understanding, and has my admiration and thanks. If necessary urge libraries to buy it so that you have access to a copy." Jeremy Harvey, Church of England Reader Magazine, Autumn 2011.
Errata in Joshua AOTC
(Information that was available
to me too late to be included in the book. It is mostly about some further
details on recent archaeological work around the Hebron area, but there
are also e.g. a couple of recent works that I would like to add reference to.)
<Last
updated 10/2/2012>