Prolegomenon I. What is the argument [subject-matter] of the book of Joshua?

The Book of Joshua embraces that state of the ancient Church which most nearly followed the death of Moses. Namely, how the land which GOD had promised to Abraham, and to his son Isaac, and to [his] grandson Jacob, and to the other fathers, was at last — by the posterity of those holy men, who were called “the people of the Israelites” — entered, subdued, divided, and possessed; and this within the space of fourteen years, or even more (as will be said below), under the leadership and governance of Joshua, the successor of Moses himself. For then, through that one [Joshua], at the [time of the] Israelites’ either coming to those regions, or return [thither] — [and] it can indeed be so called, since their ancestors of old had descended into Egypt, whence they now come — the true worship of GOD the Best and Greatest, the true Church, with all the divinely-received laws and ceremonies, received a seat there; and, the idols and superstitions of the Gentile inhabitants being exterminated, [it] began to fix [its] dwelling.