How does the Hebrew Bible tell the story of the Israelites' settlement in the Promised Land?

The Hebrew Bible presents the Israelites' settlement in the Promised Land primarily through the Book of Joshua, which depicts a swift, divinely directed military conquest of Canaan led by Joshua. In this narrative, the Israelites cross the Jordan River and secure major victories at cities like Jericho and Ai through obedience to God and the covenant. Joshua subsequently divides the land among the Twelve Tribes of Israel.12

However, the Book of Judges offers a different perspective, portraying the settlement as a lengthy, incomplete, and often inconclusive process where many Canaanite groups remained.34

Modern archaeological and historical studies generally reject the account of a single, comprehensive military conquest. Scholars often interpret the biblical narrative as a complex literary work, potentially reflecting the political aspirations of 7th-century BCE Judah or the hopes of a displaced people during the Babylonian Captivity, rather than a literal historical record.154