conformity to God’s instructions, not in the position of the men per se. Their authority is derived from their special appointment by God. When they faithfully speak the word of the Lord, the proper response of the people is to obey. In doing so they recognize that God has called Joshua to this assignment. From the outset and throughout the book there are repeated reminders that the conquest is in response to God’s command to enter the land, not the action of a greedy land seizure. A contributing