Joshua..a prophetic book

In our English Bibles, Joshua is the first book in the section known as the HISTORICAL BOOKS, which traces Israel's history from the entrance into Canaan until the return from Exile.

1. Joshua
2. Judges
3. Ruth
4. 1-2 Samuel
5. 1-2 Kings
6. 1-2 Chronicles
7. Ezra
8. Nehemiah
9. Esther
   

However, Joshua is in the second main division of the Hebrew Bible, the Prophets. It introduces the first part of that section, known as THE EARLY PROPHETS.

1. Joshua
2. Judges
3. Samuel
4. Kings
   

The understanding that this work is prophetic highlights that we are not simply dealing with a record of historical events. The purpose of the Early Prophets is to show how God fulfilled his prophetic Word as given in the Torah (Genesis-Deuteronomy) in Israel's subsequent history, from entering Canaan to the exile.