David M. Howard Jr. delivers a superb commentary that exemplifies the New American Commentary series' commitment to combining rigorous evangelical scholarship with practical ministry application, making the book of Joshua both academically credible and pastorally useful for contemporary readers. As Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Bethel Theological Seminary, Howard brings exceptional linguistic expertise and archaeological knowledge to his analysis of how Israel's conquest and settlement of Canaan represents the climactic fulfillment of promises first made to Abraham centuries earlier. His work stands as a model of how evangelical scholarship can engage critically with the text while maintaining unwavering confidence in Scripture's historical reliability and theological authority.

The commentary's particular strength lies in Howard's ability to address the major interpretive challenges posed by Joshua—questions of historicity, archaeological correlation, and ethical implications of the conquest—with both scholarly rigor and pastoral sensitivity. Rather than avoiding difficult questions, Howard confronts them directly, providing readers with the historical and cultural context necessary to understand how these ancient narratives continue to reveal God's character and redemptive purposes. His treatment of the conquest accounts demonstrates how divine judgment and mercy intersect in ways that illuminate both God's holiness and his covenant faithfulness, while his analysis of the land distribution passages reveals the practical outworking of divine promise in concrete geographical and tribal realities.

What distinguishes this commentary within the broader landscape of Joshua studies is Howard's consistent focus on the book's theological message and contemporary relevance without sacrificing exegetical precision or historical accuracy. His exposition reveals how Joshua's themes—divine faithfulness, human obedience, covenant renewal, and the consequences of compromise—speak directly to the challenges facing God's people in every generation. For pastors preparing to preach through Joshua, students seeking to understand Israel's formative period, and serious Bible readers wanting to grasp how Old Testament narrative continues to shape Christian discipleship, Howard provides the interpretive tools and theological insights necessary to bridge the ancient world with contemporary faith. This commentary represents evangelical scholarship at its finest, demonstrating how academic excellence and pastoral heart combine to serve the church's mission of faithful biblical interpretation.