The key human character is Joshua, the author of the book and principle leader of Israel during this period of history. As a younger man, Joshua had been Moses' chief aide. He had climbed with Moses up Mount Sinai when Moses received the Law from God and he was one of the 12 spies who did surveillance on the Promised Land before the first aborted attempt to enter. Joshua was Moses' hand picked successor to lead Israel.
Other notable characters include Achan, whose sin after the raid on Jericho brought defeat for Israel in their next battle. Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho who helped Israel take the city. She trusted the power of Israel's God and became a faithful follower.
Significant places include the Jordan River, which the people crossed to enter the land. Jericho and Ai were the first and second cities conquered in the land. Another important site is Shechem, the city where Joshua gathered the people for his final address.
