Joshua
“Jehovah is salvation”
Summary
The son of Nun who succeeded Moses as leader of Israel, led the conquest of Canaan, and divided the promised land among the twelve tribes, becoming a type of Christ who brings God's people into their inheritance.
☩Early Life and Training
Joshua, originally named Hoshea ('salvation'), was of the tribe of Ephraim, the son of Nun. Moses changed his name to Jehoshua or Joshua ('Jehovah is salvation'), the same name rendered 'Jesus' in the New Testament—a prophetic alteration pointing to his role as the one who would bring Israel into their inheritance. He first appears commanding the Israelite forces against the Amalekites at Rephidim, where Israel prevailed while Moses held up his hands. As Moses' 'minister' or attendant, Joshua accompanied him partway up Mount Sinai and was the first to meet him upon his descent. He remained at the tabernacle, departing not from its precincts, learning faithfulness in the service of God.
☩The Faithful Spy
When Moses sent twelve spies to explore Canaan, Joshua represented Ephraim. Though all twelve confirmed the land's abundance, only Joshua and Caleb urged Israel to trust God and take possession, while the other ten spread fear with their report of giants and fortified cities. The congregation threatened to stone Joshua and Caleb, but God's glory appeared in their defense. For their faithfulness, these two alone of their generation were permitted to enter the promised land, while the rest died in the forty years of wilderness wandering. Joshua's courage in standing against the majority, trusting God's promise over human calculation, qualified him for future leadership.
☩Commissioning and Conquest
Near the end of the wilderness period, God directed Moses to publicly commission Joshua as his successor, laying hands on him before Eleazar the priest and the congregation. After Moses' death, God directly charged Joshua to be strong and courageous, promising that no man would be able to stand against him and that He would never leave nor forsake him. Joshua led Israel across the Jordan, which God miraculously parted, and established camp at Gilgal. The captain of the Lord's host appeared to him before Jericho, declaring the ground holy—an encounter revealing divine support for the campaign. In six years, Joshua conquered the major Canaanite coalitions: the southern kings at Gibeon, where the sun stood still at his command, and the northern confederacy at the waters of Merom.
☩Division of the Land and Death
With the major resistance broken, Joshua proceeded to divide the land among the tribes by lot, in conjunction with Eleazar the priest, as God had commanded. He established the tabernacle at Shiloh, designated six cities of refuge, and assigned forty-eight cities to the Levites. For himself, Joshua received Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim as his inheritance. In his farewell addresses recorded in Joshua 23-24, he reminded Israel of God's faithfulness in fulfilling every promise, warned against intermarriage and idolatry, and challenged them: 'Choose you this day whom ye will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.' He died at 110 years of age and was buried in his own city. The writer of Hebrews notes that Joshua gave Israel rest, yet not the ultimate rest that remains for God's people through Christ.
Related Verses219 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Joshua," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IV (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.George Morrish, "Joshua," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Joshua," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Joshua," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).