Joshua
- This page is about the Hebrew Bible character. For the Biblical book, see Book of Joshua.
Joshua or Yehoshúa (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ "The Lord is help") is a Biblical character, whose life is described in the biblical books of Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and especially the Book of Joshua. His dates are uncertain, having lived sometime between the eighteenth century B.C.E. and the late thirdteenth century B.C.E.
He was Moses' personal aide and military captain, accompanying him when he ascended Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments (Exd. 32:17) and attending the sacred Tent of Meeting prior to the establishement of the Tabernacle. He was also one of the 12 spies who were sent out by Moses to explore the land of Canaan (Num. 13:16, 17), and only he and Caleb gave a positive report for victory.
Before Moses died, he appointed Joshua as his successor. Joshua became a prophet in his own right and led the Israelites victoriously into Canaan. He was absolutely ruthless in battle, believing that God had commanded the slaughter of every man, woman, and child of the Canaanite population centers. He also establshed several important religious shrines and apportioned tribal areas for settlement.
The historicity of the account of Joshua is challenged by modern scholarship, as is the ethical attitude of the supposed Israelite conquest. However, he remains for many an inspiring example of faithful, courageous, and victorious obedience to God.
Early years
Joshua was the son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim. The Hebrew pronunciation of his name would normally be Yehoshēa, and in three places he is actually called Hoshēa. In Greek he is called Ιησούς (Iēsoûs), the same as the name as Jesus of Nazareth and others bearing the Hebrew name Yēshua.
Joshua first appears in the biblical narrative as a young man in Exodus 17, when Moses appoints him to lead a battle against the Amalekites at Rephidim. While Joshua commands the fighting forces, Moses stands atop a nearby mountain assisted by Aaron and Hur. The battle goes the Amalekites' way whenever Moses lowers his hands, but the fighting goes Joshua's way when when Moses' hands remain uplifted. In the end, "Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword."
Joshua alone accompanies Moses when the great prophet is called by God to ascend Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. Here he is identified as Moses' "aide" (Ex. 24:13). They remain on the mountain 40 days. Joshua is the first to hear a commotion in the camp as they descend, believing it to be the sound of a battle; but Moses recognizes it as an idolatrous festival centering on the Golden Calf.
Exodus 33 states that Joshua also attends the "Tent of Meeting," constructed before the erection of the Tabernacle, where Moses would speak to God "face to face." Joshua remains inside the tent when Moses leaves it to return to the camp. Later, when God expands the gift of prophecy to include 70 elders at the Tent, Joshua is also present. Hearing a report that two addition elders had received the prophetic gift without being present at the Tent, Joshua objects, saying, "Moses, my lord, stop them!" Moses, however, responds, "I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!" (Numbers 11:24-29)
Joshua's faithfulness is demonstrated particularly in his role in the episode of spying in Canaan. Here (Numbers 13) his name is initially given as "Hoshea son of Nun." The spies are sent up through the Negev desert into the hill country of Canaan. The spies return, all agreeing that the land is a good one, "flowing with milk and honey," but also reporting that its towns are well fortified and that some of the area is inhabited by the giant Anakites, descendants of the legnedary Nephilim (Gen 6.) Only Joshua and Caleb testify in favor of attempting to conquer the land, saying "Do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them." (Num. 14:19) The assembly, however sides with the faithless spies and attempts to stone Joshua and Caleb. Moses intervenes on their behalf, prophesying that all of the Israelites born in Egypt except Joshua and Caleb would die in the wilderness. Moreover, for every day of spying, the Israelites would have to spend a year wandering in the wilderness, a total of 40 years in all. The other 10 spies soon met their deaths in a plague.
Conquest
Near the end of the 40 years in the wilderness, God instructs Moses to appoint Joshua as his successor (Num 27). With Aaron already deceased, the ceremony, involving the laying on of hands, is conducted by Eleazar, Aaron's son and new high priest. The Book of Deuteronmy adds Moses words of encouragement to his successor: "Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance." (31:7) Moses continues to lead the Israelites into the country east of Jordan, where he ascends Mount Nebo in the terroitory of Moab, and dies. Joshua emerges fully at this point as his successor: "Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses." (Deuteronomy 34:9)
Now begin the wars of conquest which Joshua carried on for many years, the record of which is in the Book of Joshua.
Jericho was the first city captured. Joshua explored its defenses with spies, who received crucial aid from a local harlot named Rahab. Joshua then beseiged they city, finally capturing it. According to the Book of Joshua this was done by the men of war circling the city for six days in silence, and on the seventh day, seven priests circled the city seven times each blowing a shofar or ram's horn. Finally and all the Israelites shouted as one, and the walls of Jericho fell. A curse was pronounced over the ruins, and every man, woman, and child in the city was killed except Rahab and her family.
Joshua became famous by this victory, but met a reverse at Ai in consequence of the sin Achan's who had not honored the sacred curse against Jericho but had selfishly taken and hidden plunder. Achan, his wife, and even his sons and daughters were stone for this sin, and Joshua promptly made himself master of both Ai and Bethel. Seeing the absolute slaughter of any settlements that resisted Joshua's advance, the Gibeonites made peace with him, gaining advantageous terms by means of a clever ruse. After this, on the mountains Ebal and Gerizim Joshua established a sacred altar and caused the blessings and the curses of the Law of Moses to be read as an act of renewing the people's covenant with God.[1]
While Joshua was engaged in the north, five of the southern Canaanite rulers made an alliance to punish Gibeon for its collaboration with the Israelites; but they were routed at Makkedah by Joshua. It was during this battle that a furious hail-storm set in, proving more deadly than the sword, and on this occasion also, at Joshua's command, the sun stood still upon Gibeon and the moon in the valley of Ajalon. The fugitive five kings were discovered hiding in a cave at Makkedah. By Joshua's orders the cave was closed with huge stones until the pursuit was over, when it was reopened and the kings, after having been thoroughly humiliated, were slain, their bodies being hanged on trees until the evening, when they were taken down and cast into the cave.
Then followed the conquest of Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, and Debir. In the south Joshua penetrated as far as Kadesh-barnea; in the west as far as Gaza. Later on he routed the allied kings of the north at Lake Merom—Hazor being the head of these kingdoms—killing the inhabitants and burning the city of Hazor. Joshua's policy was one of complete anihilation in accordance with the laws of holy war set forth by Moses.
In this manner Joshua within a few years had made himself master of virtually the whole country with the exception of the Philistine and Phoenician coasts.[2] He maintained a fortified camp in Gilgal and from there he governed the land, and there he began to allot the districts to the various tribes. The Judah, Ephraim, and the half of Manasseh were the first to be settled, Caleb being allowed to take Hebron.
After this, Joshua removed the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant from Gilgal to Shiloh, and took up his residence there. Here he continued the work of apportioning the rest of the land by lot according to the families. Cities of refuge, in which men who had accidentally killed another person could escape the blood vengeance of their victims' relatives, were also appointed. Joshua himself received the city of Timnath-serah in Ephraim for an inheritance. Having thus completed his task, he gave Reuben, Gad, and the half of Manasseh permission to return to their east Jordanic territory.
When he was "old and stricken in age" Joshua convened the elders and chiefs of the Israelites and exhorted them to have no fellowship with the native population. At a general assembly of the clans at Shechem he took leave of the people, admonishing them to be loyal to their God, who had been so mightily manifested in the midst of them. As a witness of their promise to serve God, Joshua set up a great stone under an oak by the sanctuary of God. Soon afterward he died, at the age of 110, and was buried in Timnath-serah.
Analysis
The character of Joshua is described by Edersheim: "Born a slave in Egypt, he must have been about forty years old at the time of the Exodus. Attached to the person of Moses, he led Israel in the first decisive battle against Amalek (Exd. 17:9, 13), while Moses in the prayer of faith held up to heaven the God-given 'rod.' It was no doubt on that occasion that his name was changed from Oshea, 'help,' to Jehoshua, 'Jehovah is help' (Num. 13:16). And this name is the key to his life and work. Alike in bringing the people into Canaan, in his wars, and in the distribution of the land among the tribes, from the miraculous crossing of Jordan and taking of Jericho to his last address, he was the embodiment of his new name, 'Jehovah is help.' To this outward calling his character also corresponded. It is marked by singleness of purpose, directness, and decision...He sets an object before him, and unswervingly follows it." (Bible Hist., iii. 103)
In Rabbinical literature
In rabbinic Jewish literature Joshua is regarded as a faithful, humble, deserving, wise man. Biblical verses illustrative of these qualities and of their reward are applied to him. "He that waits on his master shall be honored" (Pro. xxvii. 18) is construed as a reference to Joshua (Midrash Numbers Rabbah xii.), as is also the first part of the same verse, "Whoso keepes the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof" (Midrash Yalk., Josh. 2; Numbers Rabbah xii. 21). That "honor shall uphold the humble in spirit" (Pro. xxix. 23) is proved by Joshua's victory over Amalek (Midrash Numbers Rabbah xiii). Not the sons of Moses — as Moses himself had expected — but Joshua was appointed successor to the son of Amram (Midrash Numbers Rabbah xii). Moses was shown how Joshua reproved Othniel (Yalḳ., Num. 776). Joshua's manliness recommended him for this high post. David referred to him in Psalms lxxxvii. 25, though without mentioning the name, lest dissensions should arise between his sons and those of his brothers (Yalḳ., quoting Sifre).
Joshua is also a common name for boys. The name is also commonly shortened to Josh.
Initial text from Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897, and from the Jewish Encyclopedia, 1906. Please update as needed.
External link
| Preceded by: Moses |
Judges of Israel |
Succeeded by: Othniel |
Credits
New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:
The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:
Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.
- ↑ The Samaritans would later claim Gerizim as the only authorized Israelite shrine, rejecting the Temple of Jerusalem as the work of imposter priests.
- ↑ The Book of Judges, however, makes it clear that much of the land, including important cities such as Jerusalem and substantial areas still under the control of local tribes, had in fact not been conquered in Joshua's day.
