Joshua יְהוֹשׁוּעַ
Moses' assistant who led Israel into Canaan
Who is Joshua in the Bible?
Joshua, the son of Nun, was Moses' assistant and successor who led the Israelites into the Promised Land of Canaan. Originally named Hoshea, Moses changed his name to Joshua (Numbers 13:16), and he served as one of the twelve spies sent to explore Canaan, becoming one of only two spies, along with Caleb, who faithfully encouraged the people to trust God's promise (Numbers 14:6-9). Because of his faithfulness, Joshua was among the few adults from his generation permitted to enter the Promised Land, and before his death Moses commissioned Joshua as his successor to lead Israel (Numbers 27:18-23). Joshua's leadership was pivotal to Israel's history, as he commanded the conquest of Canaan, oversaw the division of the land among the tribes, and established the nation in their inheritance. His unwavering faith and obedience made him a model of trust in God throughout Israel's formative years as a nation.
Biography
Joshua, the son of Nun, was a prominent figure in the Old Testament who served as Moses' assistant and later succeeded him as the leader of the Israelites. He was from the tribe of Ephraim (Num.13.8) and was originally named Hoshea, but Moses changed his name to Joshua (Num.13.16). Joshua was one of the twelve spies sent to explore the land of Canaan (Num.13.8), and he and Caleb were the only ones who brought back a positive report and encouraged the people to trust God (Num.14.6-9). As a result, Joshua and Caleb were the only adults from their generation permitted to enter the Promised Land (Num.14.30, 38).
Before Moses' death, God appointed Joshua to succeed him as the leader of Israel (Num.27.18-23; Deu.31.7-8, 14, 23). After Moses' death, Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan River and into the land of Canaan (Joshua 1-4). He oversaw the conquest of Jericho (Joshua 6), Ai (Joshua 8), and numerous other cities and territories (Joshua 10-12). Joshua also led the Israelites in renewing their covenant with God (Jos.8.30-35; 24.1-28).
Under Joshua's leadership, the land of Canaan was divided among the tribes of Israel as their inheritance (Joshua 13-21). In his old age, Joshua gave a farewell address to the Israelites, encouraging them to remain faithful to God (Joshua 23-24). He died at the age of 110 and was buried in his inheritance at Timnath-serah (Jos.24.29-30; Jdg.2.8-9).
Joshua is remembered as a courageous leader, a faithful servant of God, and a key figure in Israel's history who led the people into the Promised Land and helped establish them as a nation.
Family
In Scripture
10 biblical books ; 6 with study contentExodus 5 verses
- Exodus 17:9
"So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.”"
Study Exodus → - Exodus 17:10
"Joshua did as Moses had instructed him and fought against the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill."
Study Exodus → - Exodus 17:13
"So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his army with the sword."
Study Exodus → - Exodus 17:14
"Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua, because I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”"
Study Exodus → - Exodus 24:13
"So Moses set out with Joshua his attendant and went up on the mountain of God."
Study Exodus →
Numbers 5 verses
- Numbers 11:28
"Joshua son of Nun, the attendant to Moses since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”"
- Numbers 13:16
"These were the names of the men Moses sent to spy out the land; and Moses gave to Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua."
- Numbers 14:6
"Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes"
- Numbers 14:30
"Surely none of you will enter the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun."
- Numbers 14:38
"Of those men who had gone to spy out the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh remained alive."
Deuteronomy 5 verses
- Deuteronomy 1:38
"Joshua son of Nun, who stands before you, will enter it. Encourage him, for he will enable Israel to inherit the land."
Study Deuteronomy → - Deuteronomy 3:21
"And at that time I commanded Joshua: “Your own eyes have seen all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings. The LORD will do the same to all the kingdoms you are about to enter."
Study Deuteronomy → - Deuteronomy 3:28
"But commission Joshua, encourage him, and strengthen him, for he will cross over ahead of the people and enable them to inherit the land that you will see.”"
Study Deuteronomy → - Deuteronomy 31:3
"The LORD your God Himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will dispossess them. Joshua will cross ahead of you, as the LORD has said."
Study Deuteronomy → - Deuteronomy 31:7
"Then Moses called for Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance."
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Joshua 5 verses
- Joshua 1:1
"Now after the death of His servant Moses, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying,"
Study Joshua → - Joshua 1:10
"Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people:"
Study Joshua → - Joshua 1:12
"But to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,"
Study Joshua → - Joshua 1:16
"So they answered Joshua, “Everything you have commanded us we will do, and everywhere you send us we will go."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 2:1
"Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יְהוֹשׁוּעַ | yĕhwōšûʿa | Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader |
| (same form as previous) | Hebrew | יְהוֹשׁוּעַ | yĕhwōšûʿa | Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader |
| Named | Hebrew | הוֹשֵׁעַ | — | Hoshea , the name of five Israelites |
| (same form as previous) | Hebrew | הוֹשֵׁעַ | — | Hoshea , the name of five Israelites |
| Named | Hebrew | יֵשׁוּעַ | — | Jeshua , the name of ten Israelites, also of a place in Palestine |
| Greek | Greek | Ἰησοῦς | Iēsoûs | Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites |
| (same form as previous) | Greek | Ἰησοῦς | Iēsoûs | Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites |