Joshua (Biblical leader)
Joshua is a prominent figure in Jewish and Christian traditions, as well as being recognized in Islamic texts. He is featured in the Torah and the Old Testament, serving initially as an assistant to Moses during the Israelites' exodus from slavery in Egypt. Joshua played a crucial role as one of the twelve spies sent to scout the land of Canaan, and after Moses's death, he succeeded him as the leader of the Israelites. His leadership led to the successful conquest of Canaan, including the notable victory over the fortified city of Jericho, where he famously commanded the walls to fall after the Israelites marched around them.
Joshua's life is marked by his strong faith in God, which is seen when he and Caleb remain optimistic about conquering Canaan, despite the fears of their fellow spies. He is also known for miraculous events, such as when he requested that the sun stand still during a battle, allowing the Israelites to secure victory. After dividing the conquered lands among the tribes of Israel, Joshua gave a final address, urging his people to remain faithful to God before he passed away at the age of 110. His legacy endures, symbolizing strong leadership and devotion, and he continues to be an example of faith in religious teachings.
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Joshua (Biblical leader)
Joshua is an important figure in Jewish and Christian faiths. He is also recognized in Islamic texts. He appears in the Jewish Torah as well as the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. Joshua initially served as an assistant of Moses, helping lead the Israelites from slavery through the wilderness. He witnessed the passing down of the Ten Commandments. Moses appointed him as one of twelve spies to explore the land of Canaan. He became leader of the Israelites after Moses died, leading the Israelites to conquer the land of Canaan, triumphing over Jericho and other armies along the way. He was said to have died of old age at 110.
In the Bible, Joshua's life and actions are described in the books of Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua. He is also mentioned after his death in several later books. He was originally known as Hoshe'a, but when he joined Moses, the latter gave him the name Yehoshu'a. This translates to Joshua in English.
Brief History
According to the Bible and the Torah, Joshua was born when the Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians. The Bible and Torah do not describe much of his early life, but it is assumed that he grew up in slavery. When Moses attempted to convince the Egyptian pharaoh to release the Israelites, the pharaoh refused, prompting God to set several different plagues upon the Egyptians. Eventually the Israelites fled, pursued by the Egyptians. God, working through Moses, parted the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to pass and then closed it behind them, drowning the trailing Egyptians.
Sometime after escaping Egypt, Moses assigned Joshua the task of recruiting and leading a military force to fight off the Amalekites that Joshua carried out successfully. Afterward, God guided the Israelites through the wilderness. Eventually, God summoned Moses to climb Mt. Sinai. Joshua went with Moses, and he was present when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. When they returned, they found that many of the Israelites, having lost faith that God would guide them, had built and begun worshiping a golden calf.
During the Israelites' travels, Joshua was often positioned outside of Moses' tent, ensuring that Moses could commune with God in peace. At one point, Joshua realized two men had been going around the Israelite camp and prophesizing. He believed they were showing a lack of respect to Moses and God, and he reported them to Moses. Moses responded that he hoped that all people would become prophets, letting Joshua know that God could speak through anyone, not just the privileged leaders.
Eventually, God led the people to the land of Canaan, and Moses appointed twelve spies to investigate it. Joshua was among the twelve, and their duty was to report on the nature of both the land itself and its people. Moses wanted to know if there were natural resources that could sustain the Israelites, and if they could overcome the Canaanites and conquer the land. The group spent forty days investigating Canaan. When they returned, all the spies agreed that the land was bountiful, but ten of them were extremely pessimistic about their chances of defeating the Canaanites. Only Joshua and fellow spy Caleb had faith that God would guide them to victory.
Overview
Although Joshua and Caleb tried to encourage the people, the reports from the other spies had stirred up fear of the well-fortified cities and strong warriors within them. As punishment for their lack of faith, God decided that, aside from Joshua and Caleb, none of their generation would live to see the promised land.
Upon Moses' death, he named Joshua his successor. Joshua led a new generation of Israelites to conquer Canaan. When they arrived at the Jordan River, the waters parted, echoing the miracle that had occurred for Moses when escaping Egypt and providing a sign that God favored Joshua in the upcoming battles.
The Israelites first encountered the city of Jericho, which was fortified with immense walls. Joshua sent spies to investigate the city, and a woman named Rahab housed them when they were in danger of being caught. Consulting God, Joshua instructed the Israelites to march around the walls, trumpeting and shouting. The walls fell after seven days, and the Israelites defeated the foes within, sparing only Rahab and her family. God ordered them to leave the wealth of Jericho's treasury, but a man named Achan disobeyed and took several items.
The Israelites next attempted to take the city of Ai, but they were met with defeat. This defeat was apparently punishment for Achan's transgression. He confessed his crime and was stoned to death. After a second attempt, the Israelites took Ai.
Then the Israelites battled an army made of several kingdoms. God provided direct assistance in this fight, using massive hailstones to crush enemy soldiers. During the battle, Joshua requested that God stop the sun, allowing the Israelites to win the battle in daylight. God granted the request, producing a miracle to prolong the day.
Once Israel had conquered most of Canaan, Joshua divided the land among different tribes, according to God's will. He then spent his later years in the city of Timnath-heres. Joshua grew old in the city and gave a final address to his people as an elderly man. He reminded the people of the Israelites' history, encouraged them to remain faithful to God, and cautioned them against forging relationships with the Canaanites because that may lead them astray. When his audience pledged to serve God, he set up a memorial stone to commemorate the occasion. He died shortly afterward.
Although archaeologists and historians have attempted to find evidence of Joshua's life and the battles he fought, there have not been conclusive findings. Joshua himself inspired the name of the Joshua tree, supposedly named due to its branches, which were reminiscent of Joshua stretching his arms upward to God. Every year, thousands make a pilgrimage to the tomb where, according to tradition, Joshua was laid to rest.
Joshua is viewed as a biblical example of a strong leader and faithful believer in God. Christians also sometimes cast Joshua's leadership as a predecessor of Jesus. Joshua led a group of Israelites, who often strayed from God's wishes and complained about their situation, into the land that God promised them. Jesus showed all people, each with faults, the way to the eternal home that God promised them.
Bibliography
The Bible. English Standard Version, Crossway Bibles, 2007.
De Pury, Albert, et al., editors. Israel Constructs Its History. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2000.
Fleming, Daniel E. The Legacy of Israel in Judah's Bible: History, Politics, and the Reinscribing of Tradition. Cambridge UP, 2012.
Garbini, Giovanni. Myth and History in the Bible. Bloomsbury, 2009.
"Joshua (1355–1245 BCE)." Chabad.org, www.chabad.org/library/article‗cdo/aid/129625/jewish/Joshua.htm. Accessed 25 Feb. 2017.
Killebrew, Ann. Biblical Peoples and Ethnicity: An Archaeological Study of Egyptians, Canaanites, Philistines, and Early Israel 1300–1100 B.C.E. Society of Biblical Literature, 2005.
"The Life of Joshua." Bible Study, mybiblicalstudy.weebly.com/the-life-of-joshua.html. Accessed 25 Feb. 2017.
Wiesel, Elie. "Joshua in the Bible." Bible History Daily, 7 Dec. 2016, www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/hebrew-bible/joshua-in-the-bible/. Accessed 25 Feb. 2017.