Joshua - Word Foundations

According to Numbers 11:28, Joshua, the son of Nun, had been “assistant to Moses since his youth” (see also Ex. 24:13). As Moses’ assistant, Joshua was on the same mountain with Moses when Moses received God’s law on stone tablets (see 32:15-17). He became Moses’ successor after Moses’ death and led Israel into the promised land through faith in God as well as military force. Born in Egypt when the Israelites were slaves in that land, Joshua was a member of the tribe of Ephraim. His life spanned from the time of Israelite bondage to the time of Israelite conquest of a new land and establishment of a new nation, including the distribution of land to the people.

We first see Joshua in Exodus 17:9. When the Amalekites attacked Israel, Joshua led the military effort against them. He prevailed because as Moses stood atop a hill overlooking the battle, he held up his hand. As long as Moses was raising his hand, God enabled Israel to overcome the Amalekites. When Moses put his arm down, the enemy prevailed. Understandably, Moses arms grew tired—so Aaron and Hur helped Moses keep them in the air. Therefore, “Joshua defeated Amalek and his army with the sword” (v. 13).

Joshua was one of the twelve spies who scouted the land in Numbers 13. Along with Caleb, he recommended that although the Canaanite people were powerful, Israel should attack, for God would enable them to defeat their enemies. Sadly, the people allowed the advice of the other ten spies to keep them from moving out in faith. They panicked, and as a result, no one in the nation over 20 years of age was allowed to enter the promised land. All of them, except Joshua and Caleb, died in the wilderness (see 14:26-35).

In Numbers 27:12-23, we read of the ceremony in which Joshua was commissioned to succeed Moses. The Lord had Moses commission Joshua in response to this request from Moses: “May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the community who will go out before them and come back in before them, and who will bring them out and bring them in, so that the LORD’s community won’t be like sheep without a shepherd” (vv. 16-17). Significantly, the Lord’s choice of Joshua did not represent a spur-of-the-moment decision on God’s part (see Deut. 31:14-15).

Joshua 24:31 indicates Joshua’s leadership was very effective. That verse states, “Israel worshiped Yahweh throughout Joshua’s lifetime and during the lifetimes of the elders who outlived Joshua and who had experienced all the works Yahweh had done for Israel.”

When Bible students think of Joshua, two items frequently come to their minds. The first is the promise God repeatedly made to His servant. In Joshua 1:9, for example God stated, “Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” The second is Joshua’s declaration of challenge to Israel and commitment to God found in Joshua 24:14-15: Revere “the LORD and worship Him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship Yahweh. But if it doesn’t please you to worship Yahweh, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my family, we will worship Yahweh.”

Joshua was 110 years old when he died (see v. 29). His name, which means “Yahweh is Salvation,” is the Hebrew equivalent to the name Jesus.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations in this article are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.