Joshua

Joshua (Hebrew Yehoshua, “the LORD is salvation”), son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim, was Moses’ aide and military commander and his divinely appointed successor who led Israel into the Promised Land. Originally named Hoshea, he was renamed Joshua by Moses (Numbers 13:16). His name is the Hebrew original of which “Jesus” is the Greek form — a link the New Testament draws on to present Christ as the greater Joshua.

Joshua first appears leading Israel’s army against Amalek while Moses held up his hands (Exodus 17:8-13), and served as Moses’ attendant who lingered at the tent of meeting (Exodus 33:11). Sent as one of the twelve spies, he and Caleb alone brought back a faithful report, urging Israel to trust God and take the land (Numbers 14:6-9); for their faith they alone of that generation entered Canaan. Before his death Moses laid hands on Joshua and commissioned him publicly, and the LORD charged him, “Be strong and courageous… for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Numbers 27:18-23; Joshua 1:9).

Under Joshua’s leadership Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground as the priests bore the ark (Joshua 3:14-17), and the walls of Jericho fell after Israel marched in obedience (Joshua 6:20). After the defeat and renewed victory at Ai, he subdued the southern and northern Canaanite coalitions — a campaign during which “the sun stood still” at his prayer (Joshua 10:12-13) — and apportioned the land by lot among the twelve tribes (Joshua 11:23). The book testifies, “Not one word of all the good promises… had failed; all came to pass” (Joshua 21:45).

At the end of his life Joshua gathered Israel at Shechem to renew the covenant, setting before them his great charge: “Choose this day whom you will serve… as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). A man of wholehearted faith and obedience, Joshua is remembered as a type of Christ: bearing the name Jesus, he led God’s people into their inheritance and gave them rest from their enemies. Yet that rest was not final — “if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken… of another day” (Hebrews 4:8) — pointing beyond himself to the eternal rest secured by Jesus, the true and greater Joshua (Acts 7:45).