Defeat the Amalekites, Exo 17:8-13; remains in the tabernacle, Exo 33:11; sent with the spies, Num 14:6-9; chosen as Moses’ successor, Num 27:18-23; Deu 3:28; invested by Moses, Deut:3
Joshua (Heb. Yehôshûa, “Yahweh is liberation”, “Yahweh is salvation” or “the Savior”; Aram. Yeshûâ; Gr. I’sóus). The name appears on an ancient Hebrew seal and also on an ossuary (bone receptacle) discovered in Palestine, dating from the time of Christ or a little later. 1. Son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim (Num 13:8, 16). With the exception of Jochebed, the mother of Moses, Joshua is the 1st character in the OT who bears a compound name with Yahweh. He was Moses’ military commander during the wilderness wanderings, and is first mentioned in connection with the victory over the Amalekites a few days before reaching Mount Sinai (Exo 17:8-16). As an attendant or “servant” to Moses, he accompanied him on the ascent of Mount Sinai (24:13). At Kadesh-barnea, 2 years after the exodus, Joshua represented the tribe of Ephraim in the expedition sent to spy out the promised land. Together with Caleb, they gave a favorable report on their return (Num 13:8; 14:6-9; cf 14:7) and were granted the privilege of entering Canaan 38 years later (14:30-38). Shortly before his death, Moses publicly consecrated Joshua as his successor (Num 27:18-23; Deu 1:38; 31:23). When Moses died, Joshua immediately began preparations to enter Canaan (Jos 1:10, 11). He sent 2 spies to get a report on the situation at Jericho (2:1), and when the preparations were complete he led the people across the Jordan (Josh 4:10-19). After the capture of Jericho and Ai, he met and defeated a coalition of Canaanite kings at Gibeah, near Jerusalem, and another at Hazor in the northern part of the country (chs 6-11). After these preliminary conquests (cf Act 7:45), he set about dividing the land of Canaan among the tribes (chs 13-21), and his inheritance, at his own request, was Timnat-sera in the Mount Ephraim (19:50). At the age of 110 he gathered all of Israel together, counseled them to be faithful to God (24:1-28; cf Heb 4:8) and died (vs 29, 30). See Jesus; Hosea. 2. Owner of a field at Beth-shemesh to which the cows carried the ark on their return from Philistia (1Sa 6:14). 3. Governor of Jerusalem during the reign of King Josiah (2Ki 23:8). 4. Gate of the city of Jerusalem where the pagan altars that Josiah destroyed were erected (2Ki 23:8). 5. High priest under Zerubbabel, after the return from Babylonian captivity (Hab 1:12-14; 2:24; Zec 3:1-9). 6. Descendant of Judah whose name appears in the genealogy of Jesus Christ recorded by Luke (Luk 3:29). Joshua, Book of. Report of the conquest and the establishment of the Hebrew people in the land of Canaan under the leadership of Joshua. In the Hebrew Scriptures, Joshua is the 1st book in the section entitled Former Prophets -which is the 2nd division of the OT called “Prophets”- followed by Judges, Samuel and Kings. I. Author. Commentators and critics are divided on whether the title of the book designates its author or simply the main character of the narrative. Critics insist that the book is a mixed work by several authors, later compiled by a publisher. However, the obvious internal unity makes this conjecture 666 unfounded. The argument that the repeated appearance of the expression “until today” (Jos 5:9; etc.) necessarily indicates a time of writing much later than the events recorded in the book, is undermined by the context of cp 6:25. The use of place names that were not used until later (cf Jos 19:27 with 1Ki 9:13; Jos 15:38 with 2Ki 14:7; etc.) can be attributed to the fact that later copyists substituted the common names in his day for the benefit of readers who did not know the old names that had become obsolete. It is generally agreed that the account of Joshua’s death (24:29-33) was written by someone else. The Talmud attributes it to Eleazar, the son of Aaron; Phinehas added v 33 (Baba Bathra 15a, 15b). Until modern times, Jews and Christians alike have recognized Joshua as the author (Baba Bathra 14b). The book of Joshua picks up the narrative of the Hebrew story where Deuteronomy left off. This intimate relationship with the Pentateuch has led to the common practice of regarding Joshua as a unit with it, and the 6 books have been called the Hexateuch (see CBA 2:173-178). II. Setting. The book begins with Israel’s entry into the promised land, c 1405 BC Joshua successfully led the Israelites in the conquest of Canaan or, rather, the portions of it that were sufficient to make possible a distribution of their inheritance to each tribe, so that everyone could find a permanent place of habitation. The land was ruled by numerous small kingdoms. On 2 or 3 occasions various Canaanite kings united their armies to stop the progress of the Hebrews, but each time God gave his people a victory over his enemies. This period of conquest occupied some 6 or 7 years (Jos 14:7-11; cf Deu 2:14), and by the end of that time the basic occupation of the territory was considered complete (Jos 11:23; 14:5). . This does not mean that every portion of the land was under Israelite control, but rather that an area large enough for the ordinary needs of the tribes had been controlled. See Chronology (III). III. Sketch. The book can be divided into 3 parts: 1. Conquest of Canaan (Jos 1:1-12:24). 2. Division of the land (13:1-22:34). 3. Joshua’s farewell speech (23:1-24:33). IV. Contents. The crossing of the Jordan, including the preparations for the great event, occupies the first 4 chapters. Chapters 5 and 6 deal with the fall of Jericho. The preparations included the circumcision of the males and the celebration of the Passover (neither had been observed since the departure from Sinai; see 5:2-10). Chapters 7 and 8 record the preliminary defeat at Ai, Achan’s sin, and the subsequent conquest of the city. Chapters 9 and 10 tell of the treaty with the Gibeonites, of the Canaanite confederation against them because of their alliance with the Hebrews, and of Joshua’s dramatic victory over them, leaving Israel in effective control of the central mountainous region. A military expedition that brought most of the south under Hebrew rule is recorded in cp 10:28-43. The coalition of the northern kings of Canaan and the conquest of the northern territory are related in cp 11:1-15. Other military exploits fill ch 12. Having completed the preliminary conquest of the land, Joshua assigns the territories to the tribes (Jos_13-19), and sets aside some cities for refuge (ch 20) and others for the Levites (ch 21). Ch 22 describes the return of the armies of the 2 1/2 tribes to their homes in Transjordan and the misunderstanding that arose between them and their brothers to the west, which was amicably resolved. The book closes with Joshua’s farewell address to Israel, the renewal of the people’s covenant with Yahweh, and a report of Joshua’s death (chs 23-24).
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
Hebrew Yehôshuah, Yahweh is salvation. Name of a man and of an OT book 1. Son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, from a very young age he was the helper of Moses, who changed his name from Hosea, which means liberation, to J., Ex 33 , eleven; Nm 11, 28; 13, 8 and 16. In the crossing through the desert, Amalek attacked Israel, in Rephidin, and Moses entrusted J. the choice of men and fight him, Ex 17, 8-16. J. went up with Moses to Mount Sinai, where God delivered the tables of the Law, Ex 24, 13; 32, 17; Numbers 11, 28. Joshua was part of the group of men, one from each tribe, sent by Moses from the desert of Paran to explore the land of Canaan. Returning from the exploration, everyone discredited that land, and the people rebelled, except for Caleb, from Judah, and J., from Ephraim, who by staying faithful to Yahweh received the promise of entering the Promised Land, the one that the others did not. they would see, Nm 13, 16; 14. When the second census of the Israelites was carried out, on the steppes of Moab, near the Jordan River, opposite Jericho, before entering the Promised Land, of the men who were counted in the first census in the desert from Sinai, only J. and Caleb survived, as Yahweh had said, Nm 26, 63-65.
Yahweh then commanded Moses to climb Mount Abarin to see the Promised Land, since he could not enter it, due to the rebellion in the desert of Sin, after which he would die. For this reason Moses, as Yahweh commanded, had to lay hands on J. and name him his successor in leading the people of Israel to conquer the Promised Land, Nm 27, 12-23; Dt 34, 9. J. was also chosen to distribute to the Israelites, together with the priest Eleazar and a representative for each tribe, the land of Canaan, Nm 34, 17-18.
As for the book of J., it covers about twenty-five years, from the death of Moses to that of J., it describes the entry and conquest of the land of Canaan and its distribution among the tribes, under the command of J., with the following parts and themes: Preparations for the conquest of Canaan. J. receives God’s order to enter the country of Canaan, and tells the people that they must cross the Jordan River; he gives the people the necessary instructions and all swear fidelity to the Law; J. sends spies to Jericho, 1; two.
Crossing of the Jordan after the miraculous separation of the waters; erection of the twelve memorial stones at Gilgal, the place of the first meeting of the people, after they had crossed the Jordan; first circumcision of the Hebrews in Gilgal, since the departure from Egypt; Easter celebration, 3; 4; 5.
Conquest of Jericho and destruction of the city of Ay; sacrifice and reading of the Law on Mount Ebal, 6; 7; 8.
Treaty between Israel and the Gibeonites 9.
Victory over the five Amorite kings at the Battle of Gibeon and conquest of southern Palestine, 10.
Victory over the kings of the North at the battle of the waters of Merom 11.
Distribution of land to tribes 13 to 21.
Latest provisions of J. and great Assembly of Shechem. J. gives the Israelites his last recommendations, and in the Shechem assembly, where all the tribes come together, they are recounted all of history, from Abraham to the conquest of Canaan, and the Alliance is renewed, the people recognizes the fulfillment of the promises made by God to his parents and promises fidelity to Yahweh and the Law, 22; 23; 24. J. died at the age of one hundred and ten, and was buried on the border of his estate, at Timnat Serach, on the mountain of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 2. J. of Bet Shemes, who had a field where the Ark was, returned by the Philistines, on the way to Israel, and where burnt offerings were offered to Yahweh, 1 S 6, 13-15. 3. Governor of Jerusalem, at the time of Josiah, king of Judah, 640-609 BC, when he carried out…