Joshua

Moses’ successor

Who was Joshua?

Moses’ aide from his youth. His name was Hoshea, and Moses changed it to Joshua. Numbers 11:28; Numbers 13:16
With Caleb, he encouraged the people to enter the promised land. Of their generation, only the two of them entered. Numbers 14:6-9, 30
He led Israel across the Jordan. At the end of his life, he renewed the covenant at Shechem. Joshua 3:17; Joshua 24:25

The name: It means “the Lord saves.” It is the same name as Jesus. NAB note on Nm 13, 16
Also called: Hoshea, his first name Numbers 13:16 · Joshua, son of Nun Exodus 33:11
From: From the tribe of Ephraim. He was the son of Nun Numbers 13:8, 16
Occupation: Moses’ aide; later, leader of the people of Israel Numbers 11:28; Numbers 27:18-20
Feast day: September 1: Saint Joshua, son of Nun

What the Bible says

Numbers 11:28; Numbers 13:16

Forthwith Josue the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, and chosen out of many, said: My lord Moses forbid them.

Numbers 14:6-9, 30

⁶But Josue the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephone, who themselves also had viewed the land, rent their garments, ⁷And said to all the multitude of the children of Israel: The land which we have gone round is very good: ⁸If the Lord be favourable, he will bring us into it, and give us a land flowing with milk and honey. ⁹Be not rebellious against the Lord: and fear ye not the people of this land, for we are able to eat them up as bread. All aid is gone from them: the Lord is with us, fear ye not. ³⁰Shall not enter into the land, over which I lifted up my bend to make you dwell therein, except Caleb the son of Jephone, and Josue the son of Nun.

Joshua 3:17; Joshua 24:25

And the people marched over against Jericho: and the priests that carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, stood girded upon the dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all the people passed over through the channel that was dried up.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Joshua

Before Jesus. At Rephidim, by Moses’ order, he went out to fight against Amalek. Moses stood on top of the hill with his arms raised. Exodus 17:8-11
Before Jesus. He went up the mountain of God with Moses. Later he would not leave the tent where the Lord spoke with Moses. Exodus 24:13; Exodus 33:11
Before Jesus. He was one of the 12 scouts sent into Canaan. With Caleb, he said that the land was very good and that they should not be afraid. Numbers 14:6-9
Before Jesus. At God’s command, Moses laid his hands on him in front of Eleazar the priest and the whole people. Numbers 27:18-23
With Jesus. After Moses died, God asked Joshua to be firm and courageous, because he would be with him. The people crossed the Jordan on dry ground. Joshua 1:1-9; Joshua 3:17
With Jesus. The wall of Jericho fell when the trumpets sounded. Joshua spared the life of Rahab and her family. Joshua 6:20, 25
Afterward. At Shechem he gathered the tribes and asked them to choose whom they would serve. He and his family would serve the Lord. Joshua 24:1, 15
Afterward. He died at the age of 110. He was buried at Timnath-serah, in the hill country of Ephraim. Joshua 24:29-30

Words of Joshua

“But if it seem evil to you to serve the Lord, you have your choice: choose this day that which pleaseth you, whom you would rather serve, whether the gods which your fathers served in Mesopotamia, or the gods of the Amorrhites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

At Shechem, at the end of his life, before all the tribes of Israel.

“The land which we have gone round is very good: if the Lord be favourable, he will bring us into it, and give us a land flowing with milk and honey.” Numbers 14:7-8

Together with Caleb, when the people wanted to go back to Egypt.

“Move not, O sun, toward Gabaon, nor thou, O moon, toward the valley of Ajalon.” Joshua 10:12

In the battle of Gibeon, speaking to the Lord in the sight of Israel.

“The noise of battle is heard in the camp.” Exodus 32:17

As he came down the mountain with Moses. Moses answered that it was not the sound of war, but of singing.

What they were like

Faithful: from his youth he was Moses’ aide. Numbers 11:28
A man of spirit: that is what God called him when he chose him. Numbers 27:18
Filled with the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him. Deuteronomy 34:9

The greatest thing they did

He led the people across the Jordan and into the promised land. Joshua 3:17
With Eleazar the priest and the heads of the tribes, he divided up the land of Canaan. Joshua 14:1
He renewed the covenant with the Lord at Shechem and wrote its words in the book of the law of God. Joshua 24:25-26
Israel served the Lord as long as Joshua lived. Joshua 24:31

Not to be confused with

Jesus: In Hebrew, Joshua and Jesus are the same name. Joshua, son of Nun, lived many centuries before Jesus of Nazareth. Numbers 13:16; NAB note on Nm 13, 16
Hosea: Joshua was first called Hoshea, the same Hebrew name as the prophet Hosea, but he is not that prophet, who lived centuries later. Numbers 13:16; Hosea 1:1

In the Church today

Feast day: September 1, Saint Joshua, son of Nun (commemoration (not on the General Roman Calendar or the U.S. calendar)). Roman Martyrology (2004)

What people ask

Do Joshua and Jesus have the same name?

Yes. In Hebrew it is the same name, which means “the Lord saves.” A NAB note explains it. Numbers 13:16; NAB note on Nm 13, 16; Matthew 1:21

Did the sun really stand still?

The Book of Joshua tells it that way, and says that it was also written in the Book of Jashar. The Bible does not explain how it happened. Joshua 10:12-14

What happened to the people of Jericho?

The text says that only Rahab and her family were spared. The Church recognizes that there are “dark” pages in the Bible and asks us to read them in their context. Joshua 6:21-25; Verbum Domini 42

What are the 12 stones from the Jordan?

Joshua set them up at Gilgal. That way, when the children asked, their parents would tell them that Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground. Joshua 4:20-22

How many years did Joshua live?

110 years. He was buried at Timnath-serah, in the hill country of Ephraim. Joshua 24:29-30

Daily life He would not leave the tent where the Lord spoke with Moses. Exodus 33:11 Little known Moses changed his name: from Hoshea to Joshua. Numbers 13:16 Once he…

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Who Joshua is connected to

Moses · aide and successor
Caleb · the two faithful scouts
Rahab · saved his spies
Jesus · the same name

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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