Who led Israelites to the Promised Land?
Answered from the commentary of H. Forbes Witherby, The Bible Treasury, J. N. Darby and 14 others
Joshua the son of Nun led the Israelites into the promised land, taking Moses' place after Moses died. Moses brought the people out of Egypt and through the wilderness to the border, but he was not allowed to bring them over the Jordan. He spoke unadvisedly with his lips and failed to sanctify God at the waters of Meribah, and by the government of God he was forbidden to enter the land (Numbers 20). Several authors give a further reason as well: Moses, as the lawgiver, could not lead them in, because the law cannot bring God's people into their inheritance. Joshua had been prepared for this through long companionship with Moses, and he and Caleb were the only men of the older generation who entered, because they had trusted God when the other spies did not. Joshua did not take the office for himself. Moses would not name his own successor and left the choice to the Lord, so Joshua was called directly by God. Moses then laid his hands on him before Eleazar and all the congregation (Numbers 27:18-23; Deuteronomy 34:9). Moses charged him that he "must go with this people to the land" (Deuteronomy 31:7-8). The Lord also magnified Joshua at the crossing of the Jordan, so that Israel would know He was with him as He had been with Moses.
Yet the authors insist that Joshua was only a secondary leader, and that the Lord Himself went before Israel. The ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth went ahead of the people into the Jordan, and the waters stood back until all had passed over. Before Jericho, the Lord appeared as Captain of the host of the Lord, coming not as a helper but as Leader, and Joshua fell on his face and worshipped (Joshua 5:13-15). It was the Lord who won the battles even while Joshua was in the forefront. Most of these writers also see Joshua as a type of Christ. Joshua's name means "the Lord is salvation" and is the same name as Jesus. As a type, he pictures Christ acting by the Spirit, leading His people now into their heavenly blessings and into conflict in the heavenly places. Gaebelein alone reads Joshua instead as a type of Christ's second coming, when Israel will receive the land. Finally, the authors agree that, although Joshua brought Israel into Canaan, he did not give them God's rest, since David later spoke of another day; that rest still remains for the people of God (Hebrews 4:8).
Verses: Joshua 5:13, Joshua 5:14, Joshua 5:15, Joshua 1:1, Joshua 1:2, Joshua 1:3, Joshua 1:4, Joshua 1:5, Joshua 1:6, Deuteronomy 31:7, Deuteronomy 31:8, Deuteronomy 31:23, Numbers 27:18, Numbers 27:19, Numbers 27:20, Numbers 27:21, Numbers 27:22, Numbers 27:23, Deuteronomy 34:9, Deuteronomy 1:38, Deuteronomy 3:28, Joshua 3:7, Joshua 3:17, Joshua 4:14, Joshua 11:23, Joshua 21:43, Joshua 21:44, Joshua 21:45, Deuteronomy 34:1, Deuteronomy 34:2, Deuteronomy 34:3, Deuteronomy 34:4, Deuteronomy 34:5, Numbers 20:12, Acts 7:45, Hebrews 4:8, Exodus 3:8, Exodus 3:10, Deuteronomy 31:2, Deuteronomy 31:3
The above is AI generated summary based on the writers below.
What the commentators say
The passages the answer is drawn from, the most direct first, with the words that bear on the question marked.
But also, Moses said, the Lord was angry with him for Israel's sake and told him he would not enter the land (v.37). The reason is seen in Numbers 20:7-13. But Joshua would not only enter the land: he would become the leader to bring Israel in (v.38). So the Lord told Moses to encourage Joshua.
In fact, besides the question of disobedience, there is another reason that Moses could not lead Israel into the land. Moses was the lawgiver, and law cannot bring God's people into God's inheritance for them, even with the help of legal priesthood. It was Joshua who led Israel into their land, for his name means "Jehovah is Savior."
CANAAN. Moses could not lead Israel in (1) because of his personal failure (Deut. 1:37); (2) because the law is unable to bring men into blessing (Rom. 8:3). Joshua — type of Christ acting by His Spirit — the leader into Canaan (Deut. 1:38). AMORITES' iniquity now full (Gen. 15:13-14). The land vomited them out (Lev. 18:25-28) Israel God's scavengers.
Moses brought Israel out of Egypt, and Joshua led them into Canaan rightly they looked upon him, too, as their leader. But Joshua did not give them rest. They had conflict and fightings in Canaan, and Joshua himself had to predict that if they did not walk in obedience to God, they would be carried out of that good land and lose it after all. But Christ is greater than he, for, "There remaineth a rest to the people of God," and it is Christ who introduces into that rest, as we sometimes sing: "When of the prize possessed, We hear of war no more, And, oh sweet thought, forever rest On that eternal shore."
As we have mentioned before in the annotations, Joshua means "Jehovah is Saviour." Moses, the first one, could not bring them in, but Joshua, the second divinely appointed leader, brought them in. Moses is the type of Christ's first coming, and Joshua the type of the second coming of Christ. It is at the second coming of our Lord that Israel will receive the land. He will restore to them the God-given inheritance.
I am going to look through the decline and ruin of Israel under every form of its government, from the time of the entry into the land of Canaan. It was Joshua who led them. The book of this name is the history of the victories of Israel over the Canaanites - the history of the faithfulness of God in the accomplishment of all that He had promised to His people. The Judges and Samuel are the history of the failure of Israel in the land of Canaan until David; but, at the same time, of the patience of God. First, then, how does Joshua describe the Israelites - their condition and character?
Yet God told him he would see the land without entering it (v.52). There is a deeper reason than Moses' disobedience that he would not enter the land, for he was the lawgiver, and law cannot bring the people of God into their inheritance. Joshua, whose name in Hebrew is the same as the Greek name Jesus -- Jehovah Savior -- was the leader into the land of promise, for he speaks of the grace that is in Christ Jesus in contrast to law. The death of Moses did not take place, however, before he blessed all the tribes of Israel (ch.33).
Accordingly we find them entering the land under the leadership of Joshua, the waters of Jordan separating themselves, and the "Lord of all the earth" passing into the land before His people, to possess the land in them. This was an important title which the Lord thus assumes, to which we shall have occasion to refer again.
Moses having died, Joshua was immediately instructed to pass over Jordan, with the people of Israel, to take possession of the land which the Lord had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Their inheritance could not in any wise be of the law, and thus Moses, as the mediator of the legal system, apart from his own personal failure, could not lead the people over Jordan. It was typically impossible; and hence when he pleaded to be allowed to go over and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain and Lebanon, the Lord replied, "Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto Me of this matter." Joshua - Israel's saviour in this sense - was the chosen vessel for the accomplishment of God's purpose; Joshua, type of Christ in spirit as the Leader of His people in their conflicts. And surely we may say that Joshua, just because he thus prefigured Christ, sets forth also that God's conflicts cannot be waged, nor the inheritance possessed, except in the power of resurrection. All the blessings of God's people are on the other side of death, and consequently he who would enjoy them must eat the flesh and drink the blood (appropriate the death) of the Son of Man.
Verses
- Joshua 5:13–1513And it came to pass when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, there stood a man before him with his sword drawn in his hand. And Joshua went to him, and said to him Art thou for us, or for our enemies? 14And he said, No; for [as] captain of the army of Jehovah am I now come. Then Joshua fell upon his face to the earth, and worshipped, and said to him, What saith my lord unto his servant? 15And the captain of Jehovah's army said to Joshua, Loose thy sandal from off thy foot for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.
- Joshua 1:1–61And it came to pass after the death of Moses the servant of Jehovah, that Jehovah spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' attendant, saying, 2Moses my servant is dead; and now, rise up, go over this Jordan, thou and all this people, into the land which I give unto them, to the children of Israel. 3Every place whereon the sole of your foot shall tread have I given to you, as I said unto Moses. 4From the wilderness and this Lebanon to the great river, the river Euphrates, the whole land of the Hittites, to the great sea, toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border. 5None shall be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life as I was with Moses, so will I be with thee; I will not leave thee, neither will I forsake thee. 6Be strong and courageous, for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land which I have sworn unto their fathers to give them.