Who was Joshua in the Bible?
Joshua stands at the hinge between the desert and the promised land: he is the man who took over from Moses and led Israel across the Jordan to take possession of Canaan. His story runs from a young soldier fighting Amalek, through the spy mission that broke a generation, to the old leader calling a nation to choose whom it will serve — and commentators read his whole career as a picture of something greater.
Name and Origin
Joshua's identity begins with a name that was deliberately changed. One reference work traces both the family line and the meaning:
Morrish Bible DictionarySon of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim. His name was originally OSHEA, or HOSHEA, but it was changed by Moses into Jehoshua, and this was shortened to Joshua, which is the same as JESUS in the Greek, and means 'Jehovah the saviour.' Joshua was one of the twelve spies, and he with Caleb brought up a true report of the land, and was one of the two survivors of the men who came out of Egypt that entered the land.
Years of Training
Long before he led anyone, Joshua served. Writers trace a steady apprenticeship at Moses' side:
Arend RemmersWhen still a young man Joshua stood by the side of Moses, fought with Amalek (Ex. 17:9), went up to Mount Horeb with Moses (Ex. 24:13), went to Canaan as one of the twelve spies (Num. 13) and was finally called to be Moses' successor by Divine appointment (Num. 27:18ff; Deut. 31:1-8).
Faith Against the Crowd
The turning point came when the twelve spies returned. Ten of them measured the giants; two measured God. Joshua and Caleb stood alone, and one writer notes what it cost them and what they understood:
The Christian's FriendExpressing their horror at the sin of the people, they tore their clothes, and, raising their voices above the noise and confusion in the congregation, they courageously repeated their declaration that the land they had searched out was "an exceedingly good land." They thus boldly contradicted the "evil report" of their fellows, and, in doing so, separated themselves morally from their company, and took their stand on the Lord's side... In this they showed that they were in communion with the Lord's mind. He did delight in His people, and they knew it, and so all depended upon what He was, and upon His power, and not upon what the people were, or could do.
Successor by God's Own Appointment
Joshua did not inherit his post. Where the priesthood passed from father to son, leadership did not — and one writer draws out why that matters:
The Bible TreasuryNo succession here of the kind that a Judaising Christendom boasts of. His immediate successor in leading Israel into the promised land was Joshua, the son of Nun... But to be the leader of His people was an appointment that God kept in His own immediate hand (Joshua 1:1-2).
The nature of that office is also defined carefully. He replaced Moses as leader, but not in everything:
Morrish Bible DictionaryJoshua was appointed the successor of Moses, not as law-giver, but as leader. He had 'the spirit,' and some of the honour of Moses was put upon him. Num. 27:18-23; Deut. 1:38; Deut. 3:28.
What Joshua Pictures
Commentators read Joshua as a figure of Christ, and they are careful about which aspect. Moses died before Jordan; Joshua crossed it:
William KellyMoses is dead, and Joshua takes his place; that is, Christ is represented both by him who was dead and by him who is alive... It is Christ now in Spirit leading the people into the land, that is, the power of the Spirit of God who thus, answering to Christ's glory, enables Christians now to appropriate and know their place in heaven where He is. In short then Joshua represents Christ not as coming in person by and by, but acting in spirit now, and giving us therefore to receive and to realize our heavenly blessedness.
Another writer sets the two leaders side by side to show the difference in what each accomplishes:
The Bible TreasuryMoses conducts me to the death of Christ; Joshua conducts me victoriously out of it, carrying his spoils with him... According to the terms of this commission, he was not only to lead them into possession, but, by dividing the inheritance, to give them assured occupation.
A Real Man's Real Failure
Joshua is never painted as flawless. The Gibeonites arrived with worn shoes and mouldy bread, and the leaders decided without asking God:
William KellyBut here it was God who was not consulted; and it is a more serious thing when it is not merely the men of Israel, but the elders, the princes, the chiefs of the congregation, yes, Joshua himself who left Him out of a matter which He only knew... They could have asked counsel of the Lord again; we are not told that they did so. They had made a double error: they entered into it without the Lord, and when the thing was done, we do not find that they spread the difficulty before Him.
His Last Word
At the end, Joshua gathered the nation and refused to answer for anyone but himself and those under his roof:
C. H. MackintoshHe felt it was not enough that he himself should be personally clear of all contact with the defilements and abominations of idolatry; he had also to look carefully to the moral character and practical condition of his house. Though Joshua might not worship idols, yet, if his children did so, would he be guiltless? Certainly not.
Summary
- Name — Joshua of the tribe of Ephraim was renamed by Moses; his name means "Jehovah the saviour" and is the same name as Jesus in Greek.
- Trained — He served as soldier, attendant and spy for decades before he ever led; leadership came by God's direct appointment, not by inheritance.
- Faith — With Caleb he contradicted the ten spies and stood alone with God, and the two of them alone lived to enter the land.
- Picture — Where Moses brought the people to the edge, Joshua brought them in; writers read him as Christ acting now by the Spirit, giving believers real possession of what is theirs.
- Warning and example — He was deceived at Gibeon because he did not ask counsel of the Lord, yet he closed his life choosing, for himself and his household, to serve the Lord.