Joshua

Definition

There were several Israelite men named Joshua in the Bible. The most well-known is Joshua son of Nun who was Moses’ helper and who later became an important leader of God’s people.

• Joshua was one of the twelve spies whom Moses sent to explore the Promised Land.
• Along with Caleb, Joshua urged the Israelite people to obey God’s command to enter the Promised Land and defeat the Canaanites.
• Many years later, after Moses died, God appointed Joshua to lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land.
• In the first and most famous battle against the Canaanites, Joshua led the Israelites to defeat the city of Jericho.
• The Old Testament book of Joshua tells how Joshua led the Israelites in taking control of the Promised Land and how he assigned each tribe of Israel a part of the land to live on.
• Joshua son of Jehozadak is mentioned in the books of Haggai and Zechariah; he was a high priest who helped rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
• There are several other men named Joshua mentioned in the genealogies and elsewhere in the Bible.

(Translation suggestions: How to Translate Names)

(See also: Canaan, Haggai, Jericho, Moses, Promised Land, Zechariah (OT))

Bible References

• 1 Chronicles 7:25-27
• Deuteronomy 3:21
• Exodus 17:10
• Joshua 1:3
• Numbers 27:19

Examples from the Bible stories

• __14:4__ When the Israelites reached the edge of Canaan, Moses chose twelve men, one from each tribe of Israel. He gave the men instructions to go and spy on the land to see what it was like.
• __14:6 Immediately Caleb and Joshua__, the other two spies, said, “It is true that the people of Canaan are tall and strong, but we can certainly defeat them!”
• __14:8 “Except for Joshua__ and Caleb, everyone who is twenty years old or older will die there and never enter the Promised Land.”
• __14:14 Moses was now very old, so God chose Joshua__ to help him lead the people.
• __14:15 Joshua__ was a good leader because he trusted and obeyed God.
• __15:3 After the people crossed the Jordan River, God told Joshua__ how to attack the powerful city of Jericho.

Word Data

• Strong’s: H3091, G24240