Joshua

Joshua. A son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim (Num 13:8, 16). Except for Jochebed, Moses' mother, Joshua was the first OT person to bear a name compounded with the divine name Yahweh. He was Moses' military commander during the wilderness wanderings, and is first mentioned in connection with his victory over the Amalekites a few days before the Hebrews arrived at Mount Sinai (Ex 17:8—16).

As Moses' assistant or "minister" he accompanied Moses on the ascent of Mount Sinai (ch 24:13). At Kadesh—barnea, 2 years after the Exodus, Joshua represented the tribe of Ephraim on the expedition to spy out the Promised Land. He and Caleb alone returned with a favorable report (Num 13:8, RSV 14:6—9 cf. 14:7), and were therefore accorded the privilege of entering Canaan 38 years later (ch 14:30—38). Shortly before his death, Moses publicly inaugurated Joshua as his successor (Num 27:18—23 Deut 1:38 31:23).

When Moses died, Joshua began immediate preparations to enter Canaan (Jos 1:10, 11). He dispatched 2 spies to secure a report on the state of affairs in Jericho (ch 2:1), and when preparations were complete led the people over the Jordan (Jos 4:10—19). After the capture of Jericho and Ai (chs 6 8), Joshua met and defeated one coalition of Canaanite kings at Gibeon, near Jerusalem (ch 10), and another at Hazor in the northern part of the country (ch 11). After these preliminary conquests, Joshua set about dividing the land of Canaan among the tribes (chs 13—21), his inheritance, by his own request, being at Timnath—serah in Mount Ephraim (ch 19:50).

At the age of 110 he gathered Israel together, counseled them to be faithful to the Lord (ch 24:1—28), and died (vs 29, 30).