Joshua was one of the most important figures in the Old Testament. He was the successor to Moses and led the Israelites into the Promised Land after their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Here are some common questions people have about Joshua:
What was Joshua’s background before becoming leader?
Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim (Numbers 13:8). He was born in Egypt prior to the Exodus. As a young man, Joshua was chosen by Moses to be one of the 12 spies to explore the Promised Land (Numbers 13:16). Joshua and Caleb were the only two spies who brought back a good report and believed God would deliver Canaan into their hands. After the generation of unbelief died off in the wilderness, Joshua became Moses’ personal assistant and servant (Exodus 24:13, Numbers 11:28). He learned leadership directly under Moses for over 40 years before taking over after Moses’ death.
How did Joshua become the leader after Moses?
God chose Joshua to be Moses’ successor and lead Israel into Canaan. The Lord told Moses to commission Joshua as the new leader in front of the whole assembly (Numbers 27:18-23). Joshua was filled with the spirit of wisdom when Moses laid hands on him. This showed that Joshua was God’s chosen man to lead. Joshua had already proven himself as a wise and faithful servant under Moses for many decades.
What were some of Joshua’s accomplishments as leader?
– Led the Israelites across the Jordan River on dry ground (Joshua 3)
– Oversaw the miraculous fall of Jericho after the Israelites marched around the city for seven days (Joshua 6)
– Defeated the five armies of Amorites at Gibeon (Joshua 10)
– Led the campaigns to conquer 31 kingdoms and cities in Canaan (Joshua 10-12)
– Divided up the Promised Land amongst the 12 tribes of Israel (Joshua 13-22)
– Renewed the covenant between God and Israel at Shechem (Joshua 24)
How did Joshua relate to and interact with God?
Joshua had a close relationship with God and often sought His wisdom and guidance:
– God spoke directly to Joshua after Moses’ death to encourage him (Joshua 1:1-9)
– The Lord appeared to Joshua as the commander of His army (Joshua 5:13-15)
– Joshua prayed to God for the sun to stand still at Gibeon and God answered miraculously (Joshua 10:12-14)
– Joshua built an altar of uncut stones on Mount Ebal to offer sacrifices to the Lord (Joshua 8:30-31)
– The Lord assured Joshua that He would be with him just as He was with Moses (Joshua 1:5)
What was Joshua’s leadership style and character like?
Joshua displayed strong leadership qualities:
– Courageous and obedient warrior (Exodus 17:9-13)
– Diligent – rose early in the mornings to lead (Joshua 3:1)
– Decisive in directing military campaigns and strategies
– Wise and strategic thinker (crossing the Jordan, conquering Jericho)
– Strong faith in God’s power and promises
– Led by example of righteous living (Joshua 24:15)
– Patient mentor – trained and commissioned the next generation (Judges 2:8)
However, Joshua was still human and made some mistakes:
– Failed to fully drive out all Canaanite inhabitants from the land (Judges 2:3)
– Was deceived by the Gibeonites because he did not seek God’s counsel (Joshua 9)
What was Joshua’s legacy in Israelite history?
Joshua left a strong legacy for God’s people:
– Oversaw the fulfillment of God’s promise to give Israelites the land of Canaan
– Established Israel’s foothold in Canaan both geographically and spiritually
– Was used mightily by God to conquer enemies and claim their inheritance
– His godly influence as a leader set the stage for the next generation to serve the Lord
– Israel finally embraced their identity and responsibility as God’s chosen people
Even centuries later, Joshua was remembered for his outstanding faith and leadership (Nehemiah 8:17, Hebrews 11:30). He finished the mission that Moses started and pointed Israel towards faithfulness to God.
What lessons can we learn from Joshua’s life?
There are many inspirational takeaways from Joshua’s life:
– Courage to step into the calling God has for your life even when it seems overwhelming
– Asking God for wisdom and trusting His power to help you overcome obstacles
– Learning to wait patiently on God’s timing and developing in preparation
– Faithfully following and finding identity in the Lord rather than worldly values
– Setting a godly example for others to follow in your footsteps
– Boldly declaring your allegiance to God no matter what others are doing
– Finishing the race by completing the work God has called you to do
Joshua lived a life of faithful obedience that brought glory to God and pointed others to Him. As we read and study his story, we can be inspired to live similarly in our day and age.
How did the Israelites fare after Joshua’s death?
The years after Joshua’s death were marked by spiritual decline as the Israelites failed to drive out the Canaanites and fell into idolatry (Judges 2:6-13). However, Joshua had done his part in leading them to claim the Promised Land and renew their covenant with God.
The book of Judges shows the sad consequences of Israel not continuing to walk in Joshua’s example of obedience. They did not pass on the faith to the next generation. Instead of building on Joshua’s legacy, they slid backwards and rejected the Lord. Nevertheless, God still raised up judges like Gideon, Samson and Deborah to deliver them when they repented.
Joshua had perfectly fulfilled his mission in life but the Israelites failed to live up to their part of the covenant. His example stood out as a high point of faithfulness that was not matched again until the time of the kings David and Solomon. Still, Joshua’s impact continued to be felt for many generations after his death.
How is Joshua a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ?
There are several parallels between Joshua and Jesus:
– Both were given a divine mission to accomplish the Father’s will and redeem His people
– Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land of Canaan, Jesus leads people into the kingdom of heaven
– God’s power was on display through miraculous works in both their ministries
– They interceded between the wrath of God and the people’s sin to deliver them
– Joshua warned people to serve the Lord alone, Jesus said none could come to the Father except through Him (John 14:6)
– Joshua allotted land as an inheritance to each tribe, Jesus secured the eternal inheritance of salvation for believers (Hebrews 9:15)
– Joshua’s name means “Yahweh is salvation”, Jesus’ name in Hebrew (Yeshua) means “Yahweh saves”
As the successor to Moses, Joshua was a preview of the greater Successor Jesus who would come and perfectly reveal God. Joshua pointed ahead to the ultimate Promised Land that Jesus would provide – eternal life in God’s presence.
Where is Joshua mentioned in the New Testament?
There are a few New Testament references to Joshua:
– Stephen mentioned Joshua in his sermon in Acts 7:45 when recounting Israelite history
– Hebrews 4:8 talks about Joshua giving rest to Israel when they entered Canaan under his leadership
– James 2:25 and Hebrews 11:30-31 include Joshua among the heroes of the faith for his obedience in following God’s commands
– When Jesus was transfigured, Moses and Elijah appeared with Him, representing the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 17:3). Joshua could have been considered a representation of the Writings.
While Joshua is not directly mentioned often in the New Testament, his legacy is certainly felt. The miracles under his leadership are signs of God’s power. And he serves as an inspiration for living by faith and carrying out the Lord’s work on earth.
What relics and archeological findings connect to the life of Joshua?
Some significant archeological findings provide insights into Joshua’s era:
– The Tel Dan Stele contains the earliest reference to the “House of David” outside of the Bible
– Excavations at the ancient city of Jericho reveal a time of destruction that could align with the biblical account
– Hazor and Ai have archaeological remains that show the violent end of these cities described in Joshua
– The Mesha Stele describes conflict between Moab and Israel that is noted in Joshua and 2 Kings
– Some scholars associate the Jordan River crossing near Adam with the miraculous event under Joshua
While direct archeological evidence of Joshua himself is difficult to find, these discoveries help anchor the biblical text to a real, historical context. They provide helpful cultural background and corroboration for the events that transpired in the book of Joshua.
How reliable are the stories about Joshua’s conquests?
The reliability of Joshua’s military campaigns has been debated by scholars. Here are some factors to consider:
– Internal consistency and geographical detail reflect eyewitness testimony or early records
– Supernatural events (fall of Jericho) ultimately require faith to accept
– Archeology has uncovered remnants of catastrophes that could verify biblical battles
– Scripture portrays realistic humanity of Joshua rather than exaggerating perfection
– Conquest was gradual over time rather than quick, matching archaeological expectations
– scribal recording and transmission could have introduced some errors or exaggerations
While absolute certainty is difficult, there are reasonable explanations for accepting the general reliability of these ancient stories about Joshua. His leadership brought real change that was imprinted on the spiritual memory of Israel. The core truth remains intact – Joshua was used mightily by God to fulfill divine promises to His people.
Why did God command Joshua to wipe out entire cities and people?
This is a difficult ethical question. Here are a few factors that provide perspective:
– God’s judgment was incurred by the depth of depravity and sin (Genesis 15:16)
– Eliminating corrupting influences was necessary for Israel’s spiritual survival and identity
– Short term severity dealt with moral decay that would cause long term harm
– God is sovereign and not subject to contemporary standards of morality
– Judgement was to be executed carefully and thoroughly (Deuteronomy 7:1-6)
– Other peoples were spared when they allied with Israel
While the killing of women and children troubles modern sensibilities, we must avoid projecting today’s ideals on ancient holy war traditions. Though difficult to fully understand, God’s ways are higher than humans (Isaiah 55:8-9). He used Joshua’s campaigns to carry out His perfect judgement and will for that time.
Did Joshua live up to the promise that he would distribute the entire land of Canaan to Israel?
No, the book of Joshua makes it clear that the land distribution was incomplete:
– The hill country remained largely unconquered (Joshua 13:1-7)
– Joshua died with much yet undistributed (Joshua 13:1)
– Israel failed to drive out all inhabitants in key areas like Gaza, Ashdod and Jerusalem (Joshua 15:45-63, 16:10, 17:12-13)
– Portions of Canaan were left uncontrolled (Judges 1:27-36)
Joshua led the major military campaigns to begin taking possession of Canaan. But the full promise was left unfinished at the time of his death. Driving out the Canaanites and occupying the land was meant to be an ongoing process over generations. Joshua’s legacy was to spearhead that work and lay the foundation for Israel’s foothold.
Why did Joshua divide up the Promised Land into tribal allotments?
There were several reasons for this division of the land:
– Fulfilled God’s promise that each tribe would receive its own inheritance (Numbers 26:52-56)
– Gave every tribe a tangible stake and investment in the land
– Allowed each tribe to preserve its unique identity and heritage
– Distributed the conquest responsibility more evenly
– Prevented potential conflicts by delineating boundaries and property
– Strategic dispersal made defense more feasible across regions
– Resulted in tribes supporting and relying on each other
Joshua implemented wisdom and foresight with this structured allocation. It brought unity, shared purpose, and collective administration to Israel as one nation formed from distinct tribes.
Why was Caleb singled out to receive Hebron as an inheritance?
Caleb is awarded Hebron in Joshua 14:6-15 because he showed exemplary faith when spying out Canaan 45 years earlier:
– He fully followed the Lord rather than giving a discouraging report like the 10 other spies (Numbers 14:24)
– He persisted in belief they could conquer the land despite giants and walled cities
– Caleb was promised this inheritance by Moses because of his loyalty (Deuteronomy 1:36)
– At 85, he was still eager and ready to fight for God’s promises
– His request for Hebron came as a testimony to God’s power and faithfulness
Caleb wholly embraced God’s promises with steadfast faith. His prime example encouraged Joshua and Israel to do the same. So he rightly received choice inheritance as a reward for remarkable devotion to the Lord.
Why were the Levites not given their own tribal territory?
Unlike the other 12 tribes, the Levites were not allotted a specific territory (Joshua 13:14). Instead they received cities and pasturelands scattered within the other tribal areas:
– As priests, they were consecrated to focus on the Lord’s work, not land ownership (Joshua 13:33)
– God would be their direct inheritance rather than acreage (Deuteronomy 10:9, Joshua 13:33)
– This prevented potential elevation or pride from owning their own kingdom
– Their dispersal enabled teaching and instructing all the tribes in God’s ways
– They depended on the tithes/generosity of the other tribes (Numbers 18:21-24)
This special provision for the Levites aligned with their spiritual duties. It facilitated ministry while keeping them humble and trusting in God’s provision.
Why did the eastern tribes build an altar that threatened to divide Israel?
In Joshua 22, after the land was allotted, the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh built a large, imposing altar on the western side of the Jordan River. This caused panic that they were no longer following the Tabernacle and the Lord. However, these tribes explained they had built the altar as a reminder for future generations – not for offerings and sacrifices (Joshua 22:21-29). It was meant to preserve connection and unity, but the other tribes had assumed the worst. This illustrates how quickly misunderstandings can spark disunity. Open communication and extending grace are vital for maintaining love and harmony within the body of Christ.
How old was Joshua when he died and how long did he lead Israel?
Joshua died at the age of 110 after leading Israel for nearly 30 years (Joshua 24:29):
– He was around 80 years old when Moses appointed him as successor
– He led the conquest of Canaan in his 80s and into his 90s
– After the major battles, it took years to divide up the tribal allotments
– Joshua renewed the covenant with Israel at Shechem shortly before he died around 110
Joshua’s death left a huge gap in leadership over Israel. But his decades of faithful service left an invaluable legacy and established Israel in the Promised Land. God accomplished great things through Joshua’s obedience.
