Bible History
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
JOSHUA
Son of Nun, of Ephraim (1 Chronicles 7:27). Born about the time when Moses fled to Midian, he endured in youth the slave labour amidst Egyptian brick kilns. Probably he even in Egypt was recognized as an officer among his brethren; for at his first public act, choosing and leading picked men of Israel against the attacking see AMALEKITES at Rephidim(Exodus 17:9) he is introduced abruptly without description as one already well known by the designation Joshua (not Hoshea) given by anticipation. Moses discerned by the Spirit his sterling qualities, solid rather than brilliant. Joshua learned to rule by obeying first; then he ruled for God, not self. God commanded Moses to write in the book (Hebrew, namely, the history of God's dealings with Israel) and rehearse it in Joshua's ears. Joshua inflicted the first decisive blow on the doomed nations; this was an earnest to him of the subsequent conquest of Canaan. Next as Moses' "minister" Joshua accompanied him along with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and 70 elders up the mountain of God; but Moses went alone into the cloud (Exodus 24:9,13-15). On the descent Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting, and with a warrior's thought he said to Moses, "there is a noise of war in the camp"; but it was the noise of singers in the calf worship. When Moses removed the tabernacle of meeting between God and His people from the camp, Joshua, then "a young man"(perhaps an official term for an attendant, Numbers 11:28; Deuteronomy 1:38 "Joshua who standeth before thee"), departed not out of the tabernacle; the Lord's house and communion is the best qualification for those who are afterward to fight the Lord's battles. Sent to spy out Canaan as representing Ephraim; see CALEB represented Judah. They two alone of the 12 brought a good report, and encouraged the people not to fear the inhabitants for the Lord was with Israel (contrast Psalm 106:24; Numbers 13:8,16; Numbers 14). The people would have stoned both, but the glory of Jehovah suddenly appeared in the tabernacle. The ten other spies were smitten with the plague and died. Joshua and Caleb alone of all that generation above 20 years of age survived the 40 years'wilderness wanderings that ensued, because "they wholly followed the Lord" (Numbers 32:11,12). Moses shortly before death, by Jehovah's direction, solemnly invested Joshua with authority as his successor. The Spirit was already in Joshua. Moses by laying on hands added the formal and public sign, and instrumentally gave him thereby more of "the spirit of wisdom." The previous receiving of inward grace does not dispense with the outward sign (Numbers 27:18-23; Acts 9:1-18; 10:44-48). Moses put some of his own honour (dignity and authority) upon Joshua, making him vice leader, that Israel might obey him preparatory to his becoming chief after Moses' death. Joshua was inferior to Moses in standing before Eleazar the high priest to inquire through him and his Urim and Thummim, of Jehovah; Moses enjoyed direct communion with God. When Joshua omitted to inquire in the Gibeonites' case he suffered for it. Moses gave Joshua a charge before the high priest and congregation. Joshua's solemn inauguration to the office to which he had previously been called is in Deuteronomy 31:14-23. God Himself recognizes Joshua in it by summoning him into the tabernacle with Moses, while the divine pillar of cloud manifested Jehovah's presence (compare Numbers 11:25; 12:5). He commands Moses and Joshua to write Moses' song, and teach it to Israel as a witness against them of God's benefits, their duties, and the penalty of their apostasy. Jehovah's "charge" by Moses was: "be strong and of a good courage, for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them, and I will be with thee." Once only did Joshua show an envious spirit, but it was in behalf of his beloved master Moses, not for self. When Eldad and Medad prophesied in the camp separately from the rest of the 70 who received of the spirit that was upon Moses, in his presence, Joshua said, "my lord Moses, forbid them;" he replied, "enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord's people were prophets," etc. (Numbers 11:28,29; compare John 3:26; Luke 9:49; Acts 15:8,9; 11:17). Jehovah repeated the charge (Joshua 1:1-9), enjoining"courage" in "doing according to all the law, turning not from it to the right or left," and promising consequent prosperity and Jehovah's continual presence as "his God wheresoever he went." God kept His promise, working mighty miracles in his behalf, and giving Israel all the land and rest round about; no good thing failed which the Lord had spoken (Joshua 21:43-45). The people honoured Joshua as they had Moses. During his lifetime Israel came nearest to realizing the ideal of the people of God (Joshua 11:15; 24:31). Joshua took the command at Shittim, sent spies to Jericho, crossed Jordan, fortified his camp at Gilgal, circumcised the people (for Israel's work was a spiritual one, and men still having the badge of fleshliness were not fit agents for the Lord's work: Joshua 10:40; Judges 5:31), kept the Passover, (after which on their eating the old grain of the land the manna ceased,) and received the assurance of Jericho's fall and God's fighting against Israel's foes from the uncreated Angel of Jehovah (Joshua 5:13-15; 6:2-5), the Captain of Jehovah's host (Matthew 26:53; Exodus 23:20-23; Revelation 19:11-14). The charge "loose thy shoe fromoff thy feet" identifies Him with the Jehovah of Exodus 3:5. Ganneau suggests that Sartabeh the mountain was the spot whereon the Captain of Jehovah's host, Hebrew: Sarsaba , appeared to Joshua, and thence takes its name. It is invisible W. of Jericho; but to one starting from Riha to the E. it appears at all points. The divine Captain was on a height above Joshua, for "he lifted up his eyes" toward Him, and went unto Him. see JERICHO fell by miracle. The repulse at AI, through see ACHAN 'S sin, taught Israel their success depended on their doing God's work of wrath in God's holy way, without greed. Ai then fell. Joshua wrote the law on EBAL, , and read it before the assembled people, half on that side and half. over against see GERIZIM . By neglecting to consult Jehovah Joshua was entrapped into the league with see GIBEON ; but having sworn he honourably kept his oath (Psalm 15:4; Ecclesiastes 5:2; contrast 2 Samuel 21:2-6, etc.). This brought on the attack of the five confederate kings whom he defeated at Makkedah, aided by a divinely sent hailstorm and prolongation of daylight: the condition of the air was probably rendered by God, at Joshua's believing prayer, highly refractive Gilgal, the passage of Jordan. The pillars in the vestibule are surrounded by a fillet of Egyptian style.
2 Kings 23:8.
JOSHUA (Other uses of the name Joshua in the Bible)
2. 1 Chronicles 24:11. See as to his descendants JEDAIAH (Ezra 2:36).
3. 2 Chronicles 31:15.
4. Chief of a Levitical house that assisted Zerubbabel, and long subsequently Ezra and Nehemiah (Ezra 2:40; 3:9; Nehemiah 3:17-19; 8:7; 9:45; 12:8). "Jeshua" is used either for the whole family or its successive heads. Jeshua and Kadmiel were "sons (descendants) of Hodaviah," or Judah (Ezra 3:9; 2:40), but Jeshua's immediate ancestor was Azaniah (Nehemiah 10:9). In Nehemiah 12:24, the text is corrupt probably; "Jeshua and Kadmiel," or "and the sons of Kadmiel" may be conjectured:
5.Nehemiah 7:11; 10:14; Ezra 10:30.
6. A town reinhabited by the people of Judah on the return from Babylon (Nehemiah 11:26). On the line of retreat of the five kings who fought at Gibeon, midway between the lower Bethhoron and Shochoh, near Azekah, is the large village Yeshua, which probably commemorates Joshua's commanding the sun to stand still upon Gibeon, and the moon in the valley of Ajalon, a day without a parallel (Joshua 10:12-14).
see JESHUA .
Bibliography Information
Fausset, Andrew Robert M.A., D.D., "Definition for 'joshua' Fausset's Bible Dictionary".
bible-history.com - Fausset's; 1878.
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