Meaning of JOSHUA

(Heb. “Y'hõshû'a”: “Jehovah is salvation.”)
(a) Collaborator and successor of Moses; His name at first was Hosea, salvation (Num. 13:8, 16). He was a descendant of Ephraim and son of Nun (Num. 13:8, 16). He led the Israelites to victory over Amalek at Rephidim (Ex. 17:8-16).

He was with Moses on Sinai, while at the foot of the mountain the people made themselves the golden calf. Joshua took the shouts of orgy in the camp as a cry of war (Ex. 24:13; 32:17, 18). He was charged with the care of the first tabernacle of the congregation (Ex. 33:11).

At 40 years of age, Joshua, as Ephraim's representative, was appointed with eleven other Israelites to spy on the weak points of Canaan. Joshua and Caleb made an effort to persuade the people that they had to advance and take over the country, trusting in God (Josh. 14:7; Num. 13:8; 14:6-9).

Because of his attitude, his listeners almost stoned them (Num. 14:10). God rewarded them for their loyalty and faith, prolonging their lives, and allowing them entry into the Promised Land (Num. 14:20-28). At the end of the forty years in the wilderness, Moses, by order of God, placed Joshua before the high priest and before the entire assembly, in Shittim, to publicly confer upon him the succession (Num. 27:18-23; Deut. 1:38).

Just before Moses' death, the two men entered the tabernacle, so that Joshua would be consecrated by the Lord Himself to the position of leader of the people (Deut. 31:14, 23). Immediately afterwards, Joshua began preparations to cross the Jordan. The people had three days to gather supplies (Josh. 1:10-11). Joshua reminded the two and a half tribes already established east of the Jordan that they had to support their brothers in the military enterprise (Josh. 1:12-18), and he sent spies to explore Jericho (Josh. 2:1).

The camp was set up on the bank of the Jordan, and the people received a carefully prepared marching order (Josh. 3:1-6). The military plan that Joshua prepared for the conquest of Canaan demonstrates his military capabilities. Among his plans were: a central camp with an advantageous location; the taking of the cities in the vicinity of the camp; great offensives that should immediately follow these victories.

But Joshua made the mistake of making a pact with the Gibeonites and not leaving a garrison in the Jebusite city after his conquest. These two rulings contributed decisively to the isolation of Judah from the northern tribes (Josh. 9). Following Moses' orders, Joshua led the people over Mounts Ebal and Gerizim to hear blessings and curses (Josh. 8:30-35).

Joshua's military expeditions broke the power of the Canaanites, but stopped short of exterminating them (see CANAAN, The Land and Its Conquest). Despite the prospect of new campaigns, the time had come to establish themselves in the country.

Aided by the high priest and a commission, Joshua presided over the distribution of the conquered lands. The distribution began during the camp's stay at Gilgal (Josh. 14:6-17:18). Joshua finished this work, created cities of refuge, gave cities to the Levites, and arranged for the Ark of the Covenant to remain in Shiloh (Josh. 18-21).

He obtained for himself the city of Timnath-sera on Mount Ephraim (Josh. 19:50). When he was very old, Joshua called the assembly at Shechem, the place where Abraham, entering Canaan, had erected the first altar to Jehovah; It was there that the tribes went to invoke upon themselves the blessings and curses of Jehovah.

Joshua gave a powerful speech, exhorting the people not to abandon Jehovah (Josh. 24:1-28). He died shortly after, at the age of 110. He was buried in the place he had chosen, in Timnath-sera (Josh. 24:29, 30).

(b) A resident of Beth-shemesh, owner of the field where the ark arrived in a cart drawn by cows, which the Philistines had sent (1 Sam. 6:14) (See ARK OF THE COVENANT).

(c) Governor of Jerusalem under the reign of Josiah (2 Kings 23:8)

(d) The high priest son of Jehozadak who returned to Babylon with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:2; Neh. 7:7). He erected the altar of burnt offerings, encouraged the craftsmen and the assembly of the people to rebuild the Temple (Ezra 3:2-9; Hag. 1:1,12, 14; 2:2-4). He is called Jeshua in Ezra and Nehemiah.

As high priest, he represented before God the deportees returned from exile, and received the assurance of divine succor (Zech. 3:1-9; 6:11-13). His name, his work restoring the Temple, and Zechariah's two prophecies about him make him a type of Christ.