Joshua, the son of Nun, was a prominent figure in the Hebrew Bible and the main character of the Book of Joshua. Born around 1355 BCE, he is best known for leading the Israelites into the Promised Land after the death of Moses. Joshua’s name, Yehoshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ) in Hebrew, means “Yahweh is salvation” or “God saves.”
Early Life of Joshua
Joshua was born in Egypt during the Israelites’ period of slavery. He was a member of the Tribe of Ephraim, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. His father’s name was Nun (Numbers 13:8). Not much is known about his early life, but he became a trusted assistant and protégé of Moses as they journeyed through the wilderness.
Spying on Canaan
Joshua, along with Caleb, was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan (Numbers 13). The spies were instructed to report on the land’s fertility, the strength of its inhabitants, and the cities they lived in (Numbers 13:17-20). After forty days, the spies returned with reports of the land’s bounty but also of the powerful inhabitants. Ten of the spies were afraid, but Joshua and Caleb showed faith in God, assuring the Israelites that they could conquer the land with His help (Numbers 14:6-9).
Becoming Leader of the Israelites
After the death of Moses, God appointed Joshua as the leader of the Israelites (Deuteronomy 31:14, 23). God commanded him to be strong and courageous, promising to be with him just as He had been with Moses (Joshua 1:5-9). As the leader, Joshua was responsible for leading the Israelites across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land.
Conquest of Jericho
One of Joshua’s most notable achievements was the conquest of Jericho (Joshua 6). He led the Israelites in a march around the city for six days, with the Ark of the Covenant carried by the priests. On the seventh day, they marched around the city seven times, blew trumpets, and shouted. The walls of Jericho miraculously collapsed, and the Israelites conquered the city.
Conquest of Canaan
Under Joshua’s leadership, the Israelites continued to conquer the land of Canaan, as described in the Book of Joshua. They fought and defeated several kings and nations, including the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites. Joshua divided the conquered land among the twelve tribes of Israel.
Death of Joshua
Joshua died at the age of 110 (Joshua 24:29). He was buried in Timnath-serah, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
Extrabiblical References to Joshua
While there are currently no surviving archeological mentions of Joshua outside the Bible. There are some notable discoveries.
The Merneptah Stele
The Merneptah Stele is an Egyptian artifact from the 13th century BCE does refer to Israel during what would have been Joshua’s lifetime.
The Two Columns of Numidia
In the 6th century AD, Procopius of Caesarea describes surviving columns of white stone near a spring. These columns contain the inscription, “We are they who fled from before the face of Joshua, the robber, the son of Nun.” This claim is also backed up by Moses of Khoren, another ancient historian from the 4th century who also attests to the existence of these two columns and their connection to the Joshua of the Bible.