Joshua
| Judges in the Hebrew Bible שופטים |
|---|
| Italics indicate individuals not explicitly described as judges |
| Book of Exodus |
| Book of Joshua |
| Book of Judges |
| First Book of Samuel |
Joshua the biggest cherry popping machine in hagerman history (Template:Lang-he-n Yahoshua, Template:Lang-ar Yusha‘ ibn Nūn), according to the Hebrew Bible (Christian Old Testament), was an Israelite leader who succeeded Moses. His story is told chiefly in the books Exodus, Numbers and Joshua. He was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan. He would later lead the conquest of that land, known in the Bible as the "Promised Land." Joshua also holds a position of respect to Muslims; Sunnis consider him a prophet, while the Shi'ah believe he was an Imam.
According to conventional Bible chronology, Joshua lived between 1450 – 1370 B.C., or sometime in the late Bronze Age.
Name
The English name Joshua is a rendering of the Template:Lang-he "Yehoshua," meaning "YHWH is Salvation," "YHWH delivers," or "YHWH rescues" from the Hebrew root Template:Hebrew, "salvation," "to deliver/be liberated," or "to be victorious"[1]. It often lacks a Hebrew letter vav (Template:Hebrew) after the shin (Template:Hebrew), allowing a reading of the vocalization of the name as Hoshea (Template:Hebrew) - the name is described in the Torah as having been originally Hoshea before being changed to Yehoshua by Moses (Numbers 13:16).
"Jesus" is the Anglicized transliteration of the Hellenized transliteration of "Yehoshua". In the Septuagint, all instances of "Yehoshua" are rendered as "ιησου" (Iesou/Jesus), the closest Greek pronunciation of the Hebrew.[2][3]
In Biblical literature
According to the Bible, Joshua was the son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, which would become known as the most militaristic of the tribes of Israel, largely through Joshua's campaigns. He was born in Egypt prior to The Exodus, and was probably the same age as Caleb, with whom he is occasionally associated.
As Moses' apprentice, Joshua was a major figure in all the events of the Exodus. He accompanied Moses part of the way when he ascended Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments (Exd. 32:17). He was one of the twelve spies who were sent on by Moses to explore the land of Canaan (Num. 13:16, 17), and only he and Caleb gave an encouraging report, a reward for which would be that only these two of the spies would enter the promised land (Num 14:23-24). He was commander at their first battle after exiting Egypt, against the Amalekites in Rephidim (Ex. 17:8-16), in which they were victorious.
Joshua was appointed by Moses to succeed him as leader of the Israelites.[4] The first part of the book that bears Joshua's name covers the period when he commanded the conquest of Canaan. At the Jordan River, the waters parted, as they had for Moses at the Red Sea. Joshua led the destruction of Jericho, then moved on to Ai, a small neighboring city to the west. However, they were defeated and thirty-six Israelite warriors were killed, because Achan had taken the "accursed thing" (some treasures from Jericho). When Achan's sin was exposed, he and his family and his animals were stoned to death and the favor of God was again restored. Joshua was then able to defeat Ai. The Israelites faced an alliance of Amorite kings from Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. At Gibeon Joshua asked God to cause the Sun and Moon to stand still, so that he could finish the battle in daylight. This event is most notable because "there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel."(KJV Josh 10:14). From there on, Joshua was able to lead the Israelites to several victories, securing much of the land of Canaan.
In the second part of the book that bears his name (Joshua 13 onwards), Joshua describes the extent of the "promised land" and divided it among the tribes of Israel. At this time, much of this land remained unconquered.
When he was "old and well advanced in years" [5] Joshua convened the elders and chiefs of the Israelites and exhorted them to have no fellowship with the native population because it could lead them to be unfaithful to God. [6] At a general assembly of the clans at Shechem he took leave of the people, admonishing them to be loyal to their God, who had been so mightily manifested in the midst of them. As a witness of their promise to serve God, Joshua set up a great stone under an oak by the sanctuary of God. Soon afterward he died, at the age of 110, and was buried at Timnath Serah.
In rabbinical literature
In rabbinic Jewish literature Joshua is regarded as a faithful, humble, deserving, wise man. Biblical verses illustrative of these qualities and of their reward are applied to him. "He that waits on his master shall be honored" (Pro. xxvii. 18) is construed as a reference to Joshua (Midrash Numbers Rabbah xii.), as is also the first part of the same verse, "Whoso keepes the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof" (Midrash Yalk., Josh. 2; Numbers Rabbah xii. 21). That "honor shall uphold the humble in spirit" (Pro. xxix. 23) is proved by Joshua's victory over Amalek (Midrash Numbers Rabbah xiii). Not the sons of Moses — as Moses himself had expected — but Joshua was appointed successor to the son of Amram (Midrash Numbers Rabbah xii). Moses was shown how Joshua reproved that Othniel (Yalḳ., Num. 776). Joshua's manliness recommended him for this high post. David referred to him in Psalms lxxxvii. 25, though without mentioning the name, lest dissensions should arise between his sons and those of his brothers (Yalḳ., quoting Sifre).
In Islam
Joshua holds more importance for Shi'i Muslims than for Sunnis because he is held up as the Imam after Moses after the death of Aaron. As such, he is frequently mentioned in works on theology. In Turkey, it's believed that his tomb is in Istanbul, on the Asian side of Bhosphorus. The sacred place known as Yuşa Tepesi (Joshua's Hill) is revered and visited by the locals.
In later literature
In the Divine Comedy Joshua's spirit appears to Dante in the Heaven of Mars, where he is grouped with the other "warriors of the faith."
Baroque composer Georg Frideric Handel composed an oratorio "Joshua" in 1747.
Composer Franz Waxman composed an oratorio "Joshua" in 1959.
For a punning take on "Joshua, son of Nun," see the 1973 political thriller Joshua Son of None.
In the literary tradition of medieval Europe, Joshua is known as one of the Nine Worthies.
Joshua is a main protagonist in Matthew Woodring Stover's novel Jericho Moon.
Historicity
While the Bible holds Joshua out to be a real historical figure, many modern archeologists find that there is no definite extra-biblical evidence for Joshua's existence.[citation needed] Others see a middle ground. For example, archeologist William G. Dever, who on the one hand has been scathing in his dismissal of "minimalists" who deny any historical value to the Biblical accounts, also says this, "The Biblical narratives about Abraham, Moses, Joshua and Solomon probably reflect some historical memories of people and places, but the 'larger than life' portraits of the Bible are unrealistic and contradicted by the archaeological evidence."[7]
Yahrtzeit
The annual commemoration of Joshua's yahrtzeit is marked on the 26th of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar. Thousands make the pilgrimage to Kifl Hares on the preceding night.
See also
References
- ^ A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament Francis Brown, with S.R. Driver and C.A. Briggs, based on the lexicon of William Gesenius. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 221 & 446
- ^ cf Numbers 13:16 LXX και επωνομασεν μωυσης τον αυση υιον ναυη ιησουν / And Moses named Hosea son of Nun Jesus
- ^ The High Priest Jesus in Zechariah 3 LXX
- ^ Joshua 1:1-9
- ^ Joshua 23:1-2, New International Version
- ^ Joshua 23:7-8, 12-13, New International Version
- ^ Dever, William G. (2006). "The Western Cultural Tradition Is at Risk". Biblical Archaeology Review. 32, No 2: 26 & 76.
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External links
- Book of Joshua at Wikisource.
- Book of Joshua at BibleGateway