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[[Image:Tisjoshu.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Investiture of Joshua by Moses]] '''Joshua''' or '''Jehoshua''' ([[Hebrew]] '''יְהֹושֻׁ֔עַ''', God saves), also known as '''Hoshea''' ([[Hebrew]] '''הֹושֵׁ֥עַ''', saves) (ca. 2470-fl. 7 Adar 2553-2580 AM) (ca. 1534-fl. 13 March 1451-1424 BC)<ref name=Jones>Jones, Floyd N., ''The Chronology of the Old Testament'', Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2004, pp. 88-94, 278</ref> was the second [[Judge (biblical)|Judge]] of [[Israel]], the first commander-in-chief of the army of Israel, and the immediate successor of [[Moses]] as Judge.

[[Image:Tisjoshu.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Investiture of Joshua by Moses]] '''Joshua''' or '''Jehoshua''' ([[Hebrew]] '''יְהֹושֻׁ֔עַ''', God saves), also known as '''Hoshea''' ([[Hebrew]] '''הֹושֵׁ֥עַ''', saves) (ca. 2470-fl. 7 Adar 2553-2580 AM) (ca. 1534-fl. 13 March 1451 – 1424 BC)<ref name=Jones>Jones, Floyd N., ''The Chronology of the Old Testament'', Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2004, pp. 88-94, 278</ref> was the second [[Judge (biblical)|Judge]] of [[Israel]], the first commander-in-chief of the army of Israel, and the immediate successor of [[Moses]] as Judge.

== Life and ancestry ==

== Life and ancestry ==

== Career ==

== Career ==

=== Wilderness ===

=== Wilderness ===

Joshua attracted the notice of Moses shortly after the [[Exodus of Israel]]. When [[Amalek]]ite warriors attacked the Israelites from the rear at Rephidim, Moses chose Joshua to recruit an army and launch a counterattack. Moses stood on a high hill and held his rod high to invoke the blessing of [[God]] on the combat. Joshua won handily, because Moses had [[Aaron]] and [[Hur]] to hold his arms up. After that battle, God told Moses to tell Joshua to remember to destroy the Amalekites utterly at any opportunity, and furthermore told Moses to put that order in writing. ({{Bible ref|book=Exodus|chap=17|verses=8-16}})<ref name=Shyovitz>Shyovitz D, "[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/joshua.html Joshua]," ''Jewish Virtual Library'', 2008. Accessed December 14, 2008.</ref><ref name=Blank/>

Joshua attracted the notice of Moses shortly after the [[Exodus of Israel]]. When [[Amalek]]ite warriors attacked the Israelites from the rear at Rephidim, Moses chose Joshua to recruit an army and launch a counterattack. Moses stood on a high hill and held his rod high to invoke the blessing of [[God]] on the combat. Joshua won handily, because Moses had [[Aaron]] and [[Hur]] to hold his arms up. After that battle, God told Moses to tell Joshua to remember to destroy the Amalekites utterly at any opportunity, and furthermore told Moses to put that order in writing. ({{Bible ref|book=Exodus|chap=17|verses=8-16}})<ref name=Blank/><ref name=Shyovitz>Shyovitz D, "[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/joshua.html Joshua]," ''Jewish Virtual Library'', 2008. Accessed December 14, 2008.</ref>

Thereafter Joshua served as Moses' chief of staff. He accompanied Moses and the seventy elders to the top of [[Mount Sinai]] and then descended part of the way while Moses received the Tablets of Law containing the [[Ten Commandments]] and the plans for the [[Tabernacle]]. (Thus he was not involved in the [[Golden Calf]] incident.)<ref name=Shyovitz/><ref name=Blank/>

Thereafter Joshua served as Moses' chief of staff. He accompanied Moses and the seventy elders to the top of [[Mount Sinai]] and then descended part of the way while Moses received the Tablets of Law containing the [[Ten Commandments]] and the plans for the [[Tabernacle]]. (Thus he was not involved in the [[Golden Calf]] incident.)<ref name=Blank/><ref name=Shyovitz/>

In the spring of the second full year after the Exodus, Moses sent twelve spies to travel about 600 miles (or 1000 km) to [[Canaan (land)|Canaan]]. Joshua was one of the twelve; the other was [[Caleb]], a Kenizzite immigrant attached to the tribe of [[Judah (tribe)|Judah]]. Joshua and Caleb delivered an enthusiastic report that emphasized the rich natural resources of the land, but the other ten spies emphasized and perhaps exaggerated the military strength of the present inhabitants. Joshua and Caleb insisted that the people of Israel could conquer the land, because they would have God's help. But the people would not listen, and so God ordered that the Israelites would not enter Canaan until every adult member of that generation was dead, except for Caleb and Joshua. To emphasize this point, God sent a plague that killed every spy except Caleb and Joshua. But the next day, the Israelites tried to enter Canaan anyway, and were soundly beaten. ({{Bible ref|book=Numbers|chap=13-14}})<ref name=Blank/><ref name=Konig>Konig G, "[http://www.aboutbibleprophecy.com/p36.htm Joshua]," AboutBibleProphecy.com, 2001. Accessed December 15, 2008.</ref>

In the spring of the second full year after the Exodus, Moses sent twelve spies to travel about 600 miles (or 1000&nbsp;km) to [[Canaan (land)|Canaan]]. Joshua was one of the twelve; the other was [[Caleb]], a Kenizzite immigrant attached to the tribe of [[Judah (tribe)|Judah]]. Joshua and Caleb delivered an enthusiastic report that emphasized the rich natural resources of the land, but the other ten spies emphasized and perhaps exaggerated the military strength of the present inhabitants. Joshua and Caleb insisted that the people of Israel could conquer the land, because they would have God's help. But the people would not listen, and so God ordered that the Israelites would not enter Canaan until every adult member of that generation was dead, except for Caleb and Joshua. To emphasize this point, God sent a plague that killed every spy except Caleb and Joshua. But the next day, the Israelites tried to enter Canaan anyway, and were soundly beaten. ({{Bible ref|book=Numbers|chap=13-14}})<ref name=Blank/><ref name=Konig>Konig G, "[http://www.aboutbibleprophecy.com/p36.htm Joshua]," AboutBibleProphecy.com, 2001. Accessed December 15, 2008.</ref>

=== Canaan ===

=== Canaan ===

When Moses was about to die, he nominated Joshua as his successor. ({{Bible ref|book=Deuteronomy|chap=31|verses=23}}) After Moses was dead, God addressed Joshua directly to confirm him as the Israelites' new leader and remind him to maintain his courage. ({{Bible ref|book=Joshua|chap=1|verses=1-9}})<ref name=Sparknotes>"[http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/oldtestament/section6.rhtml Joshua]," SparkNotes, n.d. Accessed December 15, 2008.</ref>

When Moses was about to die, he nominated Joshua as his successor. ({{Bible ref|book=Deuteronomy|chap=31|verses=23}}) After Moses was dead, God addressed Joshua directly to confirm him as the Israelites' new leader and remind him to maintain his courage. ({{Bible ref|book=Joshua|chap=1|verses=1-9}})<ref name=Sparknotes>"[http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/oldtestament/section6.rhtml Joshua]," SparkNotes, n.d. Accessed December 15, 2008.</ref>

The Israelites observed thirty days of mourning for Moses, and then Joshua ordered the people to prepare to cross the [[Jordan River]] after three days. On 10 Abib 2553 AM (15 April 1451 BC), the Israelites crossed the Jordan. Thus began the [[War of the Conquest of Canaan]], which lasted for seven years.<ref name=Shyovitz/><ref name=Blank/><ref name=Sparknotes/><ref name=Konig/>

The Israelites observed thirty days of mourning for Moses, and then Joshua ordered the people to prepare to cross the [[Jordan River]] after three days. On 10 Abib 2553 AM (15 April 1451 BC), the Israelites crossed the Jordan. Thus began the [[War of the Conquest of Canaan]], which lasted for seven years.<ref name=Blank/><ref name=Shyovitz/><ref name=Konig/><ref name=Sparknotes/>

(The [[Midrash]] states that Joshua married [[Rahab]], the priestess of [[Asherah]] in [[Jericho]] who harbored Joshua's two spies. But the [[Old Testament]] does not name any wife for Joshua,<ref name=Shyovitz/> and the [[New Testament]] clearly states that [[Salmon]] of [[Judah (tribe)|Judah]], and not Joshua, married Rahab; see {{Bible ref|book=Matthew|chap=1|verses=5}}.)

(The [[Midrash]] states that Joshua married [[Rahab]], the priestess of [[Asherah]] in [[Jericho]] who harbored Joshua's two spies. But the [[Old Testament]] does not name any wife for Joshua,<ref name=Shyovitz/> and the [[New Testament]] clearly states that [[Salmon]] of [[Judah (tribe)|Judah]], and not Joshua, married Rahab; see {{Bible ref|book=Matthew|chap=1|verses=5}}.)

When the war was over, Joshua apportioned the land among the [[Twelve Tribes of Israel]], including much land that remained to be conquered.<ref name=Shyovitz/><ref name=Blank/><ref name=Konig/> At one point he had to send [[Phinehas]], [[Aaron]]'s grandson, at the head of a delegation to the Reubenites, Gadites and Manassites to investigate reports of an altar that they had erected on their side of the Jordan. ({{Bible ref|book=Joshua|chap=22}})

When the war was over, Joshua apportioned the land among the [[Twelve Tribes of Israel]], including much land that remained to be conquered.<ref name=Blank/><ref name=Shyovitz/><ref name=Konig/> At one point he had to send [[Phinehas]], [[Aaron]]'s grandson, at the head of a delegation to the Reubenites, Gadites and Manassites to investigate reports of an altar that they had erected on their side of the Jordan. ({{Bible ref|book=Joshua|chap=22}})

[[Flavius Josephus]] estimates that Joshua lived twenty years after the end of the war.<ref name=Josephus>Josephus, ''Antiquities'', 5.1.19,23. Cited in Jones, ''op. cit.'', p. 90.</ref> During this time Joshua administered justice to the people, as Moses had before him and as [[Othniel]] and other [[Judge (biblical)|Judges]] would after him. Toward the end of his life (2580 AM/1424 BC), Joshua delivered his farewell address. In this address he famously said, {{Bible quote|If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River [Jordan], or the gods of the [[Amor]]ites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.|book=Joshua|chap=24|verses=15|version=NASB}}

[[Flavius Josephus]] estimates that Joshua lived twenty years after the end of the war.<ref name=Josephus>Josephus, ''Antiquities'', 5.1.19,23. Cited in Jones, ''op. cit.'', p. 90.</ref> During this time Joshua administered justice to the people, as Moses had before him and as [[Othniel]] and other [[Judge (biblical)|Judges]] would after him. Toward the end of his life (2580 AM/1424 BC), Joshua delivered his farewell address. In this address he famously said, {{Bible quote|If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River [Jordan], or the gods of the [[Amor]]ites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.|book=Joshua|chap=24|verses=15|version=NASB}}