Who Was Joshua in the Bible? Moses' Successor and Leader of Israel

Joshua was the son of Nun from the tribe of Ephraim who served as Moses' assistant and then succeeded him as the leader of Israel (Numbers 13:8; Deuteronomy 34:9). He led the Israelites across the Jordan River, conquered Jericho, and divided the land of Canaan among the twelve tribes. His story is told mainly in the Book of Joshua, which follows the five books of Moses in the Old Testament.

Joshua lived through the whole wilderness period. He saw the Exodus from Egypt as a young man, spied out Canaan, waited forty years, and then led the next generation into the land God had promised to Abraham (Genesis 12:7; Joshua 1:2-6).

Quick Facts About Joshua

Fact	Details
Name meaning	"The LORD saves" (originally named Hoshea, "salvation," Numbers 13:16)
Testament	Old Testament
Key books	Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua
Time period	About 1450 to 1380 BC (traditional dating of the conquest around 1406 BC)
Known for	Leading Israel into Canaan, the fall of Jericho, dividing the land among the tribes

Joshua's Early Years With Moses

Battle Against the Amalekites

Joshua first appears in Exodus 17. When the Amalekites attacked Israel at Rephidim, Moses told Joshua to choose men and fight (Exodus 17:8-9). Israel prevailed while Moses held up his hands, with Aaron and Hur supporting them, and Joshua defeated the Amalekite army (Exodus 17:10-13).

Moses' Aide

Joshua is called Moses' aide. He went partway up Mount Sinai with Moses (Exodus 24:13) and stayed at the tent of meeting when Moses returned to the camp (Exodus 33:11). When two men prophesied in the camp, Joshua asked Moses to stop them, and Moses answered that he wished all the Lord's people were prophets (Numbers 11:28-29).

One of the Twelve Spies

Moses sent twelve men, one from each tribe, to explore Canaan. Joshua represented Ephraim, and Moses gave him the name Joshua in place of Hoshea (Numbers 13:8, 16). Ten spies said the land could not be taken. Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes and urged the people to trust the Lord (Numbers 14:6-9).

The people wanted to stone them (Numbers 14:10). God declared that everyone twenty years old or more who grumbled would die in the wilderness, except Caleb and Joshua (Numbers 14:29-30). The other ten spies died of a plague (Numbers 14:36-38).

Commissioned to Lead

Near the end of the forty years, God told Moses to lay his hand on Joshua before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly (Numbers 27:18-23). Moses encouraged Joshua in front of all Israel to be strong and courageous (Deuteronomy 31:7-8). After Moses died, Joshua was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him (Deuteronomy 34:9).

God then spoke to Joshua directly and repeated the charge three times (Joshua 1:6, 7, 9). The third time it reads:

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, NIV)

God tied that courage to obedience. Joshua was to keep the Book of the Law on his lips and meditate on it day and night (Joshua 1:7-8).

Think you know Joshua and the other leaders of Israel? Test yourself in Who Am I? Bible Edition.

Who Was Joshua in the Bible as a Military Leader?

Rahab and the Spies

Joshua sent two spies to Jericho. They stayed at the house of Rahab, who hid them and asked for protection for her family (Joshua 2:1-13). The spies told her to tie a scarlet cord in her window (Joshua 2:18). You can read more about her in our profile of Rahab in the Bible.

Crossing the Jordan

The Jordan was at flood stage. When the priests carrying the ark of the covenant stepped into the water, the river stopped flowing and the people crossed on dry ground (Joshua 3:15-17). Twelve stones from the riverbed were set up at Gilgal as a memorial (Joshua 4:19-24).

At Gilgal, the men born in the wilderness were circumcised, and Israel celebrated the Passover. The day after they ate the produce of Canaan, the manna stopped (Joshua 5:2-12). Near Jericho, Joshua met a man with a drawn sword who identified himself as commander of the army of the Lord. Joshua fell facedown and was told to take off his sandals because the place was holy (Joshua 5:13-15).

The Fall of Jericho

God instructed Israel to march around Jericho once a day for six days, with seven priests carrying trumpets ahead of the ark. On the seventh day they marched around seven times, the priests blew the trumpets, the people shouted, and the wall collapsed (Joshua 6:3-5, 15-20). Rahab and her family were spared (Joshua 6:22-25). Joshua pronounced a curse on anyone who rebuilt Jericho, which was fulfilled centuries later (Joshua 6:26; 1 Kings 16:34).

Achan and Ai

Israel was defeated at the small town of Ai because Achan had taken silver, gold, and a robe from Jericho that were devoted to the Lord (Joshua 7:1-5, 20-21). After Achan was judged, Israel took Ai using an ambush (Joshua 7:24-26; 8:1-29). Joshua then built an altar on Mount Ebal and read the whole Law to the people, as Moses had commanded (Joshua 8:30-35; Deuteronomy 27:1-8).

The Gibeonites and the Long Day

The Gibeonites pretended to come from a distant country, and Israel made a treaty with them without asking the Lord (Joshua 9:3-15). When five Amorite kings attacked Gibeon, Joshua marched all night to defend them. God threw the enemy into confusion and sent large hailstones. Joshua asked the Lord to make the sun stand still, and the sun stopped until Israel had won (Joshua 10:5-14).

Southern and Northern Campaigns

Joshua then took cities across southern Canaan (Joshua 10:28-43). In the north, Jabin king of Hazor gathered a large coalition. Joshua defeated them at the Waters of Merom and burned Hazor (Joshua 11:1-11). Joshua 12 lists thirty-one kings he defeated (Joshua 12:24). The text also notes that some land remained unconquered (Joshua 13:1).

Dividing the Land

Joshua, with Eleazar the priest and the tribal heads, assigned the land by lot (Joshua 14:1-2). Caleb, now eighty-five, received Hebron (Joshua 14:6-14). The tribes received their territories in Joshua 15 through 19. Six cities of refuge were set apart (Joshua 20), and the Levites received forty-eight towns (Joshua 21:41).

Joshua received his own inheritance last. The Israelites gave him Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim (Joshua 19:49-50).

Joshua's Farewell and Death

As an old man, Joshua gathered Israel's leaders and warned them not to mix with the remaining nations or serve their gods (Joshua 23:1-13). He then assembled the tribes at Shechem, reviewed their history from Abraham onward, and called them to choose:

"But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15, NIV)

The people promised to serve the Lord, and Joshua made a covenant with them and set up a large stone as a witness (Joshua 24:24-27). Joshua died at 110 years old and was buried at Timnath Serah (Joshua 24:29-30). Israel served the Lord throughout his lifetime and the lifetimes of the elders who outlived him (Joshua 24:31; Judges 2:7-10).

Key Lessons From Joshua's Life

• Courage rests on God's presence. God's command to be strong came with the promise that he would be with Joshua (Joshua 1:5, 9).
• Obedience to God's Word. Success in Joshua's mission was tied to keeping the Law (Joshua 1:7-8).
• Faithfulness over time. Joshua and Caleb trusted God when the majority did not, and both lived to enter the land (Numbers 14:6-9, 30).
• Seeking God's direction. The treaty with Gibeon happened because Israel did not inquire of the Lord (Joshua 9:14).
• Personal commitment. Joshua declared his own household's loyalty before asking the nation to decide (Joshua 24:15).

Where Joshua Appears in the Bible

• Exodus: 17:8-14; 24:13; 32:17; 33:11
• Numbers: 11:28; 13-14; 26:65; 27:18-23; 32:12, 28; 34:17
• Deuteronomy: 1:38; 3:21, 28; 31:3-23; 34:9
• Joshua: chapters 1-24
• Judges: 1:1; 2:6-9, 21-23
• 1 Kings: 16:34
• Nehemiah: 8:17 (called Joshua son of Nun)
• Acts: 7:45
• Hebrews: 4:8

Joshua worked alongside Moses for decades and followed the pattern of leaders like Abraham, who received the original promise of the land. For more Old Testament figures, see our list of Bible trivia questions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Joshua mean?

Joshua means "the LORD saves." Moses changed his name from Hoshea, meaning "salvation," to Joshua (Numbers 13:16). The Greek form of the name is the same as the name Jesus.

How old was Joshua when he died?

Joshua died at 110 years old (Joshua 24:29). He was buried in his own inheritance at Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim (Joshua 24:30).

Was Joshua one of the twelve spies?

Yes. Joshua represented the tribe of Ephraim among the twelve spies Moses sent into Canaan (Numbers 13:8). He and Caleb were the only two who urged Israel to trust God and enter the land (Numbers 14:6-9).

Did Joshua write the Book of Joshua?

The book records that Joshua wrote the covenant words at Shechem in the Book of the Law of God (Joshua 24:26). Jewish tradition credits Joshua with most of the book, with the account of his death added later by others.

Who led Israel after Joshua?

Joshua did not name a single successor. After his death, Israel was led by elders and then by a series of judges raised up by God (Judges 2:7-16).