Joshua
Moses' Successor
Also known as: Jeshua, Joshua
Joshua was Moses' servant and successor who led Israel into the Promised Land. He was one of the two spies who believed that Israel could conquer Canaan. As a military leader, he conquered Jericho and the rest of the land, and divided it among the tribes.
Family
Key events
The Call to Leadership
After Moses' death, God called Joshua to lead the people across the Jordan with the promise: 'Be strong and courageous!'
1After the death of Moses, the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant:
וַיְהִ֗י אַחֲרֵ֛י מ֥וֹת מֹשֶׁ֖ה עֶ֣בֶד יְהוָ֑ה וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֔וּן מְשָׁרֵ֥ת מֹשֶׁ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃
2"Moses my servant is dead. Now get up and cross this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land I am giving to them, to the Israelites.
מֹשֶׁ֥ה עַבְדִּ֖י מֵ֑ת וְעַתָּה֩ ק֨וּם עֲבֹ֜ר אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֣ן הַזֶּ֗ה אַתָּה֙ וְכָל־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה אֶל־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לָהֶ֖ם לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
3Every place where the sole of your foot treads I have given you, just as I promised Moses.
כָּל־מָק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּדְרֹ֧ךְ כַּֽף־רַגְלְכֶ֛ם בּ֖וֹ לָכֶ֣ם נְתַתִּ֑יו כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי אֶל־מֹשֶֽׁה׃
5No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.
לֹֽא־יִתְיַצֵּ֥ב אִישׁ֙ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֣י חַיֶּ֑יךָ כּֽ͏ַאֲשֶׁ֨ר הָיִ֤יתִי עִם־מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶהְיֶ֣ה עִמָּ֔ךְ לֹ֥א אַרְפְּךָ֖ וְלֹ֥א אֶעֶזְבֶֽךָּ׃
6Be strong and courageous, for you will give this people possession of the land I swore to their fathers to give them.
חֲזַ֖ק וֶאֱמָ֑ץ כִּ֣י אַתָּ֗ה תַּנְחִיל֙ אֶת־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה אֶת־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתִּי לַאֲבוֹתָ֖ם לָתֵ֥ת לָהֶֽם׃
9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
הֲל֤וֹא צִוִּיתִ֙יךָ֙ חֲזַ֣ק וֶאֱמָ֔ץ אַֽל־תַּעֲרֹ֖ץ וְאַל־תֵּחָ֑ת כִּ֤י עִמְּךָ֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר תֵּלֵֽךְ׃ פ
The Spies' Report
As one of twelve spies, Joshua and Caleb believed that God would give them victory over the giants in Canaan.
6Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes
וִיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֗וּן וְכָלֵב֙ בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּ֔ה מִן־הַתָּרִ֖ים אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ קָרְע֖וּ בִּגְדֵיהֶֽם׃
7and said to the entire congregation of the Israelites, "The land we passed through and explored is an exceedingly good land.
וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ אֶל־כָּל־עֲדַ֥ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָבַ֤רְנוּ בָהּ֙ לָת֣וּר אֹתָ֔הּ טוֹבָ֥ה הָאָ֖רֶץ מְאֹ֥ד מְאֹֽד׃
8If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us—a land flowing with milk and honey.
אִם־חָפֵ֥ץ בָּ֙נוּ֙ יְהוָ֔ה וְהֵבִ֤יא אֹתָ֙נוּ֙ אֶל־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את וּנְתָנָ֖הּ לָ֑נוּ אֶ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־הִ֛וא זָבַ֥ת חָלָ֖ב וּדְבָֽשׁ׃
9Only do not rebel against the LORD, and do not be afraid of the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is gone, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them."
אַ֣ךְ בַּֽיהוָה֮ אַל־תִּמְרֹדוּ֒ וְאַתֶּ֗ם אַל־תִּֽירְאוּ֙ אֶת־עַ֣ם הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּ֥י לַחְמֵ֖נוּ הֵ֑ם סָ֣ר צִלָּ֧ם מֵעֲלֵיהֶ֛ם וַֽיהוָ֥ה אִתָּ֖נוּ אַל־תִּירָאֻֽם׃
30Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to settle you in, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
אִם־אַתֶּם֙ תָּבֹ֣אוּ אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָשָׂ֙אתִי֙ אֶת־יָדִ֔י לְשַׁכֵּ֥ן אֶתְכֶ֖ם בָּ֑הּ כִּ֚י אִם־כָּלֵ֣ב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּ֔ה וִיהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ בִּן־נֽוּן׃
Crossing the Jordan
Joshua led the people across the Jordan on dry ground when the priests carrying the ark stepped into the river.
14So the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant ahead of them.
וַיְהִ֗י בִּנְסֹ֤עַ הָעָם֙ מֵאָ֣הֳלֵיהֶ֔ם לַעֲבֹ֖ר אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים נֹֽ[m]שְׂאֵ֛י הָאָר֥וֹן הַבְּרִ֖ית לִפְנֵ֥י הָעָֽם׃
15Now the Jordan was overflowing all its banks, as it does all through the harvest season. But as soon as those carrying the ark reached the Jordan and the feet of the priests carrying it touched the water's edge,
וּכְב֞וֹא נֹשְׂאֵ֤י הָֽאָרוֹן֙ עַד־הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וְרַגְלֵ֤י הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ נֹשְׂאֵ֣י הָֽאָר֔וֹן נִטְבְּל֖וּ בִּקְצֵ֣ה הַמָּ֑יִם וְהַיַּרְדֵּ֗ן מָלֵא֙ עַל־כָּל־גְּדוֹתָ֔יו כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֥י קָצִֽיר׃
16the water flowing down from upstream stopped and stood in a single heap a great distance away, at Adam, the town near Zarethan, while the water flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
וַיַּעַמְד֡וּ הַמַּיִם֩ הַיֹּרְדִ֨ים מִלְמַ֜עְלָה קָ֣מוּ נֵד־אֶחָ֗ד הַרְחֵ֨ק מְאֹ֜ד *באדם **מֵֽאָדָ֤ם הָעִיר֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ מִצַּ֣ד צָֽרְתָ֔ן וְהַיֹּרְדִ֗ים עַ֣ל יָ֧ם הָעֲרָבָ֛ה יָם־הַמֶּ֖לַח תַּ֣מּוּ נִכְרָ֑תוּ וְהָעָ֥ם עָבְר֖וּ נֶ֥גֶד יְרִיחֽוֹ׃
17The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan.
וַיַּעַמְד֣וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֡ים נֹ֠שְׂאֵי הָאָר֨וֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָ֜ה בֶּחֽ͏ָרָבָ֛ה בְּת֥וֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן הָכֵ֑ן וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל עֹֽבְרִים֙ בֶּחָ֣רָבָ֔ה עַ֤ד אֲשֶׁר־תַּ֙מּוּ֙ כָּל־הַגּ֔וֹי לַעֲבֹ֖ר אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃
The Fall of Jericho
Joshua followed God's command to march around Jericho for seven days, and the walls fell at the sound of the trumpets.
2And the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hand, along with its king and its fighting men.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ רְאֵה֙ נָתַ֣תִּי בְיָֽדְךָ֔ אֶת־יְרִיח֖וֹ וְאֶת־מַלְכָּ֑הּ גִּבּוֹרֵ֖י הֶחָֽיִל׃
3March around the city with all your soldiers, circling it once. Do this for six days.
וְסַבֹּתֶ֣ם אֶת־הָעִ֗יר כֹּ֚ל אַנְשֵׁ֣י הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה הַקֵּ֥יף אֶת־הָעִ֖יר פַּ֣עַם אֶחָ֑ת כֹּ֥ה תַעֲשֶׂ֖ה שֵׁ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים׃
4Seven priests shall carry seven ram's-horn trumpets before the ark. On the seventh day march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.
וְשִׁבְעָ֣ה כֹהֲנִ֡ים יִשְׂאוּ֩ שִׁבְעָ֨ה שׁוֹפְר֤וֹת הַיּֽוֹבְלִים֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הָאָר֔וֹן וּבַיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י תָּסֹ֥בּוּ אֶת־הָעִ֖יר שֶׁ֣בַע פְּעָמִ֑ים וְהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים יִתְקְע֖וּ בַּשּׁוֹפָרֽוֹת׃
5When they sound a long blast on the ram's horn and you hear the trumpet, all the people are to give a great shout. Then the city wall will collapse, and the people shall charge straight in, each man where he stands."
וְהָיָ֞ה בִּמְשֹׁ֣ךְ ׀ בְּקֶ֣רֶן הַיּוֹבֵ֗ל *בשמעכם **כְּשָׁמְעֲכֶם֙ אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַשּׁוֹפָ֔ר יָרִ֥יעוּ כָל־הָעָ֖ם תְּרוּעָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה וְנָ֨פְלָ֜ה חוֹמַ֤ת הָעִיר֙ תַּחְתֶּ֔יהָ וְעָל֥וּ הָעָ֖ם אִ֥ישׁ נֶגְדּֽוֹ׃
20So the people shouted, and the trumpets sounded. When the people heard the blast of the trumpet, they raised a great shout, and the wall fell down flat. The people charged into the city, each man where he stood, and they captured it.
וַיָּ֣רַע הָעָ֔ם וַֽיִּתְקְע֖וּ בַּשֹּֽׁפָר֑וֹת וַיְהִי֩ כִשְׁמֹ֨עַ הָעָ֜ם אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַשּׁוֹפָ֗ר וַיָּרִ֤יעוּ הָעָם֙ תְּרוּעָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֔ה וַתִּפֹּ֨ל הַֽחוֹמָ֜ה תַּחְתֶּ֗יהָ וַיַּ֨עַל הָעָ֤ם הָעִ֙ירָה֙ אִ֣ישׁ נֶגְדּ֔וֹ וַֽיִּלְכְּד֖וּ אֶת־הָעִֽיר׃
Renewal of the Covenant
In his farewell speech, Joshua challenged the people to choose whom they would serve: 'As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.'
14"Now therefore, fear the LORD and serve him with integrity and faithfulness. Put away the gods your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
וְעַתָּ֞ה יְר֧אוּ אֶת־יְהוָ֛ה וְעִבְד֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ בְּתָמִ֣ים וּבֶֽאֱמֶ֑ת וְהָסִ֣ירוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהִ֗ים אֲשֶׁר֩ עָבְד֨וּ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֜ם בְּעֵ֤בֶר הַנָּהָר֙ וּבְמִצְרַ֔יִם וְעִבְד֖וּ אֶת־יְהוָֽה׃
15But if serving the LORD seems wrong in your eyes, then choose today whom you will serve—whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
וְאִם֩ רַ֨ע בְּֽעֵינֵיכֶ֜ם לַעֲבֹ֣ד אֶת־יְהוָ֗ה בַּחֲר֨וּ לָכֶ֣ם הַיּוֹם֮ אֶת־מִ֣י תַעֲבֹדוּן֒ אִ֣ם אֶת־אֱלֹהִ֞ים אֲשֶׁר־עָבְד֣וּ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁר֙ *בעבר **מֵעֵ֣בֶר הַנָּהָ֔ר וְאִם֙ אֶת־אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָאֱמֹרִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתֶּ֖ם יֹשְׁבִ֣ים בְּאַרְצָ֑ם וְאָנֹכִ֣י וּבֵיתִ֔י נַעֲבֹ֖ד אֶת־יְהוָֽה׃ פ
24And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God, and we will obey his voice."
וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ הָעָ֖ם אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ אֶת־יְהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֙ינוּ֙ נַעֲבֹ֔ד וּבְקוֹל֖וֹ נִשְׁמָֽע׃
Mentioned in the Bible (183)
Exodus 17:9Exodus 17:10Exodus 17:13Exodus 17:14Exodus 24:13Exodus 32:17Exodus 33:11Numbers 11:28Numbers 13:16Numbers 14:6Numbers 14:30Numbers 14:38Numbers 26:65Numbers 27:18Numbers 27:22Numbers 32:12Numbers 32:28Numbers 34:17Deuteronomy 1:38Deuteronomy 3:21Deuteronomy 3:28Deuteronomy 31:3Deuteronomy 31:7Deuteronomy 31:14Deuteronomy 31:23Deuteronomy 34:9Joshua 1:1Joshua 1:10Joshua 1:12Joshua 2:1Joshua 2:23Joshua 2:24Joshua 3:1Joshua 3:6Joshua 3:7Joshua 4:1Joshua 4:4Joshua 4:14Joshua 4:15Joshua 4:17Joshua 4:20Joshua 5:2Joshua 5:3Joshua 5:4Joshua 5:7Joshua 5:9Joshua 5:13Joshua 6:2Joshua 6:6Joshua 6:8Joshua 6:10Joshua 6:25Joshua 6:27Joshua 7:3Joshua 7:16Joshua 7:19Joshua 7:20Joshua 7:23Joshua 7:24Joshua 8:1Joshua 8:3Joshua 8:9Joshua 8:10Joshua 8:13Joshua 8:16Joshua 8:23Joshua 8:27Joshua 8:29Joshua 8:30Joshua 8:35Joshua 9:2Joshua 9:3Joshua 9:6Joshua 9:8Joshua 9:22Joshua 9:24Joshua 9:27Joshua 10:1Joshua 10:4Joshua 10:6Joshua 10:8Joshua 10:9Joshua 10:15Joshua 10:17Joshua 10:18Joshua 10:21Joshua 10:22Joshua 10:24Joshua 10:26Joshua 10:27Joshua 10:28Joshua 10:33Joshua 10:36Joshua 10:38Joshua 10:40Joshua 10:42Joshua 10:43Joshua 11:10Joshua 11:12Joshua 11:15Joshua 11:16Joshua 11:18Joshua 11:23Joshua 12:7Joshua 13:1Joshua 14:1Joshua 14:6Joshua 14:13Joshua 15:13Joshua 17:4Joshua 17:14Joshua 17:17Joshua 18:3Joshua 18:8Joshua 18:9Joshua 18:10Joshua 19:49Joshua 19:51Joshua 20:1Joshua 21:1Joshua 22:1Joshua 22:6Joshua 22:7Joshua 23:2Joshua 24:1Joshua 24:2Joshua 24:21Joshua 24:24Joshua 24:25Joshua 24:28Joshua 24:29Joshua 24:31Judges 2:8Judges 2:21Judges 2:231 Samuel 6:141 Samuel 6:181 Kings 16:342 Kings 23:81 Chronicles 7:271 Chronicles 24:112 Chronicles 31:15Ezra 2:2Ezra 2:6Ezra 2:36Ezra 2:40Ezra 3:2Ezra 3:8Ezra 3:9Ezra 4:3Ezra 5:2Ezra 8:33Ezra 10:18Nehemiah 3:19Nehemiah 7:7Nehemiah 7:11Nehemiah 7:39Nehemiah 7:43Nehemiah 8:7Nehemiah 8:17Nehemiah 9:4Nehemiah 9:5Nehemiah 10:10Nehemiah 12:1Nehemiah 12:7Nehemiah 12:8Nehemiah 12:10Nehemiah 12:24Nehemiah 12:26Haggai 1:1Haggai 1:12Haggai 1:14Haggai 2:2Haggai 2:4Zechariah 3:1Zechariah 3:4Zechariah 3:6Zechariah 3:8Zechariah 3:9Zechariah 6:11Luke 3:29Acts 7:45Hebrews 4:8