Joshua praying God to stop the Sun by Gustave Doré

Joshua, Jehoshuah, or Yehoshua (Hebrew: יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, Tiberian: jə. Tiberian Hebrew is an extinct (yet very well documented Oral tradition of pronunciation for ancient Hebrew, especially the Hebrew of the Tanakh, that was ho. ˈʃu. aʕ, Israeli: Yəhoshúa), born in Egypt, was a biblical Israelite leader who succeeded Moses. This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. See also History of ancient Israel and Judah According to the Bible, the Israelites were the dominant group living in the Land of Israel. Moses ( Latin: Moyses,; Greek: grc Mωυσής in both the Septuagint and the New Testament; Arabic: ar موسىٰ His story is told in the Hebrew Bible, chiefly in the books Exodus, the Numbers, and Joshua. The term Hebrew Bible is a generic reference to those books of the Bible originally written in Biblical Hebrew (and the related Biblical Aramaic Exodus ( Greek: έξοδος eksodos = "departure" is the second book of the Jewish Torah and of the Christian Old Testament. The Book of Numbers, ( Bamidbar, meaning in the wilderness) is the fourth book of the Torah, the Tanakh, and the Old Testament. The Book of Joshua ( Hebrew: Sefer Y'hoshua ספר יהושע is the sixth book in both the Hebrew Tanakh and the Old Testament of the Christian He was one of the twelve spies sent on by Moses to explore the land of Canaan who would later lead the conquest of that land. Canaanites redirects here For the 1940s social and political movement in Israel, see Canaanites (movement.

Joshua supposedly lived sometime in the late Bronze Age, around 1200 BC. The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for However, he is associated with problems concerning the evidence for the Exodus from Egypt. The Exodus ( is the term used for the escape departure and emancipation of the enslaved Israelites freed from Ancient Egypt as described in the Hebrew Various reconstructions of the Biblical data about the Exodus have not yet matched the archeological evidence. Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from Greek grc ἀρχαιολογία archaiologia – grc ἀρχαῖος archaīos Accordingly, archeologists dispute the historicity of the many details in the Biblical account of the Exodus and often treat it as legendary embellishments of an earlier (still unidentified) event. However, others have taken the account to be legitimate and have based their scholarship on this, including Richard A. Gabriel who has viewed Biblical narratives from what he calls a "military" perspective, including the Conquest of Canaan by Joshua. Still others refer to the ancient letters of appeal by Canaanite leaders to Egypt seeking assistance against the invasion of the Hapiru (see Amarna letters), who some scholars dispute are the ancient Hebrews. Ancient Egypt was an Ancient Civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now Habiru (Ha biru or Apiru or prw (Egyptianwas the name given by various Sumerian Egyptian, Akkadian Hittite, Mitanni The Amarna letters (sometimes "Amarna correspondence" or "Amarna tablets" are an archive of correspondence on Clay tablets mostly diplomatic Hebrews (or Hebertes, Eberites, Hebreians, " Habiru " or " Habiri " Hebrew: עברים

Joshua in the Bible

"The Children of Israel Crossing the Jordan" by Gustave Doré (d. 1883)

See also: History of ancient Israel and Judah

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. The history of Ancient Israel and Judah is known to us from classical sources including Judaism 's Tanakh or Hebrew Bible (known Nun, in the Hebrew Bible, was a man from the Tribe of Ephraim, grandson of Ammihud, son of Elishama and father of Joshua. The Tribe of Ephraim (} was one of the Tribes of Israel; together with the Tribe of Manasseh, Ephraim also formed the House of Joseph He was born in Egypt during the Israelite enslavement, and was probably the same age as Caleb, with whom he is generally associated. This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. For other meanings of the word Caleb or Kalev see Caleb (disambiguation Caleb ( Hebrew; Tiberian vocalization

Joshua shared in all the events of the Exodus. The Exodus ( is the term used for the escape departure and emancipation of the enslaved Israelites freed from Ancient Egypt as described in the Hebrew He was Moses' apprentice, and accompanied him part of the way when he ascended Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments (Exd. 32:17). For other places named Mount Sinai see Mount Sinai (disambiguation Mount Sinai (Arabic طور سيناء, Hebrew הר סיני also The Ten Commandments, or Decalogue, are a list of religious and moral imperatives that according to Judeo-Christian tradition were authored by God and given Exodus ( Greek: έξοδος eksodos = "departure" is the second book of the Jewish Torah and of the Christian Old Testament. He was also 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. Canaanites redirects here For the 1940s social and political movement in Israel, see Canaanites (movement. The Book of Numbers, ( Bamidbar, meaning in the wilderness) is the fourth book of the Torah, the Tanakh, and the Old Testament. He was commander at their first battle after exiting Egypt, against the Amalekites in Rephidim (Ex. According to the Book of Genesis and 1 Chronicles, Amalek ( Arabic, عماليق, was the son of Eliphaz and the grandson of Rephidim was one of the places (or "stations" visited by the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt. 17:8-16), in which they were victorious.

Joshua was appointed by Moses to succeed him as leader of the Israelites upon Moses' death. Biblical judges ( Hebrew: shoftim שופטים were leaders of the Israelites, which included the judicial and military roles The Book of Joshua ( Hebrew: Sefer Y'hoshua ספר יהושע is the sixth book in both the Hebrew Tanakh and the Old Testament of the Christian Book of Judges ( Hebrew: Sefer Shoftim ספר שופטים is a book of the Bible originally written in Hebrew. Othniel Ben Kenaz ( is the first of the Biblical Judges. His wife Achsah was the daughter of Caleb (Josh For other uses see Ehud (given name. Ehud ben‑Gera ( Hebrew: אֵהוּד בֶּן‑גֵּרָא, Standard Shamgar, son of Anath ( Hebrew שמגר בן־ענת) is the name of one or possibly two individuals named in the Book of Judges. See also Biblical judges Book of Judges List of women warriors in folklore literature and popular culture Barak (בָּרָק "Lightning" the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, was a military general in the Book of Judges in Gideon ( also known as Jerub-Baal (from the Hebrew "let Baal plead" is a judge appearing in the Book of Judges, in the Bible. In the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible, Abimelech was a son of the great judge Gideon ( thus his name אֲבִימֶלֶךְ / אֲבִימָלֶךְ Tola ( was one of the Judges of Israel whose career is documented in Judges 101-2 For the Brazilian footballer see Jair da Rosa Pinto. For the Brazilian singer see Jair Oliveira. Jephthah (also spelled Jephtha; from Hebrew יפתח Yiftach / Yipthaχ is a character in the Hebrew Bible 's Book Ibzan ( Hebrew אבצן) appears in the Bible as one of the Judges of Israel. In the Bible, Elon ( was a Judge of Israel. He followed Ibzan and was succeeded by Abdon. Abdon, which means " servile " in Hebrew, was the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite and was the tenth Judge of Israel mentioned Samson, Shimshon ( Hebrew: שמשון, Standard Šimšon Tiberian Šimšôn; meaning The Books of Samuel ( Hebrew: Sefer Sh'muel ספר שמואל are part of the Tanakh (part of Judaism 's Hebrew Bible) and also of Samuel ( Hebrew: שְׁמוּאֵל, Standard Šəmuʼel Tiberian Šəmûʼēl) is an important The first major part of his book is when he commanded the subsequent conquest of Canaan. Canaanites redirects here For the 1940s social and political movement in Israel, see Canaanites (movement. As the Israelites came to the Jordan River, the waters parted, as they did for Moses at the Red Sea. This article is about the Jordan River and its valley in western Asia The first major battle was in Jericho, a heavily fortified city just five miles west of the Jordan River, northwest of the Dead Sea which he took by following God's instruction, ordering his host to march around the city for seven days, whereupon the city walls fell, just as God said they would. Jericho ( Arabic, ʼArīḥā; Hebrew, Standard Yəriḥo Tiberian Yərîḫô The Dead Sea (יָם הַ‏‏מֶ‏ּ‏לַ‏ח, "Sea of Salt"البَحْر المَيّت, "Dead Sea" is a salt lake between God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. The Israelites then slaughtered "every living thing" inside Jericho and completely destroyed the city except for Rahab and her family, who had aided the two spies sent by Joshua to check out the city. Although they had been forbidden by God to take any of the spoils, Achan disobeyed and took some garments and silver, hiding them in his tent. When Israel tried to conquer Ai, a small neighboring city just West of Jericho, they were defeated and 36 Israelite warriors were killed. Achan's sin was exposed, he and his family and his animals were stoned to death, and the favor of God was again restored towards His people. Next, through clever ambush tactics, Joshua defeated Ai. Ai (העי "heap of ruins" refers to one or two places in ancient Israel: A city mentioned along with Heshbon by Jeremiah 493 The Israelites faced a Southern alliance of the Amorite kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. Amorite ( Sumerian MARTU, Akkadian Tidnum or Amurrūm, Egyptian Amar, Hebrew ’emōrî Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the Hebron ( al-Ḫalīl or al-Khalīl, Standard Hebrew: Ḥevron Tiberian Hebrew: Ḥeḇrôn is the largest city in the West Bank, located in the south Jarmut or Jarmuth ( Anc Heb Yarmuth Akkad Yarimuta) was the name of two sites in Canaan and Ancient Israel: Lachish (לכיש was a town located in the Shephelah, or maritime plain of Philistia ( Joshua 103 5 1211 At Gibeon Joshua defeated them by causing the Sun to stand still at Gibeon, and the moon in the valley of Ajalon, so that he could finish the battle in daylight. Ajalon - and Aij'alon place of deer (1 A town and valley at the lowland of Shephelah, originally assigned to the tribe of Dan from which however they could Then Joshua faced a northern Canaanite king, Jabin of Hazor, whom he defeated at the Waters of Mermon, possibly referring to Lake Huleh. Jabin (ja'-bin is a Biblical name meaning 'discerner' or 'the wise' The Hula Valley (עמק החולה Emek HaHula) is an agricultural region in northern Israel with abundant fresh water

In the second main part of his book, Joshua divided the conquered land among the tribes of Israel as dictated to him by God. See also History of ancient Israel and Judah According to the Bible, the Israelites were the dominant group living in the Land of Israel. The framing narrative, describing the process by which the land was divided (12:1-6, 13:1-14, 13:21b-22, 13:32-14:3, 15:63, 16:10-17:6, 17:12-18:10, 19:51, and 22:1-9). First a description is given of the domains east of the Jordan which were conquered and given to Reuben, Gad, and Machir (half of Manasseh). Machir / Makir - meaning selling / bartered - was the name of two figures in the Bible. After God gave Joshua a gloss concerning the unconquered region, he reminded him about Reuben, Gad, and Machir (half of Manasseh), already having been allocated land by Moses, and about the Levites not being given territory, only cities. The territory was handed out by lot, Judah gaining the first lot, although they failed to drive out the Canaanites living in Jerusalem. Then the house of Joseph got its territory, Ephraim failing to drive out the Canaanites of Gezer, and it is pointed out that the daughters of Zelophehad, part of the tribe of Manasseh, were also given territory of their own. The house of Joseph was given the mountain region, including the forest, and they are told that they will be able to drive out the Canaanites living there despite the presence of iron chariots. The Israelites then assembled at Shiloh, and Joshua sent out a survey team. When the survey was complete, the remaining land was divided amongst the lesser tribes. Finally, the tribes whose lands are east of the Jordan were allowed to go to their lands.

When he was "old and well advanced in years" ^[1] 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. ^[2] 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. Shechem ( Sichem, Shkhem or Shachmu, Hebrew: שְׁכֶם‎ / שְׁכָם, Standard 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. Timnath-heres or Timnath-serah was the town given to Joshua in the Bible.

In rabbinical literature

Joshua and the Israeli people, Karolingischer Buchmaler, c. 840

In rabbinic Jewish literature Joshua is regarded as a faithful, humble, deserving, wise man. Rabbinic literature, in its broadest sense can mean the entire spectrum of Rabbinic writings throughout Jewish history 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. The Book of Proverbs is one of the books of the Ketuvim of the Tanakh, and thus also one of the books of the Old Testament. 18) is construed as a reference to Joshua (Midrash Numbers Rabbah xii. Numbers Rabbah (or Bamidbar Rabbah in Hebrew) is a religious text holy to classical Judaism. ), as is also the first part of the same verse, "Whoso keepes the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof" (Midrash Yalk., Josh. The Yalkut Shimoni ( Hebrew: ילקוט שמעוני) or simply Yalkut is an Aggadic compilation on the books of the Old Testament 2; Numbers Rabbah xii. 21). That "honor shall uphold the humble in spirit" (Pro. xxix. The Book of Proverbs is one of the books of the Ketuvim of the Tanakh, and thus also one of the books of the Old Testament. 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. David, Arabic: داوود or داود dawud, "beloved" was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible Psalms ( Hebrew: Tehilim, תהילים, or "praises" is a book of the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament) included 25, though without mentioning the name, lest dissensions should arise between his sons and those of his brothers (Yalḳ. , quoting Sifre). Sifre ( סִפְרֵי siphrēy, Sifre Sifrei, also Sifre debe Rab or Sifre Rabbah) refers to either of two

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". The Divine Comedy

Baroque composer Georg Frideric Handel composed an oratorio "Joshua" in 1747. Baroque art redirects here Please disambiguate such links to Baroque painting, Baroque sculpture, etc An oratorio is a large Musical composition including an Orchestra, a Choir, and soloists The oratorio was somewhat modeled after the Opera Joshua ( HWV 64 is an Oratorio by George Frideric Handel. It was composed in a month between 19 July 1747 and 19 Year 1747 ( MDCCXLVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a

Composer Franz Waxman composed an oratorio "Joshua" in 1959. Franz Waxman (24 December 1906 &ndash 24 February 1967 was a Jewish German American Composer, known for his bravura Carmen Fantasie The year 1959 ( MCMLIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Hebrew name

The original Hebrew name Yehoshua יהושע often lacks a Hebrew letter Vav (ו) after the Shin (ש), allowing a misreading of the vocalization of the name, as if Yehoshea (יְהוֹשֵׁעַ), and indeed his name was Hoshea before his namechange to Yehoshua by recommendation of Moses (Numbers 13:16). In Hebrew Orthography, niqqud or nikkud ( is the system of Diacritical signs used to represent vowels or distinguish between alternative pronunciations Nevertheless, the use of a mater lectionis was an orthographic innovation, and although the use of two Vavs is well attested as יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (for example, Deuteronomy 3:21), traditional orthography tended to avoid the second Vav as too intrusive when spelling Yehoshua. In the spelling of Hebrew and some other Semitic languages, Matres lectionis ( Latin "mothers of reading" singular form mater lectionis The name Yehoshua` in Hebrew means "Yahweh is Salvation," "Yahweh delivers" or "Yahweh rescues" from the Hebrew root ישע, "to deliver," "to be liberated," or "to be victorious"^[3]

Joshua's Tomb in Kifl Hares, April 2007

Relation with creationism

Some creationists have used the story of Joshua's command to the sun to stand still as part of purported evidence for biblical literalism. Biblical literalism (also called Biblicism) is a primarily pejorative term referring to the adherence to an explicit and literal sense of the Bible. For example, Joshua's "Long Day" was the focus of some interests by creationists such as Harry Rimmer. Harry Rimmer ( 1890 - 1952) was a American Creationist, itinerant evangelist and writer of anti-evolution pamphlets

Yahrtzeit

The annual commemoration of Joshua's yahrtzeit is marked on the 26th of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar. Bereavement in Judaism ( is a combination of Minhag (traditional custom and Mitzvot (good deeds or religious obligation derived from Judaism 's classical This article is about the Jewish month of Nisan See Nissan Motors for the automobile manufacturer The Hebrew calendar (הלוח העברי ha'luach ha'ivri) or Jewish calendar is a Lunisolar calendar used by Jews for predominantly religious Thousands make the pilgrimage to Kifl Hares on the preceding night. Kifl Hares is a Palestinian town in the northern West Bank, located six Kilometers west of Salfit and 18km south of Nablus in the

References

1. ^ Joshua 23:1-2, New International Version
2. ^ Joshua 23:7-8, 12-13, New International Version
3. ^ 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

External links

• Book of Joshua at Wikisource.
• Israel Period of the Judges