Joshua: historical and biblical perspectives

Joshua

After the death of Moses, Joshua found himself assuming the role as leader of the entire Jewish nation. This task was daunting even in the best of times, but Joshua was assuming control after nearly 40 years of wandering in the desert, eating manna and following the edicts of God as espoused through Moses. Moses placed Joshua under the official guise of leader as well as the official role of prophet by blessing him with a laying on of hands. "Moses had laid his hands upon him, and the children of Israel hearkened unto him." (Deuteronomy 34:9)

During this time, the accepted practice of gaining leadership was to have it passed on by the previous spiritual leader, hence the laying on of hands. It was a symbolic, yet meaningful gesture used to ensure the Jewish people knew who Moses had chosen to take his place.

From the time he assumed command, Joshua was a man of God. He was told from the start that if he were to maintain good morale principles, retain his goodness of character and have personal courage that "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life." (Joshua 1:5) Since it is apparent that Joshua was in God's good graces, it would have made it easier for the Jewish people to accept him as Moses' replacement and look to him for guidance. Joshua knew that he would have to be a leader by example, and he also knew how hard-hearted the Jewish people could be, especially having experienced the many changes of heart the people had gone through since their liberation from Egypt. Joshua too, had experienced the whimsical and fickle nature of the Jewish people as they wandered through the wilderness.

The Jewish people did accept him as a leader and looked to him for spiritual and physical guidance, telling Joshua that, "According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses." (Joshua 1:17). As Joshua knew their circumstances and understood that they needed a strong leader, they too knew and understood the same things.

Joshua's understanding is evident in Joshua 3, when he commands the priests to part the river Jordan so that the Israelites could pass on dry ground. Much like Moses' parting of the Red Sea, this event allowed the Israelites the opportunity to see that Joshua too was filled with the spirit of God.

Even with God's help, it is a difficult task to enter another's country and take it over. Many times the Israelites would be met with much fierce resistance. Joshua's task was to ensure the strength of the Jewish people by confirming their faith. He was able to accomplish this by wielding a disciplined hand as well as organizing and sustaining them in battle(s). Joshua was the 'man with the plan' as evidenced by the battle of Ai and its king. He gathered up thirty thousand valiant warriors and sent them away at night to create an ambush against the city of Ai. "Ye shall lie in wait," (Joshua 8:4) he tells them and then proceeds to lead a frontal assault that seemingly fails. As all the men from Ai, and surrounding areas, chases after the fleeing Israelites, Joshua turns, raises his spear, and the men laying in ambush attack from behind.

Joshua understood that his role was to teach the people of Israel to adapt to the circumstances, and always have faith in their God above. Joshua also knew that the Israelites would have to always have a strong disciplinary system in place to maintain order and cohesiveness. He often read to them the law, as stated by Moses, and he fiercely punished those that disobeyed those laws. An example of this is when Achan took silver, gold and garments after being told not to. Achan, his sons, his daughters, his asses, his sheep and his oxen were all stoned and then burned, leaving a great heap of stones to remind the Israelites of the punishment derived from disobedience. Joshua knew that this would make a lasting impression on the Israelites.