Who is…
Joshua

also known as: Jeshua, Jehoshua, Yehoshua, Yeshua (ישוע‬), Jesus, Hoshea, Oshea

Hebrew: יְהוֹשֻׁעַ —meaning: Jehovah is his help, Jehovah is salvation, or Jehovah the Savior

Greek: Ἰησοῦ —transliteration: Iésous (Jesus, the Greek form of Joshua) —occurrences: 923, in the form of either Ἰησοῦ, Ἰησοῦν or Ἰησοῦς

This was the name of various men during Biblical times, including the following three—one a crucial leader of the Israelite exodus and conquering of the Promised Land, another a high priest, and another a legal ancestor of Jesus Christ.

  1. Joshua, son of Nun

    The most famous Joshua is the one who assisted Moses and conquered much of the Promised Land. He was the son of Nun, of Ephraim and the chosen successor of Moses as the leader of Israelites.

    He is called “Jehoshua” in Numbers 13:16 (King James Version), and “Jesus” in Acts 7:45 KJV and Hebrews 4:8 KJV (the Revised King James Version says “Joshua”).

    He was born in Egypt, and was probably of the age of Caleb, with whom he is generally associated. He shared in all the events of the Exodus, and held the place of commander of the host of the Israelites at their great battle against the Amalekites in Rephidim (Exodus 17:8-16).

    He became Moses' minister or servant, and accompanied him part of the way when he ascended Mount Sinai to receive the two tablets (Exodus 32:17). He was also one of the twelve who were sent on by Moses to explore the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:16,17), and only he and Caleb gave an encouraging report.

    Under the direction of God, Moses, before his death, invested Joshua in a public and solemn manner with authority over the people as his successor (Deuteronomy 31:23). The people were encamped at Shittim when he assumed the command (Joshua 1:1); and crossing the Jordan, they encamped at Gilgal, where, having circumcised the people, he kept the Passover, and was visited by the Captain of the Lord’s host (probably the Son of God), who spoke encouraging words to Joshua (1:1-9).

    Now began the wars of conquest which Joshua carried on for many years, the record of which is in the book which bears his name. Conquered by him were 6 nations and 31 kings (Joshua 11:18-23; 12:24).

    Having subdued the Canaanites, Joshua divided the land among the tribes, Timnath-serah in Mount Ephraim being assigned to himself as his own inheritance. (See SHILOH or PRIEST.)

    His work being done, he died, at the age of 110 years, 25 years after having crossed the Jordan. He was buried in his own city of Timnath-serah (Joshua 24); and “the light of Israel for the time faded away.”

    Joshua has been regarded as a type of Christ (Hebrews 4:8) in the following ways:

    1. in the name common to both—Joshua (Hebrew) = Jesus (Greek) = Yeshua (Aramaic)
    2. Joshua brings the people into the possession of the Promised Land, as Jesus brings his people to the heavenly Canaan
    3. Joshua succeeded Moses, so the Gospel succeeds the Law

    The character of Joshua is well sketched by the scholar Alfred Edersheim, a convert to Christianity from Judaism:

    “Born a slave in Egypt, he must have been about forty years old at the time of the Exodus. Attached to the person of Moses, he led Israel in the first decisive battle against Amalek (Exodus 17:9,13), while Moses in the prayer of faith held up to heaven the God-given ‘rod.’ It was no doubt on that occasion that his name was changed from Oshea, ‘help,’ to Jehoshua, ‘Jehovah is help’ (Numbers 13:16). And this name is the key to his life and work.

    Alike in bringing the people into Canaan, in his wars, and in the distribution of the land among the tribes, from the miraculous crossing of Jordan and taking of Jericho to his last address, he was the embodiment of his new name, ‘Jehovah is help.’ To this outward calling his character also corresponded. It is marked by singleness of purpose, directness, and decision… He sets an object before him, and unswervingly follows it” (Alfred Edersheim, Old Testament History, Volume 3, Chapter 12).

    Relatives of Joshua, son of Nun

    • Tribe: Ephraim—Joshua was a descendant of Joseph’s second son Ephraim.
    • Grandfather: not named
    • Father: Nun
    • Mother: not named
    • Wife(s): not named
    • Children: not named or numbered
    Streaming video— 
    “Has Joshua’s Altar Been Found on Mt. Ebal?”
    Archaeologist Dr. Scott Stripling with staff members of Associates for Biblical Research, a professional Bible archeology research organization
    Video by Associates for Biblical Research, a Christian Answers Team Member
    Length: 27 minutes

  2. Joshua (aka Jeshua), a high priest

    also known as: Jeshua, Yeshua

    He is a son of Jehozadak (Yehozadak) (Zechariah 6:9; Ezra 3, etc.).

    His sons include Joiakim, Eliashib, Joiada and Jonathan.

    Some of his sons and nephews were guilty of forbidden intermarriage.

    “And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken strange wives: namely, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.” —Ezra 10:18

  3. Joshua, son of Eliezer

    also known as: Jesus, and Jose (Luke 3:29 KJV, KJV)

    He was a legal ancestor of Jesus Christ, listed in His lineage by the Apostle Luke.

    KING DAVID (and Queen Bathsheba) → Prince Nathan → Mattathah (Mattatha) → Menan (Menna) → Melea → Eliakim → Jonan (Jonam) → Joseph → Judah (Judas) → Simeon → Levi → Matthat → Jorim → Eliezer → Jose (Ἰησοῦς, Jesus—the Greek form of Joshua) → Er → Elmodam → Cosam → Addi → Melchi → Neri → Shealtiel → Zerubbabel → Rhesa → Joannas (Joanna) → Judah → Joseph → Semei → Mattathiah (Mattathias) → Maath → Naggai → Hesli (Esli) → Nahum → Amos → Mattathiah (Mattathias) → Joseph → Janna → Melchi → Levi → Matthat → Heli/Eli → MARY, mother of Jesus → JESUS THE CHRIST, the 2nd Adam, the God-Man (wholly God and wholly human)

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Article Version: September 17, 2024