Joshua
"Be strong and of a good courage." He led Israel into the promised land.
Old Testament · c. 13th century BC · Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua · Also known as Oshea, Son of Nun
About Joshua
Joshua was Moses’ assistant from his youth. He led Israel’s army against the Amalekites and went up Mount Sinai with Moses. Sent as one of twelve spies, he and Caleb alone urged the people to trust God and enter the land. After Moses died, God told Joshua, "Be strong and of a good courage." He led Israel across the Jordan, saw the walls of Jericho fall, and divided the land among the tribes. In his old age he challenged the people: "Choose you this day whom ye will serve… as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
The book of Joshua tells how Israel settled in Canaan. Its warfare passages are among the hardest in Scripture for modern readers, and scholars and church traditions discuss them in different ways. meetBible tells the story as written, and points to the text.
The story
Two faithful spies
Ten of the twelve spies said the land’s people were giants. Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes and said, "If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land… the LORD is with us: fear them not." The people wanted to stone them.
Numbers 13:25–14:10
Be strong and of a good courage
After Moses died, God spoke to Joshua: "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
Joshua 1:1-9
Crossing the Jordan
The Jordan was in flood at harvest time. But as the priests carrying the ark stepped into the water, the river stopped flowing, "and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground." They set up twelve stones as a memorial.
Joshua 3:14-17; 4:1-9
The walls of Jericho
For six days Israel marched once around Jericho in silence, with priests carrying trumpets. On the seventh day they marched seven times. "The people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat." Rahab and her family were spared.
Joshua 6:1-25
As for me and my house
Old and near death, Joshua gathered the tribes at Shechem and reminded them of all God had done. "Choose you this day whom ye will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Joshua 24:1-28
Key moments
- Fights the Amalekites: While Moses’ hands are held up. (Exodus 17:9-13)
- One of two faithful spies: "The LORD is with us." (Numbers 14:9)
- Succeeds Moses: "Be strong and of a good courage." (Joshua 1:9)
- Jericho falls: The walls fall down flat. (Joshua 6:20)
- Renews the covenant: "As for me and my house." (Joshua 24:15)
Questions about Joshua
In meetBible these answers are given in Joshua’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
Were you afraid to take over from Moses?
Scripture doesn’t describe my feelings, but it records how often I needed to hear the same words. Moses told me, "Be strong and of a good courage," and when I took over, God said it to me again and again: "be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
How did the walls of Jericho fall?
We did what God commanded: we marched around the city once a day for six days, with seven priests carrying trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day we went round seven times. "When the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, … the wall fell down flat." Scripture presents it as God’s doing, not ours.
What does "as for me and my house" mean?
At the end of my life I gathered the tribes and set a choice before them: serve the gods their ancestors served, or the gods of the land, or the LORD who brought them out of Egypt. "Choose you this day whom ye will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." The people answered that they would serve the LORD too.
Connected people
Read it yourself
Start with Joshua 1; 6; 24.