Joshua (biblical figure)

Joshua is Moses’ successor in the Hebrew Bible, portrayed as the Israelite leader who guides the people into Canaan and oversees its division among the tribes.

Crossing of the Jordan: The biblical episode in which the Israelites cross the Jordan River into Canaan under Joshua’s leadership. This entry marks the transition from wilderness travel to the land Joshua is charged to lead Israel into.
Moses: The Hebrew Bible’s leader and lawgiver who brings the Israelites out of Egypt and leads them through the wilderness. Moses commissions Joshua as successor and lays the groundwork for his leadership.
Deuteronomistic history: A scholarly model grouping Deuteronomy through Kings as a historical narrative shaped by shared theological themes. Joshua’s portrayal of conquest and covenant is often studied within this proposed literary history.
Gradual infiltration model: A model proposing that early Israelites entered Canaan gradually as pastoral groups rather than through a unified invasion. It contrasts with the book’s depiction of coordinated conquest under Joshua.
Joshua in Islam: The Islamic tradition’s account of Yusha ibn Nun, commonly identified with Joshua and associated with Moses. This tradition preserves Joshua as a figure connected to Moses, though details differ from the biblical narrative.
Battle of Jericho: The biblical account of Israel’s capture of Jericho after marching around the city for seven days. Jericho is the first major conquest narrated under Joshua’s command.
Caleb: An Israelite from the tribe of Judah who, with Joshua, urges Israel to enter Canaan in the wilderness narrative. Caleb shares Joshua’s early dissent from the spies’ fearful report and later receives land in Canaan.
Book of Judges: A biblical book describing Israel’s leaders and recurring conflicts in the period after Joshua’s death and before monarchy. Judges follows Joshua and presents a less centralized, less settled picture of Israel in the land.
Peasant revolt model: A theory that Israel emerged partly through a revolt by Canaanite peasants against city-state elites. This model explains Israel’s origins through internal social change rather than Joshua-led invasion.
Herem: A Hebrew Bible concept of irrevocable dedication or destruction, especially associated with warfare against certain peoples. Commands of herem in Joshua’s conquest accounts raise enduring theological and ethical questions.

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Jordan RiverRelated: The Book of Joshua describes the Israelites crossing the Jordan under his leadership.