The history of Joshua begins in earnest when he followed Moses as the leader of the Israelites. He was known as a general, someone who fought battles that God wanted him to fight. He and the Israelites often enjoyed the help of God during battles. One such battle saw God rain hailstones down on his enemies, killing more of the enemy than even the Israelites could manage. When he perished he was 110 years of age. During his life he performed the will of God and divided land up among the various tribes.
It has been said that he was the first general of Israel. This happened long before he followed Moses as the leader. The first recollection of this occurred after the Exodus, when a a fierce nomad tribe had attacked the Israelites. Despite not being trained to fight, they actually won with help from his leadership.
When Moses appointed him as the leader of the group, it was one of the last acts he did before passing away. Those interested in this part should consult the Bible passages Joshua 1:, 2:1 for more information. This was written at around 1398 B. C. After he became leader, he was sent to the Jordan River, not far away from Jericho and its high walls.
The crossing of the Jordan River is perhaps an event that is as famous as the parting of the Red Sea for Moses. It was during the spring and the river was not only flowing at its fastest, it was at its highest. The priests carried the Ark of the Covenant and the other Israelites trod very gingerly on the water. Apparently, this was a test of faith because, not long after they entered, the water dried up and they were able to cross easily.
He was born a slave, around forty or so years before the Exodus. His mother was a nun from the Ephraim tribe, and part of the story is told in 1 Chronicles 7:20-27. His original name was actually Hoshea, but Moses decided to change it. His name actually means The Lord is Salvation.
An interesting thing is that though Moses did indeed bring the Ten Commandments up to Mount Sinai at the command of God, he chose Joshua to be at his side for a while as he ascended the mountain. He was a very trusted member of the Israelites and was very loyal to God. At times he was sent as a spy to report on various cities they wanted to take.
After the walls of Jericho came down, they were told by God to extend their reach far and wide. In Joshua 11:18-23, 12:24, this story is told in far more depth. Once Canaan, The Promised Land, was finally taken, the land was shared among the tribes and he was given Timnath-serah as a gift from God. It was here that he was laid to rest, some 25 years after they’d found The Promised Land.
Although the history of Joshua is littered with bloodshed, death and fighting, the overall story is one of belief. His faith in God was such that he did not waver, even when others might have balked at the odds. Therefore, the main story that comes from his tale is that trust in God can overcome anything.
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