Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Jehovah is his help, or Jehovah the Saviour. The son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, the successor of Moses as the leader of Israel. , 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 (Ex. 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 tables (Ex. 32:17).
He was also one of the twelve who were sent on by Moses to explore the land of Canaan (Num. 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 (Deut. 31:23). The people were encamped at Shittim when he assumed the command (Josh. 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, who spoke to him encouraging words (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. Six nations and thirty-one kings were conquered by him (Josh. 11:18-23; 12:24). Having thus subdued the Canaanites, Joshua divided the land among the tribes, Timnath-serah in Mount Ephraim being assigned to himself as his own inheritance. ) His work being done, he died, at the age of one hundred and ten years, twenty-five years after having crossed the Jordan.
” Joshua has been regarded as a type of Christ (Heb. 4:8) in the following particulars: (1) In the name common to both; (2) Joshua brings the people into the possession of the Promised Land, as Jesus brings his people to the heavenly Canaan; and (3) as Joshua succeeded Moses, so the Gospel succeeds the Law. The character of Joshua is thus well sketched by Edersheim:, “Born a slave in Egypt, he must have been about forty years old at the time of the Exodus. ’ It was no doubt on that occasion that his name was changed from Oshea, ‘help,’ to Jehoshua, ‘Jehovah is help’ (Num. 13:16).
And this name is the key to his life and work. ’ To this outward calling his character also corresponded. , iii.
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
(saviour, or whose help is Jehovah). His name appears in the various forms of HosheaHOshea, Oshea, Jehoshua, Jeshua and Jesus.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898)
JOSH'UA (whose help is Jehovah). The successor of Moses, was the son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim, and was born in Egypt. He is called the "minister" of Moses, Ex 24:13, from the fact that he assisted him in the exercise of his office. " Deut 32:44. "Joshua" is a contraction of "Jehoshua," and "Jeshua," or "Jesus," is the Greek mode of writing "Joshua," as in Acts 7:45 and Heb 4:8, in which passages the Hebrew word "Joshua " ought to have been retained. Joshua is introduced to us at the time the Israelites were about to contend with the Amalekites at Rephidim.
He was appointed by Moses to command the forces of Israel on that occasion. Ex 17:9. He was then about 44 years of age, though considered a young man. Ex 33:11. Afterward he was the spy from his tribe, and he and Caleb were the only ones who told the truth. Num 14:6-9. In prospect of the death of Moses, Joshua was set apart to succeed him as the leader and deliverer of God's chosen people. Num 27:16-18; Deut 31:7-14; Deut 34:9. At the age of 84 he passed over the Jordan at the head of the hosts of Israel, and entered the land of promise.
For six years he carried on a successful war against the Canaanites, and after conquering them he divided the land among the Israelites. We see in this long struggle the union of divine help and human exertion. If, on the one hand, Jericho falls without a blow, on the other, Ai is only taken after one repulse and by a stratagem. Josh 8. Again, there is no protection against mistakes. The Gibeonites, by trickery, succeed in saving their lives, albeit they become slaves.
The conduct of Joshua in keeping his oath is very noble, but it was a salutary lesson upon the folly of human wisdom unaided by divine light. Josh 9. At the termination of the war 6 nations, with 31 kings, had been prostrated. " The "Promised Land," in its complete extent, was not then, and never was, conquered. After a period of rest, Joshua, feeling the approach of death, gathered the people together on two occasions, and delivered the solemn and touching addresses recorded in Josh 23-24. In so doing he imitated the example of his great predecessor, Moses. " Josh 24:31.
Traditional Tomb of Joshua, near Timnath. (From Photograph Pal. ) Joshua was a worthy successor of Moses. His presence was ever the harbinger of the divine favor. " Josh 24:15. But at last to him, as to us all, came the end, and he died, being 110 years old, "and they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah. " Ch. Matt 24:30. The dweller in Beth-sheniesh in whose field stopped the two milch-kine which were drawing the cart containing the ark on its way back from the Philistines. 1 Sam 6:14.
A governor of Jerusalem, previous to Josiah's day, who gave his name to one of the gates. 2 Kgs 23:8. A high priest after the Captivity. Hag 1:1, etc. Ezra and Nehemiah call him Jeshua. 3. Joshua, The Book of. It may be divided into three parts: I. The conquest of the land, chs. 1-12; II. The partition of the land, chs. 13-22; III. The final addresses of Joshua, his death and burial. Chs. 23, 24. It embraces a period variously estimated at from 17 to 30 years. As to the authorship of the book, the name "Joshua" in the title may imply no more than that he is the hero of it.
Still, in connection with ch. 24:26, "And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God," the title may be allowed to weigh something more, and we may attribute the book, if not to Joshua, at least to one of his elders who was well acquainted with him. This theory is not inconsistent with a subsequent revision. The two difficulties in the book relate to the sun standing still, ch. Josh 10:13; and to the wholesale slaughter of the Canaanites by the command of God. In regard to the first, the difficulty is manufactured out of — it does not exist in — the text.
The passage is a poetical quotation from the book of Jasher, which was probably a collection of sacred songs. V. The day was probably one of extraordinary brightness, as well as of extraordinary anxiety, hence it would appear to be prolonged. The second difficulty is only one of the many chapters in the mysterious government of Providence, which permits the ravages of war, famine, and pestilence.
Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869)
a savior; a deliverer
Schaff's Bible Dictionary
JOSH'UA (whose help is Jehovah). Joshua is introduced to us at the time the Israelites were about to contend with the Amalekites at Rephidim. He was appointed by Moses to command the forces of Israel on that occasion. Ex 17:9. He was then about 44 years of age, though considered a young man. Ex 33:11. Afterward he was the spy from his tribe, and he and Caleb were the only ones who told the truth. Num 14:6-9. In prospect of the death of Moses, Joshua was set apart to succeed him as the leader and deliverer of God's chosen people. Num 27:16-18; Deut 31:7-14; Deut 34:9.
At the age of 84 he passed over the Jordan at the head of the hosts of Israel, and entered the land of promise. For six years he carried on a successful war against the Canaanites, and after conquering them he divided the land among the Israelites. We see in this long struggle the union of divine help and human exertion. If, on the one hand, Jericho falls without a blow, on the other, Ai is only taken after one repulse and by a stratagem. Josh 8. Again, there is no protection against mistakes. The Gibeonites, by trickery, succeed in saving their lives, albeit they become slaves.
The conduct of Joshua in keeping his oath is very noble, but it was a salutary lesson upon the folly of human wisdom unaided by divine light. Josh 9. At the termination of the war 6 nations, with 31 kings, had been prostrated. " The "Promised Land," in its complete extent, was not then, and never was, conquered. After a period of rest, Joshua, feeling the approach of death, gathered the people together on two occasions, and delivered the solemn and touching addresses recorded in Josh 23-24. In so doing he imitated the example of his great predecessor, Moses. " Josh 24:31.
Traditional Tomb of Joshua, near Timnath. (From Photograph Pal. ) Joshua was a worthy successor of Moses. His presence was ever the harbinger of the divine favor. " Josh 24:15. But at last to him, as to us all, came the end, and he died, being 110 years old, "and they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah. " Ch. Matt 24:30. The dweller in Beth-sheniesh in whose field stopped the two milch-kine which were drawing the cart containing the ark on its way back from the Philistines. 1 Sam 6:14.
A governor of Jerusalem, previous to Josiah's day, who gave his name to one of the gates. 2 Kgs 23:8. A high priest after the Captivity. Hag 1:1, etc. Ezra and Nehemiah call him Jeshua. 3. Joshua, The Book of. It may be divided into three parts: I. The conquest of the land, chs. 1-12; II. The partition of the land, chs. 13-22; III. The final addresses of Joshua, his death and burial. Chs. 23, 24. It embraces a period variously estimated at from 17 to 30 years. As to the authorship of the book, the name "Joshua" in the title may imply no more than that he is the hero of it.
Still, in connection with ch. 24:26, "And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God," the title may be allowed to weigh something more, and we may attribute the book, if not to Joshua, at least to one of his elders who was well acquainted with him. This theory is not inconsistent with a subsequent revision. The two difficulties in the book relate to the sun standing still, ch. Josh 10:13; and to the wholesale slaughter of the Canaanites by the command of God. In regard to the first, the difficulty is manufactured out of — it does not exist in — the text.
The passage is a poetical quotation from the book of Jasher, which was probably a collection of sacred songs. V. The day was probably one of extraordinary brightness, as well as of extraordinary anxiety, hence it would appear to be prolonged. The second difficulty is only one of the many chapters in the mysterious government of Providence, which permits the ravages of war, famine, and pestilence.