Joshua's Leadership After Crossing the Jordan River
After the death of Moses, Joshua assumed leadership of the Israelite nation, a role for which he had been prepared and strengthened by divine command [3, 1]. His name, Joshua, means "Jehovah is his help" or "Jehovah the Savior," and he is also referred to as Jehoshua in Numbers 13:16 and Jesus in Acts 7:45 and Hebrews 4:8 [1, 6]. Joshua had been Moses' minister and had commanded the Israelite forces against the Amalekites at Rephidim during the Exodus [1, 6].
Joshua's first major act as leader was to guide the Israelites across the Jordan River into Canaan. He rose early and led the people from Acacia Grove to the Jordan, where they lodged before crossing [4]. This crossing was a pivotal moment, marking the transition from wilderness wandering to the conquest of the promised land [11]. The miraculous parting of the Jordan River, similar to the earlier parting of the Red Sea, served to establish Joshua's authority in the eyes of the Israelites [10, 12]. Flavius Josephus notes that after Moses' death and the period of mourning, Joshua commanded the multitude to prepare for an expedition, sending spies to Jericho [5].
The crossing itself was a powerful demonstration of God's presence with Joshua, leading the Israelites to revere him as they had revered Moses [10]. After the entire nation had crossed the Jordan [2], Joshua's guiding principle, which he later passed on to succeeding leaders, was to carefully follow all that Moses had written and not deviate from it [9]. This adherence to divine instruction was central to his leadership.
Following the crossing, Joshua led the Israelites in their military campaigns against the Canaanites, ultimately overcoming them and dividing the land by lot among the tribes of Israel [5]. The book of Joshua recounts these events, which are seen as typical of Christian themes and instructive for believers [13]. Joshua's leadership was characterized by his military prowess and his unwavering loyalty to God, much like King Josiah, who also "did that which was right in the sight of the Lord" [7]. After the conquest and the distribution of land, Joshua lived in Shechem, and in his old age, he gathered the leaders of the cities to give them further instructions [8].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Joshua — 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. He is called Jehoshua in Num. 13:16 (A.V.), and Jesus in Acts 7:45 and Heb. 4:8 (R.V., 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 p”
- Joshua “Joshua 4:1 (LEB) — After all the nation finished crossing the Jordan, Yahweh said to Joshua,”
- Deuteronomy “Deuteronomy 3:28 (BBE) — But give my orders to Joshua, comforting him and making him strong; for he is to go over Jordan at the head of this people, and he will give them this land which you will see for their heritage.”
- Joshua “Joshua 3:1 (LEB) — Joshua rose early in the morning, and they set out from Acacia Grove. And they came up to the Jordan, he and all the ⌞Israelites⌟, and they spent the night there before they crossed over.”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 1, section 1: . How Joshua, The Commander Of The Hebrews, Made War With The Canaanites, And Overcame Them, And Destroyed Them, And Divided Their Land By Lot To The Tribes Of Israel. 1. When Moses was taken away from among men, in the manner already described, and when all the solemnities belonging to the mourning for him were finished, and the sorrow for him was over, Joshua commanded the multitude to get themselves ready for an expedition. He also sent spies to Jericho to discover what forces they had, and what were their intentions; but he p”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Joshua — (saviour, or whose help is Jehovah). His name appears in the various forms of [760]HosheaH[761]Oshea, [762]Oshea, [763]Jehoshua, [764]Jeshua and [765]Jesus. + The son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim. (1 Chronicles 7:27) (B.C. 1530-1420.) He was nearly forty years old when he shared in the hurried triumph of the exodus. He is mentioned first in connection with the fight against Amalek at Rephidim, when he was chosen by Moses to lead the Israelites. (Exodus 17:9) Soon afterward he was one of the twelve chiefs who were sent, (Numbers 13:17) to explore the land o”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Josiah — Healed by Jehovah, or Jehovah will support. The son of Amon, and his successor on the throne of Judah (2 Kings 22:1; 2 Chr. 34:1). His history is contained in 2 Kings 22, 23. He stands foremost among all the kings of the line of David for unswerving loyalty to Jehovah (23:25). He "did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his father." He ascended the throne at the early age of eight years, and it appears that not till eight years afterwards did he begin "to seek after the God of David his father." At that age he de”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 1, section 20: had received. Now Joshua was glad that he was under no necessity of setting them in array, or of leading them to shed blood, and make war against men of their own kindred; and accordingly he offered sacrifices of thanksgiving to God for the same. So Joshua after that dissolved this great assembly of the people, and sent them to their own inheritances, while he himself lived in Shechem. But in the twentieth year after this, when he was very old, he sent for those of the greatest dignity in the several cities, with those in author”
- Joshua (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Joshua 23:6: 23:6 Since before crossing the Jordan River to take the land of Canaan, Joshua’s guiding principle had been to be very careful to follow everything Moses wrote and not deviate. Now he passed on these instructions to the leaders who would succeed him in leading Israel.”
- Joshua (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Joshua 4:14: 4:14 Now that God had brought the Israelites safely across the Jordan River, Israel recognized God’s presence with Joshua as a great leader and revered him as much as they had revered Moses. Their confidence in Joshua would be crucial in the years ahead.”
- Joshua (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Joshua 3 (introduction): This chapter, and that which follows it, give us the history of Israel's passing through Jordan into Canaan, and a very memorable history it is. Long afterwards, they are told to remember what God did for them between Shittim (whence they decamped, Jos 3:1). and Gilgal, where they next pitched, Jos 4:19, Mic 6:5, that they might know the righteousness of the Lord. By Joshua's order they marched up to the river's side (Jos 3:1), and then almighty power led them through it. They passed through the Red Sea unexpectedly, and in their flight by night, but t”
- Joshua (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Joshua 3:1: Rahab, in mentioning to the spies the drying up of the Red Sea (Jos 2:10), the report of which terrified the Canaanites more than anything else, intimates that those on that side the water expected that Jordan, that great defence of their country, would in like manner give way to them. Whether the Israelites had any expectation of it does not appear. God often did things for them which they looked not for, Isa 64:3. Now here we are told, I. That they came to Jordan and lodged there, Jos 3:1. Though they were not yet told how they should pass the river, and were unp”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 9: Gospel of Peter, Diatessaron, Origen's Commentaries — 26.THE STORY OF ISRAEL CROSSING JORDAN UNDER JOSHUA IS TYPICAL OF CHRISTIAN THINGS, AND IS WRITTEN FOR OUR INSTRUCTION. (part 3): on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." This is pointed out by what we find in the book called Joshua,(3) "In that day I will begin to exalt thee before the children of Israel." And we hear our Lord Jesus saying to the children of Israel,(4) "Come hither and hear the words of the Lord your God. Hereby ye shall”