📖 Biblical Definition
Joshua is the sixth book of the Bible — the first of the historical books — recounting Israel’s conquest of Canaan under Joshua, son of Nun, the successor of Moses. After the crossing of the Jordan and the fall of Jericho (chs. 1-6), the conquest unfolds in three main campaigns (central, southern, and northern, chs. 7-12), followed by the division of the land among the twelve tribes (chs. 13-22) and Joshua’s farewell covenant renewal at Shechem (chs. 23-24). The book demonstrates God’s faithfulness to His covenant promises: "There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass" (Joshua 21:45). Joshua’s great charge stands forever: "Choose you this day whom ye will serve... as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15).
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Joshua — the leader of Israel after Moses; the book bearing his name.
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The Hebrew Yehoshua signifies 'Jehovah is salvation' — the same name as Jesus in its Greek form. The book records the entrance of Israel into the promised land, the fall of Jericho, and the partition of inheritance to the twelve tribes.
📖 Key Scripture
Joshua 1:9 — "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 24:15 — "Choose you this day whom ye will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Joshua 6:20 — "The wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city."
Joshua 21:45 — "There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern critics treat Joshua as genocidal myth rather than covenantal history.
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Higher criticism reduces Joshua to a literary fiction composed centuries after the events, denying the historicity of the conquest and reframing the herem (devotion to destruction) as ethnic cleansing. Liberal pulpits apologize for the text rather than expound it.
Yet the book itself presents the conquest as God's righteous judgment on Canaanite abominations long postponed (Gen 15:16). Israel was the executioner of a verdict already pronounced — not aggressors but instruments of holy justice tempered by mercy (Rahab, the Gibeonites).
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
The name Joshua is a confession: Yahweh saves.
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H3091 — Yehoshua — Joshua — Jehovah is salvation
H3467 — yasha — to save, deliver, give victory
H5159 — nachalah — inheritance, possession (the land)
Usage
"Joshua is Jesus in Hebrew dress — the captain who leads the redeemed into rest."
"The fall of Jericho was not military genius but obedient worship around the walls."
"Choose you this day — the household ethic of every covenant father."