Joshua

Joshua was the leader God chose to guide Israel after Moses died, near the end of the Late Bronze Age, around 1400 BCE. As a younger man, Joshua had served Moses and trusted God even when others were afraid. He was one of the twelve spies sent to explore Canaan. Joshua and Caleb believed God would help Israel enter the land. Years later, Joshua became Moses’ successor. He led the people across the Jordan River at the eastern entrance to Canaan and reminded them to follow God’s teaching with courage and faith.

Joshua’s story appears mainly in the books of Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua. The best-known event is the battle of Jericho in Joshua 2 through 6. Before Israel crossed the Jordan, Joshua sent two spies into the city. A woman named Rahab hid them and asked that her family be protected. After the river crossing, Israel camped near Jericho. God gave Joshua unusual instructions. For six days, the people marched around the city once each day. Priests carried the ark of the covenant and blew trumpets. On the seventh day, they marched around Jericho seven times. At Joshua’s signal, the people shouted, and the city walls fell. Rahab and her household were rescued, just as the spies had promised. Joshua later led Israel through more battles and gathered the tribes to renew their promise to serve God.

Joshua’s life teaches children that courage does not mean never feeling afraid. It means trusting God and doing what is right, even when the task seems too large. His story also shows the importance of listening, remembering God’s help, and keeping promises. Ancient Jericho stood near the Jordan River, not far north of the Dead Sea, in the area now known as the West Bank. After Jericho, Joshua led the Israelites farther into Canaan and helped assign places for the tribes to live. Near the end of his life, he spoke to the people at Shechem and urged them to remain faithful to God, as told in Joshua 24.