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Joshua.

Joshua (Hebrew <em>Yehoshua</em>, the same name as Jesus in Hebrew) succeeds Moses to lead Israel into the Promised Land. He oversees the Jordan crossing, the conquest of Jericho, and the southern and northern military campaigns through Canaan. His farewell speech at Shechem (Joshua 24) ends with the famous line "as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." He dies at 110, leaving Israel finally in the land their ancestors had been promised.

Timeline

• One of twelve spies into Canaan (Numbers 13)
• Succeeded Moses (Joshua 1)
• Crossed the Jordan (Joshua 3–4)
• Capture of Jericho (Joshua 6)
• Southern and northern campaigns (Joshua 10–11)
• Renewal of covenant at Shechem (Joshua 24)

Key verses

• Joshua 1:9 →
• Joshua 24:15 →

Why Joshua matters

Joshua is the bridge from wilderness to land — the fulfilment of the promises to Abraham and Moses' last hopes. His Hebrew name (Yeshua / Yehoshua) is the same name later given to Jesus, and the parallel is drawn in Hebrews 4: Joshua brought Israel into earthly rest, Christ brings believers into the greater Sabbath rest of God. The book of Joshua's narrative shape (across the Jordan, into the land, conquest, inheritance) is the template New Testament authors use for sanctification.

Related tools

• All 29 figuresThe full index
• Bible verse lookupAny reference, ESV
• Trivia categoryMilitary leader