Painterly portrait of a strong middle-aged Hebrew warrior with a short dark beard, in simple bronze-trimmed armor over earth-tone robes. — Painterly interpretation — not a historical likeness.

Old Testament

Joshua

Moses' successor — the commander who led Israel into the Promised Land.

Traditional datingc. 1400s–1200s BC (traditional)

Their story, briefly

One of two spies (with Caleb) who trusted God when ten others gave a fearful report.
Commissioned to succeed Moses: 'Be strong and courageous… I will be with you.'
Led Israel across the Jordan on dry ground and around the walls of Jericho.
Distributed the land among the twelve tribes.
Charged Israel at Shechem: 'As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.'

Key passages

Numbers 14:6-9
Joshua 1:5-9
Joshua 6:1-21
Joshua 24:14-15

How their life points to Christ

'Joshua' in Hebrew is the same name as 'Jesus' in Greek — both mean 'the Lord saves.' Joshua led Israel into an earthly rest in Canaan; Jesus leads his people into an eternal rest the land could only foreshadow (Hebrews 4).

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More from Scripture

Painterly portrait of an aged Hebrew man with a long white beard, holding stone tablets, robed in earth tones.

Moses

Reluctant prophet who led Israel out of Egypt and received the Law.

Painterly portrait of an aged patriarch with a long white beard and tan headcloth, gazing upward at a starry sky.

Abraham

The father of faith — called out from Ur, promised a nation through him.

Painterly portrait of a young Hebrew man wearing an ornate striped coat of many colors over linen robes.

Joseph (son of Jacob)

Betrayed and enslaved — raised to save the family that sold him.