Yehoshua (Joshua) the Prophet and Judge
Yehoshua bin Nun (יהושע בן נון) was from the tribe of Efraim. According to the book יפה מהישועה by Rabeinu Nissim Gaon, the name “Nun” comes from the miraculous event where Yehoshua was swallowed by a fish and was subsequently saved, and Pharoah took him and raised Yehoshua in his household. The word “nun” is Aramaic for fish. His original name was Hoshea - the leading letter yud was added to his names during the incident of the spies.
He was the main student of Moshe Rabbeinu in the desert, and in merit of his loyalty and steadfastness to his teacher, he received the Torah directly from Moshe after Mt. Sinai.
Yehoshua was the leader of the Jewish nation after the death of Moshe. His ascent to this position coincided with the entrance of the Children of Israel into the Land of Israel (Canaan). He led his people in war against 31 Canaanite kings who were in the Land, and defeated all of them.
According to Midrash, Yehoshua married Rachav (the former innkeeper in Yericho who helped the spies that Yehoshua sent to spy on the city), and among their descendents are eight prophets, including Yirmiyahu and Chuldah the prophetess.
Before his death, Yehoshua divided the conquered land among the twelve tribes of Israel, according to divine lottery. He judged and led the Jewish nation for 28 years, before his death at the age of 110. Yehoshua bin Nun was buried in Timnat Cheres on Mt. Efraim, among the holdings of his tribe.
(Based on an exerpt from Tanach Nechmad L’Mareh)
Posted in Nevi'im, Personalities, Yehoshua - Joshua by Yaakov Ellis on January 29, 2007 | No Comments