Joshua played a pivotal role in the Hebrew Bible as the successor of Moses and the leader of the Israelites during their conquest of Canaan. He belonged to the tribe of Ephraim and had the original name Hoshea, which Moses later changed to Joshua, meaning “Yahweh is salvation.” He first appeared during the Israelites’ journey in the wilderness after the exodus from Egypt, when he served as Moses’ aide and military commander.

Joshua earned recognition when he led the battle against Amalek at Rephidim. He acted with discipline and courage, demonstrating early signs of leadership. Moses trusted him deeply and included him in key moments, such as when he ascended Mount Sinai and when he sent twelve spies to scout the land of Canaan. Among the spies, only Joshua and Caleb returned with confidence, urging the people to trust in their success. The others instilled fear, which delayed the Israelites’ entry into the land for forty years.

After Moses died, Joshua took command by divine appointment. He did not inherit Moses’ prophetic role, but he held authority as a military and political leader. God instructed him directly to lead the people across the Jordan River into the promised land. Joshua carried out this mission with discipline. He orchestrated the crossing of the Jordan, organized the siege of Jericho, and launched military campaigns against the kings of Canaan.

The walls of Jericho

The walls of Jericho stood as a major obstacle during the Israelites’ entry into Canaan under Joshua’s leadership. The city had thick fortifications, built to withstand attacks and protect its inhabitants. Jericho guarded the eastern approach to the heartland of Canaan. It represented both a strategic and symbolic target—conquering it would send a clear message to other city-states in the region.

Before the assault, Joshua sent two men to spy on Jericho. They entered the city and stayed in the house of Rahab, a local woman. She hid them from the authorities and misled the king’s men who searched for them. In return, the spies promised to spare her and her family during the attack, as long as she marked her home with a red cord and kept her silence.

Joshua later received specific instructions for taking the city. He did not rely on traditional siege tactics. Instead, he followed a ritual process. For six days, he led the people around the city once per day. Seven priests carried ram’s horns in front of the ark of the covenant. On the seventh day, they circled the city seven times. Then the priests blew the horns, and Joshua gave the signal for the people to shout.

According to the biblical account, the walls collapsed at that moment. The Israelites entered and took the city, sparing only Rahab and her family, honoring the agreement made by the spies. They destroyed the rest of the city and placed it under the ḥerem, the ban. This meant they offered everything in the city to God by destroying it entirely.

Aftermath and legacy

Joshua built a covenant renewal ceremony at Shechem to remind the people of their obligations to Yahweh. He did not ask for personal gain but focused on preserving religious and social order. His farewell speech challenged the Israelites to choose whom they would serve, drawing a clear line between allegiance to Yahweh and local deities.

He died at the age of 110 and received burial in the territory of Ephraim. His leadership marked the transition from a wandering group of former slaves to a people with land and political structure. The Bible portrays him as a disciplined leader who obeyed commands without wavering and who valued order, loyalty, and justice. His legacy laid the foundation for the period of the Judges.

The fall of Jericho’s walls served a narrative function—it showed that obedience to divine command mattered more than military power. This moment marked the start of the conquest of Canaan.