What Makes Joshua a Hero?

 

As the book of Deuteronomy closes, Joshua is named as the successor of Moses. This passing on of responsibility, so to speak, sets the stage for the book of Joshua. Joshua is the first book of the Nevi’im, or prophets. It is also the first book of the Hebrew Bible to be named for its main character. Throughout the Torah, books were named for content or action, such as Genesis and Exodus. Joshua is the first book to present a focused, detailed character study of its namesake. Joshua is characterized as a hero through Jewish literature, his actions as a leader, the etymology of his name, and his family’s tribal background. Christianity presents a viewpoint that somewhat contradicts the epic hero role Judaism assigns to him; therefore, I will be including this perspective as an opposing viewpoint.

The protagonist speaks to Joshua in Joshua 1:2, telling him to take the Hebrew people across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. This makes Joshua a leader, but does it make him a hero? Before answering this question, it is necessary to know what a hero is. A hero is a figure who is celebrated in a people’s ancient legends. Joshua fits this description, as he is featured in two supplemental Jewish works outside of the Hebrew Bible, which are the Talmud and Midrash. Heroes, according to Britannica Academic, are superior to others in their abilities and are usually born to a societal station that encourages heroism.

In the Talmud, Joshua “is compared to the moon, which has no light of its own and merely reflects the sun’s light. This represents a bottom-up approach to G-dly service; the idea of transforming and elevating the physical world into a “moon”, a vessel for G-dly light” (Kesselman).  This is an important comparison because Joshua is connected to the most significant prophet within the Jewish faith, who is named Moses. Joshua is also connected to one of the protagonist’s first creations in Genesis through this comparison, which is light. He is a light to the Hebrew people as they are told to be a light to the nations of the world.

Joshua’s life is further detailed in the Midrash. According to this text, he marries Rahab, a prostitute from the city of Jericho. Prophets such as Jeremiah are among the couple’s descendants. He saves a woman considered to be of little value, a prostitute, from destruction when Jericho falls. Not only that, but he saves her family as well. These are bold deeds for a man of the time. By marrying Rahab, he provides a woman with a place in society and descendants who become significant in the future of Judaism and Christianity.

 Sala Levin asserts that Midrash is rabbinic fiction, but I do not think that this view affects Joshua’s place among the literature of the Jewish people. His inclusion in the Hebrew Scriptures as well as rabbinic literature that can be considered fictional illustrates the significance of his story on both the divine and secular planes, affecting and influencing a wide audience of Jewish readers.

Joshua is also connected to heroism through his name. The Hebrew word neshamah, meaning soul, contains the Hebrew letters shin and mem. Together, these letters spell shem, or name. Because of this, a name is connected to a person’s soul and identity. Moses changed Joshua’s name in Numbers 13:16. Before this, Joshua was known as Hoshea. The root of this name means to be saved or delivered. The name Joshua means God saves. Joshua delivers the Hebrew people with the help of God. He leads them across the Jordan, destroys cities, and divides the Promised Land among them while relying on God for strength and courage.

The tribe to which Joshua belongs is also significant. He is from the tribe of Ephraim according to Numbers. Ephraim was a descendent of Joseph, whose people formed two of Israel’s tribes. In Genesis 49:22-26, Joseph is characterized as a fruitful warrior when his father, Jacob, blesses him. He is also described as a prince. This characterization sets him and his descendants apart as leaders among the twelve tribes of Judah. This bloodline attribute shows that Joshua has special circumstances surrounding his birth and family heritage, providing him with the unusual beginnings ascribed to other literary heroes. The emblem of the tribe of Ephraim is a bull. It is associated with majesty in Deuteronomy 33:17.

Joshua’s skillsets are also set apart from those of other Israelites. He was Moses’ assistant for many years. Spending time as an assistant to the protagonist’s selected representative, he saw firsthand the importance of following God as commanded. This enables him to better lead the Hebrew people after Moses’ passing because he is well-versed in the protagonist’s law. This allows him to enforce the law given to the Hebrew people. Having spent time in combat, he can lead the Hebrew people into battle so that cities may be destroyed and their land can be gained by them as is their right, according to the protagonist’s decree. The ability to balance the secular and spiritual make him a well-rounded leader.

Christianity holds an opposing view on Joshua. Rather than a hero, Joshua is seen as Moses’ assistant and God’s slave, according to Fr. Reardon. Fr. Reardon continues, saying, “Joshua was an instrument and figure of transmission, linking Israel’s period in the Desert to the era of the Conquest.” The meaning of Joshua’s name is the same as that of Jesus’. Jesus is the Christian messiah and Son of God. According to Christianity, he died for the sins of mankind. Fr. Reardon also calls Joshua “a prefiguration of Christ.” Joshua is viewed as a precursor to the New Testament hero, Jesus Christ. As a Catholic, I found it interesting to learn that Joshua is a saint within the Catholic church. This makes sense, as saints are holy men and women we Catholics look up to when the going gets tough and we need inspiration. Joshua is certainly someone who can be considered holy, as he is set apart by his actions, from his leadership abilities to his service to the protagonist. In Christianity, he is seen as a person who prepares the world for the coming of Christ.

Joshua can be seen as a hero or at the very least, as an inspirational, devoted leader. After researching his role within the narrative and considering how he is viewed outside the Hebrew Bible in other Jewish texts, I have concluded that he is a hero. This is because from his characterization to his actions, he embodies the archetypal hero who is present in other works of epic literature.