Joshua
Joshua,
son of Nun, was
Moses’ young assistant. Exodus
(17: 8-16) tells the following story: “The Amalekites came and attacked
Israel at Rephidim.” Moses ordered Joshua to lead the men into the battle.
Joshua did as Moses commanded and "defeated Amalek and put its people to
the sword.”
After the death
of Moses, Joshua took the leadership over Israelites and led his people
to take the lands, which God had promised to Israel. These events are described
in
The Book of Joshua. "Many battles had the Israelites before they
could settle in the Promised Land." One of the battles, the battle and
victory over Amorites, is described in The Book of Joshua (10). "The five
Amorite kings, the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon,
advanced with their united forces to take up position for the attack on
Gibeon." (Joshua 10:5). And the Lord said to Joshua, 'Do not be afraid;
I have delivered these kings into your hands, and not one of them will
be able to withstand you.' (Joshua 10:8). And Joshua spoke to the Lord
and asked Him to keep the sun in the sky until the end of the battle. And
"the sun stayed in middleheaven and made no haste to set for almost a whole
day. never before or since has there been such a day as that on which
the Lord listened to the voice of a mortal. Surely the Lord fought for
Israel!" (Joshua 10:13-14). After a night march, Joshua launched a surprise
assault on the five kings, and the Lord threw them into confusion before
the Israelites. They started to flee through a mountain pass, and the Lord
hurled great hailstones at them out of the sky. That day victory was complete,
and the Israelites conquered the whole region of the Amorites - "the hill
country, the Negeb, the Shephelah, the watersheds - and all its kings."
(Joshua 10:40).
See:
Agnolo Bronzino. The
Passage of the Red Sea and Moses Appointing Joshua.
Nicolas Poussin The
Victory of Joshua over Amorites. The
Battle of Joshua with Amalekites.
