How many different Joshuas are mentioned in the Bible?

Answer 1

There are many Joshuas in the Old Testament, and they are invariably important people of great significance. A common thread to many of the people called Joshua is that they are often associated with the Ark of the Covenant, worship of the sun god or paganism.

The first and most famous Joshua is Joshua, the son of Nun, who led the Israelites into Canaan. Several of the miracles and events that Joshua was involved in are best explained if if they originated in more ancient sun god myths.

Joshua, the son of Nun, is again mentioned centuries later, in 1 Kings 16:34 during the reign of King Ahab,"In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun." This was not just another Joshua with a father also called Nun - he spoke "according to the word of the Lord" and instructed Hiel to sacrifice his two sons for the success of the project. Jericho was later known as a city associated with the sun god.

Joshua the Bet-Shemite appears in 1 Samuel 6:14, when the Levites placed the sacred Ark of the Covenant (previously associated with Joshua, the son of Nun, and Moses) upon a stone in a field belonging to Joshua the Bet-Shemite. In Hebrew, Bet Shemesh means 'House (or Temple) of the Sun' and most likely refers to a temple to the sun god within the city.

In 2 Kings 23:8, the king broke down the 'high places [pagan altars]of the gates that were in the entering of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city.

Following the return from the Babylonian Exile, the high priest Joshua, son of Jozadak or Josedec (Joseph), assisted Zorobabel in rebuilding the Temple, and was most zealous for the restoration of the religion of Israel. In the list of Israelites that returned from the Babylonian Exile, Ezra also records that a Joshua was head of the priestly family of Phahath Moab, while another Joshua was head of the priestly family of Idaia, or Jedaia. Interestingly, if Joshua was known to the author as a sun god, the family of Idaia could be a fragmentary reference to the early Semitic goddess Astarte, who was also called Idaia Mater (the Mother of Knowledge).

In the Book of Zechariah, Zechariah had apocalyptic visions, in which Joshua the high priest had been found guilty of iniquity.