Editing Book of Joshua (section)

=== Moses, Joshua and Josiah ===
The Deuteronomistic history draws parallels in proper leadership between [[Moses]], Joshua and [[Josiah]].<ref name=Nelson />{{rp|102}} God's commission to Joshua in chapter 1 is framed as a royal installation. The people's pledge of loyalty to Joshua as the successor of Moses recalls royal practices. The covenant-renewal ceremony led by Joshua was the prerogative of the kings of Judah. God's command to Joshua to meditate on the "book of the law" day and night parallels the description of Josiah in 2 Kings 23:25 as a king uniquely concerned with the study of the law. The two figures had identical territorial goals; Josiah died in 609 BCE while attempting to annex the former Israel to his own kingdom of Judah.<ref>{{Cite book|last1= Finkelstein |first1=Israel |last2= Silberman|first2=Neil Asher |title=The Bible Unearthed |publisher= Free Press |year= 2001 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=lu6ywyJr0CMC&pg=PA95 |isbn= 978-0-7432-2338-6|page=95}}</ref>

Some of the parallels with Moses can be seen in the following, and not exhaustive, list:<ref name= Younger />{{rp|174}}
* Joshua sent [[Espionage|spies]] to scout out the land near Jericho, just as Moses sent spies from the wilderness to scout out the [[Promised Land]]<ref>Num. 13; Deut. 1:19–25</ref>
* Joshua led the Israelites out of the wilderness into the Promised Land, crossing the Jordan River as if on dry ground,<ref>Exodus 3:16</ref> just as Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt through the [[Red Sea]], which they crossed as if on dry land<ref>Exodus 14:22</ref>
* After crossing the [[Jordan River]], the Israelites celebrated the [[Passover]] just as they did immediately before [[the Exodus]]<ref>Exodus 12</ref>
* Joshua's vision of the "commander of Yahweh's army" is reminiscent of the divine revelation to Moses in the [[burning bush]]<ref>Exodus 3:1–6</ref>
* Joshua successfully intercedes on behalf of the Israelites when Yahweh is angry for their failure to fully observe the "ban" ([[herem (war or property)|herem]]), just as Moses frequently persuaded God not to punish the people<ref>Ex. 32:11–14, Num. 11:2, 14:13–19</ref>
* Joshua and the Israelites were able to defeat the people at Ai because Joshua followed the divine instruction to extend his sword,<ref>Joshua 8:18</ref> just as the people were able to defeat the [[Amalekites]] as long as Moses extended his hand that held the [[Staff of Moses|staff of God]]<ref>Exodus 17:8–13</ref>
* Joshua is "old, advanced in years" at the time when the Israelites can begin to settle on the promised land, just as Moses was old when he died having seen, but not entered, the Promised Land<ref name="auto">Deuteronomy 34:7</ref>
* Joshua served as the mediator of the renewed covenant between Yahweh and Israel at Shechem,<ref>Joshua 8:30–35; 24</ref> just as Moses was the mediator of Yahweh's covenant with the people at [[Mount Sinai]]/[[Mount Horeb]].
* Before his death, Joshua delivered a farewell address to the Israelites,<ref>Joshua 23–24</ref> just as Moses had delivered his farewell address.<ref>Deuteronomy 32–33</ref>
* Moses lived to be 120<ref name="auto"/> and Joshua lived to be 110.<ref>Joshua 24:29</ref>