Joshua was now the acknowledged leader of Israel. He had been known chiefly as a warrior, and his gifts and virtues were especially valuable at this stage in the history of his people. Courageous, resolute, and persevering, prompt, incorruptible, unmindful of selfish interests in his care for those committed to his charge, and, above all, inspired by a living faith in God-- such was the character of the man divinely chosen to conduct the armies of Israel in their entrance upon the Promised Land. During the sojourn in the wilderness he had acted as prime minister 482 to Moses, and by his quiet, unpretending fidelity, his steadfastness when others wavered, his firmness to maintain the truth in the midst of danger, he had given evidence of his fitness to succeed Moses, even before he was called to the position by the voice of God.

Josua var nu Israels anerkendte leder. Han var hovedsagelig kendt som kriger, og hans evner og egenskaber var særlig værdifulde i dette afsnit af hans folks historie. Modig, beslutsom, udholdende, hurtig, ubestikkelig, blottet for selviske interesser og kun opfyldt af omsorgen for dem, som han havde ansvaret for, og frem for alt drevet af en levende tro på Gud - denne karakteristik passer på det menneske, som Gud havde valgt til at føre Israels hærskarer ind i det forjættede land. I ørkenen havde han været Moses' højre hånd, og ved den stilfærdige, beskedne måde, han viste sin troskab på, ved sin urokkelighed, når andre vaklede, og ved sin faste beslutning om at stå på sandhedens side midt under faren viste han sin egnethed som Moses' efterfølger, allerede før Gud kaldte ham til denne stilling.