Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 65:1 (Mar 2022)
Article: The Prophet Joshua? The Neglected Ministry Of The Prophet Of The Conquest
Author: Jonathan J. Routley

JETS 65:1 (March 2022) p. 47

The Prophet Joshua? The Neglected Ministry Of The Prophet Of The Conquest

Jonathan J. Routley*

^* Jonathan J. Routley is Professor of Bible and Theology at Emmaus Bible College, 2570 Asbury Road, Dubuque, IA 52001. He may be contacted at jjroutley@emmaus.edu.

Abstract: Although the book of Joshua is considered among the writings of the “former prophets” of Israel, the prophetic role of Joshua during the conquest finds little discussion in scholarship today. Yet the author of Joshua presents Israel’s leader at the time of the conquest as acting as prophet of Yahweh. Joshua meets prophetic criteria and possesses prophetic characteristics listed in the Pentateuch. He repeatedly speaks on behalf of the Lord to the people of Israel, using phrasing similar to the latter prophets of Israel. The Lord accomplishes a number of signs through the prophetic ministry of Joshua, such as the cutting off of the waters of the Jordan River, to verify Joshua’s position as mouthpiece of God. Joshua’s encounter with the commander of the Lord’s army in 5:13–15 and subsequent reception of divine instruction recalls the parallel experiences of Moses in Exodus 3–4 and Balaam in Numbers 22. 1 Kings 16:34 presents the fulfillment of the curse on Jericho as the realization of the word of the Lord through Joshua, connecting him to prophets like Elijah and Elisha. This study seeks to situate Joshua among the prophets of Israel, advancing discussion of prophetic activity between the time of Moses and the judges of Israel.

Key words: Joshua, prophets of Israel, prophecy, conquest, Former Prophets

In contemporary discussion of prophecy and the origin of the prophets, very little attention is paid to prophets before the Israelite monarchy.1 It is evident in the biblical text that Moses (Deut 18:15; 34:10), Deborah (Judg 4:4), Samuel (1 Sam 3:20) and others (Judg 6:8; 1 Sam 2:27–36) held prophetic roles in Israel’s early period. Although Joshua is never called a נָבִיא (“prophet”) in the biblical text, there are key indications that Joshua functioned as a prophet during the conquest, speaking to the people of Israel on behalf of the Lord. Yet Joshua’s prophetic role has...