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Podcast Episode

Joshua: The New Adam and Moses

As Moses’ death draws near, Yahweh selects Joshua to lead the people of Israel. What made Joshua uniquely qualified to lead? How does his leadership differ from Moses’? In this episode, join Tim and Jon as they discuss how the Hebrew Bible depicts Joshua as a new Adam, a new Moses, and a precursor to the Messiah himself.

Episode 8
1hr 5m
Sep 19, 2022
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Exploring the Book of Joshua? Don't Stop Here.
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Exploring the Book of Joshua? Don't Stop Here.
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Show Notes
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QUOTE

The final compilers and shapers of the Hebrew Bible arranged the story of Moses as the deliverer of Israel from slavery … He’s one portrait of a delivering figure in the Hebrew Bible. But when even he fails and he dies outside the land, all of the stories of Moses being God’s arm of deliverance still stand there in the Torah giving us a picture of the kind of leader God’s people need. As that torch is passed to Joshua, Joshua becomes the next character on the stage, who starts filling out even more the portrait of the kind of deliverer God’s people need to plant them in the new Eden land.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Moses uses language to describe Israel’s upcoming leader as a new Adam, filled with God’s Ruakh and equipped to oversee Israel—almost like they’re animals in need of someone to look out for them.
  • Joshua is a new Moses but also a lesser-than Moses. Moses acted as both ruler and priest for Israel, but now that role will be split between Joshua and the high priest.
  • Joshua is not only a new Adam and a new Moses but a precursor of the Messiah, filled with God’s wisdom.

A New Adam

In part one (00:00-15:08), Tim and Jon pick up where we left off in the third movement of Numbers. In the last episode, they discussed the daughters of Zelophehad and Israel’s need to operate under new wisdom as they enter the promised land. Starting in Numbers 27:12, we’ll see how Israel also needs a new leader. That new leader is Joshua, whose Hebrew name (Yehoshua, meaning “Yahweh rescues”) is the root form of Jesus’ Hebrew name (Yeshua).

At the beginning of Numbers 27, the story involving the daughters of Zelophehad reminds readers of Genesis 2, when God appointed men and women to rule the earth together. The closing section of Numbers 27 is a callback to Genesis 1-2 too.

Numbers 27:15-17 Moses spoke to the Lord, saying, “May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord will not be like sheep which have no shepherd.”

Moses uses language to describe Israel’s upcoming leader as a new Adam, filled with God’s Ruakh and equipped to oversee Israel—almost like they’re animals in need of someone to look out for them.

Urim and Thummim

In part two (15:08-37:33), Tim and Jon discuss Yahweh’s selection of Joshua as the new Adam and leader of Israel. Joshua is already filled with the Spirit at this point (Num. 27:18), and he’s uniquely qualified as he’s been Moses’ protege for much of his life.

Yahweh instructs Moses to place his hands on Joshua to give him some of his khod. Many English versions of the Bible translate this word as “authority,” but in Hebrew, it really means majesty or visible splendor. It’s the same word used elsewhere to describe Yahweh’s glory when he is seated on his heavenly throne. Here, Joshua is being depicted as both a new Adam and a new Moses.

Unlike Moses, when Joshua needs to know Yahweh’s will to make a decision, he has to consult the urim and thummim—he can’t just go up the mountain like Moses. He is a new Moses but also a lesser-than Moses. Moses acted as both ruler and priest for Israel, but now that role will be split between Joshua and the high priest. The high priest also used urim and thummim, which was their way of casting lots.

Other ancient Near Eastern peoples had practices of divination by which they sought the will of the gods. However, unlike other ancient peoples, the Israelites served a loving and all-powerful God, not a fickle deity whose fleeting favor they were trying to win. Moreover, casting lots was never something Yahweh commanded Israel to do. In the case of the ancient Israelites, casting lots seems to be a way by which God accommodated a means of communication the people were familiar with.

It might sound weird to us, but it’s not dissimilar to asking God for a providential sign when we reach a crossroads in our lives and don’t know which direction to go. A theistic view of the world asserts that there are no coincidences—the natural world is ordered, and God can speak through it.

The Spirit of Wisdom

In part three (37:33-49:43), Tim and Jon discuss another comparison the biblical authors make with Joshua. He’s a new Adam, a new Moses, and also a precursor of the leader Israel truly needs—the Messiah, the ultimate Adam-Moses figure.

In Deuteronomy 34, when Moses dies and Joshua officially takes over leadership of Israel, the narrator says that Joshua is at this point filled with the “Spirit of wisdom.” Except didn’t the narrator of Numbers say Joshua was already filled with the Spirit? The story seems to indicate that both are true: Joshua was already filled with the Spirit, and now he is specifically filled with the Ruakh chokmah, the Spirit of wisdom. This phrase occurs only three times in the Hebrew Bible, first to describe Bezalel (an artist from the tribe of Judah who makes the tabernacle), second in this passage about Joshua, and finally in Isaiah 11 to describe the branch from David who will be the ultimate leader of God’s people.

Moses gave us an idea of what the Messiah would be like when he rescued Israel from slavery. Now, Joshua will fill out the portrait of the anticipated Messiah even more with his leadership of Israel.

Genesis 1-9 in the Final Movement of Numbers

In part four (49:43-1:04:16), Tim and Jon discuss how the melody of Genesis 1-9 replays in the third movement of Numbers.

Numbers 28-29 represent the seventh-day rest of Genesis 1-2. These chapters contain reminders and instructions for the sacrifices Israel was to offer, full of even more hyperlinks to Adam and Eve and the garden of Eden. In fact, the entire third movement of Numbers is meant to depict Israel as a new Adam and Eve in a new garden of Eden. The movement even ends with the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh deciding they are going to settle east of the Jordan River, outside the promised land. Moses sees this as a rebellion worthy of a flood of judgment, unless they cross through the waters to help their brothers conquer the land (which they do).

Referenced Resources

  • The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament, Ludwig Koehler and Walter Baumgartner
  • Interested in more? Check out Tim’s library here.
  • You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

  • “Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS
  • “I Main Samus Now" by Sleepy Fish
  • "Empty Me Out" by Liz Vice
  • "I'll Pray for You" by Xihcsr

This episode was produced by Cooper Peltz with Associate Producer Lindsey Ponder. It was edited by Dan Gummel, Tyler Bailey, and Frank Garza. MacKenzie Buxman provided the annotations for our annotated podcast in our app.

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Scripture References
Genesis 2:15
Deuteronomy 34
Isaiah 11:1-2
Genesis 2:7
Isaiah 11:6-9
Numbers 3:7-8
Psalms 8:4-5
Deuteronomy 34:9
Exodus 28-29
Exodus 31:1-3
Exodus 34:29
Genesis 4
Numbers 26-36
Numbers 27:12
Genesis 13:14-15
Numbers 27:15-16
Numbers 27:16-17
Numbers 27:18-23
Numbers 13:8
Exodus 17:9
Exodus 24:13
Exodus 32:17
Numbers 27:23
Numbers 27:20
Habakkuk 3:4
Numbers 27:21
Exodus 28:30
Ezekiel 21:21
Deuteronomy 34:1-7
Numbers 28-29

10 Episodes

Episode 10
What Do Moses and a Rock Have to Do With Jesus?
Are numbers in the Hebrew Bible literal? Is it dangerous to adapt God’s laws? Does Israel’s conquest of Canaan justify other historical conquests? In this episode, Tim and Jon explore audience questions about the Numbers scroll. Thanks to our audience for your insightful questions.
1hr 9m • Oct 26, 2022
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Episode 9
Entering the Promised Land
After years of wandering in the wilderness and what seems like way too many rebellions against Yahweh, Israel has finally arrived on the edge of the promised land. What could possibly go wrong now? And yet even here, two of Israel’s tribes rebel, repeating the sins of Adam and Eve and dividing themselves from their brothers. Join Tim and Jon as they wrap up the Numbers scroll.
1hr 3m • Sep 26, 2022
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Episode 8
Joshua: The New Adam and Moses
As Moses’ death draws near, Yahweh selects Joshua to lead the people of Israel. What made Joshua uniquely qualified to lead? How does his leadership differ from Moses’? In this episode, join Tim and Jon as they discuss how the Hebrew Bible depicts Joshua as a new Adam, a new Moses, and a precursor to the Messiah himself.
1hr 5m • Sep 19, 2022
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Episode 7
Five Women and Yahweh’s New Law
In the third movement of Numbers, five sisters approach Moses with a legal case not covered in God’s laws: Without any brothers to inherit their father’s land, their family inheritance will be lost unless women are allowed to receive an inheritance too. Yahweh agrees with these five women, setting an important precedent for not just how Israel was to engage the laws of the Torah but for later followers of Jesus as well. Join Tim and Jon as they discuss the story of Zelophehad’s daughters and Jesus’ fulfillment of the law.
1hr 12m • Sep 12, 2022
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Episode 6
Why Couldn’t Moses Enter the Promised Land?
So far in the second movement of Numbers, the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel have rebelled against Yahweh, the people have rebelled against Yahweh, and even the Levites have rebelled against Yahweh. In fact, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb are the only people that haven’t rebelled. So what happens when those closest to Yahweh fail to obey his word, too? In this episode, Tim and Jon talk about Moses’ rebellion, the high cost of leading God’s people, and humanity’s deep need for a more faithful representative to intercede on our behalf.
56m • Sep 5, 2022
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Episode 5
Yahweh’s Judgment and Mercy
God chose the Levites to take care of the tabernacle, and, within the tribe of Levi, he picked Aaron's family to have the special duty of offering sacrifices and burning incense. In Numbers 16, a Levite named Korah and 250 Israelite leaders accuse Aaron and Moses of setting themselves above everyone else. What’s going on here? In this episode, Tim and Jon discuss the story of Korah’s rebellion, God’s judgment and mercy, and the responsibility of the leaders God chooses.
43m • Aug 29, 2022
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Episode 4
Twelve Spies and the Promised Land
We’re looking at a story about God’s chosen ones facing a test with fruit trees in a beautiful garden—sounds like Genesis 3, right? Surprisingly, this is a story from Numbers 13-15, with another tree and another test. In this episode, Tim and Jon dive into the second movement of Numbers and the choice Israel faces when they reach the border of the promised land. Will they choose to trust their wisdom or Yahweh’s?
1hr 5m • Aug 22, 2022
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Episode 3
There Isn’t a Law For That
How do God’s people follow his will in situations where there are no explicit rules or laws given? At the conclusion of the third movement of Numbers, the Israelites don’t know how God wants them to respond to a situation. Join Tim and Jon as they explore Numbers 6-9 and how followers of Jesus today can learn to understand the will of God.
1hr 7m • Aug 15, 2022
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Episode 2
What’s a Nazarite Vow?
Confession of sins, strange water rituals, Nephilim, and Nazarite vows—Numbers 5 and 6 might feel like a confusing mix of laws, but the scroll’s author is cleverly reminding us of the Hebrew Bible melody we first encountered in Genesis 1-9. In this episode, Tim and Jon talk about four odd laws that are part of the intricate story we’ve been following through the Torah.
58m • Aug 8, 2022
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Episode 1
What Made the Tribe of Levi Special?
The scroll of Numbers can be difficult to make sense of without context, and there’s a reason for that. The scroll was never meant to be understood on its own. Numbers picks up where Leviticus leaves off and mirrors the scroll on the other side of Leviticus (Exodus). To fully understand all of these scrolls, we need to read them together. Join Tim and Jon as they dive into Numbers, trace the theme of the temple, and discuss the unique role of the tribe of Levi.
59m • Aug 1, 2022
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