Yehoshua: The Man & The Book | Rabbi Neil Winkler | January 15th 2026

that what I the quote unquote problem sometimes I have in in developing up the the these I wish I had a book and I just say well this book says this so we can read it I don't do that I like to think of new things and sometimes like this week I had this my thoughts what I had and I had my stuff down and then I said no I have to do this I have to give the so I was actually busy. I'm getting hot fixing. I so I was actually realizing I really haven't put but the Mara Makomao these are the source sheets that I always give out to you. our wonderful um person who takes these uh that what the videographer does here now. He gives it over to someone who uh David Hawkhauser who is the one who then comes and he um puts it on the OU website and suddenly he started saying well well do you do you have the sort sheets source sheets I said every time I've come and given a class I always have source sheets you never told me to put so I so he told me to last week I said sure I forgot I had all these sheets I want to give it and I forgot but um now I was going to give good source sheets and I realized when I started I said oh I didn't give this and I didn't give that. So I'm going to start with a [clears throat] a a shortened part of the source a new source sheet that I gave out primarily in the beginning of what I'm going to be saying and that will be good. Shockingly I made five sheets. I didn't know that we have all the No, it's not okay. Uh, it's up here. It's okay. All right. Because there are some things I'm going to tell you that I didn't have a time to put here. Um, and they're very important. As I told you, not that we finished with you, we never finished with the Torah, but we have completed, but I'd like to say for the the Torah until it's over and I finished Tanak and I go back and I said I have more ideas. But anyway, at this point, um um we're going to start the safer. The first book of Nv is that of Yahosua. It's a special little thing for me. I I like Nvie very much because I figure, you know, most people don't know it that much, so I can say something that may, you know, I feel better. I know more about it. Um but uh more than that is that it's a completely fascinating not only story, not only history but it gives us a concept of what God wants of us, what the expectations are and who some of these people that are focused on um in the uh the inf and who they are, who they were, and how they were who they were. I could start by telling you before I give out this the um source sheets that Yahushua is an interesting one in more than what I'm going to say but in the fact that it's very close to the Torah in that linguistically especially close to um it is close to the Torah because how How many far in the Nav'vi do we have have where the name of the safer is written in the Torah? We know Yahosua. That's the one guy we know because we know him from the from the Torah, right? I know the guy. Yeah. Went to class with him. So, we know Yoshua and it's nice to see he's now an author. Yeah. But he's he wrote a book or better yet there has been a record of that which was placed down there during his time and he of course did wrote the book he wrote this record of what was going on. So in that way it's interesting. It's interesting because it does flow from from Torah to it's a very logical thing. The proof for the logic that we flow from the last part of Dvarim to the beginning of the Yoshu of Yoshua is the last part of Dvarim is that um Moshe dies and Yeshua now takes place. So it goes right into him, right? So it doesn't surprise us when the the Yoshua begins about and Yahosua. So made sense to us. >> Um actually >> Yeah, that's back in Pinas. Correct. >> Correct. We're going to get to that too. Yeah. >> But the fact Huh? >> Location. >> Location. Location. Right. Okay. Where was it? >> It's on the >> Oh, come on. Come on. >> East. Yeah, it was the eastern side of the the correct and still in shitim >> shitim which the end of uh of the parat balak where the sin of uh the terrible sin that they did with the umim and the moim uh that was in shitim and that's still there. She team is right on the um banks shall I say of the uh Jordan our vote moav. Um so it is logical because it flows into it. Now we do have other books that flow one to the other because very often uh that was just split up by um church leaders. You'll excuse the expression. I know his name but I don't know he never knew me why should I know him uh and yeah you have uh from bet it was only one book it was and obviously it was too heavy to carry so they put him to have been olive and bet although for a number of years I actually convinced my younger students that Olive was written by Sam Sammy Eron Mar and a bet was by Sammy Bernstein so they figure that's Why? But they figured out uh wasn't true. And it does flow. The question is why does the Torah stop here? Why should we say, okay, this is the end of the Torah and now we're doing the the the part of the Nim. There's one very simple reason and very important reason. Why do you think? Huh? >> Oh, you're doing >> okay. Got somebody else could write. Yoshua according to the garra finished the last few what's the most important reason >> because new >> oh we find yeah I can boy can tell you is but between you and me I don't think it is a at the end who also has one view that's not simple what Moshe wrote was given to him directly by >> Hash. That's not true what occurs in what we read in uh Yeshua and what we do have when God speaks and so on and so forth. But we don't have the direct delivery of God to and thou shalt now cross the city. No, you have uh it's it's a different thing clearly. So interestingly, but be- because of the familiarity uh and and the closeness of the as I said the language uh there are those who see the real holy books to be six not five. The Samaritans uh see the book of Yahushua as part of the book. and our wonderful peaceful cousins also uh believe that there are the Muslims take on the sixth well those six things I believe that that that is given by God um but I'm going to begin with the problematic or I should say somewhat difficult to understand ch uh choice of Yeshua and that's what we're going to start with Yoshua the man then we'll go into the book so I'm going to ask a question we know that Mosher Rabenu had indeed chosen Yahosua but that's not true who choked >> did of course he did he told Yosh he told Moshe choose Yeshua. And I would and first at first glance, I would imagine that it was somewhat of a curious choice. for example, well, I'll go through why the beginning of our knowing of Amal of I'm sorry, of Yahosua starts with the first time we see Yeshua in the Tanakh is when not everybody, just one came from Jesus >> before the spies. >> First time we see him. Very good because I gave it to you. >> You're a cheater. Um [gasps] >> we see it in the story the the battle against Amale, right? uh and there um you see that um and and you read what I have given you there because of course I unfortunately don't have but you see in in the end of Shalak and I think it's parakeet Zion I think I have it there right and the beginning of parakeet Zion is after we see the following words it says the following I don't know if it starts with it starts with vaval They attack the the tribes of the Israelites in the area of Okay. What happens? So Moshe turns to Yahosua and he says to him, "Choose men say and go and fight against he says I would be tomorrow I'll be on top of the hill over there holding the um divine staff if you wish uh in my And do you find first of all before any about this puk something a little a little strange that might be missing here? Not what's in the verse but what's not in the verse. It says what did you expect to happen here? Where are you eating? >> Perhaps Yoshua would uh would ask where does YOUR AUTHORITY >> WHO SHOULD HAVE CHOSEN YAHOSUA? >> HASHEM. >> HASHEM. Where's Hashem? >> Shouldn't have said and tell him to go. You don't see God saying anything about here twitching that indeed this is a choice of motion interesting and I say it's interesting because you figure out where was this where did this happen it happened timewise think about it pes let's see the theat was in the middle of um Nissan right and they had not yet reached Saii in the first of so we're talking about oh was it one and a half um months is that what it is to from Nissan to the the ER and it's before you even got to Son which is the next month maybe a month and a half >> the sky must have been pretty impressive Why did Moses speak? We don't know why. What was his name? >> Yoshua. >> Yoshua. Was that his real name? >> I know they changed it, >> right? They changed it. What was his real name? >> Huh? Hosa. Correct. That's a good name, too. Was a Na'vi. He gave his own book. Right. This is This is Yahosa. It wouldn't be strange if his name was really Hosa and they changed it to Yoshua. Where should it have been told that right here the first time we see him? But no. Okay, I know that'll tell us. Well, yeah, because he changed his name because of what was going to happen with Amar Lim, which fits in very nicely, but I would say historically and and it's not that understandable, but okay, good. So, here's Yahushua and sure enough, one, two, three, Moshe. He does whatever Moshe tells him. So, I'm impressed. He's a good leader. be a terrific leader. I think that's great. And then we see we we do read a little more about Yahosua in the Torah. For example, at Hari. towards I think I left you some um questionable or you know problematic uh sukim when it comes to getting to hari it's a pretty important time Moshe is going up receiving the Torah I said and the other things God would tell him that's a pretty important time how does we prepare prepare for that. So we look in Mishbatim by the way the whole story of the the um mama really goes from and and too it's always a a continuation depending on the how it continues. But at any rate, um, now we read God is preparing what this ritual, what this these rights would be. How are we going to get the Torah given the what do you have to do? So I took the sukim that um we find in per kalid in the beginning I I think I have I started alf I don't know if it is did say anything about per alf I don't know anyway the first p does say moe go up to god I want you to go up to righta Nadavi who is missing >> Yahosua. >> So if Yoshua is so important to leader, he wasn't included here. And I'm not too shocked. Okay, he was the, you know, he's the commander-in-chief. It doesn't mean he has anything to do with the Torah. I could understand that, right? So he's not included here. And as next say although I didn't have it there when he moheado alashem they're not going to all go up to har now only Moshe himself will go straight to god. Okay. So Moshe tells him that and now that's going to do. But what's going to do? What's going to happen? Um when he is there when no and no one else is we'll get to a second about that. Who is going to be left behind to take care of the people? Huh? The ownur. Right. So now I'm a little You trusted Yeshua so much. Didn't you think we would leave him there? The man just won a war. I could be able to tell people, but he's not there. All right. Okay. Fine. We go down. And what are theim I told you? Is it um what I forget what does it say there on top? It says what? Okay. Um, right. >> Yes. >> Okay. Yeah. That's been the same things as before. Very nice. Good. Good. Okay. Now, God says in your bet, which I didn't put down there, that Okay. God says, "Okay, come on up. I got some I have some coffee for you. Okay, let's go. I'll give you the Torah and the mitzvah." Good, good, good. Here it is. This is your dalled. I think I have that there. I hope it goes and Moshe told the the leaders really the elders. You stay here until I return. and and I have here and if you have any arguments or anything so you're going to ask him for the answers now it goes out [sighs] but something happens before this and gimmel it says >> I can take a picture of this and give you this and that way we have it hold it'll me for you. >> Okay, fine. I'm holding on. You can see it there. God says, "All right, it says in your bed, come up. Come up, God." I mean, Moshe, come up to me. Thank you. >> Which citation are you? >> Huh? >> Of the four quotes that you have. Which one are you? I have here and I have on the bottom right. God says to Moshe, "You're to go up now." He had told the people at least Moshe said, "You can stay here with Haron." And God had told him just you will go up here. And what does it say next? How come Moshe? Moshe now gets up. God told him, "Come up here by yourself and be Yoshua Mhatto." And who he takes? Yoshua didn't he just say everybody stay here and and all of a sudden uh don't kill it. And stabbed a and they you know suddenly Yoshua comes in here. Yoshua who was ignored. He couldn't stay back. He wasn't with the zakanim. He wasn't once who was in charge of the people there. We don't hear anything about him. And God says Moshe only you will come up to me. And for the first time we read who does he take with him? Yoshua. So maybe this commander-in-chief has something going on. And these are in the first remember this is the first year after they leave Mitz right. So that is very [clears throat] interesting, right? But we go on with the Torah and these are the stuff that this is what I wanted to have as part of the um sources, but I didn't have time to do so. If it was actually Roseanne's fault because of had she not argued that I should be giving the class at 11:15, I begin at 12:15, I could have finished the stuff. Anyway, um >> it's that's right. I I haven't got my wife here. I have somebody else to blame. So, um yeah. in um when Moshe comes down from having you know up in the top of Hari and uh he's told the god tells him go down because that's the uh ego sin. So he comes down. By the way, now we understand a little about this Yoshua because Yahosua did not go up to the high top of Hinai. He was halfway there. So he wasn't with the camp and he wasn't with God. He was by himself, which by the way is also an interesting thing. >> You know, uh you know, was there nothing more as a a future leader? Maybe there was something you could do. >> Yeah. He's sitting there. Yeah. For 40 days, right? And um he comes down and now there's wild there was wild dancing and cheering and everything and the sacrifices to the agelahav. He comes down and the first person he meets of course is the mashed. his uh you know his attentive >> and he sees Yoshua and Yoshua says I'm worried in effect he doesn't say that but if I were there he probably said something like that you know say because I hear the noise it sounds like there a war the civil war where the kids of people are are arguing they're fighting with each other and Moshe says as Israelis would Okay. He says, "And Cole, this is not the sound of uh of of the sound of a a fight. Um, this is um basically what he says is it is the sound of wild craziness." That That's what he says. >> That's what it is. So this is by the way, notice the first thing he says. Mo Yoshua never speaks until now, right? First time we know he know he was there, but he never spoke. Congratulations, he does have a voice and he does say something. And what does he say? Something that's wrong. [snorts] This is our new leader. And Moshe says, "No, no, it's not that." So he's for the first time he speaks and he says the wrong thing. We expected him to be with the rest of the the leading and stuff. So where he's supposed to be he wasn't. Where he is he finally speaks and he's wrong. Then um the other hand is all right and and the same para of kitisa we define as a different thing also masharu yisha oh hell again I couldn't put it here they define and depict Yahushua as Mishto as we know from here as his the attendant of Moshe as I kid around half and not half you know he was a general and he was the coil he was the guy sitting with you know he still went to to went still went to war but he um misharto and he called them here a na what's the term na mean >> youth >> a youth interesting How old do you think it was? >> 18. >> You think 18? >> I don't know. Yak was also No. Um, somebody else described as a nar. >> Good. Good. Good. Right. >> Was it >> bey? >> Okay. >> Beyamin was also called Hana. Hana. He was 37 years old. Na isn't necessarily mean a young man so much. It it turns other things. I don't know whether experientially it was but I mean >> Benjamin had 10 kids or so many grandchild at the time you know so nar you know my tata I I know with understanding I was the youngest of four I had three older sisters and yet here I am still standing somehow um and I had four mothers I had my three sisters and my mother you know uh and I I was 18 years old. My mother used to say, "Oh, my tatala is here." So they're expecting to see a 5-year-old kid come or 18-year-old kid comeing in. But to her was still a tatala and that's understandable. But Nar is like that, I would imagine. Not necessarily meaning very young, but that's what he was seeing. But perhaps he was not that experienced yet. I think that's a good way of putting it. But oh, he was sitting and learning like crazy. He was there. If you want to not put it in terms of being in a very simple he was mish Moshe or whatever Moshe needed. He was going to provide for him right >> huh >> like a man's servant sort of >> attendant I was like I don't like a man's servant or so I didn't call him Abido it's a mishto who's Mich um I would like to see him you know he was he's the good the guy in the shul who doesn't he's not a big shot he's quiet but all of a sudden the chairs are set up for you and he made sure that the Torah was was rolled to the proper uh para you know one guy he was that's a that you know sure he took everything he did everything for for Moshe so I'm impressed I'm still nervous next time after I see them the second time we have mo Yeshua who talks he talks twice in all of the Torah Yahushua says two things and the second thing he says is in bahalotka in baha alotka uh where they they chose 70 70 zikim and they told six for each tribe they only needed 70 according to kazal they understand they said but two of them were not uh included in there because they uh they only needed 70 they wanted to have an even amount for each tribe so there are two who wouldn't be able to and who were the two as I would tell my students. There were brothers, the Dud brothers, Mayor and El May Medad and and Elad and Maid. >> Those are the twos who were not chosen to be Zakim. But lo and behold, they did get the spirit of of Nevuah from God. And Yoshua gets very upset and one of the I should say the attendant the servants come running to Moshe and say and they say now whether they were upset or angry they're saying oh interesting even though they're not one of the seven they they have who was very upset with that >> this is my Who? So Kazal go and say well he was saying that Moshua is not Moshe is going to die. He won't be going to you know and they understand and they say well why would Yesua be upset? No that's but that's not in the text. What does he say? Yes says to Moshe Mosheim does not mean to curse. That's what means according means throw them into a into a prison according you know or finish him up. That's what he says says to >> yeah please my master claim get rid of him throw him in into the jail. He's >> also wrong. Guess it. That's exactly right. The second time he opens his mouth, he's wrong again. So, we have him speaking twice. He's wrong at night. He's wrong. And now in the mid a little uncomfortable. Why would he be the I'm the leader who's always wrong? You know, we've had those before. But, you know, we would not want that. Hashem chooses him anyway. I you know so it is probably you have to see these things and try to figure out >> and then of course there's a time like I said you would have expected him to speak up and does he speak up uh in the time of harina no we don't see him at all speaking up at all with Korak either I don't think was he when when does he speak up you expect him to the other um he doesn't quite speak up but he does he's there anybody know he he speaks together with somebody else at the time >> they speak together when do you think it is you just said you said it in the beginning of the class when did Yoshua speak up >> with the fire >> the what >> the muglin the moraglin >> at the spies correct right there were 10 spies and two good ones right Good. The problem with that and I know I'm come down very hard on him. The whole first paragraph per giml in the midbar first par in the first par of the para of tells the whole story sends them there everything and tells how they come back they return and how they all of them come back but if you look carefully at the words and again I should put it in here but again it's Rosanne's fault uh I'll tell what I would have put in if I had the time. Um, we read read the following for the entire first chapter. Yiml, guess whose name is missing? >> Yes. >> It's only >> KV speaks up. Uh, uh, okay. Where are Yoshua? So what's the natural uh obsess uh shall I say reason we might give excuse we might give why he didn't speak up mention it also when the for say why would Yoshua not speak up now at such a crucial time >> he was afraid he thought nobody would listen to him that's the two I've heard >> no it was he he had a different not a fear but a very I think this is a acceptable understanding and that is sure they're going to think if I go and be and and I'm going to defend my wonderful wonderful master they're going to say well sure you're going to pursue me who are you his best friend he's your rebi you're not going to say something wrong so they wouldn't take him in any way uh in any type of serious uh thing so they figured that you know so he said better I'm quiet and not speaking out which is an interesting thing and I understand it. But between you and me, you got 10 out of the 12 spies screaming and yelling at Moshe that you're wrong and you're terrible. We got to go back and one def and then and you know Yoshua is raising hand saying uh you know I'm I I'm I'm going What do you say when you don't vote one way or the other? Abstain. >> I abstain. He's abstaining. He's abstaining. People are screaming and yelling at Moshe. It's the only the second year. They want to get to go back to Matray. Moshe, we he fell to his face. He doesn't know what to do. And Yahosua is quiet. >> Maybe he learned his lesson. >> Yes. Doesn't want to say something wrong. What the he [clears throat] >> come on. You have to be You have to be surprised. >> You're making a very good case for him not being >> ah good. I'm doing it well. >> You what other person might you think perhaps to be leader because of this experience? You might think Khal yeah might think what sense he did. But I was I I set the table for you to say well maybe things aren't that it it is an one could imagine somewhat of a surprising choice because he doesn't make it such a big deal and saying wow Yahushua he really belongs there doesn't even Moshe um who chose Yahushua without God's help when he had to find a success uccessor God had a son who did you know he asks please God choose a successor for me he didn't say God please use Yoshua he's a good good guy you know said and God says Yoshua he's good for that in fact what know what the say what did he want really they said Moshe was hoping one of his children would get it one of his sons right yeah doesn't say that and I'm saying not saying it is but kazal see it because kazal also sensitive to this idea. How come he he knew enough to choose Yoshua way back there in fighting the like but Amal but 40 years later when he's been the mash of Yoshu of Moshe for all the years Moshe I don't know who should we have >> so >> well maybe if we do go back to that first time he was successful in that case in picking the right troops and leading them and winning the battle of course if Mosha's help raising his hands. But um so he figured that Yeshua would be the a good leader. He would have to do battle when they crossed the Jordan. >> Mhm. >> And uh >> All right. That's an interesting thing. He saw him as a military man. >> Right. >> For 40 years he was sitting in the base med with him. >> Yeah. So he had the right he had the right um he had the right spirit. I mean, all he saw him is to be only as a military man, not one who was serving, who's caring about the people. I mean, I hear you and I'm not saying it's wrong. I can understand that. But the problem I would have were I now a Israelite who now know I have to have a new leader, how would I do? >> Yes. >> There's also a discussion that after Moshe, you didn't need the same kind of guy as Moshe. You kind of needed There's no question. We'll get into that 100%. We will. I will. Okay. Um, but I want to show you why this is uh important. this somewhat [snorts] I want to say uh lack of um confidence in Yahosua as a leader could be found in a number of different places even before Yoshua the the safe air itself and especially in the beginning. So, I could easily um start with the beginning of Yoshua and then go back and show the sources of this or I could do it the other way around. Depends what it is. Um I'm going to start with Yeshua because I know it's safer in the first par of Yoshua. And again, I would have had this. Do I have this here? Oh, yeah. Here it I have it here in this the first look at the first source and this one you have at least and it's in English too. The first source is from again the first perk of Yahushua in the sixth and seventh and ninth uh um verses. Um, and there we find um God speaking to Yoshua and he says the following. Well, you know what means means be strong and resolute for you shall aortion to this people the land that I swore to their fathers to assign to them. Yeah. But you must be very strong and resolute to observe faithfully also the teaching that my servant Moshe enjoined upon you. That's what God says to him. And then later that he says um he said I charge you be strong and resolute. Do not be terrified or dismayed for the eternal your God is with you wherever you go. So God tells him once uh twice three times you got to be strong. When somebody tells you be strong but strong it isn't saying that gee you must be really strong. It is a reflection of not too sure it's going to be there is the confidence of him as a is a little frightening if I would go on but because I'm a nice guy I'm not doing it but later on the ru the two and a half uh tribes who agreed to be in the forefront of the battle um when they enter the land, they speak to Yoshua and um Yoshua makes sure that you know the promise you made. You know that you're going to lead them and so on and so forth. And they respond and they say uh we'll do everything that you you command us. I will listen. We will listen to you as we did to Yeshua and to Moshe. Anyone who defies you, we're not going to listen to you. And they end by saying however they say it again. It's not only God who's a little not sure it's the people the head of the the the lead the vanguard of the battle are saying just please you got to be strong you got to be courageous. So these constant repetitions begin to tell us how [clears throat] well and you know what happens what says in Dvarim there in source number two right it says and Moshe called called Yoshua and said to him in the sight of all of Israel be strong and resolute for it is you who shall go with this people into the land Hashem has swore to the brother their fathers. Give it to him and indeed Hashem will go before you. God will be with you and will not fail you or forsake you. Fear not and do not be dismayed. [snorts] That's in the Torah. That's after he chooses Yeshua. >> So you now I want to I'm sort of giving you uh the the feeling the what are Ben Israel thinking at this moment. Not only they they're they're getting a new leader leader after 40 years of the same leader, you know, the guy who was taking miracles down here and there splitting seas and from from he's a pretty impressive fellow. And now comes Yahosua who every time he talks he's wrong and whenever he does he to talk he doesn't talk. You know now I'm being a facicious on purpose. I'm sure he said a lot of things in between. The Torah didn't get it down. But the point is when looking at at this point and why the Torah does include these things of that Yoshua say when he's wrong, you can understand the feeling of the people when Yoshua takes place. How does Yahosua now face that? How is he going to do what he has to do? And that we'll find out next week.