Joshua

Joshua is mentioned in1 Samuel 6:14and1 Samuel 6:18as a resident of Beth-shemesh, a town in Judah. The context of the passage is the return of the ark of the covenant to Israel after it had been captured by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4-6). The Philistines, afflicted by plagues because of the ark's presence, sent it back to Israel on a cart pulled by two cows (1 Samuel 6:7-12). The cart carrying the ark came to the field of Joshua in Beth-shemesh, where the people were reaping their wheat harvest (1 Samuel 6:13). The cows pulling the cart stopped beside a large rock in Joshua's field (1 Samuel 6:14). The people of Beth-shemesh then split up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord (1 Samuel 6:14). The large rock in Joshua's field, where the ark was placed, is mentioned again in1 Samuel 6:18as a marker or boundary stone.