How many years ago did Joshua succeed Moses as leader of the Israelites?

Answer 1

1 Kings 6:1 places the Exodus from Egypt approximately 1440 BCE, because this verse dates the Exodus 480 years before the fourth year of Solomon's reign, and The Bible dates this year of Solomon's reign at 960 BCE. That would mean that, after forty years wandering in the wilderness, Joshua succeeded Moses approximately 1400 BCE - as of the year 2015, about 3415 years ago.

However, nearly all scholars believe there was no Exodus from Egypt, as described in the Bible, and no unified Israelite conquest of the Canaanite cities. If these events did not occur, Joshua did not really succeed Moses when they arrived at the border of Canaan.

Answer 2

According to traditional chronology, Joshua succeeded Moses in 1272 BCE. See also:

http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2008/05/01/Did-the-Israelites-Conquer-Jericho-A-New-Look-at-the-Archaeological-Evidence.aspx#Article
http://www.academia.edu/1651319/Is_the_Exodus_Story_Possible

http://www.biblicalchronologist.org/answers/exodus_egypt.php

And the wider picture:

http://judaism.answers.com/hebrew/does-archaeology-support-the-hebrew-bible

Answer 3

God chose Joshua, not Moses (Numbers ch.27). It was during the last year of the Israelites' sojourn in the wilderness. The traditional date for this is 1272 BCE.