Initially, Joshua represents truth from the Bible fighting against evil, assisting Moses. Joshua then takes on this complete representation when Moses dies. When a person decides to leave behind what is merely natural and looks for something deeper, that person might find something he didn't expect. His or her mind is populated by selfish loves that don't want to think internally about heavenly love. Though the person can subdue these, he or she must fight to do what's right, and finds that they are never fully conquered so as to be absolutely gone. Joshua continues to represent the truths from the Bible that we know and that we use to fight against the evils in ourselves. All the wars in the Bible represent this same battle.

In Exodus 17:9, he signifies fighting truth. (Arcana Coelestia 8595)

In Exodus 32:17, he later signifies the truth of the Word surveying and observing. (Arcana Coelestia 10454)

(റഫറൻസുകൾ: Exodus 17; Matthew 10, 10:35, Matthew 10:36)

8595. 'And Moses said to Joshua' means a Divine influx into truth that engages in conflict. This is clear from the meaning here of 'saying' as influx, since it passes into truth that engages in conflict, represented by 'Joshua', the reason why this influx is Divine being that 'Moses' represents Divine Truth, that is, truth which goes forth directly from the Lord (this truth, since it is wholly Divine, is what flows into any truth of faith whatever and causes it to be a truth); and from the representation of 'Joshua' as truth that engages in conflict. 'Joshua' clearly represents truth that engages in conflict because he was commanded to fight against Amalek, that is, against falsities arising from interior evil. This is what the truth made militant through an influx of Divine Truth has to fight against. God's truth itself which goes forth directly from the Lord does not engage in conflict but is peaceable, being peace itself, since it goes forth from the Divine Goodness of the Lord's Divine Love. But to become militant it flows in among such angels as have a burning zeal for what is true and good, and when roused by that zeal they go into battle. This is the origin of the truth engaging in conflict that is represented by 'Joshua'.

[2] Because such truth was represented by 'Joshua' he also became the leader of the children of Israel after Moses, led them into the land of Canaan, and fought the nations there. This also explains why, when he came into the land of Canaan, there appeared to him the Angel of Jehovah with his sword drawn in his hand, who called himself Commander of Jehovah's army, Joshua 5:13-15. 'His sword drawn in his hand' means God's truth that engages in conflict, in its power.

'The sword' means truth engaging in conflict, see 2799, 4499; as unceasing conflict against falsities and evils, 8294.

'Hand' means power, 878, 4931-4937, 7518, 8050, 8153.

And by 'the nations' in the land of Canaan are meant the falsities and evils that must be fought against, 8054.