By far one of the most interesting and shocking parts of my study this last week was to read an extended and exceptionally erudite commentary on Joshua 10 by the great theologian Jonathan Edwards (Notes on Scripture) in which he argues that Joshua is the true and myth-inspiring character known eventually as Hercules. He writes, “This oriental Hercules (says Vossius), for some ages, more ancient than the Theban, was by his true name called Joshua, who made war with the Canaanites, amongst whom were the sons of Anak, and other giants, as Num. 13:29, 33.”

Calling on a host of primary sources (many of them only in Latin), he builds a case for the fact that the account of Joshua and his great victory over the giants in Joshua 10 became corrupted, but some of its basic ideas continued in the ancient myths, including the gods raining down stones from heaven upon giants and a great man (Hercules) who slays the giants.

“’Tis said of Hercules, that whilst he was fighting with the giants, Jupiter rained down stones. This answers exactly to the story of Joshua, his strenuous achievement, and God’s raining down stones, by which he slew great part of the giants. Josh. 10:11, ‘The Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them.”

While this precise correspondence, Joshua as Hercules, was previously unknown to me, in my previous studies I had become aware of how other biblical accounts have been reportedly echoed in the myths and stories of other peoples and religions. One very clear example is of the story of Noah and a worldwide flood, which is repeated in many cultures (see this article).

What is crucial in noticing these correspondences between biblical accounts and secular, pagan soures, is that we recognize the primacy and authority of the Scriptures. It is the true and accurate account. Everything else is based upon it. As an Answers in Genesis article says, “Critics claim the Bible’s account borrows from earlier myths. But it’s the other way around.”

I encourage you not to be dismayed by critics or accounts that seek to minimize or generalize the stories of Scripture. When rightly viewed, they substantiate the truths of Scripture and show how even through human corruption, the contours of truth often remain so that those seeking the truth may find it in God and His Word.

For those who want to read a little further on the parallels between Hercules and Joshua, I have selected several passages from Jonathan Edwards and John Gill. Some of it, due to my lack of famliarity with the original sources, is difficult to decipher.

“The fables agree that the gods, which engaged against the giants, came up out of Egypt, and that they were twelve tribes; also that they constituted Bacchus, commander in chief of the whole army. (This Bacchus was Moses, agreeable to No. 401, the next preceding note.) But because the main conduct of the war, after Moses’ death, was incumbent on Joshua, therefore they attribute the chief management of the war unto him, under the disguise of Hercules.” [Jonathan Edwards, Notes on Scripture, 407.]

“Thus also Sandford, de descensu Christi, ‘That under Hercules must be understood Joshua, firstly, appears by commemorating that (which is the head of this affair) the Egyptian Hercules and Dionysus, by common counsel and consent, engaged against the Indians. The time exactly accordeth, according to Austin, who assigns to Hercules and Bacchus their times betwixt the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt and the death of Joshua.’ 2. As for the persons which engaged in this expedition, Apolladorus, biblioth. 10, relates, that on the one side there were engaged Typhoeus, with the rest of the giants, and on the other part Jupiter, with Hercules and the rest of the gods. This oriental Hercules (says Vossius), for some ages, more ancient than the Theban, was by his true name called Joshua, who made war with the Canaanites, amongst whom were the sons of Anak, and other giants, as Num. 13:29, 33.”  [Jonathan Edwards, Notes on Scripture,  407–408.]

“But these seem to be proper stones, such as did not melt away as hail-stones do; though so called, because they fell from heaven, as they do, but remained, and still remain, according to the notion the Jews have of them; for they say, whoever sees these great stones, in the going down to Beth-oron, is bound to bless; and frequent mention is made by historians of showers of stones being rained. Livy speaks of such a shower when King Tullus conquered the Sabines; and of another, when Scipio succeeded at Carthage; and Pomponius Mela relates, that when Hercules fought with the sons of Neptune, and darts failed him, he obtained of Jupiter to rain a shower of stones, which lay spread in great abundance; and some think it refers to this fact in Joshua’s time, who is supposed to be the same with the Tyrian Hercules, from hence also called Saxanus; and in memory of this there are stony camps in various places, called by his name: there were more which died with hail-stones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword; but what was the number of each of them is not said; it was doubtless very great, since there was an utter destruction and consumption of them, ver. 20.” [John Gill, An Exposition of the Old Testament, vol. 2, 217–218.]