Exodus 17:9 ... Joshua = The Man

Question:

Where did Joshua come from? Was he just an Israelite that was with the rest of them? Was he being prepared for leadership? 

Answer:

Yeah, Josh was a young guy at the exodus who became Moses’ apprentice.  (See Exodus 33.11, etc. )  
He was also one of the 12 spies, and then obviously became Moses’ successor.  


His name is ‘Hosea’ (salvation), but then Moses changed it to “Yehoshua” (Yahweh Saves) (Numbers 13.16), which in shortened form is: Yeshua … same name as our Lord, Jesus.  


Josh was the man.  Right up there with King Dave as one of the all-time best.  
He never left Moses' side ... was partway up Mount Sinai with him, and even was with him when he delivered his sermons in Deuteronomy.