Final answer:
God chose Joshua to follow Moses as the leader of Israel, as described in the Hebrew Bible, particularly in the book of Numbers where God instructs Moses to lay hands on Joshua to signify the leadership transfer.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the narrative of biblical history, particularly the account found in the Hebrew Bible, God chose Joshua to succeed Moses as the leader of Israel. According to the Torah, especially the book of Numbers (27:18-23), God instructed Moses to lay hands on Joshua, son of Nun, before the entire community, indicating that Joshua was to follow him. This laying on of hands was an act of installation, signifying the transfer of leadership from Moses to Joshua.
Moses followed God’s commandments, affirming Joshua's role as the new leader in front of the priest Eleazar and the congregation. Consequently, Joshua led the Israelites into Canaan after Moses's death and continued the military campaigns to establish their settlement in the land.