"These are the names of the men whom Moshe sent to spy out the Land, and Moshe called Hoshea son of Nun-'Yehoshua'." (13:16) R' Eliezer Ashkenazi z"l (1512-1585; rabbi in Egypt, Cyprus and Poland) notes that the name "Yehoshua" is used several times in the book of Shmot. Thus, our verse cannot be taken to mean that Moshe changed Hoshea's name to Yehoshua. Rather, R' Ashkenazi writes, his name was always Yehoshua, but, being a relatively young man, he was often called by the diminutive, “Hoshea." Yehoshua was a youngster among the Spies. Here we read, "These are the names of the men whom Moshe sent," whereas, regarding Yehoshua we read (Shmot 33:11), "His servant, Yehoshua bin Nun, a lad, would not depart from within the tent." Thus, in our verse, Moshe said that, from now on, he should be called Yehoshua, as a man among men. R' Ashkenazi
