patriarchs and prophets-第92章

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appearance　the　struggle　to　gain　possession　of　the　land　must　be　long　and
difficult。　It　was　inhabited　by　a　powerful　race；　who　stood　ready　to　oppose
the　invasion　of　their　territory。　The　various　tribes　were　bound　together　by
the　fear　of　a　common　danger。　Their　horses　and　iron　battle　chariots；　their
knowledge　of　the　country；　and　their　training　in　war；　would　give　them　great
advantage。　Furthermore；　the　country　was　guarded　by　fortresses〃cities　great
and　fenced　up　to　heaven。〃　Deuteronomy　9：1。　Only　in　the　assurance　of　a
strength　not　their　own　could　the　Israelites　hope　for　success　in　the
impending　conflict。

One　of　the　strongest　fortresses　in　the　landthe　large　and　wealthy　city　of
Jericholay　just　before　them；　but　a　little　distance　from　their　camp　at
Gilgal。　On　the　border　of　a　fertile　plain　abounding　with　the　rich　and　varied
productions　of　the　tropics；　its　palaces　and　temples　the　abode　of　luxury　and
vice；　this　proud　city；　behind　its　massive　battlements；　offered　defiance　to
the　God　of　Israel。　Jericho　was　one　of　the　principal　seats　of　idol　worship；
being　especially　devoted　to　Ashtaroth；　the　goddess　of　the　moon。　Here
centered　all　that　was　vilest　and　most　degrading　in　the　religion　of　the
Canaanites。　The　people　of　Israel；　in　whose　minds　were　fresh　the　fearful
results　of　their　sin　at　Beth…peor；　could　look　upon　this　heathen　city　only
with　disgust　and　horror。

To　reduce　Jericho　was　seen　by　Joshua　to　be　the　first　step　in　the　conquest　of
Canaan。　But　first　of　all　he　sought　an　assurance　of　divine　guidance；　and　it
was　granted　him。　Withdrawing　from　the　encampment　to　meditate　and　to　pray
that　the　God　of　Israel　would　go　before　His　people；　he　beheld　an　armed
warrior；　of　lofty　stature　and　commanding　presence；　〃with　his　sword　drawn　in
his　hand。〃　To　Joshua's　challenge；　〃Art　thou　for　us；　or　for

488

our　adversaries？〃　the　answer　was　given；　〃As　Captain　of　the　host　of　the　Lord
am　I　now　come。〃　The　same　command　given　to　Moses　in　Horeb；　〃Loose　thy　shoe
from　off　thy　foot；　for　the　place　whereon　thou　standest　is　holy；〃　revealed
the　true　character　of　the　mysterious　stranger。　It　was　Christ；　the　Exalted
One；　who　stood　before　the　leader　of　Israel。　Awe…stricken；　Joshua　fell　upon
his　face　and　worshiped；　and　heard　the　assurance；　〃I　have　given　into　thine
hand　Jericho；　and　the　king　thereof；　and　the　mighty　men　of　valor；〃　and　he
received　instruction　for　the　capture　of　the　city。

In　obedience　to　the　divine　command　Joshua　marshaled　the　armies　of　Israel。　No
assault　was　to　be　made。　They　were　simply　to　make　the　circuit　of　the　city；
bearing　the　ark　of　God　and　blowing　upon　trumpets。　First　came　the　warriors；　a
body　of　chosen　men；　not　now　to　conquer　by　their　own　skill　and　prowess；　but
by　obedience　to　the　directions　given　them　from　God。　Seven　priests　with
trumpets　followed。　Then　the　ark　of　God；　surrounded　by　a　halo　of　divine
glory；　was　borne　by　priests　clad　in　the　dress　denoting　their　sacred　office。
The　army　of　Israel　followed；　each　tribe　under　its　standard。　Such　was　the
procession　that　compassed　the　doomed　city。　No　sound　was　heard　but　the　tread
of　that　mighty　host　and　the　solemn　peal　of　the　trumpets；　echoing　among　the
hills　and　resounding　through　the　streets　of　Jericho。　The　circuit　completed；
the　army　returned　in　silence　to　their　tents；　and　the　ark　was　restored　to　its
place　in　the　tabernacle。

With　wonder　and　alarm　the　watchmen　of　the　city　marked　every　move；　and
reported　to　those　in　authority。　They　knew　not　the　meaning　of　all　this
display；　but　when　they　beheld　that　mighty　host　marching　around　their　city
once　each　day；　with　the　sacred　ark　and　the　attendant　priests；　the　mystery　of
the　scene　struck　terror　to　the　hearts　of　priest　and　people。　Again　they　would
inspect　their　strong　defenses；　feeling　certain　they　could　successfully
resist　the　most　powerful　attack。　Many　ridiculed　the　thought　that　any　harm
could　come　to　them　through　these　singular　demonstrations。　Others　were　awed
as　they　beheld　the　procession　that　each　day　wound　about　the　city。　They
remembered　that　the　Red　Sea　had　once　parted　before　this　people；　and　that　a
passage　had　just　been　opened　for　them　through　the　river　Jordan。　They　knew
not　what　further　wonders　God　might　work　for　them。

For　six　days　the　host　of　Israel　made　the　circuit　of　the　city。　The　seventh
day　came；　and　with　the　first　dawn　of　light；　Joshua　marshaled　the　armies　of
the　Lord。　Now　they　were　directed　to

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march　seven　times　around　Jericho；　and　at　a　mighty　peal　from　the　trumpets　to
shout　with　a　loud　voice；　for　God　had　given　them　the　city。

The　vast　army　marched　solemnly　around　the　devoted　walls。　All　was　silent；
save　the　measured　tread　of　many　feet；　and　the　occasional　sound　of　the
trumpet；　breaking　the　stillness　of　the　early　morning。　The　massive　walls　of
solid　stone　seemed　to　defy　the　siege　of　men。　The　watchers　on　the　walls
looked　on　with　rising　fear；　as；　the　first　circuit　ended；　there　followed　a
second；　then　a　third；　a　fourth；　a　fifth；　a　sixth。　What　could　be　the　object
of　these　mysterious　movements？　What　mighty　event　was　impending？　They　had　not
long　to　wait。　As　the　seventh　circuit　was　completed；　the　long　procession
paused；　The　trumpets；　which　for　an　interval　had　been　silent；　now　broke　forth
in　a　blast　that　shook　the　very　earth。　The　walls　of　solid　stone；　with　their
massive　towers　and　battlements；　tottered　and　heaved　from　their　foundations；
and　with　a　crash　fell　in　ruin　to　the　earth。　The　inhabitants　of　Jericho　were
paralyzed　with　terror；　and　the　hosts　of　Israel　marched　in　and　took
possession　of　the　city。

The　Israelites　had　not　gained　the　victory　by　their　own　power；　the　conquest
had　been　wholly　the　Lord's；　and　as　the　first　fruits　of　the　land；　the　city；
with　all　that　it　contained；　was　to　be　devoted　as　a　sacrifice　to　God。　It　was
to　be　impressed　upon　Israel　that　in　the　conquest　of　Canaan　they　were　not　to
fight　for　themselves；　but　simply　as　instruments　to　execute　the　will　of　God；
not　to　seek　for　riches　or　self…exaltation；　but　the　glory　of　Jehovah　their
King。　Before　the　capture　the　command　had　been　given；　〃The　city　shall　be
accursed；　even　it；　and　all　that　are　therein。〃　〃Keep　yourselves　from　the
accursed　thing；　lest　ye　make　yourselves　accursed　。　。　。　and　make　the　camp　of
Israel　a　curse；　and　trouble　it。〃

All　the　inhabitants　of　the　city；　with　every　living　thing　that　it　contained；
〃both　man　and　woman；　young　and　old；　and　ox；　and　sheep；　and　ass；〃　were　put　to
the　sword。　Only　faithful　Rahab；　with　her　household；　was　spared；　in
fulfillment　of　the　promise　of　the　spies。　The　city　itself　was　burned；　its
palaces　and　temples；　its　magnificent　dwellings　with　all　their　luxurious
appointments；　the　rich　draperies　and　the　costly　garments；　were　given　to　the
flames。　That　which　could　not　be　destroyed　by　fire；　〃the　silver；　and　the
gold；　and　the　vessels　of　brass　and　of　iron；〃　was　to　be　devoted　to　the
service　of　the　tabernacle。　The　very　site　of　the　city　was　accursed；　Jericho
was　never　to　be　rebuilt

492

as　a　stronghold；　judgments　were　threatened　upon　anyone　who　should　presume　to
restore　the　walls　that　divine　power　had　cast　down。　The　solemn　declaration
was　made　in　the　presence　of　all　Israel；　〃Cursed　be　the　man　before　the　Lord；
that　riseth　up　and　buildeth　this　city　Jericho：　he　shall　lay　the　foundation
thereof　in　his　first…born；　and　in　his　youngest　son　shall　he　set　up　the　gates
of　it。〃

The　utter　destruction　of　the　people　of　Jericho　was　but　a　fulfillment　of　the
commands　previously　given　through　Moses　concerning　the　inhabitants　of
Canaan：　〃Thou　shalt　smite　them；　and　utterly　destroy　them。〃　Deuteronomy　7：2。
〃Of　the　cities　of　these　people；　。　。　。　thou　shalt　save　alive　nothing　that
breatheth。〃　Deuteronomy　20：16。　To　many　these　commands　seem　to　be　contrary　to
the　spirit　of　love　and　mercy　enjoined　in　other　portions　of　the　Bible；　but
they　were　in　truth　the　dictates　of　infinite　wisdom　and　goodness。　God　was
about　to　establish　Israel　in　Canaan；　to　develop　among　them　a　nation　and
government　that　should　be　a　manifestation　of　His　kingdom　upon　the　earth。
They　were　not　only　to　be　inheritors　of　the　true　religion；　but　to　disseminate
its　principles　throughout　the　world。　The　Canaanites　had　abandoned　themselves
to　the　foulest　and　most　debasing　heathenism；　and　it　was　necessary　that　the
land　should　be　cleared　of　what　would　so　surely　prevent　the　fulfillment　of
God's　gracious　purposes。

The　inhabitants　of　Canaan　had　been　granted　ample　opportunity　for　repentance。
Forty　years　before；　the　opening　of　the　Red　Sea　and　the　judgments　upon　Egypt
had　testified　to　the　supreme　power　of　the　God　of　Israel。　And　now　the
overthrow　of　the　kings　of　Midian；　of　Gilead　and　Bashan；　had　further　shown
that　Jehovah　was　above　all　gods。　The　holiness　of　His　character　and　His
abhorrence　of　impurity　had　been　evinced　in　the　judgments　visited　upon　Israel
for　their　participation　in　the　abominable　rites　of　Baalpeor。　All　these
events　were　known　to　the　inhabitants　of　Jericho；　and　there　were　many　who
shared　Rahab's　conviction；　though　they　refused　to　obey　it；　that　Jehovah；　the
God　of　Israel；　〃is　God　in　heaven　above；　and　upon　the　earth　beneath。〃　Like
the　men　before　the　Flood；　the　Canaanites　lived　only　to　blaspheme　Heaven　and
defile　the　earth。　And　both　love　and　justice　demanded　the　prompt　execution　of
these　rebels　against　God　and　foes　to　man。

How　easily　the　armies　of　heaven　brought　down　the　walls　of

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Jericho；　that　proud　city　whose　bulwarks；　forty　years　before；　had　struck
terror　to　the　unbelieving　spies！　Thy　Mighty　One　of　Israel　had　said；　〃I　have
given　into　thine　hand　Jericho。〃　Against　that　word　human　strength　was
powerless。

〃By　faith　the　walls　of　Jericho　fell　down。〃　Hebrews　11：30。　The　Captain　of　the
Lord's　host　communicated　only　with　Joshua；　He　did　not　reveal　Himself　to　all
the　congregation；　and　it　rested　with　them　to　believe　or　doubt　the　words　of
Joshua；　to　obey　the　commands　given　by　him　in　the　name　of　the　Lord；　or　to
deny　his　authority。　They　could　not　see　the　host　of　angels　who　attended　them
under　the　leadership　of　the　Son　of　God。　They　might　have　reasoned：　〃What
unmeaning　movements　are　these；　and　how　ridiculous　the　performance　of
marching　daily　around　the　walls　of　the　city；　blowing　trumpets　of　rams'
horns。　This　can　have　no　effect　upon　those　towering　fortifications。〃　But　the
very　plan　of　continuing　this　ceremony　through　so　long　a　time　prior　to　the
final　overthrow　of　the　walls　afforded　opportunity　for　the　development　of
faith　among　the　Israelites。　It　was　to　be　impressed　upon　their　minds　that
their　strength　was　not　in　the　wisdom　of　man；　nor　in　his　might；　but　only　in
the　God　of　their　salvation。　They　were　thus　to　become　accustomed　to　relying
wholly　upon　their　divine　Leader。

God　will　do　great　things　for　those　who　trust　in　Him。　The　reason　why　His
professed　people　have　no　greater　strength　is　that　they　trust　so　much　to
their　own　wisdom；　and　do　not　give　the　Lord　an　opportunity　to　reveal　His
power　in　their　behalf。　He　will　help　His　believing　children　in　every
emergency　if　they　will　place　their　entire　confidence　in　Him　and　faithfully
obey　him。

Soon　after　the　fall　of　Jericho；　Joshua　determined　to　attack　Ai；　a　small　town
among　the　ravines　a　few　miles　to　the　west　of　the　Jordan　Valle