Story 61: A'chan's Theft From God; The Defeat Of Is'ra-el At Ai ll

   When the finger of God pointed him out as the guilty one, A'chan frankly confessed his sin at once. He said, "I have sinned against the LORD, and my guilt has been discovered before Is'ra-el. I stole a royal garment woven entirely of gold, an ingot of gold shaped like a wedge, and several pieces of silver. All these are hidden in my tent."
   Josh'u-a sent men to search the tent, and there they found all the articles mentioned by A'chan. The value of the silver and gold was between seven and eight hundred dollars, and the royal garment was probably worth even more. A'chan had really stolen from the LORD, for it had been commanded that everything taken in Jer'i-cho should be consecrated to His service.
   All the members of A'chan's family had known of his theft, and had probably aided him in hiding the stolen goods. For this reason they all received the same punishment as A'chan: they were stoned to death, and their bodies were burnt. The place where they were put to death was called A'chor, which means "trouble," and it was marked with a pillar of stones as a warning to all future generations.
   All Is'ra-el now knew that the disgraceful defeat at Ai had not been caused by the superior strength of the enemy, but by the sin of A'chan. A golden wedge sinfully hidden in the camp of Is'ra-el was more to blame for their defeat than the many swords of the warriors of a heathen city.
   Greatly encouraged by a special message from the LORD, Josh'u-a now planned a new attack upon the city of Ai. Soldiers were placed in strongholds at different points around the city, and the men of Ai were tempted to come out for battle. While these men were pursuing one group of He'brew soldiers, another group entered the city and set fire to it. The armies of Is'ra-el then turnt against the men of Ai in a great battle, and slew every one of them. The king was captured, and was later hanged upon a tree.
   Under special permission granted by the LORD, all the cattle, sheep, and other property captured in the city of Ai were given to the soldiers who had take part in the attack.
   After the destruction of Ai, the children of Is'ra-el continued their march across the mountains of central Ca'naan until they came to a place near the ancient city of She'chem. Here Josh'u-a built an altar of stones, and offered burnt sacrifices to God. All the children of Is'ra-el took part in the prolonged service of consecration which was then held.
   At the high place where the Is'ra-el-ites gathered for this service two high mountains faced one another, with a narrow depression between them. The mountain to the north was called Mount E'bal, and the one to the south was called Mount Ger'i-zim. Josh'u-a divided the tribes of Is'ra-el into two groups, placing six tribes on Mount E'bal, and the other six on Mount Ger'i-zim. He then read to the assembled Is'ra-el-ites the Laws which had been given to Mo'ses. When he read the warnings of God against disobedience, and related the judgments to be imposed upon those who failed to keep God's Law, the children of Is'ra-el who stood on the slopes of Mount E'bal shouted, "Amen!" Then he read the promises and words of blessing for those who obeyed the Laws of God, and the Is'ra-el-ites upon Mount Ger'i-zim also joined in saying "Amen!"
  

Story 61: A'chan's Theft From God; The Defeat Of Is'ra-el At Ai l

   The next place which Josh'u-a planned to capture was a town of the Am'o-rites called Ai. It was situated about twenty miles northeast of Jer'i-cho on the main road leading to the mountainous regions of the interior of Ca'naan. Ai was not fortified like Jer'i-cho, but it was the home of about twelve thousand people, and it must be taken before an attack could be made upon other towns in the district.
   Spies were sent to inspect the defenses of Ai, and to find the best way of attacking the town. They soon informed Josh'u-a that there would be no need of sending a large force against it. For this reason only three thousand men were sent to take the town. The men of Ai met this small force of Is'ra-el-ites in battle, and inflicted a crushing defeat upon them. Many of the Is'ra-el-ites were slain, others were captured, and the rest were driven back to their camp.
   When the news of this defeat spread through the camps of Is'ra-el the people were struck with terror. Josh'u-a was disappointed and sore at heart. He said, "Is-ra-el has been humiliated before the Ca'naan-ites and A'o-rites, and they will scorn our efforts to take this land." He and the elders of Is'ra-el gathered in the Sanctuary of the LORD for prayer. They tore their clothing and threw dust upon their heads, for in those days these were the signs of great mourning. Josh'u-a cried to the LORD, "What shall we do when the children of Is'ra-el turn their backs before their enemies?"
   The LORD appeared to Josh'u-a and told him that Is'ra-el's defeat was not because of the strength of their enemies, but because of weakness which had been caused by sin. "Someone among the Is'ra-el-ites," said the LORD, "has taken of the spoils of the conquest of Jer'i-cho which should have been consecrated to the LORD, and has used it for himself." Then he added, "No victory for Is'ra-el is possible until the thief has been found and punished."
   The LORD knew who the guilty man was, but He wished Josh'u-a to point him out before the Is'ra-el-ites in such a way that everyone in the camp would be convinced of his guilt. There must be no doubt in the mind of anyone as to the cause of Is'ra-el's defeat at Ai. The criminal himself must be made to realize the terrible wrong which he had committed, and to confess that his punishment was just.
   It is not clear exactly how the guilty man was found, but we know that the discovery was made by casting lots. It was learnt that the criminal was a member of the tribe of Ju'dah, that he was a descendant of Za'rah, who was one of the five sons of Ju'dah; that he was a member of the household of Zab'di (also called Zim'ri,) and that he was a son of Car'mi. At last the lot fell upon A'chan. Thus the finding of the criminal was marked with terrible certainty, for the LORD had directed the entire process.

Story 60: The Dividing Of The Waters Of Jor'dan, And The Collapse Of The Walls Of Jer'i-cho lll

   After marching around the city once each day for six days, they made the circuit in a similar manner seven times on the seventh day. At the conclusion of the final march around the city, the entire army stood at attention while the trumpeters blew a long blast. Then all the people lifted their voices in one great shout. At once the foundations beneath the wall sank deep into the ground, and the walls crumbled into a flat mass of stone over which the Is'ra-el-ites could easily pass into the city.
   The strange plan of attack was completely successful; the army of Is'ra-el marched over the fallen walls into the city, the entire population was slain, and enormous spoils of war were taken. The city of Jer'i-cho was burnt to the ground, and Josh'u-a pronounced a special curse upon any person who should ever undertake to rebuild it on the same site. Many years later another city in that vicinity was called Jer'i-cho, but it was on a different site than the one which was utterly destroyed by Josh'u-a.
   Before the walls of Jer'i-cho were overthrown, Josh'u-a sent men to rescue Ra'hab and her family from the house in which she had sheltered his two spies. They were put in a safe place outside the camp of Is'ra-el until they had received the ceremonies of purification and adoption by which people who were not Is'ra-el-ites were admitted to the chosen race.
   Josh'u-a directed that all the gold and silver and other valuables captured in Jer'i-cho be dedicated to the LORD, and solemnly warned every man against taking anything for himself. One man disobeyed this order, and we shall learn of his punishment in our next story.
   In the strange manner in which the city of Jer'i-cho was overthrown the LORD required the trustful, obedient, and laborious service of His people, thereby showing that it is the power of God which brings victory in all the works of His Kingdom, The LORD not only conquered the Ca'naan-ites, but won the hearts of Is'ra-el unto Him in faith and love. The destruction of the people of Jer'i-cho, apparently cruel and vindictive, is an example of God's judgments against idolatry and wickedness.

Story 60: The Dividing Of The Waters Of Jor'dan, And The Collapse Of The Walls Of Jer'i-co ll

   What sacred memories cling to that section of the river Jor'dan! Five hundred and fifty years after the parting of the waters for the passage of Is'ra-el they were again divided. The waters parted for E-li'jah and E-li'sha just before E-li'jah was carried to Heaven in a fiery chariot, and again for E-li'sha as he journeyed back to his work on the west side of the river. Then, many hundreds of years later, the Sav'ior was Baptized somewhere within this vicinity.
   After the two stone memorials had been erected, the Is'ra-el-ites moved to a place called Gil'gal, about six miles west of the river, and within a mile of the city of Jer'i-cho. Here the Tabernacle was erected, and the tents of Is'ra-el were set up in the usual order. Gil'gal was to be the camping place of Is'ra-el for many months.
   On the fourteenth day of the month, just four days after the crossing of the Jor'dan, the Pass'o-ver was celebrated in all the camps of Is'ra-el. This was the third time that Is'ra-el engaged in the Pass'o-ver feast, the first time in E'gypt, and the second at Si'nai. It had been neglected for thirty-nine years in the wilderness while Is'ra-el was living in disobedience to the Covenant which they violated by not entering Ca'naan when at Ka'desh-Bar'ne-a the first time.
   The harvest season was at hand when Is'ra-el began the conquest of Ca'naan. The people went into the fields, and vineyards, and orchards to gather food, and this marked the end of the manna. For thirty-nine years this food had fallen from Heaven, but now it was no longer needed.
   In the course of his preparations for an attack upon Jer'i-cho, Josh'u-a walked around the walls of the city on a tour of inspection. He was met by a Heavenly Messenger who appeared to be an Angel, but who in reality was the Son of God, who many centuries later came into the world as a Sa'vior for all mankind. The same Divine Personage had appeared to Ja'cob hundreds of years before at the ford of Jab'bok, and to Mo'ses in the burning bush in the wilderness. He came to strengthen the faith of Josh'u-a, and to give him courage for the battles which lay just ahead.
   In His appearance to Josh'u-a He called Himself "Captain of the Host of the LORD," suggesting that His presence made Holy the ground on which they stood, and advising him that Jer'i-cho would be conquered through the power of the LORD. Josh'u-a bowed before Him with great reverence, and humbly accepted the solemn charge placed upon him.
   All the Ca'naan-ites and Am'o-rites living west of the Jor'dan had been smitten with terror by the sight of the great Host of the Is'ra-el-ites. They had heard of the conquest east of the Jor'dan, and their hearts melted with fear and cowardice as they thought of the power which God gave to His chosen people. The gates of Jer'i-cho had been closed, and no one was permitted to go out. There seemed to be no thought of attacking the Is'ra-el-ites, who were encamped just one mile away.
   Is'ra-el's plan of attack against this walled and strongly fortified city was very strange, yet its results were truly miraculous. More than five hundred thousand soldiers marched silently around the outer walls of the city once a day for six days in succession. The Ark of the Cov'e-nant was carried by the priests in the front section of this great army. In the vanguard were picked soldiers, probably the forty thousand men of the tribes of Reu'ben, Gad, and Ma-nas'seh. They marched ahead of the priests who bore the Ark, while the rest of the army marched behind it. Seven priests marched before the Ark, each of them carrying a trumpet, and they all blew upon the trumpets as a signal for the march.

Story 60: The Dividing Of The Waters Of Jor'dan, And The Collapse Of The Walls Of Jer'i-cho l

   After hearing the report of the two men who had spied upon Jer'i-cho, Josh'u-a directed the children of Is'ra-el to prepare for an immediate removal to the banks of the Jor'dan. The people took down their tents and rolled them up, then gathered their flocks and herds for the march. The priests took down the Tabernacle, and prepared it for removal. The furnishings and holy vessels of the Tabernacle were also packed in such a way that it would be easy to carry them. The Ark of the Cov'e-nant was covered with curtains, and two staves were run through the golden rings on each side so that it could be carried by the priests.
   Josh'u-a gave orders that those who carried the Ark were to march in front of Is'ra-el, being careful to remain about half a mile ahead. The people were warned not to come any nearer to the Ark than that.
   Josh'u-a then told the people to dedicate themselves anew to the LORD, saying, "Tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you." On the next morning he directed the priests to take the Ark of the Cov'e-nant upon their shoulders and to march down into the waters of the Jor'dan. The people were to follow, carefully observing the rules already given.
   As the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the waters of the Jor'dan, a very miraculous thing took place. The fast running currents of the river were suddenly stopped and piled up like a wall clear across the river, while the waters in front ran swiftly on toward the Dead Sea. In a little while there stretched across the entire Jor'dan river-bed a vast, dry highway, the waters to the north forming a great wall held back by an invisible dam.
   The priests who were bearing the Ark moved out into the center of the river-bed, then waited there until the entire host of Is'ra-el had crossed to the other side. Only the women and children of the tribes of Reu'ben, Gad, and Ma-nas'seh, with about seventy thousand men who had been left to protect them and to help in caring for the cattle and sheep, remained on the east side of the Jor'dan.
   What a startling sight the He'brews must have presented to the Ca'naan-ites on the west side of the river! Nearly five hundred and fifty thousand soldiers armed for battle, about two million women and children, and countless thousands of sheep and cattle moved in one continuous caravan across the Divinely prepared highway for more than eight hours.
   After they all had reacht the west side of the river, Josh'u-a ordered twelve men, one from each tribe of Is'ra-el, to gather twelve large stones from the river-bed where the priests had stood with the Ark. With these stones he set up a monument which was to remind Is'ra-el at all times of the power of God in providing a way for them to cross the Jor'dan. A second memorial for the same purpose was built in the river where the priests had stood with the Ark. Then the waters of the river began to flow rapidly toward the Dead Sea, just as they had before the miracle took place.

Story 59: Josh'u-a's Preparations For The Conquest Of Ca'naan lll

   The spies knew that she had saved their lives, and recognized her faith in God, so they promised that no harm would come to her or any member of her family when the city was captured by Is'ra-el. Then they took a cord of deep scarlet color and said, "When our men come to take the city, hang this cord from the window of your house. We pledge our lives that no one will be harmed in the building from which there hangs this scarlet cord."
   Ra'hab's house was built on top of a wall of Jer-i'cho, and was a part of the fortifications. It was built of huge basalt rocks, with walls three or four feet thick. She hung a rope from one of the windows outside of the wall, and the two men climbed down the rope and made their way back to the river. Then they swam across the Jor'dan again and arrived safely at the camp of Is'ra-el. They told Josh'u-a how frightened the people were in Jer-i'cho, and said, "Surely the LORD has given us this land, and the people dare not oppose us."
   Later, when the Is'ra-el-ites captured the city of Jer-i'cho and destroyed all its people, Ra'hab and her family were spared. She turnt fully to the He'brew religion, married one of the princes of the tribe of Ju'dah, thereby becoming an ancestor of the Savior. She is mentioned with honor in the New Testament.

Story 59: Josh'u-a's Preparations For The Conquest Of Ca'naan ll

   After receiving full directions from the LORD for the immediate conquest of Ca'naan, Josh'u-a sent officers through the camps of Is'ra-el to prepare the people for this new venture. "Within three days," said Josh'u-a, "we shall begin our march against the Ca'naan-ites. Prepare yourselves to cross Jor'dan, and take possession of the land which God has given us." He reminded the members of the tribes of Reu'ben and Gad that the agreement which they had made with Mo'ses must be faithfully kept, and they responded heartily to his order for all the men to join in this march.
   It took great courage to cross the river Jor'dan, which separated the Is'ra-el-ites from Ca'naan, for it was a swift stream without bridges or fords. The low lands on either side were narrow, only three to five miles at the widest points. Back of these low lands, on the west side, the hills and mountains rose almost perpendicularly to great heights. At the season when Josh'u-a gave the order for crossing, the narrow banks of the river were flooded by waters from the snow-capped mountains in the north and by rain from the mountains on both sides. The Is'ra-el-ites had no boats to use in crossing this wide, dangerous river, but they had faith that God would help them to carry out the orders of Josh'u-a.
   Looking across the Jor'dan from the camp of Is'ra-el, they could see Jer-i'cho, a strongly walled and fortified city of one of the tribes of Ca'naan.
   Josh'u-a thought it wise to send two brave, reliable men across the river to spy upon Jer-i'cho. They were to study the city carefully, noting its fortifications and points of weakness, and looking for safe ways of approaching the city. They were also expected to mingle with the people, and to find out whether they were terrified by the possibility of an attack by the Is'ra-el-ites, or whether they were confident that they could defend themselves.
   Two men chosen by Josh'u-a swam across the Jor'dan, and thoroughly inspected the surroundings and walls of Jer-i'cho. Then they entered the city to examine its defenses, but were discovered and pursued by officers. They sought refuge in the home of a woman named Ra'hab, and she hid them on top of her flat-roofed house, covering them with stalks of flax. When the officers searched the house of Ra'hab they were unable to find the two Is'ra-el-ites, and reported to the king that they had escaped from the city.
   Ra'hab evidently knew something about the miraculous dealings of God with the enemies of Is'ra-el, and how He had delivered the Is'ra-el-ites from bondage in E'gypt. She is said to have hidden these spies because of her faith, even though she may have been superstitious and afraid. After the officers had given up their search of her home, she said to the Is'ra-el-ites,
   "The people of this city know that your God is mighty, and that He has given you this land. They have heard of His mighty works for you, and are in a state of terror at the thought of your coming into the land. I believe in you God, and would like to serve Him. I beg you to spare my life, and that of my father and mother and brothers and sisters, when you take Jer-i'cho."