Chapter 16—The Taking of Jericho
After the death of Moses, Joshua was appointed the leader of Israel
to conduct them to the Promised Land. He was well qualified for this
important office. He had been prime minister to Moses during the
greater part of the time the Israelites had wandered in the wilderness.
He had seen the wonderful works of God wrought by Moses and well
understood the disposition of the people. He was one of the twelve
spies who were sent out to search the Promised Land, and one of the
two who gave a faithful account of its richness, and who encouraged
the people to go up and possess it in the strength of God.
The Lord promised Joshua that He would be with him as He had
been with Moses, and He would make Canaan an easy conquest to
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him, provided he would be faithful to observe all His commandments.
Joshua had been anxious concerning the execution of his commission
to lead the people into the land of Canaan; but this assurance removed
his fears. He commanded the children of Israel to make ready for a
three days’ journey and all the men of war to prepare for battle. “And
they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will
do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go. According as we
hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only
the Lord thy God be with thee, as He was with Moses. Whosoever
he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken
unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to
death: only be strong and of a good courage.”
God willed that the passage of the Israelites over Jordan should
be miraculous. Joshua commanded the people to sanctify themselves,
for upon the morrow the Lord would do wonders among them. At the
appointed time, he directed the priests to take up the ark containing
the law of God and bear it before the people. “And the Lord said unto
Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel,
that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.”
The priests obeyed the commands of their leader and went before
the people, carrying the ark of the covenant. The Hebrew hosts took
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