Taking of Jericho
149
in order to take Jericho. All the men of war should be commanded to
compass the city once each day for six days, and on the seventh day
they should march around Jericho seven times.
Accordingly Joshua gave orders to the priests and the people as
the Lord directed him. He marshaled the hosts of Israel in perfect
order. First was a select body of armed men, clad in their warlike
dress; not now to exercise their skill in arms, but only to believe and
obey the directions given them. Next followed seven priests with
trumpets. Then came the ark of God, glittering with gold, a halo of
glory hovering over it, borne by priests in the rich and peculiar dress
denoting their sacred office. The vast army of Israel followed in perfect
order, each tribe under its respective standard. Thus they compassed
the city with the ark of God. No sound was heard but the tread of that
mighty host, and the solemn voice of the trumpets, echoing among the
hills and resounding through the streets of Jericho.
With wonder and alarm the watchmen of the doomed city marked
every move and reported to those in authority. They could not imagine
what all this display meant. Jericho had defied the armies of Israel and
the God of heaven; but when they beheld that mighty host marching
around their city once each day in all the pomp and majesty of war,
with the added grandeur of the sacred ark and the attendant priests, the
impressive mystery of the scene struck terror to the hearts of princes
and people. Then, again, they would inspect their strong defenses,
feeling certain that they could successfully resist the most powerful
attack. Many ridiculed the idea that any harm could come to them
through these singular demonstrations on the part of their enemies;
but others were awed as they beheld the majesty and splendor of
the procession that each day wound grandly about the city. They
remembered that forty years before, the Red Sea had 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
[161]
for them; but they kept their gates carefully closed, and guarded them
with mighty warriors.
For six days the host of Israel performed their circuit around 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 march
seven times around Jericho, and, at a mighty note of the trumpets, to
shout with a loud voice, for God had then given them the city. The