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The Beginning of the End
climb, were fiercely rebuffed and driven back with great loss. The
army of Israel was utterly defeated.
The enemies of Israel, who had awaited with trembling the ap-
proach of that mighty host, were inspired with confidence to resist
them. All the reports they had heard concerning the marvelous
things that God had done for His people, they now considered to be
false; there was no cause for fear. By inspiring the Canaanites with
courage and resolve, that first defeat of Israel had made the conquest
much more difficult.
Israel had not choice but to fall back from the face of their
victorious foes, into the wilderness, knowing that there a whole
generation must die.
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