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seasonthe melting snows of the mountains had so raised the Jordan that the
river overflowed its banks； making it impossible to cross at the usual
fording places。 God willed that the passage of Israel over Jordan should be
miraculous。 Joshua； by divine direction； commanded the people to sanctify
themselves； they must put away their sins and free themselves from all
outward impurity； 〃for tomorrow；〃 he said； 〃the Lord will do wonders among
you。〃 The 〃ark of the covenant〃 was to lead the way before the host。 When
they should see the token of Jehovah's presence； borne by the priests；
remove from its place in the center of the camp； and advance toward the
river； then they were to remove
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from their place； 〃and go after it。' The circumstances of the passage were
minutely foretold； and said Joshua； 〃Hereby ye shall know that the living
God is among you； and that He will without fail drive out from before you
the Canaanites。 。 。 。 Behold； the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the
earth passeth over before you into Jordan。〃
At the appointed time began the onward movement； the ark； borne upon the
shoulders of the priests； leading the van。 The people had been directed to
fall back； so that there was a vacant space of more than half a mile about
the ark。 All watched with deep interest as the priests advanced down the
bank of the Jordan。 They saw them with the sacred ark move steadily forward
toward the angry； surging stream； till the feet of the bearers were dipped
into the waters。 Then suddenly the tide above was swept back； while the
current below flowed on； and the bed of the river was laid bare。
At the divine command the priests advanced to the middle of the channel and
stood there while the entire host descended and crossed to the farther side。
Thus was impressed upon the minds of all Israel the fact that the power that
stayed the waters of Jordan was the same that had opened the Red Sea to
their fathers forty years before。 When the people had all passed over； the
ark itself was borne to the western shore。 No sooner had it reached a place
of security； and 〃the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry
land；〃 than the imprisoned waters； being set free； rushed down； a resistless
flood； in the natural channel of the stream。
Coming generations were not to be without a witness to this great miracle。
While the priests bearing the ark were still in the midst of Jordan； twelve
men previously chosen； one from each tribe； took up each a stone from the
river bed where the priests were standing； and carried it over to the
western side。 These stones were to be set up as a monument in the first
camping place beyond the river。 The people were bidden to repeat to their
children and children's children the story of the deliverance that God had
wrought for them； as Joshua said； 〃That all the people of the earth might
know the hand of the Lord； that it is mighty： that ye might fear the Lord
your God forever。〃
The influence of this miracle； both upon the Hebrews and upon their enemies；
was of great importance。 It was an assurance
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to Israel of God's continued presence and protectionan evidence that He
would work for them through Joshua as He had wrought through Moses。 Such an
assurance was needed to strengthen their hearts as they entered upon the
conquest of the landthe stupendous task that had staggered the faith of
their fathers forty years before。 The Lord had declared to Joshua before the
crossing； 〃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。〃 And
the result fulfilled the promise。 〃On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in
the sight of all Israel； and they feared him； as they feared Moses； all the
days of his life。〃
This exercise of divine power in behalf of Israel was designed also to
increase the fear with which they were regarded by the surrounding nations；
and thus prepare the way for their easier and complete triumph。 When the
tidings that God had stayed the waters of Jordan before the children of
Israel； reached the kings of the Amorites and of the Canaanites； their
hearts melted with fear。 The Hebrews had already slain the five kings of
Midian； the powerful Sihon； king of the Amorites； and Og of Bashan； and now
the passage over the swollen and impetuous Jordan filled all the surrounding
nations with terror。 To the Canaanites； to all Israel； and to Joshua
himself； unmistakable evidence had been given that the living God； the King
of heaven and earth； was among His people； and that He would not fail them
nor forsake them。
A short distance from Jordan the Hebrews made their first encampment in
Canaan。 Here Joshua 〃circumcised the children of Israel；〃 〃and the children
of Israel encamped in Gilgal； and kept the Passover。〃 The suspension of the
rite of circumcision since the rebellion at Kadesh had been a constant
witness to Israel that their covenant with God； of which it was the
appointed symbol； had been broken。 And the discontinuance of the Passover；
the memorial of their deliverance from Egypt； had been an evidence of the
Lord's displeasure at their desire to return to the land of bondage。 Now；
however； the years of rejection were ended。 Once more God acknowledged
Israel as His people； and the sign of the covenant was restored。 The rite of
circumcision was performed upon all the people who had been born in the
wilderness。 And the Lord declared to Joshua； 〃This
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day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you；〃 and in allusion
to this the place of their encampment was called Gilgal； 〃a rolling away；〃
or 〃rolling off。〃
Heathen nations had reproached the Lord and His people because the Hebrews
had failed to take possession of Canaan； as they expected； soon after
leaving Egypt。 Their enemies had triumphed because Israel had wandered so
long in the wilderness； and they had mockingly declared that the God of the
Hebrews was not able to bring them into the Promised Land。 The Lord had now
signally manifested His power and favor in opening the Jordan before His
people； and their enemies could no longer reproach them。
〃On the fourteenth day of the month at even；〃 the Passover was celebrated on
the plains of Jericho。 〃And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the
morrow after the Passover； unleavened cakes； and parched corn in the
selfsame day。 And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the
old corn of the land； neither had the children of Israel manna any more； but
they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan。〃 The long years of their
desert wanderings were ended。 The feet of Israel were at last treading the
Promised Land。
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Chapter 45
The Fall of Jericho
The Hebrews had entered Canaan； but they had not subdued it； and to human
appearance the struggle to gain possession of the land must be long and
difficult。 It was inhabited by a powerful race； who stood read