Before Moses died, he chose a man
by the name of Joshua, to become the
next leader of the Israelites.
God told Joshua to tell his people
to be prepared to cross the
Jordan River in three days time.
This was where the Promised
Land was.
Joshua secretly sent two men to
look at the land. This land
contained the city of Jericho.
The two men went to the house of
a woman by the name of Rahab.
The King of Jericho heard
that two men were searching his city.
He didn't like that. He went
to Rahab's home and demanded
that she let him see the men.
Rahab had hidden the men under
stalks of flax on her roof. She told
the King that the men had left
and gone toward the Jordan River.
When the King left, Rahab went to
her roof and talked to the men.
She told them that the people of
Jericho were afraid. They knew
that God had given this land to
the Israelites. The men told Rahab
that they would repay her kindness.
When they came to attack, she was
to place a scarlet rope in her
window. That way she and her
family would not be harmed.
Then the woman took a rope and
helped the men to climb down the
wall of Jericho.
The two men went back and told
Joshua what they had found out
in on their trip. They also told
Joshua about the woman who had
helped them. Joshua knew it was time
for him to move his people
into the Promised Land.
At the end of three days, Joshua told
his priests to take the Ark of
the Covenant, which contained
the Laws of God, and to carry
it to the Jordan River. As soon as
the priests feet touched the waters,
God caused the river to stop flowing.
All the Israelites crossed the
dry river bed. When the last of the
Israelites had crossed the river,
the priests came across. As soon
as they lifted there feet from the
dry river bed the water began
to flow again.
Joshua had his people make
camp outside the city of Jericho.
This city was protected on all
sides by great wall. God commanded
Joshua to have his people march
around the city. They marched for
6 days. The priests carried the Ark
of the Covenant and blew trumpets
made of rams horns. The only
sound that was heard was the
sound of the trumpets. Joshua
had commanded his people to
be absolutely silent.
On the seventh day, Joshua had his
people march around the city
7 times. On the 7th time, when the
priests had blown their trumpets,
Joshua said to his people, "Shout:
for the Lord has given you the city."
The people all shouted together
and the walls of Jericho came
tumbling down.
The people of Israel went in and took
their city. They didn't harm the house
with the red cord in the window. The
home of Rahab, who had helped
Joshua's two men.
Joshua told his men to collect all the
gold and silver treasures in
the city. These would be put in the
temple as a dedication to God.
One man, by the name of Achan,
stole a bar of gold, some
silver, and a beautiful mantle and
hid them in his tent. This was a
direct violation of God's law. Because
of this deed, he caused many people
to suffer. When he was caught, he confessed,
and because of all the suffering and
pain he had caused his people, he
and his family were killed. And
a great pile of stones were put on
top of them.
The people of the neighboring city of Ai
were threatening to destroy the people
of Israel. Joshua once again led his
people in battle. He put half of his army
below the city of Ai and half of his
army above the city. When the King
saw the army below he led all
his people down in the valley below
to fight. In the meantime, the other
half of Joshua's army came out of
hiding and entered the empty city of Ai.
They set the city on fire. The people
of Ai had no place to go, and they were
all caught by the Israelites.
Joshua spent the rest of his life
dividing the Promised Land among the
people of Israel and helping them
overcome their enemies. All
the land which God had promised them
finally belonged to the Israelites. Joshua
reminded the people that if they did not obey
God's commandments they would lose
the Promised Land. This proved to be
true in the coming years.
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