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suggested to him。 He had a very graceful way of speaking and
addressing himself to the multitude； and as to his other
qualifications； he had such a full command of his passions； as if
he hardly had any such in his soul； and only knew them by their
names； as rather perceiving them in other men than in himself。 He
was also such a general of an army as is seldom seen； as well as
such a prophet as was never known； and this to such a degree；
that whatsoever he pronounced； you would think you heard the
voice of God himself。 So the people mourned for him thirty days：
nor did ever any grief so deeply affect the Hebrews as did this
upon the death of Moses： nor were those that had experienced his
conduct the only persons that desired him； but those also that
perused the laws he left behind him had a strong desire after
him； and by them gathered the extraordinary virtue he was master
of。 And this shall suffice for the declaration of the manner of
the death of Moses。
BOOK V。
Containing The Interval Of Four Hundred And Seventy…Six Years。
From The Death Of Moses To The Death Of Eli。
CHAPTER 1。
How Joshua； The Commander Of The Hebrews； Made War With The
Canaanites； And Overcame Them； And Destroyed Them； And Divided
Their Land By Lot To The Tribes Of Israel。
1。 When Moses was taken away from among men； in the manner
already described； and when all the solemnities belonging to the
mourning for him were finished； and the sorrow for him was over；
Joshua commanded the multitude to get themselves ready for an
expedition。 He also sent spies to Jericho to discover what forces
they had； and what were their intentions； but he put his camp in
order； as intending soon to pass over Jordan at a proper season。
And calling to him the rulers of the tribe of Reuben； and the
governors of the tribe of Gad； and ＇the half tribe of＇ Manasseh；
for half of this tribe had been permitted to have their
habitation in the country of the Amorites； which was the seventh
part of the land of Canaan； （1） he put them in mind what they had
promised Moses； and he exhorted them that； for the sake of the
care that Moses had taken of them who had never been weary of
taking pains for them no； not when he was dying； and for the sake
of the public welfare； they would prepare themselves； and readily
perform what they had promised； so he took fifty thousand of them
who followed him； and he marched from Abila to Jordan； sixty
furlongs。
2。 Now when he had pitched his camp； the spies came to him
immediately； well acquainted with the whole state of the
Canaanites； for at first； before they were at all discovered；
they took a full view of the city of Jericho without disturbance；
and saw which parts of the walls were strong； and which parts
were otherwise； and indeed insecure； and which of the gates were
so weak as might afford an entrance to their army。 Now those that
met them took no notice of them when they saw them； and supposed
they were only strangers； who used to be very curious in
observing everything in the city； and did not take them for
enemies； but at even they retired to a certain inn that was near
to the wall； whither they went to eat their supper； which supper
when they had done； and were considering how to get away；
information was given to the king as he was at supper； that there
were some persons come from the Hebrews' camp to view the city as
spies； and that they were in the inn kept by Rahab； and were very
solicitous that they might not be discovered。 So he sent
immediately some to them； and commanded to catch them； and bring
them to him； that he might examine them by torture； and learn
what their business was there。 As soon as Rahab understood that
these messengers were coming； she hid the spies under stalks of
flax； which were laid to dry on the top of her house； and said to
the messengers that were sent by the king； that certain unknown
strangers had supped with her a little before sun…setting； and
were gone away； who might easily be taken； if they were any
terror to the city； or likely to bring any danger to the king。 So
these messengers being thus deluded by the woman； （2） and
suspecting no imposition； went their ways； without so much as
searching the inn； but they immediately pursued them along those
roads which they most probably supposed them to have gone； and
those particularly which led to the river； but could hear no
tidings of them； so they left off the pains of any further
pursuit。 But when the tumult was over； Rahab brought the men
down； and desired them as soon as they should have obtained
possession of the land of Canaan； when it would be in their power
to make her amends for her preservation of them； to remember what
danger she had undergone for their sakes； for that if she had
been caught concealing them； she could not have escaped a
terrible destruction； she and all her family with her； and so bid
them go home； and desired them to swear to her to preserve her
and her family when they should take the city； and destroy all
its inhabitants； as they had decreed to do； for so far she said
she had been assured by those Divine miracles of which she had
been informed。 So these spies acknowledged that they owed her
thanks for what she had done already； and withal swore to requite
her kindness； not only in words； but in deeds。 But they gave her
this advice； That when she should perceive that the city was
about to be taken； she should put her goods； and all her family；
by way of security； in her inn； and to hang out scarlet threads
before her doors； ＇or windows；＇ that the commander of the Hebrews
might know her house； and take care to do her no harm； for； said
they； we will inform him of this matter； because of the concern
thou hast had to preserve us： but if any one of thy family fall
in the battle； do not thou blame us； and we beseech that God； by
whom we have sworn； not then to be displeased with us； as though
we had broken our oaths。 So these men； when they had made this
agreement； went away； letting themselves down by a rope from the
wall； and escaped； and came and told their own people whatsoever
they had done in their journey to this city。 Joshua also told
Eleazar the high priest； and the senate； what the spies had sworn
to Rahab； who continued what had been sworn。
3。 Now while Joshua； the commander； was in fear about their
passing over Jordan； for the river ran with a strong current； and
could not be passed over with bridges； for there never had been
bridges laid over it hitherto； and while he suspected； that if he
should attempt to make a bridge； that their enemies would not
afford him thee to perfect it； and for ferry…boats they had none；
… God promised so to dispose of the river； that they might pass
over it； and that by taking away the main part of its waters。 So
Joshua； after two days； caused the army and the whole multitude
to pass over in the manner following： … The priests went first of
all； having the ark with them； then went the Levites bearing the
tabernacle and the vessels which belonged to the sacrifices；
after which the entire multitude followed； according to their
tribes； having their children and their wives in the midst of
them； as being afraid for them； lest they should be borne away by
the stream。 But as soon as the priests had entered the river
first； it appeared fordable； the depth of the water being
restrained and the sand appearing at the bottom； because the
current was neither so strong nor so swift as to carry it away by
its force； so they all passed over the river without fear；
finding it to be in the very same state as God had foretold he
would put it in； but the priests stood still in the midst of the
river till the multitude should be passed over； and should get to
the shore in safety； and when all were gone over； the priests
came out also； and permitted the current to run freely as it used
to do before。 Accordingly the river； as soon as the Hebrews were
come out of it； arose again presently； and carne to its own
proper magnitude as before。
4。 So the Hebrews went on farther fifty furlongs； and pitched
their camp at the distance of ten furlongs from Jericho； but
Joshua built an altar of those stones which all the heads of the
tribes； at the command of the prophets； had taken out of the
deep； to be afterwards a memorial of the division of the stream
of this river； and upon it offered sacrifice to God； and in that
place celebrated the passover； and had great plenty of all the
things which they wanted hitherto； for they reaped the corn of
the Canaanites； which was now ripe； and took other things as
prey； for then it was that their former food； which was manna；
and of which they had eaten forty years； failed them。
5。 Now while the Israelites did this； and the Canaanites did not
attack them； but kept themselves quiet within their own walls；
Joshua resolved to besiege them； so on the first day of the feast
＇of the passover＇； the priests carried the ark round about； with
some part of the armed men to be a guard to it。 These priests
went forward； blowing with their seven trumpets； and exhorted the
army to be of good courage； and went round about the city； with
the senate following th