patriarchs and prophets-第125章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
city was virtually the key to the whole country； and it would present a
formidable obstacle to the success of Israel。 Joshua therefore sent two
young men as spies to visit this city and ascertain something as to its
population； its resources； and the strength of its fortifications。 The
inhabitants of the city； terrified and suspicious； were constantly on the
alert；
483
and the messengers were in great danger。 They were； however； preserved by
Rahab； a woman of Jericho； at the peril of her own life。 In return for her
kindness they gave her a promise of protection when the city should be
taken。
The spies returned in safety with the tidings； 〃Truly the Lord hath
delivered into our hands all the land； for even all the inhabitants of the
country do faint because of us。〃 It had been declared to them in Jericho；
〃We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you； when
ye came out of Egypt； and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites；
that were on the other side Jordan； Sihon and Og； whom ye utterly destroyed。
And as soon as we had heard these things； our hearts did melt； neither did
there remain any more courage in any man； because of you： for the Lord your
God； He is God in heaven above； and in earth beneath。〃
Orders were now issued to make ready for an advance。 The people were to
prepare a three days' supply of food； and the army was to be put in
readiness for battle。 All heartily acquiesced in the plans of their leader
and assured him of their confidence and support： 〃All that thou commandest
us we will do； and whithersoever thou sendest us； we will go。 According as
we hearkened unto Moses in all things； so will we hearken unto thee： only
the Lord thy God be with thee； as He was with Moses。〃
Leaving their encampment in the acacia groves of Shittim； the host descended
to the border of the Jordan。 All knew； however； that without divine aid they
could not hope to make the passage。 At this time of the yearin the spring
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
484
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
485
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
486
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 Hi
