until they wholly failed. Then all the people passed over through the channel that was dried up. They pitched their tents before Jericho. On the following day they celebrated the Pasch, and having eaten of the fruits of the earth, the manna ceased to fall[1].
Jericho (Fig. 37) [2] was a strongly fortified city, capable of offering a long resistance. The children of Israel wished to take it, but they lost courage when they saw the height and strength of the ramparts. But the Lord, seeing their want of confidence, ordered Josue to bring together all the fighting men of Israel, and to march in deep silence around the city[3] once a day for six days, and on the seventh day go around the city seven times; and at the last time, all the people, on hearing the priests that
- ↑ Ceased to fall. Because the Israelites had reached the end of their wanderings in the desert, and would be able from henceforth to find sufficient food in the fruitful land of Chanaan.
- ↑ Jericho. Jericho was a strongly fortified town, and there were many fighting men inside to defend it. The Israelites were not provided with battering-rams, or any other implements for breaking down the walls, and were not accustomed to that kind of warfare. They did not, therefore, think it possible that they would be able to take a fortified city.
- ↑ Around the city. The repeated marching round Jericho convinced the Israelites both of the strength of the city and of the necessity of divine assistance.
