were before the Ark sound the trumpets, were to shout together with a great shout. So it was done. When the seventh day came, they marched silently six times around the city; but at the seventh turn , when the priests sounded the trumpets, all the people shouted, and instantly the walls fell [1] down. Every man went up by the place that was against him; and they took the city.
After many hard-fought battles, Josue at length made himself master of all the land of Chanaan. During this period he several times experienced the especial assistance of God. On one occasion he waged war against the five kings of the Amorrhites. The Israelites conquered and pursued their enemies. But night coming on would soon have put an end to the victory. Then Josue spoke to the Lord, in the sight of all the people: “Move not[2], O sun, toward Gabaon; nor thou, O moon, toward the valley of Ajalon.” So the sun stood still[3] in the midst of heaven. There was not, before nor after, so long a day.
Chanaan was divided[4] among the twelve tribes of Israel. The tribe of Levi[5] alone received no portion, as they lived on the tithes and sacrifices; but they received forty-eight cities in different parts of the country. The descendants of the two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasses, received each a portion of the land. Thus the country was divided among the twelve tribes[6]:
- ↑ The walls fell. Of course this was not the effect of the noise of the trumpets and shouting, but of the divine omnipotence.
- ↑ A love not. Josue, and Scripture generally, speaks here, as we do still, according to appearances; for, judging by what we see, it seems as if the sun moved round the earth.
- ↑ Stood still. God, in a wonderful way, prolonged the daylight, so that the Israelites were able to profit by their victory, and follow it up. The opposite miracle to this took place at our Lord's crucifixion, when the sun was darkened for three hours.
- ↑ Divided. Both east and west of the Jordan. Two tribes and a half, those of Reuben, Gad and half Manasses, lived to the east of the Jordan, the other nine tribes and a half to the west. The Tabernacle was set up at Silo, between Jerusalem and Sichem, and remained there for 300 years.
- ↑ Tribe of Levi. The priests and Levites received no land, for they were entirely devoted to God’s service, and were not to trouble themselves about agriculture &c. They received the tenth part of all wheat, fruits and clean beasts, and a certain portion of the sacrifices.
- ↑ Twelve tribes. As the tribe of Levi fell out in the division of the Promised Land, the number of twelve was restored by dividing the tribe of Joseph into two tribes. A counterpart to this is seen in the New Testament. When Peter was made the Chief Shepherd and Vicar of Christ on earth, St. Paul was called by God to fill up the number of the twelve Apostles.
