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Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams horns before the ark of the LORD.

And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LOR D.

And it came to pass when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trump is of rams horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets; and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.

And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rere-ward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.

And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout: then shall ye shout.

So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.

And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.

And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually,

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and blew with the trumpets; and the armed men went before them; but the rere-ward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.

And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the sity after the same manner, seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.

And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, shout, for the LORD hath given you the city.

And the city shall be accursed, even it and all that are therein, to the LORD; only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.

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But all the silver and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD; they shall come. into the treasury of the LORD.

So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets; and it came to pass when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.

But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied

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out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.

And the young men that were spies, went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had: and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.

And they burned the city with fire, and all that was therein only the silver and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD,

And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had : and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho he shall lay the foundation thereof in his first-born, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.

So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame was noised throughout all the country.

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS.

He who appeared to Joshua could be no other than the LORD GOD; for had it been one of the heavenly. host, he would not have received the adoration of Joshua, which was due to GoD alone. And we find that Joshua was commanded to shew the utmost reverence, by pulling off his shoes, as the place he stood on was sanctified by the appearance of the LORD of all things. Joshua gladly submitted to this heavenly commander, convinced that he was the same good Eeing who had guided

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and directed Moses; for no other could, in his own name, promise him the conquest of Jericho. Joshua was commanded to rely entirely on the LORD, and not to make the usual preparations for a siege, as the whole affair would be miraculous.

The proceedings of Joshua and the armies of Israel must have had a very strange appearance in the eyes of the enemy; but certainly nothing could be better calculated to give glory to God, from whose hand victory would come. The priests were God's ministers, and in His name they proclaimed war with the Canaanites. All the people were commanded to keep silence; and in order to exercise their patience, they were required to march round the city for six successive days: whether the seventh was the Sabbath or not, we are not told; most likely it was; but the Israelites could not be accused of violating the Sabbath, because they were employed in the immediate service of Gon, who had sanctified the day, and had lately shewn Himself visibly as PRINCE of the hosts of Israel.

What confusion must have ensued, when the walls of Jericho fell to the ground! and how must the wretched inhabitants have been dispirited! Now the people of Israel were perfectly convinced that no adversary, how formidable soever, could stand before the LORD; and that the strongest walls were no defence to those, who were for their wickedness devoted to destruction.

Rahab was not forgotten; the scarlet line was carefully looked for, and she and her friends were preserved. Then followed a most dreadful slaughter; men, women, and children, fell a prey to the wrath of God! It was now too late for them to expect mercy: they knew what had befallen Egypt; but they rejected the warnings of Heaven, defied the living GoD, and worshipped CREATURES, and so brought His justice upon themselves. VOL. II.

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The severe treatment of this city might likewise be intended to strike others with awe. By the expression, that the city and its inhabitants should be accursed is meant, that they should be exterminated, destroyed, and rooted out*. This curse upon Jericho was prophetic, as will appear in a future part of this history.

Rahab was afterwards married to Salmon, at that time head of the tribe of Judah.

SECTION XXXVIII.

THE PUNISHMENT OF ACHAN-THE CITY AI TAKENT.

THOUGH Joshua had given such strict injunctions to the people, not to take of the accursed thing, meaning such as they could not take without bringing the curse of GOD upon themselves (namely, things which were either devoted to destruction, or to be consecrated to the LORD), a man of the tribe of Judah, whose name was Achan, seized upon some of the rich plunder, and concealed it in his tent. Joshua, unsuspicious of his trespass, and in full confidence that the LORD would continue to bless the armies of His people with success, detached a small body of 3000 men only to attack the city of Ai. Contrary to his expectations they were defeated, a few of them slain, and the rest put to flight. This defeat struck a damp upon the courage of the people, and Joshua, being at a loss how to proceed, had recourse to God. The LORD informed him, (by Urim and Thummim, as is supposed) that His divine commands had been sacrilegiously infringed, and commanded him to have the offender punished with death. To find out the person who had taken the accursed Essay for a new translation, + See Joshua, Chap. vii. viii.

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