CHAPTER XVII.

JOSHUA.

AFTER the death of Moses, the Lord spoke to Joshua, the son of Nun, and told him that he was to lead the Israelites over the Jordan. And he said to him, As I was with Moses, so will I be with thee: I will not fail thee nor forsake thee. Be strong, therefore, and of good courage; be not afraid.

JOSHUA CHOSEN TO SUCCEED MOSES.

Joshua commanded the officers of the people to pass through the host and bid them prepare the food they would need; for in three days they would pass over the river Jordan and enter the land which God had given them.

Joshua had secretly sent out two spies to view the land of

Canaan; and they were to go as far as Jericho, and to bring back word of all they saw and heard. The spies went on their errand, and at night they came to the house of a woman named Rahab, and they lodged there. God put it in her heart to be kind to these strangers.

As soon as it came to the ears of the king of Jericho that men from the children of Israel had come in to spy out the

land, he sent at once to Rahab to have her give them up. But she had hid the two men on the roof of her house among some stalks of flax. And when the king's officers came to her she said that the men had been there but had gone away about the time of shutting the gate. Where they went, she said, she did not know, but told the officers if they made haste they would overtake them. So they went off toward the river Jordan, and shut the gate of the city after them,

As soon as the officers were out of sight, Rahab went up to the roof and told the spies that she knew that God had given them the land, and it was useless to fight against them.

She said to the spies, As I have been kind to you, be ye also kind to my father and mother, my brethren and my sisters, and save them from death. The men said that no harm should come to her or her people, if she told no one of their having been there. And when God gives us the land, they added, we will deal kindly and truly with thee. Then she let them down by a cord or rope through the window, for her house was part of the town wall. And she told them to go to the mountain, and hide there for three days, till the officers who had gone in pursuit of them returned, and afterward they might go on their way.

Before they left the spies told Rabab that when the children of Israel came into the land, she was to fasten the line of scarlet cord in the window through which they were let down, and bring all her family into the house with her. And so long as they stayed in the house they would be safe from all harm. But if she mentioned a word of this, the spies would not keep their word with her, and she and all in her house would surely be put to death.

She promised to do as they said, and bound the scarlet line in the window. The men went their way, and stayed in the mountain for three days, until those who were in pursuit of them returned to the city, and gave up the search. Then the spies came down the mountain, and went back to Joshua and told him of all that had taken place.

Joshua brought the children of Israel as far as the river Jordan, and then waited there for two or three days to get them in readiness to cross. And the officers went through the host, and told them when they saw the priests and Levites bearing the ark, they were all to leave their places and follow after it. By this they would know the way they were to go, for they had never passed this way before.

The Lord said to Joshua, This day will I exalt thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee. Command the priests who bear the ark to stand still in the river Jordan.

Joshua spoke to the children of Israel, and told them of the wonderful things that God meant to do for them. And he said, Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. Now, therefore, take twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, one from every

tribe. And it shall come to pass, as soon as the priests who bear the ark shall rest the soles of their feet in the Jordan, the waters will part and stand up in a heap. Jordan overflowed its banks at this season of the year, and the river was very high.

When they that bore the ark came to the river Jordan, and as soon as the feet of the priests touched the edge of the swollen stream, the waters were turned back, and the priests stood still until all the children of Israel had crossed over into the land of Canaan.

After the people had all gone over the priests followed them, and then the waters flowed into the river again, filling it up as it was before.

The children of Israel encamped at Gilgal, and ate of the food they had brought with them, and of the corn that grew in the land. There was no need for the manna to fall any more, as they were now in a land where there was plenty of food.

After this Joshua went out from the camp and came near to the city of Jericho. And behold there was a man standing