CITIES OF REFUGE, ETC.

[1597-1451 B.C. Ramoth-was in Gilead, in the portion of Gad; it was not far from the Jabbok, and but sixteen miles from Rabbah; it was in after years the scene of many wars.

Golan-belonged to the tribe of Manasseh; it stood a short distance west of the lake of Galilee. The district around it was afterwards called Gaulonitis.

Kedesh-naphtali—a city, as its name imports, in the portion of Naphtali. Shechem-a city in the valley between mount Ebal and mount Gerizim. See Lesson 13.

Hebron a very ancient city, formerly called Kirjath-arba; it was in the inheritance of Judah. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob resided at Hebron, and it was a place of much importance in the later history of the Israelites.

Lebanon-white;' so called from its snow-capped summits: an extensive mountain range on the northern boundary of Palestine; it was celebrated for its cedars.

Meribah― strife;' one of the places where the Israelites encamped; it was on the western arm of the Red sea.

Nebo-one of the mountains in the Abarim range; it was opposite Jericho, and commanded an extensive view of the promised land.

Moab-the country on the east of the Dead sea. See Lesson 28.

Joshua succeeds Moses. Jericho is taken. Seventy souls of the house of Jacob went into Egypt when Joseph sent for his father, his brothers, and their families. Sixhundred-thousand Israelites left Egypt besides children. Of this large number only two, Joshua and Caleb, were permitted to enter into Canaan. After the death of Moses, Joshua became the leader of the Israelites as God had appointed; the Lord said unto Joshua, "Arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.... There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.... This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Joshua sent two spies to Jericho; and they came into Rahab's house, and lodged there.

THE PEOPLE ENTER CANAAN.

[1451-1095 B.C.

The king of Jericho heard of them, and he sent men to take them; but Rahab concealed the men, and afterwards let them escape through a window. Before the men left her house she told them that terror had fallen upon all the people of the land because of the Israelites; and she made them promise that when God should give the city into their hand, they would spare her life, and the lives of her parents, and brethren, and sisters.

The spies returned and told Joshua all that had happened. Early the next morning, Joshua and all the people removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan. The priests, carrying the ark of God, went forward, and the people followed. The river Jordan divided, and all the Israelites passed over. As soon as the priests and the people had reached the opposite side, the waters returned, and flowed as before. Twelve stones were set up as a memorial that the waters had divided for the Israelites to pass over. The Tribes encamped at Gilgal and kept the passover. They ate of the old corn of the land, and the manna ceased falling. The Canaanites were much afraid when they heard that God had dried up the waters of Jordan for the Israelites to pass over.

:

"The captain of the LORD's host," appeared to Joshua before Jericho, and gave him directions about taking the city. He said, "Ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him." These directions were obeyed, and the city was taken. Rahab and her family were saved. The city was burnt; and Joshua pronounced a curse on whomsoever should rebuild it.

PERIOD IV.]

ACHAN'S SIN AND PUNISHMENT.

Jericho was about six miles west of the Jordan, and twenty-two northeast of Jerusalem; it is called by Moses, "the city of palm trees."

Jordan- fast flowing;' the celebrated river of Canaan, which rises at the foot of mount Lebanon, and flows southward through the marshes, formerly called the waters of Merom; thence through the lake of Cinnereth; and thence southward to the Dead sea, into which it falls. Its length is about 150 miles.

Gilgal—'rolled off;' a city on the east of Jericho, about eighteen miles north-east from Jerusalem, and the place where the Israelites encamped after they had passed over the Jordan.

LESSON 31.

JOSHUA vii-xxii.

Achan's Sin and Punishment. The Gibeonites.

Achan, a man of the tribe of Judah, committed a trespass against God. He took from the spoils of Jericho, a Babylonish garment, two-hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold, which he hid in the earth, within his tent. For his sin, the Israelites were discomfited at Ai. Joshua then fell upon his face before the ark of the Lord, and said, "O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies! For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?" God told him of the sin that had been committed; and gave him directions for the discovery and punishment of the offender. Achan was discovered and put to death, and Ai was afterwards taken. Joshua then built an altar to God on Mount Ebal. The blessings of the law were pronounced from Mount Gerizim, and the cursings from Mount Ebal.

The inhabitants of Gibeon were afraid of the Israelites, when they heard what had been done to Jericho and to Ai; and they went to Joshua, in old shoes, and old clothing, pretending

DECEIT OF THE GIBEONITES.

[1451-1095 B.C.

that they had come from a far country. Joshua and the princes of Israel made a covenant of peace with them. Three days after, they found that the Gibeonites were neighbours, and that they had deceived them. The Israelites would not destroy them, but made them hewers of wood, and drawers of water, for the camp and the tabernacle of Israel.

Five kings encamped against Gibeon, because its inhabitants had made peace with Israel. Joshua went to assist the Gibeonites. At this battle the sun and the moon stood still at the command of Joshua, till the kings were conquered. The five kings fled to a cave at Makkedah. They were taken and hanged. Joshua also conquered many other kings of Canaan, and gave their land for an inheritance to Israel.

The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half tribe of Manasseh returned to the East of Jordan when Canaan was conquered. They built an altar near the Jordan, for a witness that they belonged to Israel. The other tribes feared that it would lead them into idolatry, but the tribes of Reuben and Gad said their altar was not for burntofferings, nor sacrifices, but for a witness: and they called it Ed.

Ai-a city of ancient Canaan, between which and Bethel Abraham pitched his tent, and built an altar.

Mount Ebal-a mountain in Ephraim, opposite mount Gerizim; in the valley between them was the ancient city of Shechem.

Mount Gerizim-a celebrated mountain in the tribe of Ephraim, near Shechem, in Samaria, and opposite to mount Ebal.

Gibeon the chief city of the Gibeonites; it was situated on a hill, about five miles north of Jerusalem. The Gibeonites were Hivites, and the only people of Canaan who made peace with the Israelites.

Makkedah-a city in the plain of Judah; it was one of the royal cities of the Canaanites.

East of Jordan-included the territory which belonged to Sihon and Og, but which was afterwards possessed by the Reubenites, Gadites, and halftribe of Manasseh.

Ed witness;' this altar stood on the eastern side of the Jordan, in Gilead.