Page 172 - Bible History

JOSUE, THE COMMANDER OF THE ISRAELITES 145
with Hesebon its capital, and Sehon its king. The Israelites were commissioned by God to destroy them. God said, "Thou shalt su er none at all to live, but shalt kill them with the edge of the sword, lest they teach thee to do all the abominations which they have done to their God, and thou shouldst sin against the Lord, thy God."
2. JOSUE CONQUERS THE LAND FOR THE ISRAELITES
Such was the country which was to become the home of the Israelites after forty years of wandering in the desert. They had to conquer the land and drive out the inhabitants. To do so, they used di erent kinds of weapons. They had the short, pointed sword, the spear, the bow and arrow, and the sling. For armor, the Israelites had shields and helmets made of leather or bronze. To besiege a city, they hammered with large beams against its gates and walls. Sometimes in order to capture a city they dug tunnels under its walls, or they threw torches over the walls, and set the city a re. Sometimes they coaxed the people out into the open, where they engaged them in hand-to-hand battle.
Before Josue crossed the Jordan, he sent two spies to viaw the city of Jericho and the land in its neighbor­ hood. He ·wished to learn the strength of the city before he attacked it. The spies were recognized and reported to the king. They were living in Jericho at the home of a woman named Rahab. When she heard that the king was sending his soldiers after the men
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J e's spies e d