Page 174 - Bible History

JOSUE, THE COMMANDER OF THE IS ELITES 147
After three days, at God's command, Josue ordered the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant into the Jordan. As soon as they had set foot on the water, the course of the river stopped, and a dry path appeared. The priests carried the Ark to the middle of the river and remained standing there until all the Israelites had passed over.
Josue then appointed one
man from every tribe to return
to the Jordan, and to bring
back with him a large stone from the river bed. With these stones the Israelites built in the middle of the
riveramonumenttotheirmiraculouspassage. Twelve other stones Josue likewise ordered set up in the river where the Ark stood. After the monument was com- pleted, Josue commanded the priests to carry the Ark out of the river bed. As soon as they had done so, the river began once more to take its natural course.
On the western bank of the river, at a place called T ll Galgal, the Israelites pitched their camp. While in of
camp they celebrated the Feast of the Passover. The manna which God had provided for the Israelites every day during their long wanderings in the desert now ceased to fall. Their journey was ended.
Jericho was a strong city, but during the night an
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