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That this call had found a response in the hearts not only of Joshua, but also of the
people, appears from the answer of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, when
reminded of their obligation to share in the impending warfare of their brethren. While
professing their readiness to acknowledge in all things the authority of Joshua, they also
expressly made the latter conditional on the continued direction of Jehovah, and re-
echoed the Divine admonition to be "strong and of a good courage." So much does
success in all we undertake depend on the assurance of faith!
"For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let
not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord" (James 1:6, 7).
Thus directed and encouraged, Joshua gave orders that the people should provide
themselves with the necessary victuals to begin, if occasion should offer, their forward
march on the third day. In point of fact, however, it was at least five days before that
movement could be made. For Joshua had deemed it prudent to adopt proper
preparatory measures, although, or rather just because he was assured of Divine help,
and trusted in it. Accordingly he had sent, unknown to the people,^60 two spies "to view
the land and Jericho."^61 The reason of this secrecy lay probably both in the nature of
their errand, and in the sad remembrance of the discouragement which evil report by the
spies had formerly wrought among the people (Numbers 14:1). As the two spies
stealthily crept up the eight miles of country from the western bank of the Jordan to "the
city of palm trees," they must have been struck with the extraordinary "beauty and
luxuriance of the district. Even now there is a bright green oasis of several miles square
which marks the more rich and populous groves of Jericho."^62
Its vegetation is most rich and rare; almost every tree is tenanted by the bulbul or
Palestinian nightingale, with the "hopping thrush," "the gorgeous Indian blue
kingfisher, the Egyptian turtle-dove, and other singing birds of Indian or Abyssinian
affinity." "On the plain above are the desert larks and chats, while half an hour's walk
takes us to the Mount of Temptation, the home of the griffon, where beautifully plumed
partridges, rock-swallows, rock-doves, and other birds abound. But, beyond all others,
Jericho is the home of the lovely sun-bird,.... resplendent with all the colors of the
humming-bird" - its back brilliant green, its throat blue, and its breast purple, "with a
tuft of rich red, orange, and yellow feathers at each shoulder." The little streams - which
Elisha healed from its after curse - swarms with fish, while climate and prospect are
equally delicious in that early summer-like spring, when the spies visited it. And what
the wealth and beauty of this plain must have been when it was crowded with feathery
palms, and scented balsam gardens, we learn from the descriptions of Josephus (Ant.
xv. 4, 2). This paradise of Canaan was guarded by the fortress of Jericho - one of the
strongest in the whole land.^63 Behind its walls and battlements immense wealth was
stored, partly natural and partly the result of civilization and luxury. This appears even
(^)