
PEOPLE OF THE LAND
Selections from classical Torah sources
which express the special relationship between
the People of Israel and Eretz Yisrael
YEHOSHUA -
CONQUEROR OF THE LAND
Yehoshua, the disciple and successor of Moshe, led the
armies of Israel in the conquest of the land Divinely promised to the
Patriarchs.
The first challenge to the Israelite forces was the seemingly impenetrable
city of Jericho whose mighty walls defied any invader. The spies which
Yehoshua sent to investigate the morale of the city's defenders reported
that the defenders were so terrified in the wake of the miracles that
had taken place in the Exodus from Egypt that they would present no
obstacle once the walls were breached.
But such a feat could only be accomplished through a miracle. For seven
days Yehoshua led his forces on a march around the city walls. On the
seventh day those walls miraculously gave way and Yehoshua achieved
his first of many victories over formidable enemies.
"And the walls came tumbling down" is how the old spiritual
song described this miracle. Talmudic tradition, however, points out
that since the walls were as thick as they were high such a tumble would
have been meaningless. Instead, they sank into the earth with only a
small portion remaining above the surface to mark the miracle.
Love of the Land Archives
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Written by Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, Dean, Ohr Somayach Institutions
General Editor:
Rabbi Moshe Newman
Web Production: Binyamin Rosenstock
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