The Sword of the LORD

Jericho had now been conquered, utterly destroyed, and burnt to the ground.  The ascent up the pass to the central highlands of Canaan (which Jericho had protected) was now open to Joshua and the armies of Israel.  God had given Joshua a very unusual strategy for taking the mighty fortress city of Jericho which had been successful (miraculous actually).  All that stood between Israel and the less fortified cities in the highlands was the smaller walled city of Ai.  Just as Jericho was meant to protect the lower approach to the pass, Ai was situated to protect the top of the pass.  Once Ai was conquered, an advancing army could invade to the north and to the south picking off the weaker Canaanite cities that were built along the Judean Hills. After Jericho was overthrown, Joshua sent out spies to view Ai and gather intelligence that would help them in forming a battle plan.  When these men returned, they advised Joshua not to send his whole force against Ai because it was a small

“Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.  And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour." (Joshua 6:1, 2). Jericho was Israel's first real test of faith after God delivered them across the swollen waters of the Jordan River.  Considered to be the oldest inhabited city in the world, it sat just west of the Jordan River on an ancient trade route that led to Damascus.  It was strategically situated at the pass that led up to the central highlands which ran north and south along the heart of Canaan, and was well fortified against its enemies.  It had a double wall that was 30 feet tall.  The outer wall was 6 feet thick, and after a space of 15 feet, the inner wall was 12 feet thick.  These walls were massive and virtually impervious to frontal assault.  Once Jericho was conquered, Israel would be able to ascend up the pass and divide the

“Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.   But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. ” (1 Corinthians 10:1-5). There are many references throughout scripture to a place called simply “the wilderness.”   Some of those references are to a literal place of desolation such as the wilderness of Sinai where God led the Israelites after they were delivered from Egypt, or the wilderness where Jesus was led by the Spirit to be tempted after He was baptized.   Other references to the wilderness seem to indicate a figurative place where God’s children are led to be proven and their faith to be tried.   It is appare