The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-08-17

JO5uud 10 lmdRlno tudt tn6y were Ill
this time without practical forethought
as to the method of crossing. Joshua
may have been studying the problem
since his survey Of the country thirty
eight years before. 1t could not have
escaped his educated eye that the river
Zarethan. fifteen miles above the Jericho
ford was compressed into a gorge where
stoppags could be effected. What
travellers now report as simply curious
fact could not surely have escaped the
observation of Joshua and his engineers.
Ability to turn to decisive account such
popularity in the Jordan valley accords
with the military genius claimed by the
Hebrews for their great generals, Moses
and Joshua.
The final preparation for crossing was
made by the order that there should be
such penances fulfilled as would make
the people expectant and prayerful, and
that the tribes should arrange them
selves in orderly array. The priests
were directed to go with the ark to the
brink of the river, and there to wait.
When qe are come to the brink of the
mater of the Jordan, says the record.
ne shall stand still in Jordan. There
was thus to be readiness for the expect
ed moment when the Jordan river would
be stayed and the river-bed be dry.
2. Promise of an Open way
vs. 9-13.
A general order wes issued by Joshua
to the host. A critical and dangerous
undertaking was directly before the peo-
pie. The commander treasured them
that they could, in the might of the
courage born of their faith in God, drive
out all the inhabitants of Canaan, alike
the Canaanite or Lowlander of the Jor-
dan valley, the Hittite of the south, the
Hivite and Perizzite and Girgashite of
the north, the Amorite ranging the
mountains of the entire country, and
the Jebusite occupying the heights next
beyond Jericho. In order to achieve this
great success, for which the Israelites
had been preparing forty years, it was
of course necessary to cross the river.
Joshua declared to the Israelites the
astonishing news that on the next day,
the aodters of Jordan shall be cut off,
eUen the acaters that come doac,a from
above and theg shall stand in one heap.
The people were therefore to look for an
open way through the river, and be pre-
pared to enter it promptly and in good
order: The twelve tribes we're instruct
ed to select twelve representative men.
to head the tribes. The tribes were to
gather on the river side,-stretching
along the bank mile or more, it may be,
and be ready for simultaneous motion
when the signal for the forward move
ment was given.
Two things would be to the host in
dcative that the command to march
was no mistake.-frst, the subsiding of
the waters before their eyes, second, the
sight of the ark of the Covenant in the
hands of the priests. carried out into the
dry channel of the river.
3. The River Crossed,-vs. IA
II.
The people removed from their tents,
and gathered on the river shore in the
order provided for them. There was a
seemingly insuperable obstacle now to
be overcome. The Jordan, in the dry
season, was confined TO it's own channel,
about two hundred feet wide; it could
then be, aud was daily. safely forded.
But now, when the SHOWS of Hermon
were melting, the river was overlooking
its banks and spreading over the rich
intervals of the valley; and the width of
the river could be scarcely less than a
mile. Yet this wide and rushing torrent
was to be crossed.
The narrative states the fact that
gives us the clue to the situation. The
ioaters achich came doacn from dbove
stood, and rose up IN one heap, great
aooy off, at adam, the city that is beside
Zdrethdn: and those that aren't doacn
toaodrd the Ardbah. even the Salt Sea,
acre cholly cat off. This is declara-
ton that great way above, at place
called Adam near to Zarethan, the river
was blocked; SO that, for the time, no
water flowed in the valley toward the
Dead Sea and the Arabah.
And this. we are told by the explorers
of the Jordan valley, is proved by the
rocks not TO have been impossible or I'M
feasible. The river, at this place, below
a wide spreading intervale, narrows to
gorge. Near by are huge powders
which may be rolled into the gorge, and
smaller ones to fit the crevices; SO a
dam might be extemporized. The water
OVERLOOKING the banks above, would
make lake; the staying period would
thus be prolonged. 1t was no doubt.
hazardous thing to undertake. But
men of rare skill and courage had
planned the unique undertaking.
When the waiting host. numbering
according to the record two and half
millions. saw the water in the river act
ually cease to flow, and when they saw
the priests, bearing the ark, themselves
an army, according to the census, of more
than twenty three thousand. move out
into the river bed, the tremendous march