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.