110–112. BOOK VI. JOSHUA AND THE CONQUEST OF WESTERN PALESTINE. CHAPTER I. _THE PASSAGE OF THE JORDAN AND FALL OF JERICHO._ JOSH. I.–VI. B.C. 1451. JOSHUA, the son of Nun, of the powerful tribe of Ephraim, had, as we have seen, been already selected as the successor of Moses, and the leader of the Israelitish forces. When, therefore, the thirty days of mourning for that eminent servant of God were ended (Deut. xxxiv. 8), he was encouraged by the Lord to undertake the task of conquest, which now devolved upon him, and was assured of complete success, if careful to observe the commandments of the Law. Accordingly preparations were made for the enterprise without delay; provisions for three days were issued to the host, and the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, already located on the eastern side of the Jordan, were reminded of their promise to accompany their brethren, and share the perils and hardships of the campaign. Illustration: THE HOLY LAND divided among THE TWELVE TRIBES _Stanford’s Geographical Establishment_ London & Cambridge Macmillan & Co. The general distribution of the nations now inhabiting western Palestine has been already described[143]. Along the valley of the Jordan, and a large portion of the plain of Esdraelon, as also the sea-coast, dwelt the CANAANITES proper or _Lowlanders_; the JEBUSITES held the strong fortress of Jebus (_Jerusalem_); the HITTITES Hebron and its vicinity; between the HITTITES and the Dead Sea were the powerful and warlike AMORITES or _Highlanders_; the HIVITES occupied the country about Gibeon and under Mount Hermon; the PERIZZITES the high plains under the range of Carmel; while in the extreme north dwelt a powerful chief, who bore the hereditary name of JABIN, or _the wise_. His fortress was at Hazor, somewhere on the high ground overlooking the waters of Merom, a strong and fortified position, and the principal city of that portion of the land. The first step to any complete subjugation of the country was the capture of the important city of Jericho, situated immediately opposite the camp of Joshua in a vast grove of noble palm-trees, nearly three miles broad, and eight miles long, which “must have recalled to the few survivors of the old generation of the Israelites the magnificent palm-groves of Egypt, such as may now be seen stretching along the shores of the Nile at Memphis[144].” It was a fenced city, enclosed by walls of considerable breadth, was the residence of a king, and not only contained sheep and oxen, but abounded in silver and gold, and vessels of brass and iron (Josh. vi. 24). From its position it was the key of Western Palestine, and “commanded the two main passes into the Central Mountains.”