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Chapter LXXE.

THE CONQUEST OF THE LAND OF THE AMORITES.

THE children of Israel journeyed on towards the promised land, round the east borders of the country of Edom, and through the country of Moab, till they came to the land of the Amorites. Then they encamped on the border of the land of the Amorites, by the side of the river Arnon.

And Moses sent messengers to Sihon, the king of the Amorites, to ask him to let the children of Israel pass through his land. But Sihon said that he would not let them pass through.

Then the Lord spake unto Moses, and said, that He had given the land of the Amorites to the children of Israel; and He commanded that they should go forward, and take it, and possess the land.

Then Sihon, king of the Amorites, gathered all his people together, and came out into the wilderness, and fought against Israel. But the Lord

was with the children of Israel; and they conquered the Amorites, and slew Sihon their king, and his sons. And they took all the cities of the Amorites, and their villages, and they dwelt in them.

And Moses led the army of the children of Israel on to the land of Bashan. And Og, the king of Bashan, came out with all his people to fight against them. Then the Lord said unto Moses, "Fear him not: for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon, king of the Amorites."

So the children of Israel slew Og, the king of Bashan, and his sons, and all his people. And they took all his cities, and possessed his land.

Then all the children of Israel set forward from their camp by the river Arnon, and they pitched their tents in the plains of Moab, in the land which they had taken from the Amorites.

Numbers xxi. & Deut. iii.

The border of Edom was the land just outside the country of Edom.

Chapter LXXIE.

THE APPOINTMENT OF JOSHUA TO LEAD GOD'S PEOPLE AFTER MOSES' DEATH.

THE plains of Moab where the children of Israel were now encamped were very near to the promised land. But a broad river, called the Jordan, flowed between them and the land of Canaan.

While the children of Israel were in the plains of Moab, the Lord commanded Moses and Eleazar the priest to number the people. They were to take the number of all the men among the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upwards, who were able to go to war.

Then Moses and Eleazar numbered the people as God had commanded; and they found not one alive of those who had rebelled against God at Kadesh-barnea, and refused to go up against the land of Canaan. For the Lord had said of them, "They shall surely die in the wilderness." They all had died; and their children, who were then

too young to know good from evil, had now grown up. Of all the men whom Moses had led forth from the land of Egypt, Joshua and Caleb only were now alive; for they had served God faithfully, and had been obedient to His word.

Now Moses was yet alive: but God had said that he should not go into the promised land, because he and Aaron had sinned against Him at Meribah, when they struck the rock, and did not honour God before the people.

And while they dwelt in the plains of Moab, Moses besought the Lord to forgive him, and to let him enter the promised land. Moses prayed, and said, "O Lord God, I pray thee, let me go over and see the good land that is beyond Jordan.” The Lord would not grant the prayer of Moses. God would not let him go over the Jordan; but He said that Moses should go unto the top of a high mountain, called mount Pisgah, and should see from thence the land which He would give to the children of Israel.

Then Moses prayed the Lord to set a man over the children of Israel in his place, to rule

them, and to lead them as he had done," that the congregation of the Lord might not be as sheep which have no shepherd." And the Lord said unto Moses, "Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, and lay thine hand upon him; and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient."

And Moses did as the Lord commanded him; and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before the congregation. And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge as the Lord had commanded.

When Moses should die, Joshua was to lead the children of Israel in his stead. Joshua was not to go into the tabernacle of the Lord to speak with God as Moses had done. For Joshua was not of the family of Aaron, nor of the tribe of Levi. Eleazar, the high priest, was to ask counsel of God for him. And God said, that He would speak to Joshua by Eleazar the priest, and that

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