Israel’s conquest of Canaan began with the miraculous fall of Jericho. They marched around the city, the priests blew their trumpets, the people shouted, and the walls fell down—all as God had promised.
But the great victory at Jericho was followed by a humiliating defeat at the city of Ai. Israel’s army was routed; three dozen soldiers died. Seeing this, “the hearts of the people melted and became as water.” Their leader, Joshua, was devastated. With clothes torn and head covered with dust in mourning, he fell on his face before God,…