own industry and devotion, Joshua replied that he had no questions
to ask, seeing that he had carefully studied the teachings of Moses.
Straightway he forgot three hundred Halakot, and doubts assailed
him concerning seven hundred others. The people threatened
Joshua's life, because he was not able to resolve their difficulties in
the law. It was vain to turn to God, for the Torah once revealed
was subject to human, not to heavenly, authority. (7) Directly after
Moses' death, God commanded Joshua to go to war, so that the
people might forget its grievance against him. (8) But it is false to
think that the great conqueror was nothing more than a military
hero. When God appeared to him, to give him instructions
concerning the war, He found him with the Book of Deuteronomy
in his hand, whereupon God called to him: "Be strong and of good
courage; the book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth." (9)

ENTERING THE PROMISED LAND

The first step in preparation for war was the selection of spies. To
guard against a repetition of what had happened to Moses, Joshua
chose as his messengers Caleb and Phinehas, on whom he could
place dependence in all circumstances. (10) They were
accompanied on their mission by two demons, the husbands of the
she-devils Lilith and Mahlah. When Joshua was planning his
campaign, these devils offered their services to him; they proposed
that they be sent out to reconnoitre the land. Joshua refused the
offer, but formed their appearance so frightfully that the residents
of Jericho were struck with fear of them. (11) In Jericho the spies
put up with Rahab. She had been leading an immoral life for forty
years, but at the approach of Israel, she paid homage to the true
God, lived the life of a pious convert, and, as the wife of Joshua,