Fire was thrown into Jericho [when it was] captured, yet not on the same day. For the part of that [day] which remained from midday on, and the whole ensuing night, and perhaps some part of the following day, the Israelites assigned to the slaughter of the townsmen, [and] to the killing of the flocks, herds, and beasts of burden; then, indeed, to the gathering of the gold, silver, and other metals, and to the carrying [of them] out into the camp. There was also, for whoever pleased, the opportunity of viewing the soon-to-perish city, and a little leisure was given. And so, on the following day, after a few hours of the day, [the city was] set afire on all sides and burned up. If anything by chance withstood the fire, this — by Joshua’s order — was dug out and demolished, says Josephus (book 5, ch. 1); and by the same Joshua was then pronounced that execration [curse] concerning it, of which [more] later. But because in various places hitherto the whole of this first month, Nisan, of the entry into the promised land has been [treated], it will be neither useless nor unpleasant, I think, to set out here a brief synopsis:
NISAN — the Month (full-width synopsis; ☉ = each week’s first day; “Sabb.” = the Sabbath; “azym.” = day of unleavened bread; “Cir./Circui.” = circuit)
| Day | Event (with cross-reference) |
|---|---|
| 1 | ☉ New Moon [Neomenia]. |
| 2 | The spies sent by Joshua (ch. 2, q. 5) — the first day of their hiding. |
| 3 | 2nd day of the spies’ hiding. |
| 4 | 3rd day of the spies’ hiding, and the same [as] the day of their return (ch. 2, q. 5, & pt. 2, q. 25); or at least their return was deferred to the following day, the 5th. |
| 5 | — |
| 6 | — |
| 7 | Sabbath. The promulgation of the precept concerning preparation for the crossing (ch. 2, q. 5). |
| 8 | ☉ |
| 9 | Departure to the bank of the Jordan (ch. 2, q. 5, & ch. 3, q. 2). |
| 10 | Crossing over the Jordan (ch. 2, q. 5; ch. 4, pt. 2, q. 2); the laying-out of the camp at Gilgal; the setting up of the 12 stones (ch. 4, pt. 3, q. 6). |
| 11 | Circumcision commanded and at once performed (ch. 5, q. 8). |
| 12 | — |
| 13 | — |
| 14 | Sabbath. The Passover, at evening (ch. 5, q. 28). |
| 15 | ☉ The beginning of the 41st year from the exodus out of Egypt — which year [is] the first of the entry into the promised land (ch. 4, pt. 2, q. 2); and likewise the 1st day of unleavened bread. |
| 16 | 2nd [day] of unleavened bread, & the Sheaf [Omer] offered (ch. 5, q. 22). |
| 17 | 3rd of unleavened bread; the cessation of the manna (ibid.). |
| 18 | 4th of unleavened bread. |
| 19 | 5th of unleavened bread. |
| 20 | 6th of unleavened bread. |
| 21 | Sabbath. 7th of unleavened bread. |
| 22 | ☉ The Jericho circuit [1st] (ch. 6, q. 29). |
| 23 | Circuit 2. |
| 24 | Circuit 3. |
| 25 | Circuit 4. |
| 26 | Circuit 5. |
| 27 | Circuit 6. |
| 28 | Sabbath. Circuit 7, & the storming of Jericho (q. 29 here). |
| 29 | ☉ The burning of Jericho (here, q. 31). |
| 30 | — |