Festival stamps 5743 (1982)Festival stamps 5743 (1982)

Festival stamps 5743 (1982)Festival stamps 5743 (1982)

  • Issue: August 1982
  • designer: M. Pereg
  • Stamp size: 30.8 x 30.8 mm
  • Plate no.: 38 - 41
  • Sheet of 15 stamps Tabs: 5
  • Printers: Government Printers
  • Method of printing: Photogravure

(IS 1.50) "Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them." Joshua 1:6.

Joshua, the son of Nun, was from his youth Moses' personal confidant and trusted friend. Stemming from the powerful tribe of Ephraim, he was singled out by the Lord to be Moses' successor as leader of the children of Israel. "Take thee Joshua.." the Lord told Moses, "and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation and give him a charge in their sight." Numbers (27:18-19).

A brilliant soldier, Joshua early on became commander of the Israelite forces, and by his tactical prowess soon defeated the Amalakites. His wisdom, however, did not confine itself to military matters, for he quickly developed statesmanlike qualities, fulfilling the divine trust placed in him.

Yet it was only after the death of Moses and the opening of the campaign to invade the land of Canaan that the Lord gave Joshua his unequivocal blessing. On the eve of crossing of the Jordan, he said to Joshua, "This day will/begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they mayk'ow that, as/was with Moses, so / wi/be with thee." (Joshua 3:7).

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(IS 5.50) "Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground." Joshua 4:22.

Joshua's first fateful action after assuming Moses authority was to cross the Jordan. Instructing the priests, according to the word of the Lord, to carry the ark of the covenant in front of ttie children of Israel towards the river, he told them to pause for a moment as soon as their feet touched the Jordan waters. Then Joshua prophesied, "the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon a heap," allowing the Israelites to cross dry-shod. (Joshua 3:13.)

After the people had passed over the drained river bed, Joshua chose twelve men, one from each tribe, and told them of God's commandment to "Take out of the midst of Jordan.. where the priests stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you." (Joshua 4:3).

These stones were later set up in Gilgal, the first Israelite camp across the river, as an everlasting memorial. Then, when the descendants of the children of Israel ask, 'What mean these stones?" their fathers will tell the miraculous story of the crossing of the Jordan - of how the Israelites, followed by the priests bearing the holy ark, safely reached the west bank and the waters renewed their flow.

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(IS 7.50) "And it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and.. shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat." Joshua 6:20.

Having crossed the Jordan, the Israelites encamped at Gilgal directly east of the walled city of Jericho, and celebrated the Passover there. Set among palm trees; fertile and with abundant water, Jericho was a rich prize for any invading army.

Again the Lord spoke to Joshua, directing him to attack the besieged town by encircling it with a procession of armed men, followed by priests, some carrying the ark of the covenant, and another seven each bearing a trumpet of rams' horns. This cavalcade was to encompass the city in a certain order over a period of seven days, then on the seventh day, after seven circuits, the priests blew a rallying blast on the trumpets, then "the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat."

Jericho was totally destroyed. The gold and silver objects recovered from the town, as well as the vessels of brass and iron, were placed in the treasury of the Lord, but the animals, and the men, women, and children within the walls were slain. Only the family and possessions of Rahab the innkeeper were saved, "Because earlier she had hid the messengers which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho." (Joshua 6:25).

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(IS 9.50) "Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon and thou, moon, in the valley of Ajalon." Joshua 10:12.

One of the many miracles associated with Joshua's leadership was that of the cessation of time during the battle against the five king of the Amorites. These five kings - the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Yarmuth, the king of Lachish and the king of Aglon - attacked the people of Gibeon for making a separate peace treaty with Joshua. They were particularly incensed with the Gibeonites because their city-state was a large and important one, of which it is written in Joshua 10:2, "Gibeon was a great city, one of the royal cities."

The Amorite kings brought up vast numbers of soldiers, and it seems that the fighting was not going well for the Israelites, so Joshua appealed to the Lord for help. He held back the twilight, and Joshua was able to reorganize his troops in full daylight until victory was assured.

Utterly defeated, the five kings fled and sheltered in a cave at Makkedah. Hearing this, Joshua said, "Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them,' (Joshua 10:18) while he dealt with the remnants of the armies. Later, Joshua ordered the kings brought to him, and he "slew them and hanged them on five trees." (Joshua 10:26).

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Festival stamps 5743 (1982)