Lesson 4: Locations

Canaan: Canaan was the promised land that God had pledged to give to the Israelites, as mentioned in the Bible. It encompassed the region stretching from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, including modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and parts of Jordan and Syria.

In the time of Joshua, Canaan was inhabited by various Canaanite tribes and city-states, and it was characterized by a mix of agricultural settlements, fortified cities, and rugged terrain.

Jericho: Jericho was one of the earliest and most important cities in the ancient Near East. It was located in the Jordan Valley, near the modern-day city of Jericho in the West Bank.

In the time of Joshua, Jericho was a fortified city with high walls, making it a strategic stronghold.

It was the first city that the Israelites conquered upon entering the promised land, after the miraculous collapse of its walls.

Ai: Ai was another Canaanite city located near Jericho, in the central part of modern-day Israel. It was also a fortified city, though smaller in size compared to Jericho.

The Israelites initially suffered defeat at Ai due to disobedience to God's commands, but they later conquered it under Joshua's leadership.

Gilgal: Gilgal was an important site for the Israelites during their early years in the promised land. It served as their first campsite upon crossing the Jordan River into Canaan, and it was where they circumcised the new generation of Israelite males.

Gilgal also became a religious center where Joshua erected twelve stones as a memorial of their crossing the Jordan.

Shechem: Shechem was a city located in the central highlands of Canaan, near modern-day Nablus in the West Bank.

It was strategically positioned at the crossroads of major trade routes and served as a religious and political center.

Shechem held significance for the Israelites as it was where Joshua renewed the covenant with God and delivered his farewell address to the people before his death.