Moses gave instructions to the Israelites before they entered Canaan, the land God promised to Abraham’s descendants. They were to build an altar, cover it with plaster and carve the law into it. When they finished they were to make burnt offerings of well-being on the altar. To enter the Promised Land the people had to cross the Jordan River. It was the time of the spring floods and the banks were overflowing. God held back the water so they could cross. Joshua had a man from each of the twelve tribes take one stone from the middle of the Jordan to build a memorial. The memorial was a reminder to the people that just as God held back the Red Sea on the Exodus, God held back the Jordan River. After Joshua led the people into the Promised Land he used the stones from the Jordan River to build the altar. In the background are the Hebrew people, the Israelites, moving into the country God promised to Abraham. Once they entered the Promised Land the twelve tribes of Israel were led by judges chosen by God. One of judges, the prophetess Deborah, is seen in the right background holding scales. She sat under a tree, the palm of Deborah, and the people came to her for guidance. Deborah also served Israel as a military leader.
