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7:9-12; 20:30; Mark 13:1, 2). The term is used metaphorically of security
and safety (Isaiah 26:1; 60:18; Revelation 21:12-20). (See FENCE.)
•WANDERING of the Israelites in the wilderness in consequence of their rebellious fears to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14:26-35). They wandered for forty years before they were permitted to cross the Jordan (Joshua 4:19; 5:6).
The record of these wanderings is given in Numbers 33:1-49. Many of the stations at which they camped cannot now be identified.
Questions of an intricate nature have been discussed regarding the “Wanderings,” but it is enough for us to take the sacred narrative as it stands, and rest assured that “He led them forth by the right way” (Psalm 107:1-7, 33-35). (See WILDERNESS.)
•WAR The Israelites had to take possession of the Promised Land by conquest. They had to engage in a long and bloody war before the Canaanitish tribes were finally subdued. Except in the case of Jericho and Ai, the war did not become aggressive till after the death of Joshua. Till then the attack was always first made by the Canaanites. Now the measure of the iniquity of the Canaanites was full, and Israel was employed by God to sweep them away from off the face of the earth. In entering on this new stage of the war, the tribe of Judah, according to divine direction, took the lead.
In the days of Saul and David the people of Israel engaged in many wars with the nations around, and after the division of the kingdom into two they often warred with each other. They had to defend themselves also against the inroads of the Egyptians, the Assyrians, and the Babylonians. The whole history of Israel from first to last presents but few periods of peace.
The Christian life is represented as a warfare, and the Christian graces are also represented under the figure of pieces of armour (Ephesians 6:11-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; 2 Timothy 2:3, 4). The final blessedness of believers is attained as the fruit of victory (Revelation 3:21).