Under Armed Guard, Jews Pray at Tombs of Joshua and Caleb

Joshua and Caleb, the two Israelite spies who had the courage to buck conventional wisdom and do what the Lord commanded by leading the people into the Promised Land, remain two of Israel’s most revered national heroes to this day.

Their burial places, however, are not easily accessible.

Traditionally, the two biblical leaders are buried at Joshua’s own inheritance at Timnath-serah, which is in the hill country of the Tribe of Ephraim. That area is today, of course, under the Palestinian Authority, and claimed as sovereign Arab land.

In order to pray there, religious Jews must obtain special permission and travel under heavy guard provided by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The tombs of Joshua and Caleb are regularly defaced by local Muslims, which is a violation of international law given that they are Jewish holy sites.