Midrasz do Jozuego 6:26

“It was during the days when the judges judged.” “Indolence casts into a deep sleep” (Proverbs 19:15) – because Israel were indolent in paying their respects to Joshua; that is what is written: “They buried him on the border of his inheritance…north of Mount Gaash” (Joshua 24:30). Rabbi Berekhya said: We reviewed the entire Bible and did not find a place named Gaash. What is Mount Gaash? It is because Israel was negligent [nitgaashu] in doing kindness for Joshua. At that time, the Land of Israel was being divided [among the tribes], and its division [i.e., the land] was too beloved to them. Israel were engaged in their labor; this one was occupied in his field, this one was occupied in his vineyard, this one was occupied in his olives, and this one was occupied with his planks [for construction]. “A deceitful soul will starve” (Proverbs 19:15)⁶This is the conclusion of the verse: “Indolence casts into a deep sleep, and the deceitful soul will starve” (Proverbs 19:5). – Israel was negligent [nitgaashu] in doing kindness for Joshua, and the Holy One blessed be He sought to bring an earthquake upon the world, upon all its inhabitants, as you say: “The earth shook [vatigash] and quaked” (Psalms 18:8). “A deceitful soul will starve” – because they were deceitful to the Holy One blessed be He: Some of them worshipped idols. Therefore, the Holy One blessed be He starved them of the divine spirit, as it is stated: “The word of the Lord was rare in those days” (I Samuel 3:1).
Another interpretation: “Indolence casts into a deep sleep” (Proverbs 19:15) – due to the fact that Israel was indolent about repenting during the days of Elijah, “casts into [tapil] a deep sleep” – prophecy proliferated. Proliferated? But you said tapil.⁷Tapil literally means ‘cause to fall’ or ‘cause to decline.’ It is as you say: The price of fruit has fallen.⁸Because the supply has increased, the price has declined. Rabbi Simon said: Like a person who says to another: ‘Here is a sack, here is a sela coin, arise and eat.’⁹In other words, prophecy was readily available, like buying produce. As Rabbi Derosa said: Six hundred thousand prophets arose for Israel during the days of Elijah; Rabbi Yaakov said: One million two hundred thousand. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Between Gevat and Antipatris¹⁰Gevat was at the southern border of Roman Judea and Antipatris at its northern border. This expression is a way of saying ‘throughout Judea.’ there were six hundred thousand towns, and there were no towns more corrupt that Beit El and Jericho; Jericho, because Joshua cursed it (see Joshua 6:26), and Beit El, because Yerovam’s calves were situated there (see I Kings 12:28–29). It is stated: “The disciples of the prophets who were in Beit El went out to Elisha” (II Kings 2:3). “Prophets” – prophets are no fewer than two.¹¹If in this corrupt city there were at least two prophets, presumably there were more elsewhere. Why were their prophecies not publicized? It is because they served no purpose for future generations. On this basis, say: Any prophecy that served no purpose for future generations was not publicized. But in the future, the Holy One blessed be He will come and bring them with Him, and their prophecy will be publicized; that is what is written: “The Lord my God will come, all the holy ones with You” (Zechariah 14:5).
“A deceitful soul will starve” (Proverbs 19:15) – because they would deceive the Holy One blessed be He: Some of them worshipped idols and some of them worshipped the Holy One blessed be He. This is what Elijah said to them: “How long will you waver between the two opinions” (I Kings 18:21)? “Will starve” – the Holy One blessed be He starved them during the days of Elijah, as it is stated: “By the life of the Lord [. . .] before whom I have stood [there will not be dew or rain during these years]” (I Kings 17:1). Another interpretation: “Indolence casts into a deep sleep” (Proverbs 19:15) – because Israel were indolent about repenting during the days of the judges, a deep sleep will be cast upon them. “A deceitful soul will starve” – because they deceived the Holy One blessed be He with some of them worshipping idols and some of them worshipping the Holy One blessed be He, the Holy One blessed be He starved them with a famine during the days of their judges.

(Fol. 113) (Josh. 6, 26) And Joshua charged the people with an oath at that time, saying, 'Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city, even Jericho; with the loss of his first-born shall he lay the foundation thereof, and with the loss of his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it. We are taught in a Baraitha: Any other city must not be built under the name of Jericho, and also Jericho shall not be rebuilt under another name, as it is said (I Kin. 16, 34) In his days did Chiel the Bethelite build Jericho; with Abiram, his first-born, he laid the foundation thereof, and with his youngest son, Segub, he set up the gates thereof. We are taught in a Baraitha: From Abiram, his first-born, the wicked, he should not have learned, but from Segub, his youngest, he should have learned. What have Abiram and Segub to do here? The Baraitha means this: For what reason is it written that Abiram was his first-born and Segub his youngest son? To learn that he buried all his children beginning from Abiram, the oldest, to Segub, his youngest son. And this wicked one should have learned not to continue the building after burying Abiram. Achab was his friend, and both he and Elijah came to console Chiel. The latter said to Elijah: "Is it a fact that Joshua's caution was to those who will rebuild Jericho even under another name, or any other city under the name of Jericho?" And Elijah answered: "Yea." Achab said: "How can it be supposed that Chiel's troubles were because of Joshua's caution, since even the caution of Moses his master does not affect, for it is written (Deut. 11, 16) Take heed to yourselves, etc… . and serve other gods … that there be no rain, etc. And although I am worshipping idols on every flower bed, and nevertheless rain comes to such an extent that it prevents me often from going and worshipping the idols, how then is it possible that the caution of Joshua his disciple should stand?" Immediately after this (I Kin. 17, 1) And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said unto Achab: 'As the Lord, the God of Israel, liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. He prayed and the key of rain was transferred to him. It reads further on (3) and (6) Go away from here … and the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning. Where did they get it? R. Juda said in the name of Rab: "From the kitchen of Achab." (Ib.) And it came to pass … that the brook dried up, tc. When he saw that the whole world was in trouble he went to Zarephath according to the Heavenly command, and it happened (17) that the son … fell sick, etc. And Elijah prayed again that the key of resurrection shall be given to him. And he was answered: "Thou knowest that there are three keys in heaven which are not entrusted to any authority, viz., the key of birth, of rain, and of resurrection. Now when the key of resurrection shall also be given to thee, thou wilt have two keys and heaven only one. Bring, therefore, the key of rain, and then thou wilt receive the key of resurrection." And immediately after this it is written (Ib. 18, 1) Go, show thyself to Achab, and I will give rain.

"And it shall be a heap forever": And thus is it written of Jericho (Joshua 26:6) "And Joshua swore … Cursed is the man … who shall arise and rebuild the city, Jericho." Do we not know that Jericho is its name? The intent is, rather, that it not be rebuilt and called by the name of a different city and that another city not be built and called "Jericho." (Ibid.)