patriarchs and prophets-第130章
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requirements of the Lord。 These should be presented in simple language；
adapted to the comprehension of children。 It should be a part of the work
both of ministers and parents to see that the young are instructed in the
Scriptures。
Parents can and should interest their children in the varied knowledge found
in the sacred pages。 But if they would interest their sons and daughters in
the word of God； they must be interested in it themselves。 They must be
familiar with its teachings； and； as God commanded Israel； speak of it；
〃when thou sittest in thine house； and when thou walkest by the way； when
thou liest down； and when thou risest up。〃 Deuteronomy 11：19。 Those who
desire their children to love and reverence God must talk of His goodness；
His majesty； and His power； as revealed in His word and in the works of
creation。
Every chapter and every verse of the Bible is a communication from God to
men。 We should bind its precepts as signs upon our hands and as frontlets
between our eyes。 If studied and obeyed； it would lead God's people； as the
Israelites were led； by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by
night。
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Chapter 47
League With the Gibeonites
From Shechem the Israelites returned to their encampment at Gilgal。 Here
they were soon after visited by a strange deputation； who desired to enter
into treaty with them。 The ambassadors represented that they had come from a
distant country； and this seemed to be confirmed by their appearance。 Their
clothing was old and worn； their sandals were patched； their provisions
moldy； and the skins that served them for wine bottles were rent and bound
up； as if hastily repaired on the journey。
In their far…off homeprofessedly beyond the limits of Palestine their
fellow countrymen； they said； had heard of the wonders which God had wrought
for His people； and had sent them to make a league with Israel。 The Hebrews
had been specially warned against entering into any league with the
idolaters of Canaan； and a doubt as to the truth of the strangers' words
arose in the minds of the leaders。 〃Peradventure ye dwell among us；〃 they
said。 To this the ambassadors only replied； 〃We are thy servants。〃 But when
Joshua directly demanded of them； 〃Who are ye？ and from whence come ye？〃
they reiterated their former statement； and added； in proof of their
sincerity； 〃This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses
on the day we came forth to go unto you； but now； behold； it is dry； and it
is moldy： and these bottles of wine； which we filled； were new； and； behold；
they be rent： and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason
of the very long journey。〃
These representations prevailed。 The Hebrews 〃asked not counsel at the mouth
of the Lord。 And Joshua made peace with them； and made a league with them；
to let them live： and the princes of the congregation sware unto them。〃 Thus
the treaty was entered into。 Three days afterward the truth was discovered。
〃They heard that they were their neighbors； and that they dwelt
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among them。〃 Knowing that it was impossible to resist the Hebrews； the
Gibeonites had resorted to stratagem to preserve their lives。
Great was the indignation of the Israelites as they learned the deception
that had been practiced upon them。 And this was heightened when； after three
days' journey； they reached the cities of the Gibeonites； near the center of
the land。 〃All the congregation murmured against the princes；〃 but the
latter refused to break the treaty； though secured by fraud； because they
had 〃sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel。〃 〃And the children of Israel
smote them not。〃 The Gibeonites had pledged themselves to renounce idolatry；
and accept the worship of Jehovah； and the preservation of their lives was
not a violation of God's command to destroy the idolatrous Canaanites。 Hence
the Hebrews had not by their oath pledged themselves to commit sin。 And
though the oath had been secured by deception； it was not to be disregarded。
The obligation to which one's word is pledgedif it do not bind him to
perform a wrong actshould be held sacred。 No consideration of gain； of
revenge； or of self…interest can in any way affect the inviolability of an
oath or pledge。 〃Lying lips are abomination to the Lord。〃 Proverbs 12：22。 He
that 〃shall ascend into the hill of the Lord；〃 and 〃stand in His holy
place；〃 is 〃he that sweareth to his own hurt； and changeth not。〃 Psalms
24：3； 15：4。
The Gibeonites were permitted to live； but were attached as bondmen to the
sanctuary； to perform all menial services。 〃Joshua made them that day hewers
of wood and drawers of water for the congregation； and for the altar of the
Lord。〃 These conditions they gratefully accepted； conscious that they had
been at fault； and glad to purchase life on any terms。 〃Behold； we are in
thine hand；〃 they said to Joshua； 〃as it seemeth good and right unto thee to
do unto us； do。〃 For centuries their descendants were connected with the
service of the sanctuary。
The territory of the Gibeonites comprised four cities。 The people were not
under the rule of a king； but were governed by elders； or senators。 Gibeon；
the most important of their towns； 〃was a great city； as one of the royal
cities；〃 〃and all the men thereof were mighty。〃 It is a striking evidence of
the terror with which the Israelites had inspired the inhabitants of Canaan；
that the people of such a city should have resorted to so humiliating an
expedient to save their lives。
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But it would have fared better with the Gibeonites had they dealt honestly
with Israel。 While their submission to Jehovah secured the preservation of
their lives； their deception brought them only disgrace and servitude。 God
had made provision that all who would renounce heathenism； and connect
themselves with Israel； should share the blessings of the covenant。 They
were included under the term； 〃the stranger that sojourneth among you；〃 and
with few exceptions this class were to enjoy equal favors and privileges
with Israel。 The Lord's direction was
〃If a stranger sojourn with thee in your land； ye shall not vex him。 But the
stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you； and
thou shalt love him as thyself。〃 Leviticus 19：33； 34。 Concerning the
Passover and the offering of sacrifices it was commanded； 〃One ordinance
shall be both for you of the congregation； and also for the stranger that
sojourneth with you： 。 。 。 as ye are； so shall the stranger be before the
Lord。〃 Numbers 15：15。
Such was the footing on which the Gibeonites might have been received； but
for the deception to which they had resorted。 It was no light humiliation to
those citizens of a 〃royal city；〃 〃all the men whereof were mighty；〃 to be
made hewers of wood and drawers of water throughout their generations。 But
they had adopted the garb of poverty for the purpose of deception； and it
was fastened upon them as a badge of perpetual servitude。 Thus through all
their generations their servile condition would testify to God's hatred of
falsehood。
The submission of Gibeon to the Israelites filled the kings of Canaan with
dismay。 Steps were at once taken for revenge upon those who had made peace
with the invaders。 Under the leadership of Adonizedek； king of Jerusalem；
five of the Canaanite kings entered into a confederacy against Gibeon。 Their
movements were rapid。 The Gibeonites were unprepared for defense； and they
sent a message to Joshua at Gilgal： 〃Slack not thy hand from thy servants；
come up to us quickly； and save us； and help us： for all the kings of the
Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us。〃 The
danger threatened not the people of Gibeon alone； but also Israel。 This city
commanded the passes to central and southern Palestine； and it must be held
if the country was to be conquered。
Joshua prepared to go at once to the relief of Gibeon。 The inhabitants of
the besieged city ha
