patriarchs and prophets-第131章
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Joshua prepared to go at once to the relief of Gibeon。 The inhabitants of
the besieged city had feared that he would reject
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their appeal； because of the fraud which they had practiced； but since they
had submitted to the control of Israel； and had accepted the worship of God；
he felt himself under obligation to protect them。 He did not this time move
without divine counsel； and the Lord encouraged him in the undertaking。
〃Fear them not；〃 was the divine message； 〃for I have delivered them into
thine hand； there shall not a man of them stand before thee。〃 〃So Joshua
ascended from Gilgal； he； and all the people of war with him； and all the
mighty men of valor。〃
By marching all night he brought his forces before Gibeon in the morning。
Scarcely had the confederate princes mustered their armies about the city
when Joshua was upon them。 The attack resulted in the utter discomfiture of
the assailants。 The immense host fled before Joshua up the mountain pass to
Beth…horon； and having gained the height； they rushed down the precipitous
descent upon the other side。 Here a fierce hailstorm burst upon them。 〃The
Lord cast down great stones from heaven： 。 。 。 they were more which died
with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword。〃
While the Amorites were continuing their headlong flight； intent on finding
refuge in the mountain strongholds； Joshua； looking down from the ridge
above； saw that the day would be too short for the accomplishment of his
work。 If not fully routed； their enemies would again rally； and renew the
struggle。 〃Then spake Joshua to the Lord； 。 。 。 and he said in the sight of
Israel； Sun； stand thou still upon Gibeon； and thou； Moon； in the valley of
Ajalon。 And the sun stood still； and the moon stayed； until the people had
avenged themselves upon their enemies。 。 。 。 The sun stood still in the
midst of heaven； and hasted not to go down about a whole day。〃
Before the evening fell； God's promise to Joshua had been fulfilled。 The
entire host of the enemy had been given into his hand。 Long were the events
of that day to remain in the memory of Israel。 〃There was no day like that
before it or after it； that Jehovah hearkened unto the voice of a man： for
the Lord fought for Israel。〃 〃The sun and moon stood still in their
habitation： at the light of Thine arrows they went； and at the shining of
Thy glittering spear。 Thou didst march through the land in indignation； Thou
didst thresh the heathen in anger。 Thou wentest forth for the salvation of
Thy people。〃 Habakkuk 3：11…13。
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The Spirit of God inspired Joshua's prayer； that evidence might again be
given of the power of Israel's God。 Hence the request did not show
presumption on the part of the great leader。 Joshua had received the promise
that God would surely overthrow these enemies of Israel； yet he put forth as
earnest effort as though success depended upon the armies of Israel alone。
He did all that human energy could do； and then he cried in faith for divine
aid。 The secret of success is the union of divine power with human effort。
Those who achieve the greatest results are those who rely most implicitly
upon the Almighty Arm。 The man who commanded； 〃Sun； stand thou still upon
Gibeon； and thou； Moon； in the valley of Ajalon；〃 is the man who for hours
lay prostrate upon the earth in prayer in the camp of Gilgal。 The men of
prayer are the men of power。
This mighty miracle testifies that the creation is under the control of the
Creator。 Satan seeks to conceal from men the divine agency in the physical
worldto keep out of sight the unwearied working of the first great cause。
In this miracle all who exalt nature above the God of nature stand rebuked。
At His own will God summons the forces of nature to overthrow the might of
His enemies〃fire； and hail； snow； and vapor； stormy wind fulfilling His
word。〃 Psalm 148：8。 When the heathen Amorites had set themselves to resist
His purposes； God interposed； casting down 〃great stones from heaven〃 upon
the enemies of Israel。 We are told of a greater battle to take place in the
closing scenes of earth's history； when 〃Jehovah hath opened His armory； and
hath brought forth the weapons of His indignation。〃 Jeremiah 50：25。 〃Hast
thou；〃 he inquires； 〃entered into the treasures of the snow？ or hast thou
seen the treasures of the hail； which I have reserved against the time of
trouble； against the day of battle and war？〃 Job 38：22； 23。
The revelator describes the destruction that is to take place when the
〃great voice out of the temple of heaven〃 announces； 〃It is done。〃 He says；
〃There fell upon men a great hail out of heaven； every stone about the
weight of a talent。〃 Revelation 16：17； 21。
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Chapter 48
The Division of Canaan
The victory at Beth…horon was speedily followed by the conquest of southern
Canaan。 〃Joshua smote all the country of the hills； and of the south； and of
the vale。 。 。 。 And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one
time； because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel。 And Joshua returned；
and all Israel with him； unto the camp at Gilgal。〃
The tribes of northern Palestine； terrified at the success which had
attended the armies of Israel； now entered into a league against them。 At
the head of this confederacy was Jabin； king of Hazor； a territory to the
west of Lake Merom。 〃And they went out； they and all their hosts with them。〃
This army was much larger than any that the Israelites had before
encountered in Canaan〃much people； even as the sand that is upon the
seashore in multitude； with horses and chariots very many。 And when all
these kings were met together； they came and pitched together at the waters
of Merom； to fight against Israel。〃 Again a message of encouragement was
given to Joshua： 〃Be not afraid because of them： for tomorrow about this
time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel。〃
Near Lake Merom he fell upon the camp of the allies and utterly routed their
forces。 〃The Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel； who smote them；
and chased them 。 。 。 until they left them none remaining。〃 The chariots and
horses that had been the pride and boast of the Canaanites were not to be
appropriated by Israel。 At the command of God the chariots were burned； and
the horses lamed； and thus rendered unfit for use in battle。 The Israelites
were not to put their trust in chariots or horses； but 〃in the name of the
Lord their God。〃
One by one the cities were taken； and Hazor； the stronghold of the
confederacy； was burned。 The war was continued for
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several years； but its close found Joshua master of Canaan。 〃And the land
had rest from war。〃
But though the power of the Canaanites had been broken； they had not been
fully dispossessed。 On the west the Philistines still held a fertile plain
along the seacoast； while north of them was the territory of the Sidonians。
Lebanon also was in the possession of the latter people； and to the south；
toward Egypt； the land was still occupied by the enemies of Israel。
Joshua was not； however； to continue the war。 There was another work for the
great leader to perform before he should relinquish the command of Israel。
The whole land； both the parts already conquered and that which was yet
unsubdued； was to be apportioned among the tribes。 And it was the duty of
each tribe to fully subdue its own inheritance。 If the people should prove
faithful to God； He would drive out their enemies from before them； and He
promised to give them still greater possessions if they would but be true to
His covenant。
To Joshua； with Eleazar the high priest； and the heads of the tribes； the
distribution of the land was committed； the location of each tribe being
determined by lot。 Moses himself had fixed the bounds of the country as it
was to be divided among the tribes when they should come in possession of
Canaan； and had appointed a prince from each tribe to attend to the
distribution。 Th
