patriarchs and prophets-第132章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Canaan； and had appointed a prince from each tribe to attend to the
distribution。 The tribe of Levi； being devoted to the sanctuary service； was
not counted in this allotment； but forty…eight cities in different parts of
the country were assigned the Levites as their inheritance。
Before the distribution of the land had been entered upon； Caleb；
accompanied by the heads of his tribe； came forward with a special claim。
Except Joshua； Caleb was now the oldest man in Israel。 Caleb and Joshua were
the only ones among the spies who had brought a good report of the Land of
Promise； encouraging the people to go up and possess it in the name of the
Lord。 Caleb now reminded Joshua of the promise then made； as the reward of
his faithfulness： 〃The land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine
inheritance； and thy children's forever； because thou hast wholly followed
the Lord。〃 He therefore presented a request that Hebron he given him for a
possession。 Here had been for many years the home of Abraham； Isaac； and
Jacob； and here； in the cave of Machpelah； they were buried。
512
Hebron was the seat of the dreaded Anakim； whose formidable appearance had
so terrified the spies； and through them destroyed the courage of all
Israel。 This； above all others； was the place which Caleb； trusting in the
strength of God； chose for his inheritance。
〃Behold； the Lord hath kept me alive；〃 he said； 〃these forty and five years；
even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses： 。 。 。 and now； lo； I am this
day fourscore and five years old。 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in
the day that Moses sent me： as my strength was then； even so is my strength
now； for war； both to go out； and to come in。 Now therefore give me this
mountain； whereof the Lord spake in that day： for thou heardest in that day
how the Anakim were there； and that the cities were great and fenced： if so
be the Lord will be with me； then I shall be able to drive them out； as the
Lord said。〃 This request was supported by the chief men of Judah。 Caleb
himself being the one appointed from this tribe to apportion the land； he
had chosen to unite these men with him in presenting his claim； that there
might be no appearance of having employed his authority for selfish
advantage。
His claim was immediately granted。 To none could the conquest of this giant
stronghold be more safely entrusted。 〃Joshua blessed him； and gave unto
Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance；〃 〃because that he
wholly followed the Lord God of Israel。〃 Caleb's faith now was just what it
was when his testimony had contradicted the evil report of the spies。 He had
believed God's promise that He would put His people in possession of Canaan；
and in this he had followed the Lord fully。 He had endured with his people
the long wandering in the wilderness； thus sharing the disappointments and
burdens of the guilty； yet he made no complaint of this； but exalted the
mercy of God that had preserved him in the wilderness when his brethren were
cut off。 Amid all the hardships； perils； and plagues of the desert
wanderings； and during the years of warfare since entering Canaan； the Lord
had preserved him； and now at upwards of fourscore his vigor was unabated。
He did not ask for himself a land already conquered； but the place which
above all others the spies had thought it impossible to subdue。 By the help
of God he would wrest his stronghold from the very giants whose power had
staggered the faith of Israel。 It was no desire for honor or aggrandizement
that prompted Caleb's request。 The brave old
513
warrior was desirous of giving to the people an example that would honor
God； and encourage the tribes fully to subdue the land which their fathers
had deemed unconquerable。
Caleb obtained the inheritance upon which his heart had been set for forty
years； and； trusting in God to be with him； he 〃drove thence the three sons
of Anak。〃 Having thus secured a possession for himself and his house； his
zeal did not abate； he did not settle down to enjoy his inheritance； but
pushed on to further conquests for the benefit of the nation and the glory
of God。
The cowards and rebels had perished in the wilderness； but the righteous
spies ate of the grapes of Eschol。 To each was given according to his faith。
The unbelieving had seen their fears fulfilled。 Notwithstanding God's
promise； they had declared that it was impossible to inherit Canaan； and
they did not possess it。 But those who trusted in God； looking not so much
to the difficulties to be encountered as to the strength of their Almighty
Helper； entered the goodly land。 It was through faith that the ancient
worthies 〃subdued kingdoms； 。 。 。 escaped the edge of the sword； out of
weakness were made strong； waxed valiant in fight； turned to flight the
armies of the aliens。〃 Hebrews 11：33； 34。 〃This is the victory that
overcometh the world； even our faith。〃
1 John 5：4。
Another claim concerning the division of the land revealed a spirit widely
different from that of Caleb。 It was presented by the children of Joseph；
the tribe of Ephraim with the half tribe of Manasseh。 In consideration of
their superior numbers； these tribes demanded a double portion of territory。
The lot designated for them was the richest in the land； including the
fertile plain of Sharon； but many of the principal towns in the valley were
still in possession of the Canaanites； and the tribes shrank from the toil
and danger of conquering their possessions； and desired an additional
portion in territory already subdued。 The tribe of Ephraim was one of the
largest in Israel； as well as the one to which Joshua himself belonged； and
its members naturally regarded themselves as entitled to special
consideration。 〃Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to
inherit；〃 they said； 〃seeing I am a great people？〃 But no departure from
strict justice could be won from the inflexible leader。
His answer was； 〃If thou be a great people； then get thee up to the wood
country； and cut down for thyself there in the land
514
of the Perizzites and of the giants； if Mount Ephraim be too narrow for
thee。〃
Their reply showed the real cause of complaint。 They lacked faith and
courage to drive out the Canaanites。 〃The hill is not enough for us；〃 they
said； 〃and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have
chariots of iron。〃
The power of the God of Israel had been pledged to His people； and had the
Ephraimites possessed the courage and faith of Caleb； no enemy could have
stood before them。 Their evident desire to shun hardship and danger was
firmly met by Joshua。 〃Thou art a great people； and hast great power；〃 he
said； 〃thou shalt drive out the Canaanites； though they have iron chariots；
and though they be strong。〃 Thus their own arguments were turned against
them。 Being a great people； as they claimed； they were fully able to make
their own way； as did their brethren。 With the help of God they need not
fear the chariots of iron。
Heretofore Gilgal had been the headquarters of the nation and the seat of
the tabernacle。 But now the tabernacle was to be removed to the place chosen
for its permanent location。 This was Shiloh； a little town in the lot of
Ephraim。 It was near the center of the land； and was easy of access to all
the tribes。 Here a portion of country had been thoroughly subdued； so that
the worshipers would not be molested。 〃And the whole congregation of the
children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh； and set up the tabernacle
of the congregation there。〃 The tribes that were still encamped when the
tabernacle was removed from Gilgal followed it； and pitched near Shiloh。
Here these tribes remained until they dispersed to their possessions。
The ark remained at Shiloh for three hundred years； until； because of the
sins of Eli's house； it fell into the hands of the Philistines； and Shiloh
was ruined。 The ark was never returned to the tabernacle here； the sanctuary
service was finally transferred to the temple at Jerusalem； and Shiloh fell
into insignificance。 There are only ruins to mark the spo
