patriarchs and prophets-第116节

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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　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