Story 62: Josh'u-a Conquers Southern Ca'naan; The Sun And Moon Stand Still; Thousands Killed By Hailstones IV

   While the sun hung in the Heavens near the western horizon, and while the Am'o-rites who still lived were fleeing to a smaller town nearby, Josh'u-a made an earnest prayer to the LORD. He asked that the sun and moon in the Heavens be made to stand still, and the waning day prolonged, until the last of the enemies of Is'ra-el had been put to death. A poet has described the prayer and its answer in these words:
               "Sun, stand thou still upon Gib'eon;
               And thou, Moon, in the valley of Ai'ja-lon.
               And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed,
               Until the nation had avenged themselves of their enemies."
   It is said that the day was prolonged to twice its usual length, until the Is'ra-el-ites had slain every soldier of the five united kings. The kings themselves were captured in a cave where they had sought to hide, and were brought before Josh'u-a. They were forced to submit to a custom of the times which may seem cruel to us. Certain princes of Is'ra-el pressed their feet upon the necks of the kings, thereby showing that humiliating defeat was sure to be inflicted upon all who opposed the conquest of Ca'naan by the Is'ra-el-ites. Then the unhappy kings were hanged on a tree, and after the sun had gone down they were buried in the cave where they had hidden.
   Then followed a new series of battles and victories in which five other important cities were destroyed by the Is'ra-el-ites. Before this triumphant campaign ended, the entire southern territory of Ca'naan was conquered by Josh'u-a. Then Josh'u-a and his army returnt to Gil'gal, leaving the banners of conquest floating over the entire land from Ka'desh-Bar'ne-a on the south to Ga'za on the north, and from the low-lands of the Med'i-ter-ra'ne-an on the west to the city of Gib'eon on the east.

Story 62: Josh'u-a Conquers Southern Ca'naan; The Sun And Moon Stand Still; Thousands Killed By Hailstones lll

   The kings of these four cities agreed to the request, and there marched against the city of Gib'eon an army of five nations combined. This army was so much greater in numbers and strength that the forces of the Gib'eon-ites were in grave danger of complete destruction. Terrified by the superior forces of the five nations which gathered before the city, the Gib'eon-ites sent an urgent appeal to Josh'u-a for help.
   Josh'u-a's response was prompt and wholehearted. He immediately led the host of Is'ra-el against the armies of the five united kings, marching all night in order to make an attack early the next morning. The distance from Gil'gal to Gib'eon was eighteen miles, but by daybreak there was an Is'ra-el-ite army numbering at least four hundred thousand ready to go into battle at once. In the meantime the LORD appeared to Josh'u-a in a vision and promised him success, saying to him, "I have delivered them into thy hand." Thus victory was assured before a single blow had been struck.
   In the battle which followed, the Is'ra-el-ites fell upon the armies of the Am'o-rite kings like a mighty avalanche rolling down a mountain. The Am'o-rites were slaughtered by the thousands as they fled before the attack, and they were too greatly terrified and confused to make a firm stand. Soon they rushed in mad retreat down the western pass from Gib'eon, pursued by the Is'ra-el-ites, and constantly growing weaker. Then they fled up the steep mountain slopes leading to Beth-Ho'ron, a few miles to the northeast.
   The Am'o-rites thought that they had found a place of security in this little city, But the hand of God soon struck them a heavier blow than that which they had just received from Is'ra-el. The LORD caused a great hailstorm to fall upon them, some of the stones weighing as much as a pound, and it is said, "more were slain by the hailstones of the LORD than by the swords of Is'ra-el." Just as the fire and brimstone had fallen from Heaven upon their ancestors in Sod'om and Go'mor'rah, so deadly weapons of ice now poured down upon the idolatrous Am'o-rites.

Story 62: Josh'u-a Conquers Southern Ca'naan; The Sun And Moon Stand Still; Thousands Killed By Hailstones ll

   It appears that this treaty had the approval of the LORD, for Saul, who was king of Is'ra-el several hundred years before, was severely rebuked for slaying a group of Gib'eon-ites. Although God condemned them to slavery for their lying and deception, He honored their faith. The league which Josh'u-a and the princes of Is'ra-el had made with them was confirmed and made by the LORD.
   It also appears that the occupation of these four cities without warfare was a great advantage to the Is'ra-el-ites. The cities were midway between strong heathen nations to the north and to the south; by occupying them, Josh'u-a was able to thrust his army like a wedge into the center of the unfriendly nations of the country. Thus the alliance of the Ca'naan-ites was broken up almost before it had gotten under way.
   Among the stronger cities of southern Ca'naan there were five which were held by different tribes of Am'o-rites. These were as follows: Je-ru'sa-lem, about twenty miles southeast of Gil'gal; He'bron, one of the most ancient and important cities of the country, located about twenty-five miles south of Je-ru'sa-lem; Jar'muth, about fifteen miles southwest of Je-ru'sa-lem; La'chish, about thirty-five miles southwest of Je-ru'sa-lem; and Eg'lon, which was just north of La'chish. The people who lived in all these cities, and in the smaller towns which formed a part of each tribal territory, were noted for bravery and military skill.
   The king of Je-ru'sa-lem feared that he would be the next to be attacked by Josh'u-a, for his city and territory was nearest to the encampment of Is'ra-el at Gil'gal, and to the royal city of the Gib'eon-ites who had formed a league of peace with the Is'ra-el-ites. He sent an urgent request to the kings of all these other cities to join him in battle against the Gib'eon-ites, thinking that by conquering and occupying the cities of Gib'eon he and his allies would be in a better position to defend Je-ru'sa-lem. In asking for this alliance the king of Je-ru'sa-lem was moved by fear, and by a spirit of revenge. He felt that he was unable to defeat the Is'ra-el-ites, that the Gib'eon-ites who had allied with Is'ra-el should be punished as traitors to the cause of the heathen nations of the land, and that the best way to withstand the Is'ra-el-ites was to conquer their allies.

Story 62: Josh'u-a Conquers Southern Ca'naan; The Sun And Moon Stand Still; Thousands Killed By Hailstones l

   The news of Is'ra-el's great meeting on Mount E'bal and Mount Ger'i-zim was soon spread among the various heathen nations of Ca'naan, and they began to seek some way of acting together to keep the chosen people of God out of their land. All the heathen tribes agreed that the victories of Is'ra-el over the Am'o-rites east of the Jor'dan, and the conquest of the lands of Mid'i-an and Am'mon had been won through the favor of God upon the He'brews. They also felt that the destruction of Jer'i-cho and Ai would have been impossible without the LORD'S help. They knew that the Covenant meeting in the mountains was held for the purpose of dedicating all Is'ra-el to God, and that He had promised to give them the entire land. Their determination to fight Is'ra-el was also a rebellion against God, for in opposing His chosen people they defied His power and rule.
   Among the heathen peoples there was one tribe which was impressed by the righteous cause of Is'ra-el, and which was so greatly moved by the fear of God that they deserted the other nations and sought an alliance with Is'ra-el. These people, who were known as the Gib'eon-ites, or Hi'vites, were known to be strong and courageous, but they realized that power and bravery can avail nothing in a fight against God.
   For some reason the Gib'eon-ites did not wish to make themselves known in their offer of alliance with Is'ra-el, so they adopted a clever disguise. A group of their wisest and most able men pretended to be common laborers who had come from a distant land. Wearing old, ragged clothing, and carrying torn wine-skins and moldy bread, thay came to Josh'u-a begging for mercy.
   They professed to have faith in God, showed great respect for the miraculous power which had blessed and protected Is'ra-el, and expressed a strong desire to join the people who had been shown such favor by the LORD. They even suggested that they become servants of the Is'ra-el-ites, promising to do whatever tasks that might be given them.
   Josh'u-a was deceived by the request of the Gib'eon-ites. Without knowing who they were, he and the elders of Is'ra-el formed a league with them and agreed to spare the lives of their people. A treaty of peace was then made without seeking the advice of the LORD, and the princes of Is'ra-el gave their word to abide by it.
   Three days later the Is'ra-el-ites found out that the Gib'eon-ites were close neighbors, and that they occupied four large and important towns directly east of Is'ra-el's encampment at Gil'gal. Then the Is'ra-el-ites declared that they were no longer bount by a treaty which had been gaint by trickery, and that the lives of the Gib'eon-ites should not be spared. But Josh'u-a and the princes of Is'ra-el replied, "We have sworn unto them by the LORD, the God of Is'ra-el; now therefore we may not touch them." The leaders of Is'ra-el felt that a solemn agreement should be kept, even though one of the parties to it has not acted in good faith.

Story 61: A'chan's Theft From God; The Defeat Of Is'ra-el At Ai lll

There is a great meaning in the fact that the mountains where this ceremony took place were exactly in the center of the land of Pal'es-tine. From Si'don, on the northern boundary, to Ka'deah-Bar'ne-a on the south; and from the Med'i-ter-ra'ne-an Sea on the west to the top of the mountain range of Gil'e-ad on the eastern boundary, the mountains of E'bal and Ger'i-zim are exactly at the half-way point. The renewal of the Covenant of Is'ra-el with God at this central point, and at the beginning of the conquest of Ca'naan, was a sign that the children of Is'ra-el would finally take possession of the entire land. It was also a sign of complete obedience to the Laws of God in every part of the land which He had given them.
   For many centuries after this wonderful ceremony the vicinity of these two holy mountains was the chief place of worship for the children of Is'ra-el. It was at Shi'loh that the Ark of the Cov'e-nant rested for a long period. The prophets of later times often spoke of the sacrifices offered in this neighborhood. Even in the closing years of the He'brew monarchy the history, tales, and legends associated with Mount Ger'i-zim competed in glory with those of Je-ru'sa-lem. In the days of our Sav'ior upon earth, the woman of Sa-ma'ri-a, said "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain."
   After the close of the ceremonies on Mount E'bal and Mount Ger'i-zim, which probably lasted for several days, the Is'ra-el-ites returnt to their encampment at Gil'gal. Josh'u-a continued his preparations for further combat with the heathen tribes which then occupied various parts of Ca'naan, and for the conquest of the entire land in the name of the LORD.

Story 61: A'chan's Theft From God; The Defeat Of Is'ra-el At Ai ll

   When the finger of God pointed him out as the guilty one, A'chan frankly confessed his sin at once. He said, "I have sinned against the LORD, and my guilt has been discovered before Is'ra-el. I stole a royal garment woven entirely of gold, an ingot of gold shaped like a wedge, and several pieces of silver. All these are hidden in my tent."
   Josh'u-a sent men to search the tent, and there they found all the articles mentioned by A'chan. The value of the silver and gold was between seven and eight hundred dollars, and the royal garment was probably worth even more. A'chan had really stolen from the LORD, for it had been commanded that everything taken in Jer'i-cho should be consecrated to His service.
   All the members of A'chan's family had known of his theft, and had probably aided him in hiding the stolen goods. For this reason they all received the same punishment as A'chan: they were stoned to death, and their bodies were burnt. The place where they were put to death was called A'chor, which means "trouble," and it was marked with a pillar of stones as a warning to all future generations.
   All Is'ra-el now knew that the disgraceful defeat at Ai had not been caused by the superior strength of the enemy, but by the sin of A'chan. A golden wedge sinfully hidden in the camp of Is'ra-el was more to blame for their defeat than the many swords of the warriors of a heathen city.
   Greatly encouraged by a special message from the LORD, Josh'u-a now planned a new attack upon the city of Ai. Soldiers were placed in strongholds at different points around the city, and the men of Ai were tempted to come out for battle. While these men were pursuing one group of He'brew soldiers, another group entered the city and set fire to it. The armies of Is'ra-el then turnt against the men of Ai in a great battle, and slew every one of them. The king was captured, and was later hanged upon a tree.
   Under special permission granted by the LORD, all the cattle, sheep, and other property captured in the city of Ai were given to the soldiers who had take part in the attack.
   After the destruction of Ai, the children of Is'ra-el continued their march across the mountains of central Ca'naan until they came to a place near the ancient city of She'chem. Here Josh'u-a built an altar of stones, and offered burnt sacrifices to God. All the children of Is'ra-el took part in the prolonged service of consecration which was then held.
   At the high place where the Is'ra-el-ites gathered for this service two high mountains faced one another, with a narrow depression between them. The mountain to the north was called Mount E'bal, and the one to the south was called Mount Ger'i-zim. Josh'u-a divided the tribes of Is'ra-el into two groups, placing six tribes on Mount E'bal, and the other six on Mount Ger'i-zim. He then read to the assembled Is'ra-el-ites the Laws which had been given to Mo'ses. When he read the warnings of God against disobedience, and related the judgments to be imposed upon those who failed to keep God's Law, the children of Is'ra-el who stood on the slopes of Mount E'bal shouted, "Amen!" Then he read the promises and words of blessing for those who obeyed the Laws of God, and the Is'ra-el-ites upon Mount Ger'i-zim also joined in saying "Amen!"
  

Story 61: A'chan's Theft From God; The Defeat Of Is'ra-el At Ai l

   The next place which Josh'u-a planned to capture was a town of the Am'o-rites called Ai. It was situated about twenty miles northeast of Jer'i-cho on the main road leading to the mountainous regions of the interior of Ca'naan. Ai was not fortified like Jer'i-cho, but it was the home of about twelve thousand people, and it must be taken before an attack could be made upon other towns in the district.
   Spies were sent to inspect the defenses of Ai, and to find the best way of attacking the town. They soon informed Josh'u-a that there would be no need of sending a large force against it. For this reason only three thousand men were sent to take the town. The men of Ai met this small force of Is'ra-el-ites in battle, and inflicted a crushing defeat upon them. Many of the Is'ra-el-ites were slain, others were captured, and the rest were driven back to their camp.
   When the news of this defeat spread through the camps of Is'ra-el the people were struck with terror. Josh'u-a was disappointed and sore at heart. He said, "Is-ra-el has been humiliated before the Ca'naan-ites and A'o-rites, and they will scorn our efforts to take this land." He and the elders of Is'ra-el gathered in the Sanctuary of the LORD for prayer. They tore their clothing and threw dust upon their heads, for in those days these were the signs of great mourning. Josh'u-a cried to the LORD, "What shall we do when the children of Is'ra-el turn their backs before their enemies?"
   The LORD appeared to Josh'u-a and told him that Is'ra-el's defeat was not because of the strength of their enemies, but because of weakness which had been caused by sin. "Someone among the Is'ra-el-ites," said the LORD, "has taken of the spoils of the conquest of Jer'i-cho which should have been consecrated to the LORD, and has used it for himself." Then he added, "No victory for Is'ra-el is possible until the thief has been found and punished."
   The LORD knew who the guilty man was, but He wished Josh'u-a to point him out before the Is'ra-el-ites in such a way that everyone in the camp would be convinced of his guilt. There must be no doubt in the mind of anyone as to the cause of Is'ra-el's defeat at Ai. The criminal himself must be made to realize the terrible wrong which he had committed, and to confess that his punishment was just.
   It is not clear exactly how the guilty man was found, but we know that the discovery was made by casting lots. It was learnt that the criminal was a member of the tribe of Ju'dah, that he was a descendant of Za'rah, who was one of the five sons of Ju'dah; that he was a member of the household of Zab'di (also called Zim'ri,) and that he was a son of Car'mi. At last the lot fell upon A'chan. Thus the finding of the criminal was marked with terrible certainty, for the LORD had directed the entire process.