Story 66: Oth'ni-el And E'hud, Two Heroes Of Is'ra-el l

   It hardly seems possible that a people who had been so greatly honored by the LORD, and who had made such strong pledges of loyalty to Him, would soon fall into disgraceful idolatry and heathen wickedness. And yet this is exactly what happened within twenty or thirty years after the death of Josh'u-a. A people, chosen of God, highly privileged and well trained, became treacherous in heart and wicked in life. A nation which had been founded by special acts of Divine Providence and blessed with the noblest leaders of any age suddenly forgot the favors of God, fell into a state of idolatry, and disobeyed the known Will of God.
   Instead of driving the idolaters out of the land, the Is'ra-el-ites mingled with them even to the point of worshiping their false gods. The Covenant which they had solemnly made with God was rejected, the fear of God was cast off, His Laws were scorned or forgotten, and the worship which belonged to Him was given to lifeless images.
   Is'ra-el had avoided the danger of war with the heathens among them by forming sinful alliances, by accepting them as good neighbors, by entering into marriages which the LORD had forbidden, and by lowering their standards of religion. Because of these sins the LORD brought upon them a strong enemy from outside the land of the Is'ra-el-ites.
   Chu'shan-Rish-a-tha'im, who was king of Syr'i-a on the Eu-phra'tes, and who was a terror throughout the east, invaded the land of Is'ra-el with a great army. His name stood for lawlessness, violence, and cruelty, and he was called "the crime-committing Chu'shan." He ruled the rich country of Mes-o-po-ta'mia, which lay between the Ti'gris and Eu-phra'tes rivers, and dominated neighboring countries for hundreds of miles around.
   Traversing a distance of four hundred miles, this cruel king invaded the land of Is'ra-el from the east, and there followed one of the most tragic stories of the weakness caused by sin. The powerful host of God's people, before whom the armies of the Am'o-rites and Am'mon-ites had melted away like snow under a burning sun, trembled in fear of the invader from the far northeast. The mighty army which had routed more than thirty kings in Ca'naan quailed in dismay, and the soldiers turnt their backs in fright at the appearance of a single chieftain and his army from far away Syr'i-a.
   For eight years the Is'ra-el-ites were forced to live under the oppression of Chu'shan. They were treated  as though they were slaves, were beaten and tortured, and forced to pay heavy tribute to their masters. it was a period of terrible sufferings, of broken hearts and bruised limbs, and of unspeakable anguish as the people bowed under the iron rule of the dark prince of the house of Ham, notorious for his "double-wickedness." For their abandonment of God's Covenant they were abandoned by God, and were left to reap the natural result of their idolatry and wickedness.
  

Story 65: Josh'u-a's Closing Years; His Farewell Messages To Is'ra-el lV

   To this challenge the people of Is'ra-el responded with pledges of absolute loyalty to God, declaring that they would never forsake Him, or serve other gods. Thinking of all the Mighty works He had performed for them, they said, "There is no god like our God." With hearts full of gratitude for all that He had done for them, the people declared that they did not belong to themselves, to do as they pleased, but that they belonged to the God who had redeemed them as His very own.
   Josh'u-a then warned them that they could not serve God and at the same time worship idols. He declared, "Our God is Holy and jealous, and will not give or divide His glory with any other. You cannot serve Him in a half hearted manner, nor can you serve Him in your own strength."
   Although these words of Josh'u-a appeared to suggest that complete loyalty to God was beyond the strength of man, the Is'ra-el-ites replied, "Yes, but we will serve the LORD." They clung to their determination to be true to God and to refrain from every vestige of idolatry even more strongly and persistently than at first.
   This declaration of faith and loyalty to Him was accepted by the LORD on condition that the Is'ra-el-ites immediately put out of their hearts every tendency to serve other gods. Josh'u-a reminded them once more that God is jealous, and will accept no divided services of any kind. Truly, God is jealous of His own Glory, of the righteousness of His children, of the Supremacy of His Kingdom in the hearts and lives of His people, and of the influences which His people have over others. This jealousy is wholly unselfish, and is all-important in the happiness and welfare of God's children.
   After receiving these solemn pledges of constant allegiance and loyalty to God, Josh'u-a made a Covenant with the people. He also erected by the side of the Tabernacle in She'chem a stone memorial to the promises which had been given him. This monument was to serve as an everlasting reminder of the pledges given to God on this memorial occasion, and as a witness against Is'ra-el if they departed from the LORD.
   The people of Is'ra-el were sent back to their tribal homes, and soon afterwards Josh'u-a died and his body was buried on the border of Tim'nath. E-le-a'zar, the High Priest, died a short time later, and one by one the elders of Is'ra-el who had been associated with Josh'u-a also passed away. But Josh'u-a, though dead, continued to speak. His unselfish and holy life became an abiding power to hold those he had faithfully served steadfast in the faith. Through the gloom and heaviness caused by his death the radiant brightness of his noble character continued to shine.

Story 65: Josh'u-a's Closing Years ; His Farewell Messages To Is'ra-el lll

   Josh'u-a began his address by reminding the Is'ra-el-ites of their humble origin. Their ancestors before the Flood had been idol-worshipers. A'bra-ham's father was an idolater, but he had been chosen of God and called out of a land of idolatry. Under the grace and protection of God he had sojourned in the land of Ca'naan, and God had promised this land as a national home for his descendants. The patriarch's I'saac and Ja'cob had dwelt in the land of Ca'naan, and with each of them God had renewed the Covenant which he had made with A'bra-ham. Josh'u-a presented these facts as the basis of an appeal for humility, gratitude, and loyalty.
   He then spoke briefly of the two hundred fifteen years in E'gypt, and of the slavery into which the Is'ra-el-ites had fallen toward the end of that period. He reminded them of the love of God in giving them Mo'ses to lead them out of bondage in E'gypt, and to impart to them the Laws of God; of God's favor in giving them Aa'ron to direct their worship; and of the miraculous way in which God had cared for them and guided them during their forty years in the wilderness. It had been through God's help that they were delivered from the armies of E'gypt, from the superior forces of the Am'a-lek-ites, from the scheming of Ba'lak and the greed of Ba'laam, and from the powerful tribes of the Am'o-rites.
   The marvelous manner in which God had enabled them to conquer the warlike nations of Ca'naan was quickly reviewed. Strong enemies which might easily have defeated them had they been left to their own strength were overthrown by the LORD. Thirty-one strong heathen nations east of the Jor'dan had been subdued, and their lands and cities given to the Is'ra-el-ites for an inheritance. Under the gracious Providence of God they were now living in houses which they had not built, gathering fruits from orchards which they had not planted, enjoying the finest of grapes from vineyards on which they had bestowed no labor, and living in security under His continued Blessings.
   With these proofs that God had chosen as His people, with the record of four hundred and fifty years of miraculous favors from God in the past, and with the blessings which they now enjoyed as the basis of His appeal, Josh'u-a urged Is'ra-el to serve God with perfect sincerity. They were called upon to avoid every form of idolatry, and to serve and worship only the True God. Declaring his own allegiance to God, Josh'u-a challenged the faith of the others in these words, "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve."
  

Story 65: Josh'u-a's Closing Years; His Farewell Messages To Is'ra-el ll

   Looking to the future of Is'ra-el, he urged these leaders to be very courageous in doing all that God had commanded them, and assured them that the same God who had enabled them to conquer so much of the land would give them strength to drive out the heathens yet remaining within their borders. He earnestly warned them against joining in the idol-worship practiced by the heathens in their midst and in the neighboring countries. Just as their victories of the past had been won by holding fast to God, so their future triumphs would depend upon their obedience to Him and to His Commandments.
   Josh'u-a spoke very plainly in his warnings against any social or domestic alliances with the heathen families not yet driven out of Ca'naan. The Is'ra-el-ites must avoid the "snares and traps" of associating with such people, for, once they were ensnared by them, "scourges" would pierce their sides, and "thorns" would pluck out their eyes.
   Setting forth the love of God for them, he warned the people that love sinned against may be turnt into fierce anger. Mercy rejected has its counterpart in cold, stern justice. Transgression of the Holy Laws of God demands righteous indignation against the transgressor. Josh'u-a solemnly warned Is'ra-el that those who disobeyed God's Law would perish quickly.
   After delivering this message to the leaders of Is'ra-el, Josh'u-a lived quietly in his home for a few months before death finally came to him. He lived long enough to deliver a second and final message to all Is'ra-el. In his first message he had spoken in a personal and private manner, but in the second he spoke under direct inspiration from God. This address was delivered before the whole house of Is'ra-el as they assembled at She'chem, which was the exact center of the Holy Land.
   It was fitting for the last assembly of Is'ra-el to hear the voice of Josh'u-a to be held at She'chem. It was here that the Covenant was first given to A'bra-ham four hundred and fifty years before. It was in this vicinity that God appeared to Ja'cob in a vision by night and renewed the Covenant, and it was under an oak tree near this city that Ja'cob cast out the strange gods from his family. Twenty-three years before this assembly Josh'u-a had gathered all Is'ra-el on this sacred spot for the renewal of the Covenant which God had made with A'bra-ham and I'saac and Ja'cob, and for the public reading of all the laws of Mo'ses. Her God had promised to this generation the inheritance of the whole land of Ca'naan, and here the people had solemnly pledged their obedience to all His laws. How fitting, for Is'ra-el to be in a place of so many Holy memories to hear Josh'u-a's farewell address!

Story 65: Josh'u-a's Closing Years; His Farewell Messages To Is'ra-el l

   After all the tribes of Is'ra-el had been allotted their territories, and the borders of each had been clearly defined, a special inheritance was given to Josh'u-a. He had been foremost in the service of his country, but was last to receive a reward. Not until he had brought the whole nation into rich possessions would he accept a home for himself. The same meek spirit which had dominated his entire service in the wars of Is'ra-el prevailed in the division of the land which had been conquered.
   He asked of the High Priest E-le-a'zar and of the people that he be given the city of Tim'nath, an obscure place in the heart of the mountains of E'phra-im. Its chief fame in history is that it was founded and built by Josh'u-a, and that his body was buried in its vicinity.
   With the smile of God upon him, with the satisfaction of having done his work well, and with the gratitude of Is'ra-el for his faithful services, Josh'u-a retired to this quiet mountain home to spend his declining years. He was then about ninety-three years old, and for forty-seven years all his energy had been devoted to the welfare of Is'ra-el. Grown old at last, and weakened by the toils and hardships of the war in Ca'naan, he was entitled to rest. He had built a nation for Is'ra-el, and now under the kindly Providences of God he was permitted to build a humble city for himself. His strength was renewed, and so much of his former vigor restored that he lived to the ripe old age of one hundred and ten.
   Then his strength began to fail so rapidly that he knew the hour of his departure was near. In these moments of physical weakness his faith in God grew stronger, and his interest in the future welfare of Is'ra-el became more intense. He sent out an invitation for the elders, the princes and judges, and the leaders of various ranks in all the tribes to come to his home for a special message. A prompt response was given to this invitation, and a group which represented all Is'ra-el gathered to hear his message. He spoke not of the perpetuation of his own honor, but only of the preservation of Is'ra-el's integrity and faithfulness to God.
   In recounting his past services for Is'ra-el he boasted of nothing which he had done, but called attention to the miraculous manner in which God had fought for Is'ra-el. Nowhere in his message was there a word of self-esteem or self-praise. He spoke of himself only as a servant of God, and gave all honor to God as the Captain of the host of Is'ra-el. Every victory he had won was credited to the guidance and power of God. He had done nothing, but God had done everything.

Story 64: The Division Of Ca'naan Among The Twelve Tribes Of Is'ra-el VI

   Reu'ben, as the eldest son of Ja'cob, was entitled to the first rank among the tribes, and to a double share in the inheritance of Ca'naan. But he had lost those privileges by committing a great sin, and by leading a life which did not do him credit. Ja'cob therefore predicted that Reu'ben's descendants would hold a place of little importance in the inheritance of the twelve tribes.
   The territory allotted to Reu'ben by Mo'ses was on the east side of the Jor'dan and the Dead Sea, extending from the borders of Gad on the north to the land of Mo'ab on the south, and was about thirty miles wide. it was mountainous and well watered. Although the section lying along the Dead Sea was useless for human habitation or for pasturage, the remainder of this territory was well adapted to stock-raising, and was given to the tribe of Reu'ben because of these advantages.
   Two hundred and fifty years before the occupation of Ca'naan by the Is'ra-el-ites, Ja'cob had predicted that the tribe of Le'vi would be scattered throughout all the other tribes of the nation. Then, forty years before Is'ra-el entered the Promised Land, Mo'ses had directed that the male members of this tribe should be set apart for religious services as assistants to the priests, and that no inheritance or allotment be given to them. So, in the division of Ca'naan by Josh'u-a, no allottments were made to this tribe.
   Provision was made for them, however, in the appointment of forty-eight cities throughout the various tribes for their residence. While these cities were not owned by the Le'vites, nor occupied by them alone, enough houses were set aside to meet their needs. Provision was made for their support by requiring  the people of all the tribes to present tithes from their products of the land and from the increase of their sheep and cattle. Thus these religious workers were distributed throughout the land of Is'ra-el, and their needs were provided for so that all the people could be served by them.
   Having completed the allotments of territory for all the tribes of Is'ra-el settled west of the Jor'dan, and having confirmed the allotments made by Mo'ses east of the river, Josh'u-a solemnly warned the people that the Ca'naan-ites must be completely driven out of the territory allotted to each tribe. He then sent all the tribes to the territories to which they had been assigned, and took up residence in the special allotment which had been provided for him. He had faithfully served the interest of the Nation under Mo'ses for forty years; and for seven years he had led Is'ra-el in a continuous war in conquering much of the land of Ca'naan. He retired to a well earned and much deserved period of rest.

Story 64: The Division Of Ca'naan Among The Twelve Tribes Of Is'ra-el V

   According to the prophecies of both Ja'cob and Mo'ses, the descendants of Naph'ta-li were to be noted for vivacity, timidity, and mildness in manner. From them were to come men and women gifted with eloquence in both prose and poetry. Ba'rak was descended from this tribe, and most of the apostles of our Sav'ior who preached the Gospel with such power came from this region. To this tribe, with its 53,400 men over twenty, Josh'u-a allotted a large inland area north of Is'sa-char, with Zeb'u-lun and Ash'er on the west, and bordering on the river Jor'dan to the east. The southern projections and foot-hills of the famed Leb'a-non mountains extended into this area, giving it richness and fertility. Ha'zor, the capital city of Ja'bin, who led in the unsuccessful league against Is'ra-el, was located in this territory. On its southeastern border was the sea od Chin'ne-roth, later known as the sea of Gal'i-lee, around which the Sav'ior spent much of His public ministry.
   Ja'cob and Mo'ses had predicted that the tribe of Ash'er would enjoy great worldly prosperity. Their land was to be one of plenty, providing not only necessities, but dainties of the richest kind. At the time the allotments were made, Ash'er numbered 53,400 men over the age of twenty. To them was assigned a strip of territory along the coast of the Med'i-ter-ra'ne-an extending from Mt. Car'mel on the south to the city of Tyre on the north, and extending eastward for fifteen to twenty-five miles. This area was made up of low mountains and rich plains, well adapted to growing the finest grains. The mountains were rich in valuable minerals and oil. The whole country was covered with olive orchards, gardens of tropical fruits, and broad fields of wheat. It was from this rich district that Sol'o-mon, several centuries later, supplied food for his friendly neighbors in Tyre and Si'don. Ac'cho, the best seaport on the Med'i-ter-ra'ne-an coast, was situated at the southern end of Ash'er, and was the center of sailing and commerce by men from the tribes of Ash'er and Zeb'u-lun.
   The prophetic statements of Ja'cob and Mo'ses concerning the descendants of Gad indicated that these people were to be patient and persevering,  capable of strong resistance in war. They were also skilled in the occupation of stock-raising. To them Mo'ses had assigned a large territory east of the Jor'dan, extending from the borders of Reu'ben on the south near the northern end of the Dead Sea to the southern borders of Ma'nas-seh on the north near the southern end of the sea of Chi'ne-roth.. This tract was about thirty miles wide. It was well watered and adapted to stock-raising, and was so situated that the Gad'ites could join the people of Ma'nas-seh in resisting invasions of the wandering tribes of the Syr'i-an desert east of the borders of Is'ra-el.