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battle； insomuch； that when there wanted men to be killed； Joshua
slew their horses； and burnt their chariots and passed all over
their country without opposition； no one daring to meet him in
battle； but he still went on； taking their cities by siege； and
again killing whatever he took。
19。 The fifth year was now past； and there was not one of the
Canaanites remained any longer； excepting some that had retired
to places of great strength。 So Joshua removed his camp to the
mountainous country； and placed the tabernacle in the city of
Shiloh； for that seemed a fit place for it； because of the beauty
of its situation； until such thee as their affairs would permit
them to build a temple； and from thence he went to Shechem；
together with all the people； and raised an altar where Moses had
beforehand directed； then did he divide the army； and placed one
half of them on Mount Gerizzim； and the other half on Mount Ebal；
on which mountain the altar was； he also placed there the tribe
of Levi； and the priests。 And when they had sacrificed； and
denounced the ＇blessings and the＇ curses； and had left them
engraven upon the altar； they returned to Shiloh。
20。 And now Joshua was old； and saw that the cities of the
Canaanites were not easily to be taken； not only because they
were situate in such strong places； but because of the strength
of the walls themselves； which being built round about； the
natural strength of the places on which the cities stood； seemed
capable of repelling their enemies from besieging them； and of
making those enemies despair of taking them； for when the
Canaanites had learned that the Israelites came out of Egypt in
order to destroy them； they were busy all that time in making
their cities strong。 So he gathered the people together to a
congregation at Shiloh； and when they； with great zeal and haste；
were come thither； he observed to them what prosperous successes
they had already had； and what glorious things had been done； and
those such as were worthy of that God who enabled them to do
those things； and worthy of the virtue of those laws which they
followed。 He took notice also； that thirty…one of those kings
that ventured to give them battle were overcome； and every army；
how great soever it were； that confided in their own power； and
fought with them； was utterly destroyed； so that not so much as
any of their posterity remained。 And as for the cities； since
some of them were taken； but the others must be taken in length
of thee； by long sieges； both on account of the strength of their
walls； and of the confidence the inhabitants had in them thereby；
he thought it reasonable that those tribes that came along with
them from beyond Jordan； and had partaken of the dangers they had
undergone； being their own kindred； should now be dismissed and
sent home； and should have thanks for the pains they had taken
together with them。 As also； he thought it reasonable that they
should send one man out of every tribe； and he such as had the
testimony of extraordinary virtue； who should measure the land
faithfully； and without any fallacy or deceit should inform them
of its real magnitude。
21。 Now Joshua； when he had thus spoken to them； found that the
multitude approved of his proposal。 So he sent men to measure
their country； and sent with them some geometricians； who could
not easily fail of knowing the truth； on account of their skill
in that art。 He also gave them a charge to estimate the measure
of that part of the land that was most fruitful； and what was not
so good： for such is the nature of the land of Canaan； that one
may see large plains； and such as are exceeding fit to produce
fruit； which yet； if they were compared to other parts of the
country； might be reckoned exceedingly fruitful； yet； if it be
compared with the fields about Jericho； and to those that belong
to Jerusalem； will appear to be of no account at all； and
although it so falls out that these people have but a very little
of this sort of land； and that it is； for the main； mountainous
also； yet does it not come behind other parts； on account of its
exceeding goodness and beauty； for which reason Joshua thought
the land for the tribes should be divided by estimation of its
goodness； rather than the largeness of its measure； it often
happening that one acre of some sort of land was equivalent to a
thousand other acres。 Now the men that were sent； which were in
number ten； traveled all about； and made an estimation of the
land； and in the seventh month came to him to the city of Shiloh；
where they had set up the tabernacle。
22。 So Joshua took both Eleazar and the senate； and with them the
heads of the tribes； and distributed the land to the nine tribes；
and to the half…tribe of Manasseh； appointing the dimensions to
be according to the largeness of each tribe。 So when he had cast
lots； Judah had assigned him by lot the upper part of Judea；
reaching as far as Jerusalem； and its breadth extended to the
Lake of Sodom。 Now in the lot of this tribe there were the cities
of Askelon and Gaza。 The lot of Simeon； which was the second；
included that part of Idumea which bordered upon Egypt and
Arabia。 As to the Benjamites； their lot fell so； that its length
reached from the river Jordan to the sea； but in breadth it was
bounded by Jerusalem and Bethel； and this lot was the narrowest
of all； by reason of the goodness of the land； for it included
Jericho and the city of Jerusalem。 The tribe of Ephraim had by
lot the land that extended in length from the river Jordan to
Gezer； but in breadth as far as from Bethel； till it ended at the
Great Plain。 The half…tribe of Manasseh had the land from Jordan
to the city of Dora； but its breadth was at Bethsham； which is
now called Scythopolis。 And after these was Issachar； which had
its limits in length； Mount Carmel and the river； but its limit
in breadth was Mount Tabor。 The tribe of Zebulon's lot included
the land which lay as far as the Lake of Genesareth； and that
which belonged to Carmel and the sea。 The tribe of Aser had that
part which was called the Valley； for such it was； and all that
part which lay over…against Sidon。 The city Arce belonged to
their share； which is also named Actipus。 The Naphthalites
received the eastern parts； as far as the city of Damascus and
the Upper Galilee； unto Mount Libanus； and the Fountains of
Jordan； which rise out of that mountain； that is； out of that
part of it whose limits belong to the neighboring city of Arce。
The Danites' lot included all that part of the valley which
respects the sun…setting； and were bounded by Azotus and Dora； as
also they had all Jamnia and Gath； from Ekron to that mountain
where the tribe of Judah begins。
23。 After this manner did Joshua divide the six nations that bear
the name of the sons of Canaan； with their land； to be possessed
by the nine tribes and a half； for Moses had prevented him； and
had already distributed the land of the Amorites； which itself
was so called also from one of the sons of Canaan； to the two
tribes and a half； as we have shown already。 But the parts about
Sidon； as also those that belonged to the Arkites； and