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we can hardly
hardly suppose that you； have been acquainted with the will of
God and have been hearers of those laws which he himself hath
given us； now you are separated from us； and gone to that
patrimony of yours； which you； through the grace of God； and that
providence which he exercises over you； have obtained by lot； can
forget him； and can leave that ark and that altar which is
peculiar to us； and can introduce strange gods； and imitate the
wicked practices of the Canaanites。 Now this will appear to have
been a small crime if you repent now； and proceed no further in
your madness； but pay a due reverence to； and keep in mind the
laws of your country； but if you persist in your sins； we will
not grudge our pains to preserve our laws； but we will pass over
Jordan and defend them； and defend God also； and shall esteem of
you as of men no way differing from the Canaanites； but shall
destroy you in the like manner as we destroyed them； for do not
you imagine that； because you are got over the river； you are got
out of the reach of God's power； you are every where in places
that belong to him； and impossible it is to overrun his power；
and the punishment he will bring on men thereby： but if you think
that your settlement here will be any obstruction to your
conversion to what is good； nothing need hinder us from dividing
the land anew； and leaving this old land to be for the feeding of
sheep； but you will do well to return to your duty； and to leave
off these new crimes； and we beseech you； by your children and
wives； not to force us to punish you。 Take therefore such
measures in this assembly； as supposing that your own safety； and
the safety of those that are dearest to you； is therein
concerned； and believe that it is better for you to be conquered
by words； than to continue in your purpose； and to experience
deeds and war therefore。〃
27。 When Phineas had discoursed thus； the governors of the
assembly； and the whole multitude； began to make an apology for
themselves； concerning what they were accused of； and they said；
That they neither would depart from the relation they bare to
them； nor had they built the altar by way of innovation； that
they owned one and the same common God with all the Hebrews； and
that brazen altar which was before the tabernacle； on which they
would offer their sacrifices； that as to the altar they had
raised； on account of which they were thus suspected； it was not
built for worship； 〃but that it might be a sign and a monument of
our relation to you for ever； and a necessary caution to us to
act wisely； and to continue in the laws of our country； but not a
handle for transgressing them； as you suspect： and let God be our
authentic witness； that this was the occasion of our building
this altar： whence we beg you will have a better opinion of us；
and do not impute such a thing to us as would render any of the
posterity of Abraham well worthy of perdition； in case they
attempt to bring in new rites； and such as are different from our
usual practices。〃
28。 When they had made this answer； and Phineas had commended
them for it； he came to Joshua； and explained before the people
what answer they had received。 Now Joshua was glad that he was
under no necessity of setting them in array； or of leading them
to shed blood； and make war against men of their own kindred； and
accordingly he offered sacrifices of thanksgiving to God for the
same。 So Joshua after that dissolved this great assembly of the
people； and sent them to their own inheritances； while he himself
lived in Shechem。 But in the twentieth year after this； when he
was very old； he sent for those of the greatest dignity in the
several cities； with those in authority； and the senate； and as
many of the common people as could be present； and when they were
come； he put them in mind of all the benefits God had bestowed on
them； which could not but be a great many； since from a low
estate they were advanced to so great a degree of glory and
plenty； and exhorted them to take notice of the intentions of
God； which had been so gracious towards them； and told them that
the Deity would continue their friend by nothing else but their
piety； and that it was proper for him； now that he was about to
depart out of this life； to leave such an admonition to them； and
he desired that they would keep in memory this his exhortation to
them。
29。 So Joshua； when he had thus discoursed to them； died； having
lived a hundred and ten years； forty of which he lived with
Moses； in order to learn what might be for his advantage
afterwards。 He also became their commander after his death for
twenty…five years。 He was a man that wanted not wisdom nor
eloquence to declare his intentions to the people； but very
eminent on both accounts。 He was of great courage and magnanimity
in action and in dangers； and very sagacious in procuring the
peace of the people； and of great virtue at all proper seasons。
He was buried in the city of Timnab； of the tribe of Ephraim （9）
About the same time died Eleazar the high priest； leaving the
high priesthood to his son Phineas。 His monument also； and
sepulcher； are in the city of Gabatha。
CHAPTER 2。
How； After The Death Of Joshua Their Commander； The Israelites
Transgressed The Laws Of Their Country； And Experienced Great
Afflictions； And When There Was A Sedition Arisen； The Tribe Of
Benjamin Was Destroyed Excepting Only Six Hundred Men。
1。 After the death of Joshua and Eleazar； Phineas prophesied；
（10） that according to God's will they should commit the
government to the tribe of Judah； and that this tribe should
destroy the race of the Canaanites； for then the people were
concerned to learn what was the will of God。 They also took to
their assistance the tribe of Simeon； but upon this condition；
that when those that had been tributary to the tribe of Judah
should be slain； they should do the like for the tribe of Simeon。
2。 But the affairs of the Canaanites were at this thee in a
flourishing condition； and they expected the Israelites with a
great army at the city Bezek； having put the government into the
hands of Adonibezek； which name denotes the Lord of Bezek； for
Adoni in the Hebrew tongue signifies Lord。 Now they hoped to have
been too hard for the Israelites； because Joshua was dead； but
when the Israelites had joined battle with them； I mean the two
tribes before mentioned； they fought gloriously； and slew above
ten thousand of them； and put the rest to flight； and in the
pursuit they took Adonibezek； who； when his fingers and toes were
cut off by them； said； 〃Nay； indeed； I was not always to lie
concealed from God； as I find by what I now endure； while I have
not been ashamed to do the same to seventy…two kings。〃 （11） So
they carried him alive as far as Jerusalem； and when he was dead；
they buried him in the earth； and went on still in taking the
cities： and when they had taken the greatest part of them； they
besieged Jerusalem； and when they had taken the lower city； which
was not under a considerable time； they slew all the inhabitants；
but the upper city was not to be taken without great difficulty；
through th