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still preserved in the ark。 Now it had been again written where all could
read it。 All had the privilege of seeing for themselves the conditions of
the covenant under which they were to hold possession of Canaan。 All were to
signify their acceptance of the terms of the covenant and give their assent
to the blessings or curses for its observance or neglect。 The law was not
only written upon the memorial stones； but was read by Joshua himself in the
hearing of all Israel。 It had not been many weeks since Moses gave the whole
book of Deuteronomy in discourses to the people； yet now Joshua read the law
again。
Not alone the men of Israel； but 〃all the women and the little ones〃
listened to the reading of the law； for it was important that they also
should know and do their duty。 God had commanded Israel concerning His
statutes： 〃Therefore shall ye lay up these My words in your heart and in
your soul； and bind them for a sign upon your hand； that they may be as
frontlets between your eyes。 And ye shall teach them your children； 。 。 。
that your days may be multiplied； and the days of your children； in the land
which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them； as the days of heaven
upon the earth。〃 Deuteronomy 11：18…21。
Every seventh year the whole law was to be read in the assembly of all
Israel； as Moses commanded： 〃At the end of every seven years； in the
solemnity of the year of release； in the feast of tabernacles； when all
Israel is come to appear before the Lord thy God in the place which He shall
choose； thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing。 Gather
the people together； men； and women； and children； and thy stranger that is
within thy gates； that they may hear； and that they may learn； and fear the
Lord your God； and observe to do all the words of this law： and that their
children； which have not known anything； may hear； and learn to fear the
Lord your God； as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to
possess it。〃 Deuteronomy 31：10…13。
Satan is ever at work endeavoring to pervert what God has spoken； to blind
the mind and darken the understanding； and thus lead men into sin。 This is
why the Lord is so explicit； making His requirements so very plain that none
need err。 God is constantly seeking to draw men close under His protection；
that Satan may not practice his cruel； deceptive power upon them。 He has
condescended to speak to them with His own
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voice； to write with His own hand the living oracles。 And these blessed
words； all instinct with life and luminous with truth； are committed to men
as a perfect guide。 Because Satan is so ready to catch away the mind and
divert the affections from the Lord's promises and requirements； the greater
diligence is needed to fix them in the mind and impress them upon the heart。
Greater attention should be given by religious teachers to instructing the
people in the facts and lessons of Bible history and the warnings and
requirements of the Lord。 These should be presented in simple language；
adapted to the comprehension of children。 It should be a part of the work
both of ministers and parents to see that the young are instructed in the
Scriptures。
Parents can and should interest their children in the varied knowledge found
in the sacred pages。 But if they would interest their sons and daughters in
the word of God； they must be interested in it themselves。 They must be
familiar with its teachings； and； as God commanded Israel； speak of it；
〃when thou sittest in thine house； and when thou walkest by the way； when
thou liest down； and when thou risest up。〃 Deuteronomy 11：19。 Those who
desire their children to love and reverence God must talk of His goodness；
His majesty； and His power； as revealed in His word and in the works of
creation。
Every chapter and every verse of the Bible is a communication from God to
men。 We should bind its precepts as signs upon our hands and as frontlets
between our eyes。 If studied and obeyed； it would lead God's people； as the
Israelites were led； by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by
night。
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Chapter 47
League With the Gibeonites
From Shechem the Israelites returned to their encampment at Gilgal。 Here
they were soon after visited by a strange deputation； who desired to enter
into treaty with them。 The ambassadors represented that they had come from a
distant country； and this seemed to be confirmed by their appearance。 Their
clothing was old and worn； their sandals were patched； their provisions
moldy； and the skins that served them for wine bottles were rent and bound
up； as if hastily repaired on the journey。
In their far…off homeprofessedly beyond the limits of Palestine their
fellow countrymen； they said； had heard of the wonders which God had wrought
for His people； and had sent them to make a league with Israel。 The Hebrews
had been specially warned against entering into any league with the
idolaters of Canaan； and a doubt as to the truth of the strangers' words
arose in the minds of the leaders。 〃Peradventure ye dwell among us；〃 they
said。 To this the ambassadors only replied； 〃We are thy servants。〃 But when
Joshua directly demanded of them； 〃Who are ye？ and from whence come ye？〃
they reiterated their former statement； and added； in proof of their
sincerity； 〃This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses
on the day we came forth to go unto you； but now； behold； it is dry； and it
is moldy： and these bottles of wine； which we filled； were new； and； behold；
they be rent： and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason
of the very long journey。〃
These representations prevailed。 The Hebrews 〃asked not counsel at the mouth
of the Lord。 And Joshua made peace with them； and made a league with them；
to let them live： and the princes of the congregation sware unto them。〃 Thus
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 decept