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though the oath had been secured by deception； it was not to be disregarded。
The obligation to which one's word is pledgedif it do not bind him to
perform a wrong actshould be held sacred。 No consideration of gain； of
revenge； or of self…interest can in any way affect the inviolability of an
oath or pledge。 〃Lying lips are abomination to the Lord。〃 Proverbs 12：22。 He
that 〃shall ascend into the hill of the Lord；〃 and 〃stand in His holy
place；〃 is 〃he that sweareth to his own hurt； and changeth not。〃 Psalms
24：3； 15：4。
The Gibeonites were permitted to live； but were attached as bondmen to the
sanctuary； to perform all menial services。 〃Joshua made them that day hewers
of wood and drawers of water for the congregation； and for the altar of the
Lord。〃 These conditions they gratefully accepted； conscious that they had
been at fault； and glad to purchase life on any terms。 〃Behold； we are in
thine hand；〃 they said to Joshua； 〃as it seemeth good and right unto thee to
do unto us； do。〃 For centuries their descendants were connected with the
service of the sanctuary。
The territory of the Gibeonites comprised four cities。 The people were not
under the rule of a king； but were governed by elders； or senators。 Gibeon；
the most important of their towns； 〃was a great city； as one of the royal
cities；〃 〃and all the men thereof were mighty。〃 It is a striking evidence of
the terror with which the Israelites had inspired the inhabitants of Canaan；
that the people of such a city should have resorted to so humiliating an
expedient to save their lives。
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But it would have fared better with the Gibeonites had they dealt honestly
with Israel。 While their submission to Jehovah secured the preservation of
their lives； their deception brought them only disgrace and servitude。 God
had made provision that all who would renounce heathenism； and connect
themselves with Israel； should share the blessings of the covenant。 They
were included under the term； 〃the stranger that sojourneth among you；〃 and
with few exceptions this class were to enjoy equal favors and privileges
with Israel。 The Lord's direction was
〃If a stranger sojourn with thee in your land； ye shall not vex him。 But the
stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you； and
thou shalt love him as thyself。〃 Leviticus 19：33； 34。 Concerning the
Passover and the offering of sacrifices it was commanded； 〃One ordinance
shall be both for you of the congregation； and also for the stranger that
sojourneth with you： 。 。 。 as ye are； so shall the stranger be before the
Lord。〃 Numbers 15：15。
Such was the footing on which the Gibeonites might have been received； but
for the deception to which they had resorted。 It was no light humiliation to
those citizens of a 〃royal city；〃 〃all the men whereof were mighty；〃 to be
made hewers of wood and drawers of water throughout their generations。 But
they had adopted the garb of poverty for the purpose of deception； and it
was fastened upon them as a badge of perpetual servitude。 Thus through all
their generations their servile condition would testify to God's hatred of
falsehood。
The submission of Gibeon to the Israelites filled the kings of Canaan with
dismay。 Steps were at once taken for revenge upon those who had made peace
with the invaders。 Under the leadership of Adonizedek； king of Jerusalem；
five of the Canaanite kings entered into a confederacy against Gibeon。 Their
movements were rapid。 The Gibeonites were unprepared for defense； and they
sent a message to Joshua at Gilgal： 〃Slack not thy hand from thy servants；
come up to us quickly； and save us； and help us： for all the kings of the
Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us。〃 The
danger threatened not the people of Gibeon alone； but also Israel。 This city
commanded the passes to central and southern Palestine； and it must be held
if the country was to be conquered。
Joshua prepared to go at once to the relief of Gibeon。 The inhabitants of
the besieged city had feared that he would reject
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their appeal； because of the fraud which they had practiced； but since they
had submitted to the control of Israel； and had accepted the worship of God；
he felt himself under obligation to protect them。 He did not this time move
without divine counsel； and the Lord encouraged him in the undertaking。
〃Fear them not；〃 was the divine message； 〃for I have delivered them into
thine hand； there shall not a man of them stand before thee。〃 〃So Joshua
ascended from Gilgal； he； and all the people of war with him； and all the
mighty men of valor。〃
By marching all night he brought his forces before Gibeon in the morning。
Scarcely had the confederate princes mustered their armies about the city
when Joshua was upon them。 The attack resulted in the utter discomfiture of
the assailants。 The immense host fled before Joshua up the mountain pass to
Beth…horon； and having gained the height； they rushed down the precipitous
descent upon the other side。 Here a fierce hailstorm burst upon them。 〃The
Lord cast down great stones from heaven： 。 。 。 they were more which died
with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword。〃
While the Amorites were continuing their headlong flight； intent on finding
refuge in the mountain strongholds； Joshua； looking down from the ridge
above； saw that the day would be too short for the accomplishment of his
work。 If not fully routed； their enemies would again rally； and renew the
struggle。 〃Then spake Joshua to the Lord； 。 。 。 and he said in the sight of
Israel； Sun； stand thou still upon Gibeon； and thou； Moon； in the valley of
Ajalon。 And the sun stood still； and the moon stayed； until the people had
avenged themselves upon their enemies。 。 。 。 The sun stood still in the
midst of heaven； and hasted not to go down about a whole day。〃
Before the evening fell； God's promise to Joshua had been fulfilled。 The
entire host of the enemy had been given into his hand。 Long were the events
of that day to remain in the memory of Israel。 〃There was no day like that
before it or after it； that Jehovah hearkened unto the voice of a man： for
the Lord fought for Israel。〃 〃The sun and moon stood still in their
habitation： at the light of Thine arrows they went； and at the shining of
Thy glittering spear。 Thou didst march through the land in indignation； Thou
didst thresh the heathen in anger。 Thou wentest forth for the salvation of
Thy people。〃 Habakkuk 3：11…13。
509
The Spirit of God inspired Joshua's prayer； that evidence might again be
given of the power of Israel's God。 Hence the request did not show
presumption on the part of the great leader。 Joshua had received the promise
that God would surely overthrow these enemies of Israel； yet he put forth as
earnest effort as though success depended upon the armies of Israel alone。
He did all that human energy could do； and then he cried in faith for divine
aid。 The secret of success is the union of divine power with human effort。
Tho