按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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。
Those who achieve the greatest results are those who rely most implicitly
upon the Almighty Arm。 The man who commanded； 〃Sun； stand thou still upon
Gibeon； and thou； Moon； in the valley of Ajalon；〃 is the man who for hours
lay prostrate upon the earth in prayer in the camp of Gilgal。 The men of
prayer are the men of power。
This mighty miracle testifies that the creation is under the control of the
Creator。 Satan seeks to conceal from men the divine agency in the physical
worldto keep out of sight the unwearied working of the first great cause。
In this miracle all who exalt nature above the God of nature stand rebuked。
At His own will God summons the forces of nature to overthrow the might of
His enemies〃fire； and hail； snow； and vapor； stormy wind fulfilling His
word。〃 Psalm 148：8。 When the heathen Amorites had set themselves to resist
His purposes； God interposed； casting down 〃great stones from heaven〃 upon
the enemies of Israel。 We are told of a greater battle to take place in the
closing scenes of earth's history； when 〃Jehovah hath opened His armory； and
hath brought forth the weapons of His indignation。〃 Jeremiah 50：25。 〃Hast
thou；〃 he inquires； 〃entered into the treasures of the snow？ or hast thou
seen the treasures of the hail； which I have reserved against the time of
trouble； against the day of battle and war？〃 Job 38：22； 23。
The revelator describes the destruction that is to take place when the
〃great voice out of the temple of heaven〃 announces； 〃It is done。〃 He says；
〃There fell upon men a great hail out of heaven； every stone about the
weight of a talent。〃 Revelation 16：17； 21。
（510）
Chapter 48
The Division of Canaan
The victory at Beth…horon was speedily followed by the conquest of southern
Canaan。 〃Joshua smote all the country of the hills； and of the south； and of
the vale。 。 。 。 And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one
time； because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel。 And Joshua returned；
and all Israel with him； unto the camp at Gilgal。〃
The tribes of northern Palestine； terrified at the success which had
attended the armies of Israel； now entered into a league against them。 At
the head of this confederacy was Jabin； king of Hazor； a territory to the
west of Lake Merom。 〃And they went out； they and all their hosts with them。〃
This army was much larger than any that the Israelites had before
encountered in Canaan〃much people； even as the sand that is upon the
seashore in multitude； with horses and chariots very many。 And when all
these kings were met together； they came and pitched together at the waters
of Merom； to fight against Israel。〃 Again a message of encouragement was
given to Joshua： 〃Be not afraid because of them： for tomorrow about this
time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel。〃
Near Lake Merom he fell upon the camp of the allies and utterly routed their
forces。 〃The Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel； who smote them；
and chased them 。 。 。 until they left them none remaining。〃 The chariots and
horses that had been the pride and boast of the Canaanites were not to be
appropriated by Israel。 At the command of God the chariots were burned； and
the horses lamed； and thus rendered unfit for use in battle。 The Israelites
were not to put their trust in chariots or horses； but 〃in the name of the
Lord their God。〃
One by one the cities were taken； and Hazor； the stronghold of the
confederacy； was burned。 The war was continued for
511
several years； but its close found Joshua master of Canaan。 〃And the land
had rest from war。〃
But though the power of the Canaanites had been broken； they had not been
fully dispossessed。 On the west the Philistines still held a fertile plain
along the seacoast； while north of them was the territory of the Sidonians。
Lebanon also was in the possession of the latter people； and to the south；
toward Egypt； the land was still occupied by the enemies of Israel。
Joshua was not； however； to continue the war。 There was another work for the
great leader to perform before he should relinquish the command of Israel。
The whole land； both the parts already conquered and that which was yet
unsubdued； was to be apportioned among the tribes。 And it was the duty of
each tribe to fully subdue its own inheritance。 If the people should prove
faithful to God； He would drive out their enemies from before them； and He
promised to give them still greater possessions if they would but be true to
His covenant。
To Joshua； with Eleazar the high priest； and the heads of the tribes； the
distribution of the land was committed； the location of each tribe being
determined by lot。 Moses himself had fixed the bounds of the country as it
was to be divided among the tribes when they should come in possession of
Canaan； and had appointed a prince from each tribe to attend to the
distribution。 The tribe of Levi； being devoted to the sanctuary service； was
not counted in this allotment； but forty…eight cities in different parts of
the country were assigned the Levites as their inheritance。
Before the distribution of the land had been entered upon； Caleb；
accompanied by the heads of his tribe； came forward with a special claim。
Except Joshua； Caleb was now the oldest man in Israel。 Caleb and Joshua were
the only ones among the spies who had brought a good report of the Land of
Promise； encouraging the people to go up and possess it in the name of the
Lord。 Caleb now reminded Joshua of the promise then made； as the reward of
his faithfulness： 〃The land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine
inheritance； and thy children's forever； because thou hast wholly followed
the Lord。〃 He therefore presented a request that Hebron he given him for a
possession。 Here had been for many years the home of Abraham； Isaac； and
Jacob； and here； in the cave of Machpelah； they were buried。
512
Hebron was the seat of the dreaded Anakim； whose formidable appearance had
so terrified the spies； and through them destroyed the courage of all
Israel。 This； above all others； was the place which Caleb； trusting in the
strength of God； chose for his inheritance。
〃Behold； the Lord hath kept me alive；〃 he said； 〃these forty and five years；
even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses： 。 。 。 and now； lo； I am this
day fourscore and five years old。 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in
the day that Moses sent me： as my strength was then； even so is my strength
now； for war； both to go out； and to come in。 Now therefore give me this
mountain； whereof the Lord spake in that day： for thou heardest in that day
how the Anakim were there； and that the cities were great and fenced： if so
be the Lord will be with me； then I shall be able to drive them out； as the
Lord said。〃 This request was supported by the chief men of Judah。 Caleb
himself being the one appointed from this tribe to