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From Eternity Past
Joshua’s Long Day
The submission of Gibeon filled the kings of Canaan with dismay.
Steps were at once taken for revenge on those who had made peace
with the invaders. Five of the Canaanite kings entered into confederacy
against Gibeon. The Gibeonites were unprepared for defense and 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.
The inhabitants of the besieged city had feared that Joshua would
reject their appeal because of the fraud which they had practiced. But
since they had submitted to Israel and had accepted the worship of God,
he felt under obligation to protect them. And the Lord encouraged
him. “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.”
Scarcely had the confederate princes mustered their armies about
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the city when Joshua was upon them. 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, 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 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 evening fell, God’s promise to Joshua had been fulfilled.
The enemy had been given into his hand. Long were the events of