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spoils among the soldiers。
16。 But the Gibeonites； who inhabited very near to Jerusalem；
when they saw what miseries had happened to the inhabitants of
Jericho； and to those of Ai； and suspected that the like sore
calamity would come as far as themselves； they did not think fit
to ask for mercy of Joshua； for they supposed they should find
little mercy from him； who made war that he might entirely
destroy the nation of the Canaanites； but they invited the people
of Cephirah and Kiriathjearim； who were their neighbors； to join
in league with them； and told them that neither could they
themselves avoid the danger they were all in； if the Israelites
should prevent them； and seize upon them： so when they had
persuaded them； they resolved to endeavor to escape the forces of
the Israelites。 Accordingly； upon their agreement to what they
proposed； they sent ambassadors to Joshua to make a league of
friendship with him； and those such of the citizens as were best
approved of； and most capable of doing what was most advantageous
to the multitude。 Now these ambassadors thought it dangerous to
confess themselves to be Canaanites； but thought they might by
this contrivance avoid the danger； namely； by saying that they
bare no relation to the Canaanites at all； but dwelt at a very
great distance from them： and they said further； that they came a
long way； on account of the reputation he had gained for his
virtue； and as a mark of the truth of what they said； they showed
him the habit they were in； for that their clothes were new when
they came out； but were greatly worn by the length of thee they
had been on their journey； for indeed they took torn garments； on
purpose that they might make him believe so。 So they stood in the
midst of the people； and said that they were sent by the people
of Gibeon； and of the circumjacent cities； which were very remote
from the land where they now were； to make such a league of
friendship with them； and this on such conditions as were
customary among their forefathers； for when they understood that；
by the favor of God； and his gift to them； they were to have the
possession of the land of Canaan bestowed upon them； they said
that they were very glad to hear it； and desired to be admitted
into the number of their citizens。 Thus did these ambassadors
speak； and showing them the marks of their long journey； they
entreated the Hebrews to make a league of friendship with them。
Accordingly Joshua； believing what they said； that they were not
of the nation of the Canaanites； entered into friendship with
them； and Eleazar the high priest； with the senate； sware to them
that they would esteem them their friends and associates； and
would attempt nothing that should be unfair against them； the
multitude also assenting to the oaths that were made to them。 So
these men； having obtained what they desired； by deceiving the
Israelites； went home： but when Joshua led his army to the
country at the bottom of the mountains of this part of Canaan； he
understood that the Gibeonites dwelt not far from Jerusalem； and
that they were of the stock of the Canaanites； so he sent for
their governors； and reproached them with the cheat they had put
upon him； but they alleged； on their own behalf； that they had no
other way to save themselves but that； and were therefore forced
to have recourse to it。 So he called for Eleazar the high priest；
and for the senate； who thought it right to make them public
servants； that they might not break the oath they had made to
them； and they ordained them to be so。 And this was the method by
which these men found。 safety and security under the calamity
that was ready to overtake them。
17。 But the king of Jerusalem took it to heart that the
Gibeonites had gone over to Joshua； so he called upon the kings
of the neighboring nations to join together； and make war against
them。 Now when the Gibeonites saw these kings； which were four；
besides the king of Jerusalem； and perceived that they had
pitched their camp at a certain fountain not far from their city；
and were getting ready for the siege of it； they called upon
Joshua to assist them； for such was their case； as to expect to
be destroyed by these Canaanites； but to suppose they should be
saved by those that came for the destruction of the Canaanites；
because of the league of friendship that was between them。
Accordingly； Joshua made haste with his whole army to assist
them； and marching day and night； in the morning he fell upon the
enemies as they were going up to the siege； and when he had
discomfited them； he followed them； and pursued them down the
descent of the hills。 The place is called Bethhoron； where he
also understood that God assisted him； which he declared by
thunder and thunderbolts； as also by the falling of hail larger
than usual。 Moreover； it happened that the day was lengthened （7）
that the night might not come on too soon； and be an obstruction
to the zeal of the Hebrews in pursuing their enemies； insomuch
that Joshua took the kings； who were hidden in a certain cave at
Makkedah； and put them to death。 Now； that the day was lengthened
at this thee； and was longer than ordinary； is expressed in the
books laid up in the temple。 （8）
18。 These kings which made war with； and were ready to fight the
Gibeonites； being thus overthrown； Joshua returned again to the
mountainous parts of Canaan； and when he had made a great
slaughter of the people there； and took their prey； he came to
the camp at Gilgal。 And now there went a great fame abroad among
the neighboring people of the courage of the Hebrews； and those
that heard what a number of men were destroyed； were greatly
aftrighted at it： so the kings that lived about Mount Libanus；
who were Canaanites； and those Canaanites that dwelt in the plain
country； with auxiliaries out of the land of the Philistines；
pitched their camp at Beroth； a city of the Upper Galilee； not
far from Cadesh； which is itself also a place in Galilee。 Now the
number of the whole army was three hundred thousand armed
footmen； and ten thousand horsemen； and twenty thousand chariots；
so that the multitude of the enemies aftrighted both Joshua
himself and the Israelites； and they； instead of being full of
hopes of good success； were superstitiously timorous； with the
great terror with which they were stricken。 Whereupon God
upbraided them with the fear they were in； and asked them whether
they desired a greater help than he could afford them； and
promised them that they should overcome their enemies； and withal
charged them to make their enemies' horses useless； and to burn
their chariots。 So Joshua became full of courage upon these
promises of God； and went out suddenly against the enemies； and
after five days' march he came upon them； and joined battle with
them； and there was a terrible fight； and such a number were
slain as could not be believed by those that heard it。 He also
went on in the pursuit a great way； and destroyed the entire army
of the enemies； few only excepted； and all the kings fell in the
battle； insomuch； that when there wanted men to be killed； Joshua
slew their horses； and burnt their chariots and passed all over
their country without opposition； no one daring to meet him in
battle； but he still went on； taking their cities by siege； and
again killing whatever he took。
19。 The fifth year was now past； and there was not one of the
Canaanites remained any longer； excepting some that had retired
to places of great strength。 So Joshua removed his camp to the
mountainous country； and placed the tabernacle in the city of
Shiloh； for that seemed a fit place for it； because of the beauty
of its situation； until such thee as their affairs would permit
them to build a temple； and from thence he went to Shechem；
together with all the people； and raised an altar where Moses had
beforehand directed； then did he divide the army； and placed one
half of them on Mount Gerizzim； and the other half on Mount Ebal；
on which mountain the altar was； he also placed there the tribe
of Levi； and the priests。 And when they had sacrificed； and
denounced the ＇blessings and the＇ curses； and had left them
engraven upon the altar； they returned to Shiloh。
20。 And now Joshua was old； and saw that the cities of the
Canaanites were not easily to be taken； not only because they
were situate in such strong places； but because of the strength
of the walls themselves； which being built round about； the
natural strength of the places on which the cities stood； seemed
capable of repelling their enemies from besieging them； and of
making those enemies despair of taking them； for when the
Canaanites had learned that the Israelites came out of Egypt in
order to destroy them； they were busy all that time in making
their cities strong。 So he gathered the people together to a
congregation at Shiloh； and when they； with great zeal and haste；
were come thither； he observed to them what prosperous successes
they had already had； and what glorious things had been done； and
those such as were worthy of that God who enabled them to do
those things； and worthy of the virtue of those laws which they
followe