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！
you continue in those laws； God will also show himself merciful
and assisting to you； but if you imitate the other nations； and
forsake those laws； he will reject your nation。〃 When Joshua had
spoken thus； and saluted them all； both those in authority one by
one； and the whole multitude in common； he himself staid where he
was； but the people conducted those tribes on their journey； and
that not without tears in their eyes； and indeed they hardly knew
how to part one from the other。
26。 Now when the tribe of Reuben； and that of Gad； and as many of
the Manassites as followed them； were passed over the river； they
built an altar on the banks of Jordan； as a monument to
posterity； and a sign of their relation to those that should
inhabit on the other side。 But when those on the other side heard
that those who had been dismissed had built an altar； but did not
hear with what intention they built it； but supposed it to be by
way of innovation； and for the introduction of strange gods； they
did not incline to disbelieve it； but thinking this defamatory
report； as if it were built for divine worship； was credible；
they appeared in arms； as though they would avenge themselves on
those that built the altar； and they were about to pass over the
river； and to punish them for their subversion of the laws of
their country； for they did not think it fit to regard them on
account of their kindred or the dignity of those that had given
the occasion； but to regard the will of God； and the manner
wherein he desired to be worshipped； so these men put themselves
in array for war。 But Joshua； and Eleazar the high priest； and
the senate； restrained them； and persuaded them first to make
trial by words of their intention； and afterwards； if they found
that their intention was evil； then only to proceed to make war
upon them。 Accordingly； they sent as ambassadors to them Phineas
the son of Eleazar； and ten more persons that were in esteem
among the Hebrews； to learn of them what was in their mind； when；
upon passing over the river； they had built an altar upon its
banks。 And as soon as these ambassadors were passed over； and
were come to them； and a congregation was assembled； Phineas
stood up and said； That the offense they had been guilty of was
of too heinous a nature to be punished by words alone； or by them
only to be amended for the future； yet that they did not so look
at the heinousness of their transgression as to have recourse to
arms； and to a battle for their punishment immediately； but that；
on account of their kindred； and the probability there was that
they might be reclaimed； they took this method of sending an
ambassage to them： 〃That when we have learned the true reasons by
which you have been moved to build this altar； we may neither
seem to have been too rash in assaulting you by our weapons of
war； if it prove that you made the altar for justifiable reasons；
and may then justly punish you if the accusation prove true； for
we can hardly
hardly suppose that you； have been acquainted with the will of
God and have been hearers of those laws which he himself hath
given us； now you are separated from us； and gone to that
patrimony of yours； which you； through the grace of God； and that
providence which he exercises over you； have obtained by lot； can
forget him； and can leave that ark and that altar which is
peculiar to us； and can introduce strange gods； and imitate the
wicked practices of the Canaanites。 Now this will appear to have
been a small crime if you repent now； and proceed no further in
your madness； but pay a due reverence to； and keep in mind the
laws of your country； but if you persist in your sins； we will
not grudge our pains to preserve our laws； but we will pass over
Jordan and defend them； and defend God also； and shall esteem of
you as of men no way differing from the Canaanites； but shall
destroy you in the like manner as we destroyed them； for do not
you imagine that； because you are got over the river； you are got
out of the reach of God's power； you are every where in places
that belong to him； and impossible it is to overrun his power；
and the punishment he will bring on men thereby： but if you think
that your settlement here will be any obstruction to your
conversion to what is good； nothing need hinder us from dividing
the land anew； and leaving this old land to be for the feeding of
sheep； but you will do well to return to your duty； and to leave
off these new crimes； and we beseech you； by your children and
wives； not to force us to punish you。 Take therefore such
measures in this assembly； as supposing that your own safety； and
the safety of those that are dearest to you； is therein
concerned； and believe that it is better for you to be conquered
by words； than to continue in your purpose； and to experience
deeds and war therefore。〃
27。 When Phineas had discoursed thus； the governors of the
assembly； and the whole multitude； began to make an apology for
themselves； concerning what they were accused of； and they said；
That they neither would depart from the relation they bare to
them； nor had they built the altar by way of innovation； that
they owned one and the same common God with all the Hebrews； and
that brazen altar which was before the tabernacle； on which they
would offer their sacrifices； that as to the altar they had
raised； on account of which they were thus suspected； it was not
built for worship； 〃but that it might be a sign and a monument of
our relation to you for ever； and a necessary caution to us to
act wisely； and to continue in the laws of our country； but not a
handle for transgressing them； as you suspect： and let God be our
authentic witness； that this was the occasion of our building
this altar： whence we beg you will have a better opinion of us；
and do not impute such a thing to us as would render any of the
posterity of Abraham well worthy of perdition； in case they
attempt to bring in new rites； and such as are different from our
usual practices。〃
28。 When they had made this answer； and Phineas had commended
them for it； he came to Joshua； and explained before the people
what answer they had received。 Now Joshua was glad that he was
under no necessity of setting them in array； or of leading them
to shed blood； and make war against men of their own kindred； and
accordingly he offered sacrifices of thanksgiving to God for the
same。 So Joshua after that dissolved this great assembly of the
people； and sent them to their own inheritances； while he himself
lived in Shechem。 But in the twentieth year after this； when he
was very old； he sent for those of the greatest dignity in the
several cities； with those in authority； and the senate； and as
many of the common people as could be present； and when they were
come； he put them in mind of all the benefits God had bestowed on
them； which could not but be a great many； since from a low
estate they were advanced to so great a degree of glory and
plenty； and exhorted them to take notice of the intentions of
God； which had been so gracious towards them； and told them that
the Deity would continue their friend by nothing else but their
piety； and that it was proper for him； now that he was about to
depart out of this life； to leave such an admonition to them； and
he desired that they would keep in memory this his exhortation to
them。
29。 So Joshua； when he had thus discoursed to them； died； having
lived a hundred and ten years； forty of which he lived with
Moses； in order to learn what might be for his advantage
afterwards。 He also became their commander after his death for
twenty…five years。 He was a man that wanted not wisdom nor
eloquence to declare his intentions to the people； but very
eminent on both accounts。 He was of great courage and magnanimity
in action and in dangers； and very sagacious in procuring the
peace of the people； and of great virtue at all proper seasons。
He was buried in the city of Timnab； of the tribe of Ephraim （9）
About the same time died Eleazar the high priest； leaving the
high priesthood to his son Phineas。 His monument also； and
sepulcher； are in the city of Gabatha。
CHAPTER 2。
How； After The Death Of Joshua Their Commander； The Israelites
Transgressed The Laws Of Their Country； And Experienced Great
Afflictions； And When There Was A Sedition Arisen； The Tribe Of
Benjamin Was Destroyed Excepting Only Six Hundred Men。
1。 After the death of Joshua and Eleazar； Phineas prophesied；
（10） that according to God's will they should commit the
government to the tribe of Judah； and that this tribe should
destroy the race of the Canaanites； for then the people were
concerned to learn what was the will of God。 They also took to
their assistance the tribe of Simeon； but upon this condition；
that when those that had been tributary to the tribe of Judah
should be slain； they should do the like for the tribe of Simeon。
2。 But the affairs of the Canaanites were at this thee in a
flourishing condition； and they expected the Israelites with a
great army at the city Bezek； having put the government into the
hands of Adonibezek； which name denotes the Lord of Bezek； for
Adoni in the