patriarchs and prophets-第104部分

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frontlets　between　your　eyes。　And　ye　shall　teach　them　your　children；　。　。　。
that　your　days　may　be　multiplied；　and　the　days　of　your　children；　in　the　land
which　the　Lord　sware　unto　your　fathers　to　give　them；　as　the　days　of　heaven
upon　the　earth。〃　Deuteronomy　11：18…21。

Every　seventh　year　the　whole　law　was　to　be　read　in　the　assembly　of　all
Israel；　as　Moses　commanded：　〃At　the　end　of　every　seven　years；　in　the
solemnity　of　the　year　of　release；　in　the　feast　of　tabernacles；　when　all
Israel　is　come　to　appear　before　the　Lord　thy　God　in　the　place　which　He　shall
choose；　thou　shalt　read　this　law　before　all　Israel　in　their　hearing。　Gather
the　people　together；　men；　and　women；　and　children；　and　thy　stranger　that　is
within　thy　gates；　that　they　may　hear；　and　that　they　may　learn；　and　fear　the
Lord　your　God；　and　observe　to　do　all　the　words　of　this　law：　and　that　their
children；　which　have　not　known　anything；　may　hear；　and　learn　to　fear　the
Lord　your　God；　as　long　as　ye　live　in　the　land　whither　ye　go　over　Jordan　to
possess　it。〃　Deuteronomy　31：10…13。

Satan　is　ever　at　work　endeavoring　to　pervert　what　God　has　spoken；　to　blind
the　mind　and　darken　the　understanding；　and　thus　lead　men　into　sin。　This　is
why　the　Lord　is　so　explicit；　making　His　requirements　so　very　plain　that　none
need　err。　God　is　constantly　seeking　to　draw　men　close　under　His　protection；
that　Satan　may　not　practice　his　cruel；　deceptive　power　upon　them。　He　has
condescended　to　speak　to　them　with　His　own

504

voice；　to　write　with　His　own　hand　the　living　oracles。　And　these　blessed
words；　all　instinct　with　life　and　luminous　with　truth；　are　committed　to　men
as　a　perfect　guide。　Because　Satan　is　so　ready　to　catch　away　the　mind　and
divert　the　affections　from　the　Lord's　promises　and　requirements；　the　greater
diligence　is　needed　to　fix　them　in　the　mind　and　impress　them　upon　the　heart。

Greater　attention　should　be　given　by　religious　teachers　to　instructing　the
people　in　the　facts　and　lessons　of　Bible　history　and　the　warnings　and
requirements　of　the　Lord。　These　should　be　presented　in　simple　language；
adapted　to　the　comprehension　of　children。　It　should　be　a　part　of　the　work
both　of　ministers　and　parents　to　see　that　the　young　are　instructed　in　the
Scriptures。

Parents　can　and　should　interest　their　children　in　the　varied　knowledge　found
in　the　sacred　pages。　But　if　they　would　interest　their　sons　and　daughters　in
the　word　of　God；　they　must　be　interested　in　it　themselves。　They　must　be
familiar　with　its　teachings；　and；　as　God　commanded　Israel；　speak　of　it；
〃when　thou　sittest　in　thine　house；　and　when　thou　walkest　by　the　way；　when
thou　liest　down；　and　when　thou　risest　up。〃　Deuteronomy　11：19。　Those　who
desire　their　children　to　love　and　reverence　God　must　talk　of　His　goodness；
His　majesty；　and　His　power；　as　revealed　in　His　word　and　in　the　works　of
creation。

Every　chapter　and　every　verse　of　the　Bible　is　a　communication　from　God　to
men。　We　should　bind　its　precepts　as　signs　upon　our　hands　and　as　frontlets
between　our　eyes。　If　studied　and　obeyed；　it　would　lead　God's　people；　as　the
Israelites　were　led；　by　the　pillar　of　cloud　by　day　and　the　pillar　of　fire　by
night。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　47

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　League　With　the　Gibeonites


From　Shechem　the　Israelites　returned　to　their　encampment　at　Gilgal。　Here
they　were　soon　after　visited　by　a　strange　deputation；　who　desired　to　enter
into　treaty　with　them。　The　ambassadors　represented　that　they　had　come　from　a
distant　country；　and　this　seemed　to　be　confirmed　by　their　appearance。　Their
clothing　was　old　and　worn；　their　sandals　were　patched；　their　provisions
moldy；　and　the　skins　that　served　them　for　wine　bottles　were　rent　and　bound
up；　as　if　hastily　repaired　on　the　journey。

In　their　far…off　homeprofessedly　beyond　the　limits　of　Palestine　their
fellow　countrymen；　they　said；　had　heard　of　the　wonders　which　God　had　wrought
for　His　people；　and　had　sent　them　to　make　a　league　with　Israel。　The　Hebrews
had　been　specially　warned　against　entering　into　any　league　with　the
idolaters　of　Canaan；　and　a　doubt　as　to　the　truth　of　the　strangers'　words
arose　in　the　minds　of　the　leaders。　〃Peradventure　ye　dwell　among　us；〃　they
said。　To　this　the　ambassadors　only　replied；　〃We　are　thy　servants。〃　But　when
Joshua　directly　demanded　of　them；　〃Who　are　ye？　and　from　whence　come　ye？〃
they　reiterated　their　former　statement；　and　added；　in　proof　of　their
sincerity；　〃This　our　bread　we　took　hot　for　our　provision　out　of　our　houses
on　the　day　we　came　forth　to　go　unto　you；　but　now；　behold；　it　is　dry；　and　it
is　moldy：　and　these　bottles　of　wine；　which　we　filled；　were　new；　and；　behold；
they　be　rent：　and　these　our　garments　and　our　shoes　are　become　old　by　reason
of　the　very　long　journey。〃

These　representations　prevailed。　The　Hebrews　〃asked　not　counsel　at　the　mouth
of　the　Lord。　And　Joshua　made　peace　with　them；　and　made　a　league　with　them；
to　let　them　live：　and　the　princes　of　the　congregation　sware　unto　them。〃　Thus
the　treaty　was　entered　into。　Three　days　afterward　the　truth　was　discovered。
〃They　heard　that　they　were　their　neighbors；　and　that　they　dwelt

506

among　them。〃　Knowing　that　it　was　impossible　to　resist　the　Hebrews；　the
Gibeonites　had　resorted　to　stratagem　to　preserve　their　lives。

Great　was　the　indignation　of　the　Israelites　as　they　learned　the　deception
that　had　been　practiced　upon　them。　And　this　was　heightened　when；　after　three
days'　journey；　they　reached　the　cities　of　the　Gibeonites；　near　the　center　of
the　land。　〃All　the　congregation　murmured　against　the　princes；〃　but　the
latter　refused　to　break　the　treaty；　though　secured　by　fraud；　because　they
had　〃sworn　unto　them　by　the　Lord　God　of　Israel。〃　〃And　the　children　of　Israel
smote　them　not。〃　The　Gibeonites　had　pledged　themselves　to　renounce　idolatry；
and　accept　the　worship　of　Jehovah；　and　the　preservation　of　their　lives　was
not　a　violation　of　God's　command　to　destroy　the　idolatrous　Canaanites。　Hence
the　Hebrews　had　not　by　their　oath　pledged　themselves　to　commit　sin。　And
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。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　507


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　rej