brought forth. They stood in silence before him, and in the presence of the army, to await their doom. He called for the distinguished officers who had led the Israelites to the scene of their late triumph, and directed them to come near, and put their feet upon the necks of the kings, who bowed prostrate on the earth for this purpose. It was done, not in the way of taunt or insult, but as a symbolical transaction, with which the Eastern customs abound, to show, in a visible and striking manner, the complete victory which the Israelites had obtained, and the future, entire conquest, which they would achieve over all who should oppose them. While this was taking place, Joshua thus addressed the officers: "Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage; for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight." After this, at the command of Joshua, the five kings were slain, and hung on as many trees, where their dead bodies remained till the close of the day. They were then taken down and cast into the cave where they had been hid; against the mouth of which great stones were piled up, as a memorial of what had taken place. The destruction of these kings and of their armies was immediately followed by still further victories on the part of the Israelites. Makke dah was taken; and its king and all the inhabitants of the city were put to death. Such, too, was the fate of Libnah, a city in the neighborhood, and of Lachish, the late residence of one of the five kings who were executed. Horam, king of Gezer, who had come up to the assistance of Lachish, was also destroyed with all his people. Then followed, in quick succession, the taking of Eglon, of Hebron, and of Debir, and the utter extermination of those who dwelt in these cities. "So Joshua," we are told, "smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded. And Joshua smote them from Kadesh-barnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon. And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time; because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel." : In obedience to the commands of God, confiding in his promises, and relying on his aid, did Joshua accomplish these things. Without the interposition of Omnipotence, such rapid and astonishing victories would never have been achieved. "The Lord God of Israel fought for Israel;" and, therefore, they triumphed over their enemies. My young friend, you have now formidable and numerous enemies to contend with-your own sinful thoughts, desires, and purposes, the seductions of a world lying in wickedness, and the wiles of the adversary of souls. Your eternal safety depends on their utter extermination from your breast; on your complete triumph over them. How will you cope with them, with any hope of success? You have but one hope of success. It is the strength of Jesus. Take hold of his almighty arm. Go to him, heart-broken for sin, and feeling your own weakness. Implore his aid. Rely on it; and you shall surely be victorious. CHAPTER XII. The Israelites return to Gilgal. A northern confederacy against them. They are again victorious, and their wars for the present cease. After subduing, as we have seen, the southern parts of Canaan, Joshua and his army returned to the encampment at Gilgal. The news which they brought of their victories, must have been received with great joy by their countrymen. It showed, that the way was fast opening for their entire possession of the promised inheritance. It taught them the faithfulness of God in the fulfillment of his promises, and how sure they would be of his protection, if they were obedient to his commands. And it was well adapted, also, to form within them an abhorrence of those sins, especially of the seducing one of idolatry, with its impure and abominable rites, which could thus call down upon the guilty inhabitants of Canaan the vengeance of the Almighty, in some of its most terrific manifestations. But the struggle was not yet over. Other battles must be fought, and still further conquests secured, before the Israelites could settle down in peace, as masters of the whole land. They had just discomfited a southern confederacy, and now a still more powerful one, at the north, was to be encountered. There were several kings in that part of the country, who, hearing of the victories of Joshua and his army, were alarmed for the security of their own dominions, and began to inquire what must be done for their mutual protection. Jabin, king of Hazor, a strongly fortified city, near the waters of Merom, was the principal one among them, and who first moved in the enterprise. His residence was the capital of northern Canaan; and the kings who joined the confederacy, if not tributary, seem to have acknowledged him, in a certain sense, as their head. ९९ Jabin sent them word, to bring into the field all the forces they could collect, that they might unite with his in the common defence against the invaders of their country. His summons was soon obeyed. The respective armies with their kings and other officers, assembled near the waters of Merom, or the lake Samechonitis, and there encamped. It was a vast array, even as the sand that is upon the sea-shore in multitude." The greater part were on foot, but very many came, also, with horses and chariots-a mode of fighting that was adopted by those nations-the chariots being furnished with iron scythes, which were fitted to their poles, and to the naves of the wheels, so as to make dreadful havoc when driven among the ranks of the infantry. The king of Madon was there ;—the kings of Shimron, and of Achshaph, (places in the north of Canaan ;) the kings of the mountainous regions of Anti-Libanus; of the plains south of Cinneroth, (an ancient city, supposed to have stood on the site of the more modern Tiberias ;) of the valley; and of the borders of Dor, on the coast of the Mediterranean, near mount Carmel. These monarchs, with their hosts equipped for |