The Lord's Host; Or, Lessons from the Book of Joshua  (English, Paperback, Butler George William)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1878. Excerpt: ... LECTURE XIII. THE LORD FIGHTING FOR HIS HOST; OR, THE KINGS OF CANAAN SMITTEN. ARKER and darker grow the prospects of the Canaanites. The fall of Jericho was attended by such circumstances of terror as must have caused the whole land to tremble. The momentary victory of the men of Ai was followed by a fearful defeat and deAnd now a new and an alarming token light. A great confederacy of all the nationalities had been formed, and they were already mustering their forces for a united attack upon Joshua and Israel, resolved to crush with one blow the power Q struction. comes to that threatened to swallow them up, when the news is brought to Adonizedek, king of Jerusalem, the head of the southern section of Canaan, that the four cities of the Gibeonites have made peace with Israel. Had some petty principality thus submitted it had been a matter of little moment: but Gibeon was as one of the royal cities, and all the men thereof were mighty. When Adonizedek hears it, fear mingles with fury in his breast--fear of Israel's advance--fury against the Gibeonite deserters. A decided blow must now be struck, or all is gone. Wherefore he sends to the four nearest kingdoms of Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon, that is, to the princes who shared with him in the government of the south of Canaan: Come up, he says, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua, and with the children of Israel. Thus, in the providence of God, was the strength of Canaan divided. But for this proposal of Adonizedek to punish Gibeon, the whole confederation of north and south Canaan would have marched in countless hosts against the Israelites. As it was, the Israelites were encouraged by the conquest of the live kings to meet. All these towns have been ide...