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had inspired the spies with such dread, from their original seats in the mountains,^125 and
in and around Hebron, Debir, and Anab into the Philistine cities of Gaza, Gath, and
Ashdod. From ch. 15:14 we infer that they shortly afterwards returned, but were
conquered by that veteran hero, Caleb.
To sum up all, we find that the wars under Joshua put Israel into possession of Canaan
and broke the power of its inhabitants, but that the latter were not exterminated, nor yet
all their cities taken by Israel (13:1-6; 17:14, etc.; 18:3, 23:5, 12). Indeed, such a result
could scarcely have been desirable, either in reference to the country or to Israel, while,
from Exodus 23:28-30 and Deuteronomy 7:22, we know that from the beginning it had
not been the Divine purpose. But there was also a higher object in this. It would teach
that a conquest, begun in the power of God and in believing dependence on Him, must
be completed and consolidated in the same spirit. Only thus could Israel prosper as a
nation. Canaan had been given to Israel by God, and given to their faith. But much was
left to be done which only the same faith could achieve. Any conformity to the heathen
around, or tolerance of heathenism, any decay of the spirit in which they had entered the
land, would result not only in weakness, but in the triumph of the enemy. And so it was
intended of the Lord. The lesson of all this is obvious and important. To us also has our
Joshua given entrance into Canaan, and victory over our enemies - the world, the flesh,
and the devil. We have present possession of the land. But we do not yet hold all its
cities, nor are our enemies exterminated. It needs on our part constant faith; there must
be no compromise with the enemy, no tolerance of his spirit, no cessation of our
warfare. Only that which at first gave us the land can complete and consolidate our
possession of it.
(^)