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might be readily divided; at any rate, the enemy might escape before their crushing
defeat had assured safety to Gibeon, and given the south of Palestine to Israel. Now, or
never, was the time to pursue the advantage. Oh, that the sun would once more burst
forth in his brightness; oh, that the all too short day were protracted "until the people
had avenged themselves upon their enemies!" Then it was that Joshua burst into that
impassioned prayer of faith, which is quoted in the sacred text from the "Book of
Jasher," - or "Book of the Pious," - apparently, as we infer from 2 Samuel 1:18, a
collection of poetical pieces, connected with the sublimest scenes in the history of the
heroes of the kingdom of God. In this instance the quotation begins, as we take it,
Joshua 10:12, and ends with ver. 15. This is proved by the insertion in ver. 15 of a
notice, which in the historical narrative occurs only in ver. 43. For it is evident that
Joshua did not return to Gilgal immediately after the battle of Gibeon (ver. 21), but
pursued the war as described in the rest of ch. 10, till the whole south of Palestine was
reduced. Thus verses 12-15 are a quotation from "the Book of the Pious," inserted
within the Book of Joshua, the narrative of which is resumed in ver. 16. The quotation
reads as follows:
"Then spake Joshua to Jehovah, In the day Jehovah gave the Amorite before the sons of
Israel, And he spake in the sight of Israel. Sun, on Gibeon rest still,^113 And moon, on the
valley of Ajalon! And still rested the sun, And the moon stood, Till the people were
avenged on their foes. (Is not this written in the 'Book of the Pious?') And the sun stood
in mid-heaven, And hasted not to go - like (as on) a complete day.^114 And there was not
like that day, before or after, That Jehovah hearkened to the voice of man - For Jehovah
warred for Israel! And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him to the camp, to Gilgal."
115
And God hearkened to the voice of Joshua. Once more the sun burst forth, and the
daylight was miraculously protracted till Israel was avenged of its enemies. Onwards
rolled the tide of fugitives, hotly pursued by Israel, through the pass of Nether Beth-
horon to Azekah, and thence to Makkedah.^116 Here tidings were brought to Joshua, that
the five kings had hid themselves in one of the caves with which that district abounds.
But Joshua would not be diverted from his object. He ordered large stones to be rolled
to the mouth of the cave, and its entrance to be guarded by armed men, while the rest of
the army followed the enemy and smote their "rearguard." Only broken remnants of the
fugitives found shelter in the "fenced cities." Joshua himself had camped before the city
of Makkedah. Thither the pursuing corps returned, and thence the war was afterwards
carried on (10:21, 29). On the morning after the victory, the five confederate kings were
brought from their hiding-place. In a manner not uncommon in ancient times,^117 Joshua
made his captains put their feet upon the necks of the prostrate kings, who had so lately
gone forth boastfully in all the pride and. pomp of war. But the lesson which Israel was
to learn from their victory was not one of self-confidence in their supposed superiority,
but of acknowledgment of God and confidence in Him: "Fear not, nor be dismayed, be
(^)