Israel Tramples Upon Kings

BY J. JAMES TISSOT. REPRODUCED BY THE COURTESY

OF THE AMERICAN TISSOT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK.

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"Thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.”—Jos., 10, 25.

IN THE evening of the triumph of Joshua's great day,

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when all his people were returned in peace from

the pursuit, when, as the Bible grimly phrases it, "none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel," then did Joshua order the five kings brought before him from their prison cave. They were to die as their people had died; no mercy must be shown, no friendship made with this evil race. Yet before their death Joshua meant to use them for a shrewd act of statesmanship.

He "called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them." Thus were the Israelites, the once down-trodden slaves of Egypt, made to feel that they were mightier than the mightiest.

"And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for this shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight." In just such words had God encouraged Joshua himself in his time of need.

JOSHUA XXII-THE ALTAR BY JORDAN

427 and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

6 So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away: and they went anto their tents.

7¶ Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan: but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them,

8 And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.

9 ¶ And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

10 ¶ And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to.

11 And the children of Israel heard say, Behold the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel.

12 And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them.

13 And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest,

14 And with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one was an head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel.

15 And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and they spake with them, saying,

16 Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LORD?

17 Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD,