The Bible Story, Volume 3: Trials and Triumphs 0828007977, 9780828007979

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VOLUME THREE

By

ARTHUR S.MAXWELL

a

t B^v. /i

Ci>LLIM£

Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive in

2009

Iittp://www.arcliive.org/details/biblestorymoreth03maxw

THE BIBLE STORY VOLUME

III

Trials and Triumphs {From the Death

of

Nadab and Abihu

to the

Anointing of David)

.4^

.,

e^ff,\J3j^

Obediently Moses in the

made

out a

camp. Then he sent word

list

to

of the best

them

to

.;..)

men

he

knew

meet him

at the

was

called,

door of the tabernacle. Strangely, only sixty-eight came.

two were missing that they

may

Why

—Eldad

When

the roll

and Medad. Their names suggest

have been brothers, maybe twins.

they did not

come when Moses

Bible does not say. Certainly

it

called

them the

couldn't have been because

they were rebellious, or obstinate, or anything of the

sort.

If

they had been, Moses would never have chosen them to be

members of the new council of Israel. Possibly they were doing some kind deed for somebody, and couldn't leave it, or they didn't feel

worthy of the honor that Moses had

of-

fered them.

Anyway, they

didn't come,

out them.

He

tabernacle"

and waited

set

and Moses had

to

go on with-

the sixty-eight leaders "round about the for

God

to act.

down very close to them all so near that they could hear Go4 speak to Moses. Then something very wonderful happened. The Spirit of God Suddenly the

pillar of

cloud came

—

came upon them 18

all,

and "they prophesied, and did not

cease."

TWO It

MISSING

must have been

MEN what happened about

like

years later at Pentecost, disciples

when

and they began

Holy

the

Spirit

to talk, about the

fifteen

hundred

came upon

the

wonderful things

of God.

Now we

can see

why Moses

"round about the tabernacle." gether,

and had

all

been great confusion

And

as the people

If

placed the sixty-eight

they had been bunched to-

begun talking ;

but

now

who had

men

each

at once, there

man had

his

would have

own

audience.

gathered around the tabernacle

lis-

men were saying, they were Moses had chosen true men of God to be their

tened to the beautiful things the

impressed that

spiritual leaders.

In the midst of

all

the excitement a

young

man

pressed

through the crowd and came running to Moses, crying, "Eldad

and Medad do prophesy

in the camp."

So God had not forgotten the two missing men, even though they hadn't

felt

able, for

some reason or

other, to

come to the meeting at the tabernacle. He had put His Spirit upon them too, which proves that they must both have been very good men.

THE BIBLE STORY But Joshua didn't

what was going

like

"My lord Moses," he cried, "forbid He was afraid lest, if other people camp,

in the

it

would take away some

"Enviest thou for

my

sake.?"

he

spirit

began prophesying

of Moses'

said,

and

the Lord's people were prophets,

put his

them."

"would God

that the

himself up to now. this

He was

was God's

will.

Why

seventy people doing this from in Israel

should he worry

now

camp.'^

on,

try

to

among

if

by

Eldad

There would be

little, selfish

that all the Lord's

the finest in the Bible.

remember them. For

the joys and rewards of leadership

Only

all

were worthy of the honor.

people were prophets," are all

do

and he wished every-

Those words of Moses, "Would God should

to

were be-

ready to share the glory of leader-

and Medad were prophesying in the body

Lord would

a bit jealous because other people

ginning to do the things that he had been trying

if

that

upon them!"

Moses wasn't

ship,

power and

Moses didn't mind.

authority. But

all

on.

is

We

willingness to share

a sign of real nobility.

people try to keep the best things, the

places, the highest honors, all to themselves.

first

PART ONE

STORY Trouble

IT

4

in the

Family

IS sometimes said that "it never rains but

it

pours."

Certainly Moses must have thought so when, right after the people had grumbled about their food, he found

that his

own

brother and

sister

were talking against him.

This must have been very hard

to

for he loved

take,

Aaron and Miriam very much. Was not Miriam the big sister who had watched over him when, as a baby, he had been put in the ark among the bulrushes on the bank of the river Nile.? Had not Aaron once walked all the way from Egypt to

Mount

Sinai to see him.-^

Had

not

all

three of

them worked

and worried and prayed together over the great task of bringing Israel out of Egypt.''

What having

like

could be the matter with them.''

two naughty

children, instead of

They were

two

elderly

be-

grown-

ups, as they were. First they

began

to tease

Moses about

his wife. Because

she was a Midianite and dark complexioned, they said she

21

THE BIBLE STORY was an Ethiopian, in

fun

many

it

that

Moses didn't Uke.

times before, but

Next they

"Hath

said,

this

was

it!

now

also

it

there

was

a cruel barb in

jealous about something.

could be. Did they want his job?

Were they tired of his being in charge? Then he remembered. Of course! Like unhappy about

Joshua, they were

the appointment of the seventy elders

the fact that God's Spirit

this

by us?"

They were

Moses wondered what

doubt they had said

Lord indeed spoken only by

the

Moses? hath he not spoken

Ah! So

No

or a Cushite.

and

had been poured out upon them.

They were afraid they wouldn't be quite so important in the camp from now on. Moses, they thought, should have consulted them before doing anything like this. Dear, dear! This was terrible! If Aaron and Miriam were beginning

to

grumble

got to a pretty bad place.

like the others,

What

could be done about

There was nothing that Moses could seventy elders he had only done as as for their receiving the

responsible for that.

And

Holy

then things had

naming

do. In

God had

Spirit, surely

it?

told

the

him; and

he had not been

he was not one to argue for himself.

Indeed, the Bible says that by this time he had become the

meekest

man "upon

Here was

would have

the face of the earth."

a situation

where God had

to settle the matter in a big

to step in.

way

to

And He

make

sure

would be no further misunderstanding. So, while the three were talking together rather heatedly, maybe in Moses' tent, "the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron,

there

22

TROUBLE IN THE FAMILY and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation."

This was an order.

They went, no doubt wondering what was going

to hap-

pen next. Arriving at the tabernacle, they saw the

come down very low, in, as it

until all three of

pillar of

them seemed

cloud

to be shut

were, with God.

Then God

spoke.

"Aaron and Miriam," He

said,

and the two stepped

forward.

"Hear now

my

words," said the Lord. "If there be a

among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream." But, He went on, "my servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth,

prophet

even apparently [clearly], and not in dark speeches; and the

.f^

similitude of the

Lord

he behold: wherefore then were

shall

ye not afraid to speak against

Aaron and Miriam clear that

had

God was

my

servant Moses?"

stood silent and afraid, for

very displeased with

them

for

it

was

what they

They waited to see whether God but He didn't. Then the cloud rose, and

said to their brother.

would speak

again,

the three found themselves standing together under the brilliant desert sunshine.

Suddenly Miriam

"Look

let

out a scream.

me!" she cried. "Look! I've got the leprosy!" "And Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was at

leprous."

This was a

terrible

thing to happen to anyone, for in those

days leprosy was looked upon as an incurable disease. ually ate

away

a person's hngers

tagious that anyone

who

got

it

and

had

toes,

and

it

was

It

grad-

so con-

to be put out of the

camp

at once. It

was

a

most touching moment. Miriam,

was weeping her heart out

24

at

all

broken up,

her awful punishment. Aaron,

TROUBLE IN THE FAMILY sick

with worry and very repentant, was pleading for for-

giveness for himself

had hurt most imploring

God

of

and

all

his sister.

by her

And

Moses,

bitter tongue,

whom

was on

Miriam

his

knees

to heal her.

Never, perhaps, in

all history,

was there such

a pathetic

family scene.

And God was watching it all. His heart of love was deeply moved. He heard Moses' prayer. Miriam was healed. But just so she wouldn't forget her lesson, He ordered that she be put out of the all

camp

would be well

for seven days.

anyone

else

led to the edge of the

who had had

Moses and Aaron went along good-by. later to

And

I

she could return,

and

again.

So poor Miriam was outside, like

Then

am

to

camp and put

the leprosy.

No

doubt

comfort her and bid her

sure they were at the selfsame spot a

welcome her back with open arms.

iV

week

—

PART ONE

STORY

5

So Near and Yet So Far

DO

YOU

know how

the border of

had been those days

few hundred trucks

it

is

from Mount

Sinai to

Canaan? Less than 150 miles!

good modern road

a

—which

far

there wasn't

—and

if

If there

across the desert in Israel

had owned a

—which they didn't—they could have cov-

ered the whole distance in four or five hours.

Even

as things

were

—moving

only as fast as the

littlest

lamb, or the youngest child, or the most obstinate donkey the caravan

So

it

was only eleven traveling days making the journey.

couldn't have been very long after

all

the trouble

over the quail, and the worse trouble between Moses, Aaron,

and Miriam,

Here

that they

at last, just

drew near

to the land of their dreams.

about fifteen months after their great

deliverance from Egypt, they caught their the green hills

What

and

fertile valleys

first

glimpse of

of their future home.

excitement there must have been in the camp!

can imagine mothers hugging their children for joy

26

at

I

the

very thought that the hard, trying days in the wilderness,

with

all

over.

Boys and

the heat, the thirst, girls

and the weariness, would soon be

shouted for joy as they pictured the land

flowing "with milk and honey" they had heard their fathers talk about.

Fancy! All the milk they could drink! All the

honey they could

Then

eat!

What

a land

tribe,

went ahead

and find out what would have These men, every one a

to be

ruler,

were

fortified,

what

It

was

tribe sent Israel."

a great

its

best

honor

to explore the

country

to get possession of

were

to spread out all over

lived there,

sort of

and whether there were any

camp while twelve

done

and learn how many people

their cities

ing,

must be!

the people were told to rest in

men, one from each

the place

it

how

it.

strongly

food they were grow-

trees for

lumber.

to be chosen for this mission.

Each

man. All were "heads of the children of

Much depended upon them

—more

than they knew!

Caleb was sent by the tribe of Judah, and Joshua by the tribe of

Ephraim. There were ten

others,

whose names nobody

remembers today.

27

AND YET SO FAR

so NEAR As

the twelve set forth there were

many

good-bys and

good wishes from the thousands who gathered to see them off. Then, when the last had disappeared from view, the went back

rest

A

week

to their tents to await the spies' return.

passed,

two weeks, three weeks.

no word. What could have

happened.''

Still

Could

was

there

twelve have

all

been slain by the Canaanites.?

Four weeks,

live

Then on

seemed!

—how

down

came back.

with various kinds of

must have seemed

it

long the waiting time

the fortieth day they

All were loaded

how good

weeks

to people

And

fruit.

who had

lived in

a wilderness so long! But the object that caught everybody's

eye was a huge bunch of grapes to carry

If this

it.

derful place

As

so large that

was the produce

what a won-

had never seen such a

unto the land whither thou sentest

floweth with milk and honey; and this

it

men

must be!

it

"We came

surely

took two

it

of Canaan,

for the spies, they said they

country.

and

—

is

us,

the

fruit of it."

Up

to

this

moment everybody had been

were wreathed in at once.

smiles.

Then came

Everybody wanted

to

happy. Faces

go

to

Canaan

the bad news.

"Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land,

and the

cities are

walled, and very great:

saw the children of Anak

As some

and moreover we

there."

of the spies continued to describe

Canaan were, and how

the people of

take the land

away from them,

difficult

it

how

strong

would be

to

the hearts of the Israelites

29

-*

*^

:"\

r

/ vi^

h

mi

Jt

k f^

Ifcl

i.i

THE BIBLE STORY Suddenly something happens. Nobody knows what. Only that the water

A

hundred

across.

To

is

feet.

now

Now

feet.

there seems to be dry land all the

way

the right, to the

left,

there

how, somewhere, miraculously, the

and has ceased

The

Twenty

Thirty

ten feet away.

is

feet.

no sign of water. Some-

river has

been

dammed up

to flow.

move

priests

At

on.

Joshua's orders they stand

in the midst of the river bed, in the place of greatest

still

danger

should the water begin to flow again. Seeing them there, the people begin to

cross.

By thousands and

hurry from one side

to the other, driving their

their cattle as fast as they will go.

The city, are

tens of thousands they

It is

wagons and

an amazing

sight.

people of Jericho, watching from the walls of their

struck

dumb

with

fear.

They have never

seen anything

Nor has anyone else. Hour after hour the Israelites continue to cross man, the last woman, the last little boy, and the

like this.

last

girl are safely

Now

on the other

last little

side.

Joshua sends word to the priests holding the ark in

the midst of the river bed to

the

until the

They come, and bank when there

"come up out

are they glad is

a dull roar

!

of Jordan."

Hardly have they reached

somewhere

and the pent-up waters come flooding

all

in the distance

over the place where

they had just been standing.

Everybody to believe.

The

stares at the

river

is

water in amazement.

It

is

hard

in full flood as before! Yet a million

people have crossed from one side to the other without bridge or boat! So this

82

is

the

wonder God promised

to

perform!

To make

sure the people

miracle, Joshua

had

would never

told twelve

forget this marvelous

men, one from each

carry twelve big rocks out of the midst of Jordan.

them

piled in a

heap

as a

memorial of the great

tribe, to

Now

event.

he has

"When

your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying,

What mean children land.

these stones.^"

know,

saying, Israel

says,

"then ye shall

came over

this

let

your

Jordan on dry

For the Lord your God dried up the waters of Jordan

from before you

know

he

the

fear the

hand

.

.

.

:

that all the people of the earth

of the Lord, that

Lord your God

it

is

might

mighty: that ye might

for ever."

Alas, the heap of stones disappeared with the years. So

did the

memory

of

what God had done. 83

!

PART

STORY

TWO

7

The Captain Appears

SAFELY across the Jordan, their tents

before.

the children of Israel pitched

with a joy in their hearts they had never

They were

Canaan

in

at last!

Their

known

feet stood

upon the Promised Land

With deep

thankfulness to

which reminded them years before.

the

way God had

just led

Next morning they the says

morning it

it

seemed

corn of the land."

lit

from Egypt

in wonderfully

life,

manna

with

the Jordan.

was no more manna. The Bible after they

had eaten of the old

doubt some people, from habit, went

out to gather some for breakfast, but there wasn't any.

never saw the

forty-

food they found in Canaan, and

ate

morrow

No

to

them through

after that there

"ceased on the

they kept the Passover,

of their deliverance

Somehow

odd

God

again.

It

was

just

new day, had begun for them. One day, perhaps as the shades

another sign that

They a new

a

upon the Jordan

valley

and

silence

of evening were falling

was coming gradually

to

85

-^

PAINTING BY HARRY ANDERSON

© 1954, BY REVIEW AND HERALD

Before trying to take Jericho Joshua went out camp to pray. He did not know he would meet the Captain of the Lord's host, who had come to give him help from heaven. of the

'

THE BIBLE STORY the

camp

was

troubled. Better than anyone else he

ahead.

of Israel, Joshua went off by himself to pray.

Not

away was

far

on the

knew

Jericho, so near

He

the difficulties

he could even see

He wondered how

such a

city,

so strong, so well defended, could be taken by people

who

the soldiers

knew

so

other

cities just like

little

walls.

of the arts of war. it,

fight to the death to

Then

Beyond Jericho were

full of fierce, cruel

keep

Israel

a

hundred

who would

people

from taking them.

there were those mountains he could see in the

gloaming, so high and

steep, barring his

way

to the sea.

How

could he take a million people over them.''

He that he

God how helpless he might know what to do. told

felt,

and asked

for

wisdom

Suddenly, as he raised his head, he saw someone standing close

by him, a drawn sword in his hand.

No

doubt his hand

felt for his

own sword

as

he stepped

toward the stranger. "Friend or thou for

us, or for

"Nay," the

Lord

am

"The

our

said the stranger, "but as captain of the host of I

now come."

Then

the truth

Lord Himself, the

to give

adversaries.'^"

captain of the host!" thought Joshua.

the captain.? the

he asked, as any soldier would. "Art

focf*"

him

real

Was

not he

dawned upon him. This must be Captain of Israel. He had come

the help, the wisdom, the courage, for

which he

had prayed.

"And and

86

said

Joshua

fell

unto him,

on

his face to the earth,

What

saith

my

and did worship,

lord unto his servant.''"

— THE CAPTAIN APPEARS The Lord had much him to

to say to

to be reverent in the presence of

Moses

move

at the

Then

how

burning bush,

so

"And

the

Lord

told

city.

to

Then everybody was fall

down.

It

now

So will

for

they

him

in charge,

all

to

and

full

!

just

There

worry any more. The Captain of victory

was

sure.

our problems become simple

Lord take

to give

would be plan.

if

know

to fight at all, but just

simple the problem seemed to Joshua

was

the

told Joshua to re-

would only follow God's

was no need

let

was not

and the walls would

as easy as that,

the host

now He

him what he most wanted

walk round and round the

How

Just

Joshua did so."

to capture Jericho. Israel

a big shout,

God.

He reminded as He had said

first

where he was standing was

his shoes because the place

holy ground.

we

him, but

charge of our

if

lives.

^~rfiii{ -Htrrhi

PART

STORY

8

The Shout That Wrecked

THE WATCHMEN zled.

TWO

a City

on the walls of Jericho were puz-

Ever since they had seen the children of

cross the dry

Israel

bed of the river they had been expecting

an attack. But none had come.

was ers

The

gates of the city

fully

armed, ready for action

were

closed.

were posted on the battlements

at a

Every able-bodied

moment's

to shoot

notice.

down any

man

Arch-

attacker.

But none came. Spies reported that the Israelites were going through certain religious ceremonies, but

dealing with walled all

very strange.

them

Were

Nor were

of

war

they building any.

they planning just to

sit

there

and

It

for

was

starve

out.''

Then one day camp of Israel. "This must be

were ordered

88

cities.

had no big engines

they saw a procession forming outside the

it,"

they said to one another, as soldiers

to battle stations.

But

still

the attack did not come.

Instead they saw thousands of in a rank, as they

had come out

not toward the

but around

city,

of priests carrying the the midst of Jordan

until

of

when

object they

the Israelites

back into the camp of "That's a funny the walls. "If that's

won't have

much

to

Israel

way

how

and

they

to

it

Then

it.

someone on

make war on

us,

we

worry about."

"Did you so far as

march around

the

notice I

how

could hear.

quiet

The

those trumpets."

Next day the same thing happened So

in

dispersed.

mean

Nobody spoke a word, only sound they made was with silent

had seen

wound on and city. Then it went

to attack a city!" said

they wercf"

same

march

so the procession

"I don't like it," said another.

the

to

had crossed

had gone completely around the

it

—begin

Egypt

five

Following them was a group

same strange

came more armed men. And on

it.

—no doubt

armed men

city.

was the next day, and the

—the same procession, It

was uncanny.

next. Indeed, for six days

in succession.

89

^^^^jO^jj^ji^^^^^^

to

"What ask. "Do

are they

up to?" many people

Then came

like this?"

the seventh day. Early in the

procession started again.

And

there wasn't

At

—

first

until

again.

priests

Four

to

camp

no

dif-

circuit

had been

as usual, the soldiers

city again.

Then

again and

times, five times, six times. Still not a spear shot.

And

still

save the noise of the priests' trumpets

tramp of the marching

all

the

i-«e?-

walked round the

thrown, not an arrow was

No

morning

there seemed to be

one complete

made. Then, instead of going back

and the

began

they think they are going to frighten us by just

walking round and round

ference.

in the city

there

was

was no sound

and the tramp, tramp,

host.

doubt the walls were thronged with people by now,

watching the amazing

sight,

wondering what

-T

n:'^ ,VJ-'

it

meant,

and what might happen

next.

Round went

the procession for

the seventh time.

Suddenly, as the priests blew on their trumpets once more, there

was

a

mighty shout. So loud was

it

that

it

seemed

as

if

every soldier in the ranks of the Israelites had shouted at exactly the

same moment. The sound wave appeared

moment

the walls like a battering ram, for at that precise

was the

a shuddering city.

The

and

a shaking as

if

to strike

there

an earthquake had

great walls began to fall outward.

the defenders were tossed to the ground

and

Hundreds

killed,

hit

of

leaving

the city wide open to the Israelites.

Minutes

later the fighting

captured. Israel's PAINTING BY FRED COLLINS

first

was

victory in

all over.

Jericho

had been

Canaan had been won.

PART

STORY

TWO

9

Buried Sin

A

S

THE

/^ -^

Israelites

Jericho, they

-^

returned to

had taken the most important

and shout!

It

Thinking thoughts of Ai. Because

to

it

go against

it

no

to think that

if

it

all

as easily as this, they

time.

like these, they set out to take the city

was much smaller than

would not be necessary

it.

Jordan valley

do was walk around

was amazing. They began

possess the land in

leaders said

to

city in the

Canaan could be captured

the cities of

after the capture of

were very pleased with themselves. They

without a light! All they had had

would

camp

make

not

some

of the

men of Israel thousand men go up,"

for all the

"Let about two or three

they said to Joshua, "and

Jericho,

all

the people to labour

thither."

men went up to attack Ai, and men were killed, and the rest came

So about three thousand

were defeated. Thirty-six

home

feeling very discouraged.

Something had gone wrong. Joshua

92

felt

almost as bad

BURIED SIN as the rest.

He

couldn't understand

of the Lord's host

"And

who had

promised

Lord

the earth

upon

until the eventide, he

and

their heads."

strange position this for the would-be conqueror of

a country, to Joshua;

in

fell to

upon

the elders of Israel, and put dust

the Captain

victory.''

Joshua rent his clothes, and

his face before the ark of the

A

Where was

it.

and the Lord didn't "wherefore

liest

like

it.

"Get thee up,"

thou thus upon thy

He

said

face.''"

Then the Lord told him what was the matter. Somebody the camp had committed a grievous sin. Somebody had

disobeyed orders and kept part of the spoil of Jericho for himself.

"There

is

an accursed thing

in the

midst of thee,

O

Israel:

thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing

from among you."

how could Joshua find To search for him among

But deed.''

like

man who had done

a million Israelites

this

would be

looking for a needle in a haystack.

Then tribe to

the

Lord

told

him

to

draw

which the man belonged, then

finally to find the

man

Meanwhile, Achan, it

the

lots,

first

to find the

to find his family,

and

himself.

who had

in his tent, felt perfectly safe.

stolen the stuff

and buried

— THE BIBLE STORY "They'll never catch me," he told himself. "Never."

Even when Joshua gan

to

many

draw

lots,

and

called all the people together

Achan

didn't feel worried.

thousands of people,

how

Amid

be-

many,

so

him

could they ever find

when nobody in the camp knew what he had done-f* But when he heard that in the casting of lots for the

especially

tribes,

a

anxious. "That's

little

think of

all

had been taken, he became

the tribe of Judah

twelve

my

he told himself. "But then

tribe,"

the thousands of families in Judah. I'm

still

all

right."

But he became more worried when he learned that lots

were

Zarhites

cast

among

as

the families of Judah, the family of the

had been taken.

"That's

my

family," he said. "I don't like

this. It's

getting

too close."

Minutes

later the search

grandfather, was taken.

came

As

closer

the old

still,

for Zabdi,

man went

speak with Joshua, and the priests began to cast

Achan's

forward to

lots

on Zabdi's

children and grandchildren, Achan's face turned pale.

Then he heard his own name He knew then the game was up.

"My

called,

and

his heart sank.

son," said Joshua, kindly but solemnly, "give,

thee, glory to the

unto him; and

tell

Lord God

of Israel,

me now what

I

pray

and make confession

thou hast done; hide

it

not

from me." Trembling, Achan confessed. There was nothing could do. Yes, he was the one

who had

sinned.

When

else

he

Jericho

was captured he had seen "a goodly Babylonish garment,"

94

!

BURIED SIN which he thought

it

would be

nice to

silver

and

them and took them," he

said,

hundred shekels of

the earth in the midst of

Joshua sent

men

to

my

a

wedge

and the

of gold. "I coveted

"and, behold, they are hid in

tent."

Achan's tent and soon found the goods

and brought them back. They made of Joshua

wear someday, and two

elders of Israel,

a sad

little pile

in front

and the Babylonish garment

What a shame that and many good men had

didn't look nearly so beautiful as before.

had suffered defeat

Israel

been

in battle,

killed, because of this flimsy piece of cloth

and

a

few

bits

and gold

of silver

Achan was

sorry, terribly sorry.

But

it

was too

late to

He had to be punished. And he was. He was taken to a valley where there were many

be

sorry.

and the people threw stones raised over

The what

him

place

a great

was

a lot of trouble

sin that

at

him

till

he died.

heap of stones unto

called

stones,

"And

this day."

Achor, meaning "trouble."

was caused by

that one

they

little sin,

And

a buried

wouldn't stay covered!

-K-r

n^^-

TWO

PART

STORY

10

Moldy Bread

WHEN

taken.

Achan had been punished Ai was easily Not with three thousand men, though. All

the people of

had against

and the

Jericho,

As news

war went up

against

Canaan became very

Israel.

Others thought

it

frightened.

if

Among

these

up quite

a bright idea to save themselves.

Their that

if

were the leading

city

was not very

asses,

shoes

from

96

.

.

upon

that

better to

were

bottles, old,

their feet,

possible.

it

might be

their turn as

ambas-

"and took old sacks upon

and

make

from Ai, and they guessed

So they dressed themselves up

a far country,

and wine .

far

of

Gibeon who thought

of

they did not do something soon,

to be destroyed next.

sadors

men

Some

band together and

would be

of peace with the invaders,

treaty

they

was sacked and burned.

city

the rulers of the larger cities decided to

a

just as

of this second great victory spread through the

land, the people of

wage war on

it,

rent,

their

and bound up; and old

and old garments upon them; and

MOLDY BREAD all

the bread

.

Joshua unto the

men

.

camp

We

of Israel,

And

was dry and mouldy.

.

at Gilgal,

and

unto him, and to the

said

be come from a far country:

make ye a league with us." Some of the leaders of Israel were travel-stained strangers,

they went to

now

therefore

a bit suspicious of the

and looked them over very

but none detected the fraud. So Joshua asked them

carefully,

who

they

were and whence they had come. Wearily they answered, "From

come because

servants are for

we have heard

Egypt, and that

Og

all

the

a

name

of the

very far country thy

fame of him, and

that he did to the

were beyond Jordan,

to

Lord thy God:

of the all

two kings

that he did in

of the Amorites,

Sihon king of Heshbon and to

king of Bashan." Carefully they avoided mentioning Jericho and Ai, which

would have given them away. Then, seeing that

their speech

on Joshua and the princes of

had made

Israel,

a big impression

they went on to point to

the food they had brought with them.

"This our bread," they said sadly, "we took hot of our houses

now, behold, wine, which

on the day we came forth it is

we

dry,

filled,

and

it

is

to

.

.

.

out

go unto you; but

mouldy: and these

bottles of

were new; and, behold, they be rent:

and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey."

THE BIBLE STORY How untruths,

they kept their faces straight while they told

But they

can't imagine.

I

them. So did the other leaders

And

did.

who

all

these

Joshua believed

listened to them.

could they deny the evidence of that moldy bread

."^

How "And

Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them,

them

to let

and the princes of the congregation sware

live:

unto them."

Of In

fact,

how

course

wasn't long before the fraud was discovered.

within three days the truth was out.

You can imagine

and angry Joshua and the others

foolish

But they kept it

it

When

word.

their

unharmed. However,

as a

they

came

punishment

to

felt

ab(uit

Gibeon they

it.

left

for their deception,

the Gibeonites were told that they must forever be "hewers of

wood and drawers

How

did

it

of water" for the children of Israel.

happen

that Joshua

were deceived by these cunning received the

men

counsel at the

God was as

by reason of

mouth

such a

little

moldy It is

Him

'J

"They

and asked not

of the Lord."

a bit puflFed

they had thought

tories,

Bible says,

their victuals,

had given them counsel on how

He

The

people.?

Israel

ready to give them counsel on this matter, just

But being perhaps

of

and the princes of

matter as

it

to take Jericho

up over

their

two great

wasn't necessary to ask

this.

and

God

Ai. vic-

about

So they were deceived by a piece

bread. a

good thing

to take every question to

guide in every detail of our

^^. ^'^

4

n

''.'i***'\

lives.

God and

let

PART

STORY

11

The Sun Stands

THAT

TWO

Still

moldy bread the Gibeonites showed to Joshua brought him more trouble than he expected. Not long after he had signed the treaty with them

they sent

piece of

him an urgent message asking

for help.

about to be attacked by five kings of nearby

he please come

"Come up pleaded: "for

at

once and save

to us quickly,

all

cities,

They were and would

them.''

and save

us,

and help

us," they

the kings of the Amorites ... are gathered

together against us."

These

five

kings had planned to attack the

when

stop their invasion of Canaan, so, naturally,

the Gibeonites

had made peace with

Israel

angry. Traitors, they called them, and

Hence

Lord

told

him

deceived

him

—and

his surprise the

people

and

they heard

they were very

out to punish them.

set

the Gibeonites appealed to Joshua for help.

This time Joshua did not forget

To

Israelites

who had

to ask

to

go

to

God what

to do.

to the help of these

go

at once.

99

THE BIBLE STORY

just

By marching all night the armies of Israel reached Gibeon in time. Taken by surprise, the soldiers of the five kings

scattered in all directions.

During

two wonderful things

the fighting that followed

happened. First came a sudden storm of the

enemy

so that "they

hail

which beat down

were more which died with

hail-

whom

the children of Israel slew with the

as the pursuit

continued toward evening, and Joshua

stones than they

sword."

Then,

saw that many would escape

in the

prayed for more time to finish the

He

realized that this

was

won

it,

and

for

all.

Canaan

too.

the sun

would not go down!

a

oncoming darkness, he

job.

most important

battle. If

he

he would break the power of the Canaanites once

His path

He

to the sea

must win

Oh,

it.

would be open, and for

more

daylight! If only

Suddenly he looked toward the setting sun and stand thou

still

to all

upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon,

cried,

"Sun,

in the valley

of Ajalon." Just

how

it

happened

that "the sun stood

still,

I

do not know, but the Bible

and the moon stayed"

says

until the battle

was won.

when normally there would have been darkness, there was light. The sun continued to shine. In fact, the sun "hasted not to go down about a whole day." It just stayed where it was in the sky. "And there was no day Hour

after hour,

like that before

the voice of a

100

it

or after

man:

for the

it,

that the

Lord hearkened unto

Lord fought

for Israel."

*ii»v

Of

marveled

at the long,

had happened had

just so Israel

had one succession of

land, according to

At

last,

divided the

all

men who

one

cities

him he

victories.

that the

"So Joshua took the whole

Lord

said unto Moses."

satisfied,

he

set

up

into seven parts in a book." cast lots for the land,

new

life in

"There

Israel.

a

To make

sure

committee of twenty-

came

to.

With

this

and the various

them.

Then

they

it

book beside

tribes accepted

all set off to start

the Promised Land.

failed not

ought of any good thing which the

Lord had spoken unto the house of

^l

over, Joshua carefully

explored the whole country and "described

the portions that their

could defeat the five kings, they

when all the fighting was land among the people of

everybody would be

by

long day.

fight left in them. In the battles that followed Is-

little

rael

knew about this and And when they heard that it

course, everybody in Palestine

Israel; all

came

to pass."

TWO

PART

STORY

12

Joshua's Last Days

WHEN

land of Canaan was being divided

the

among

the tribes of Israel,

two

beautiful things

happened.

The

What do

first

was when old Caleb came

you suppose

A nice, flat piece of fertile land by

Not

he.

me

this

mountain," he

where the giant sons of Anak will be It

with me, then

was

I

meet them in

still

the Jordan.?

a request.

asked

Now

lived. "If so

did,

out."

frightened the

Caleb, brave to the

He

be the Lord

them

Anak who had

battle himself.

No, indeed.

pointing to the one

said,

shall be able to drive

these very sons of

people forty years before. to

make

this eighty-five-year-old veteran

for.?

"Give

to

last,

offered

and he won.

Then, when the dividing of the land was almost Joshua's turn came.

What

did he request.?

As

have demanded a very large and beautiful he didn't. Instead he asked for one

he had

102

to rebuild.

And when

it

little

was given

leader he

over,

might

tract of land, but

ruined to

city,

him he

which

called

it

JOSHUA'S LAST DAYS Timnath-serah, meaning "the portion that remains." Here was the

mark

until

of a truly great

everybody

else

man.

He

took nothing for himself

had been cared

for.

Years passed by. Years of peace and joy for passed his hundredth birthday. Soon after his

end was near, he

had done

just before

minded them again day

He

their

called

he died. of

all

to the

crossing of the Jordan,

When

they

out of

Ur

to

Joshua

feeling that

Moses

him he them from

came

God's goodness

to

re-

the

of the Chaldees. Carrying

days of their bondage in Egypt, he

spoke of the great deliverance

God had

this,

called all the people together as

Abraham

minds back

Israel.

and

at the

Red

Sea, of the miraculous

lastly of all the

given them since that day.

wonderful

victories

THE BIBLE STORY "Take good heed the

therefore unto yourselves, that ye love

Lord your God," he implored them. "Fear the Lord, and

him in sincerity and in Then he warned them

truth."

serve

should ever forget the those last wonderful

ye will serve ...

:

what would happen

of

God who had

words of

as for

his:

blessed

them

"Choose you

me and my

house,

this

we

if

they

so,

adding

day

whom

will serve the

Lord."

Deeply touched by

their old leader's faith

and

his

concern for them, the people replied, "The Lord our will serve,

and

his voice will

They meant

it.

lived they kept their

Then Joshua

And where do city of

I

am

we

God we

obey."

sure they did.

And

as

long as Joshua

word.

died, "being

an hundred and ten years old."

you suppose they buried him.? In his

Timnath-serah, "the portion that remains"

place for one

deep

whose name

will

remain forever.

own

—

little

a fitting

PART Stories of the

III

Days of the Judges

(Judges 1:1-Ruth 4:22)

VK

BALAAM MET

J-^ LED CITIES

SEA OF

^

OF

CANAANITES tg'

9

BY THE ANGEL

I

GALILEE

.J

» '..

BAAL WORSHIP ,

=

(V

V-

-j,

_il-

-^ MT. GERIZIM

.ftWi-

'^

J

TABERNACLE AT SHILOH

TENT CITIES

>ND OF GIANTS

CROSSING

i^

, THE

JORDAN

THE FALL OF JERICHO

\ |gibeonitfs I

TviV'f tT'' '

I

^

SETTLEMENT OF CANAAN UNDER JOSHUA'S LEADERSHIP

PART THREE

STORY The

WHEN

1

Place of

Weepers

the tribes of Israel were given the land of

Canaan,

were

was with the understanding

it

wicked people

to drive out the rest of the

they found there, smash their idols, and break altars.

that

They were

to create in Palestine a

would glow with

they didn't do

Eager

to

the glory of

down

their

pure and holy nation in

an

evil

world. But

They got tired too soon. build homes for themselves and begin farming it.

again, they found

all

sorts of excuses for not

what God, through Joshua, had

The

God

that they

tribe of

Judah,

we

told

them

doing exactly

to do.

read, drove out "the inhabitants

of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they chariots of iron to

had

do with

chariots of iron." it.''

But what had

Could not God have found a

way to deal with them, as He had helped Israel through the Red Sea and Jordan.'' The first chapter of Judges is one long story of failure. 107

-