Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-11-16
Tho Valley of AiaIon.
A Visit TO the DatiIe-heid where Joslinp
M stopped the sun,


The Rev. g. S. Robinson, in the
Christian Union gives an interesting
nccoult Of II visit to Joshua's battle
field W n4
"Of the way upthe dilllcult bill we
bad nllen into quite vigorous dis
cussioh concerning one Of the historic
"reminiscences for which Upper Beth.
rom isfamous There can be mo doubt
Of lis authenticity ms the locality in
which was wrought ont that great
vi,tory Of Israel over the Amenities
Tlis incident, however, has notoriety
mro from what is generally termed
hemirnclo of Joshua, when he bado
tirc sun and moon stand still We
wcs,,a.. fall view Of Gibcon and tile
valby Of Aialon. We were laboring
up he identical sleeps down which
thefoe was driven discounted.
'And ifthe record is literal, record.
ingfact and not figure, then we were
certain that somewhere in full sight
was the exact spot upon which the
unseen brakes were applied TO the
wheels Of this solar system, bringing
it to mighty stop for twenty-four
hours.
CATER a dizzy, hardworking plunge
down into the verdured valley, over
rocks smooth. and worn, and very
slippery, we fell into the line of an
ancient Roman road, where the path
had been originally constructed of
heavy tagging stones, like cyelopcan
pavement; the way was intolerably
rough, bat now and then il was actu.
ally cui in the living rock, and the
steps made excellent tootholds for the
horses. There is no use in denying,
however, that this forenoon's work
put the test to our endurance; the jar
of stepping up or down these stone
stairs is, after while, a serious inhic'
ton.
"Right before us now lay the rude
village of Gideon, the modern name Of
which is El-Jib. Leaving our less ad-
yenturous ladies TO wind their quiet
way around the beautiful vineyards
and orchards lying in the plain, their
white garments shining in The sun,
against the deep green Of the olive
trees scattered in the meadows, we
rode directly up to the prcclpitous hill
on the singular summit OF which the
hamlet now stands. 1t seemed aetu.
ally inaccessible TO an unpracticed
eye, but somebody found zigzag
road among the layers of rock, and
led our way. never believed myself
much of horseman. II has ever
been my misfortune TO keep going
over the head or tail of an animal
But after reaching the top of that
cover-likc village, | felt so proud in
my mind that verify believed | might
with proper training having been fit.
III afforded no little amusement TO
us all, when, after those frantic en-.
dCavors, we at last confronted each
utncr on the narrow, dirty ridge, TO
put the serious inquiry why any one
of us had attempted it-whal VIC went
forth for to sec 7 For there was ac.
tually nothing at the spot worth
climbing ailer And somebody was
unfortunate enough to quote the open
ing sentence Of that confused orator
in n debating society: 81 raise, Mr.
President, to tell you what rose for!"
"Evcn the associations Of this place
could have been more contcmplatively
recalled far out of reach Of the snarl.
ing of dogs, the mullilndinous fieas
aud the unntlerable stenchcs Of that
indescribablc pack of novels Only ono
thing grew clear as piece Of Scrip
ture exposition from the visit No
body need ever ask me where the
Gibeonites got the 'old sacks upon
their asses with which they deceived
Joshua the wine bottles old and rent
and bound up; and old cloutcd shoes
upon their feet; and the old garments
upon them; and the old bread dry
and monldy' There are plenty ot
such things right in the midst of this
fororn town.
"It was hard to believe this desolatc
spot had once been IA great city, as
one Of the royal cities We had to
push imagination hard TO recall the
fine history enacted on the stony hill.
This was really the high place of Glib.
con We remembered that here Sol
omon had his dream. aud received tho
eminent wisdom that penned the Pro
verbs. Here Amassa fell under the
trcacherous weapon Of Joab, and here
Asabel's feet foot was stayed in sud
den death Here Amph sang, and
Obeddedom ministered in famous days,
when the tabernacle, constructed by
Moses from patterns given him in Sinai
stood upon the ominencc. Here res
ted the alter of burnt offering until
the temple was finished for its final
abode on Mount Moriah. 1t is sad to
see how the village has fallen. 'llcw
crs of wood and drawers Of water the
inhabitants became after the hattie
which gave them their freedom"
Far away among the Alleghanies
there is n spring so small that singl,
OK in summers day could drain il
dry. II steals its unobtrusve way
among the hills till ii spreads into III,
beautiful Ohio. Thence in stretchc,
away thousand miles, leaving on it,
| banks more than hundred village.