The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-05-30

son3times taken ana hOies were punctui ed
in II, and then the musician would put tho
instrument TO his lips, and he would run his
fingers overtbis rude musical instrument, and
make great deal OF sweet harmony for the
people. That was the only kind OF weapon.
seven priests were to take these rude rustic
musical Instruments, aud they were 10 go
around the city every day for six days--once
q day for six days, aud then on the seventh
day they were TO go around blowing these
rude musical instruments seven times. and
then at the close Of the seventh blowing Of
the rams horns on the seventh day the
peroration OF the whole scene was to be n
shout, at which those great walls should
tumble from caDstone to base.
The seven priests with the rude musical in
struments pass all around the city walls on
the first day, and q failure. Not so much rs
piece OF plaster broke loose from the wall,
not so much loosened rock. not so much as
piece Of mortar lost from its place.
There" say the unbelieving Israelites.
"Didn't I tell you so? Why. those ministers
are fools Tho idea OF going around the city
with those musical instruments aud expect
ing In that way to destroy IT, Joshua has
been spoiled. He thinks because he has
overthrown aud destroyed the spring freshet
he can overthrow the stone wall. Why, II Is
not philosophic. Don't you see there IL no
relation between the blowing Of these musi-
cal instruments and tho knocking down OF
the wallr II isn't philosophy"
Ana l suppose there were many wlseacrcs
who stood with their brows knitted, and
with the foreilnger OF the right hand to the
forefnger OF the left hand. arguing Il all out
and showing II was not possible that such
cause should produce such an effect. And
suppose that night in tho encampment there
was plenty OF philosophy and caricature. and
II Joshua had been nominated for any high
military position he would not have got
many votes. Joshua's stock was down. The
second day. the priests blowing the musical
instruments, go around the city, and fail
ure. Third day, and failure; fourth day.
and failure; nth day, and failure; sixth
day, and failure. The seventh day comes,
the climactcric day. Joshua IL up early I'm
the morning and examines the troops, walks
all around about, looks mt tho city wall. The
priests start to make the circuit OF the city.
They go oil around once. all around twice,
three times, four times, five times, six times,
seven times, and a failure.
There is only one more thing to do, and
that is 10 utter great shout. / see the
lsraelitish army Strengthening themselves up,
illling their lungs for vocferation such as
was never heard before and never heard al
ter. Joshua feels that the hour has come.
and he cries out to his host. shout for the
Lord hath given you the city, All the peo-
pie begin to cry: Down, Jerichol Down,
JerichoP And the long line Of solid ma
sonry begins TO quiver and TO move and TO
rock. Stand from underl She falls! Crash
go tho walls, the temples. the towers, the
palaces The air Is blackened with the dust.
The huzza OF the victorious Israelites and
the groan Of the conquered Canaauites com
mingle, and Joshua, standing there in the
debris OF the wall, hears u voice saying.
There shall not any man be able to stand
before thee all the days Of thy lifc."
But Joshua's troops may hot halt here.
The command Is, Forward, march," There
Is the city of Al. 1t must be taken. How
shall 1t be taken2 A scouting party comes
back and says: "Joshua, we can do that
without you. II Is going TO be very easy
job. You Just stay here while we 20 aud cap
ture II" They march with small regiment
In front of that city Tho men of Al look at
them and give one yell, and the Israelites
run like reindeers. The northern troops at
Bun Run did not make such rapid time rs
these lsr1elitcs with the Canaanites after
them. They never cut such sorry figure
as when they were on the retreat
Joshua falls on his face In chagrin. II Is
the only time you ever see the back OF his
head. He falls on his face and begins to
whine, and he says: 80 Lord God, wherefore
hast Thou at all brought this people over
Jordan TO deliver us into the hand OF the
limorttes to destroy us? Would to God we
had been content and dwelt on the other side
OF Jordan! For the Canaanites and all the
inhabitants OF the land shall hear Of It and
shall environ US round and cut of our name
from the earth"
am very glad Joshua said that. Before
1t seemed tls IL ho were q supernatural being,
and therefore could net be an example to US,
but md he Is q man, he is only man. Just
as sometimes you find man under severe
opposition, or in bad state of physical
health, or worn out with overwork, lying
down and signing about everything being
defeated, am encouraged when hear this
cry of Joshua as he lies in the dust
God comes aud rouses him. How does
He rouse him3 By complimentary apos-
trophe? No. He says: "Get thee MP, Where
fore Hest thou upon thy facey" Joshua
rises. and. warrant you, with mortified
look. But his old courage comes back. The
fact was that was not his battle. II lle had
been In 1t, he would have gone on to victory
He gathers his troops around him aud SAYS:
Now LET us 90 up and capture the city Of
Al. Let Us go up right away"
They march on. He puts the majority Of
the troops behind n ledge of rocks in the
night, and then he sends comparatively
small battalion up in front Of tho city. The
men OF Al come out with Il shout. This bat
talon In stratagem fall back and fall back,
and when all the men OF All have left the city
and are in pursuit OF this scattered or seem
tngly scattered battalion Joshua stands on a
rock / see his locks flying In the wind as
he points his spear toward the doomed city.
and that Is tho signal. The men rush out
from behind the rocks and take the city, and
II Is put to tho torch. and then these Israel
ties In the city march down, and the flying
battalion OF Israelites return, and between
these two waves OF Israelitish prowess the
men OF Al are destroyed, and tho Israelites
gain the victory, and while SEQ the curling
smoke OF that destroyed city on the sky, and
while hear the huzza OF the Israelites and
the groan of the Canaanites, Joshua hears
something louder than 1t ALL ringing and
echoing through his soul, "There shall not
any man be able to stand before thee all the
days Of thy life"
But this is no place for the host Of Joshua
to stop. Forward, march!' cries Joshua to
the troops. There is the city OF Gibeon. 1t
has put itself under the protection OF fJoshua.
They sent word; "There are Ave kings after
US. They are going to destroy us. Send
troops quick. Send us help right away"
Joshua has three days march more than
double quick. On the morning OF the third
day he Is before the enemy. There are two
long lines of battle. The battle opens with
great slaughter, but the Canganites soon
nigenVnF a