St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-02-09

pause, "didst not thou tell us that thou
hadst delivered them into our hands,
and that there should not . man of
them stand before US? And here they
are about to escape, for the night
soon cometh.'' And almost a sob es-
capped from the great, strong man, as
he lifted his eyes to heaven.
Were they to fall short of COM
plete victory? Had they not been told
to destroy utterly those who bid def
ance to God and Gods people, and
were they now to be hindered by the
shortness of the day?
Yea, will they not say that it was
their god, the sun god, which has
helped them?" he cried. "Wfll they
not claim that he has FASTENED his
journey across the heavens so as to
quickly bring the darkness to their
relief?"
But does not the sun move at the
dictates of Gods will? the thought
suddenly came to him, and aloud he
asked: Cannot the God who rolled
aside the waters Of the Red sea and
then the Jordan, also make the sun,
moon and stars to obey him.
With the expression of the thought
came the inner peace and assurance
that he could, and he would, and de-
scending quickly into the midst of
the hosts of Israel, he shouted:
SLACK not thy hands. The Lord
will give thee complete victory over
these thy enemies"
But the night cometh," was shout
ed back. "And in the darkness we
dare not fight, lest we smite friend for
foe"
yea, but God will lengthen his
| day. Joshua shouted back And then,
| lifting his hands toward the heavens,
he cried: Sun, stand thou still upon
| Gideon; and thou, moon, in the valley
| of Ajalon!"
That was all that was said. Joshua
returned to his observation point and
| the soldiers who had been about him
| turned and carried the news every
where through the ranks of Israel
that daylight would not fail them, for
Joshua had commanded the sun to
stand still. With new vigor and earn
estness they fought One hour-two
hours went by, and still the hosts Of
the enemy stubbornly strove to hold
! Israel in check.
Hopefully at first did they turn their
eyes towards the sun. Then as the
| moments grew into the first hour and
| then the second, and still the sun
held its place in the heavens, they
| looked in anxiety and growing terror
at the sight. Adoni-zedec and the
| kings with him paced to and fro.
| What strange thing was this? Was
the sun in league with their enemies,
that he should tarry thus in the heav-
ems? In the agony of desperation
they cried to their gods to hear them
and send the darkness, but their cries
were only drowned in the din of bat
tie, which thickened about them.
Faster and faster now become the re-
treat, until it was clear that it would
soon develop into panic-stricken
fight. The five kings as they watch
| ed the progress of the battle real
lied that all was lost, and while yet
they had the opportunity and their
men were braVely striving to hold in
check the onward rush OF the Is
raelites, they sought safety in flight,
and came at last to the cave at Max
kedah.
(, But of what avail their flight? The
sun still shone in the heavens, and fol-
| lowed them as though to reveal their
flight, as indeed it did, for some of the
men of Israel fighting on the outer
edges of the battle line, observed this
movement, and fastened to follow,
and came up with them just as they
| disappeared into the dark depths of
| the great cave. And when one of
| their number had returned and told
Joshua that the five kings were hid.
| den in the cave at Mikkedah, he sent
word that they should seal the mouth
| of the cave and set at watch there
while the forces of Israel continued
the pursuit of the now scattered and
| fleeing enemy.
And there was no day like that be.
| fore it or after it, that the Lord bark.
ened unto the voice of man; for the
Lord fought for Israel. And the sun
stood still and the moon stayed until
the people had avenged themselves
| upon their enemies.