13。 When Joshua saw the army so much afflicted； and possessed
with forebodings of evil as to their whole expedition； he used
freedom with God； and said； 〃We are not come thus far out of any
rashness of our own； as though we thought ourselves able to
subdue this land with our own weapons； but at the instigation of
Moses thy servant for this purpose； because thou hast promised
us； by many signs； that thou wouldst give us this land for a
possession； and that thou wouldst make our army always superior
in war to our enemies； and accordingly some success has already
attended upon us agreeably to thy promises； but because we have
now unexpectedly been foiled； and have lost some men out of our
army； we are grieved at it； as fearing what thou hast promised
us； and what Moses foretold us； cannot be depended on by us； and
our future expectation troubles us the more； because we have met
with such a disaster in this our first attempt。 But do thou； O
Lord； free us from these suspicions； for thou art able to find a
cure for these disorders； by giving us victory； which will both
take away the grief we are in at present； and prevent our
distrust as to what is to come。〃
14。 These intercessions Joshua put up to God； as he lay prostrate
on his face： whereupon God answered him； That he should rise up；
and purify his host from the pollution that had got into it； that
〃things consecrated to me have been impudently stolen from me；〃
and that 〃this has been the occasion why this defeat had happened
to them；〃 and that when they should search out and punish the
offender； he would ever take care they should have the victory
over their enemies。 This Joshua told the people； and calling for
Eleazar the high priest； and the men in authority； he cast lots；
tribe by tribe； and when the lot showed that this wicked action
was done by one of the tribe of Judah； he then again proposed the
lot to the several families thereto belonging； so the truth of
this wicked action was found to belong to the family of Zachar；
and when the inquiry was made man by man； they took Achar； who；
upon God's reducing him to a terrible extremity； could not deny
the fact： so he confessed the theft； and produced what he had
taken in the midst of them； whereupon he was immediately put to
death； and attained no more than to be buried in the night in a
disgraceful manner； and such as was suitable to a condemned
malefactor。
15。 When Joshua had thus purified the host； he led them against
Ai： and having by night laid an ambush round about the city； he
attacked the enemies as soon as it was day； but as they advanced
boldly against the Israelites； because of their former victory；
he made them believe he retired； and by that means drew them a
great way from the city； they still supposing that they were
pursuing their enemies； and despised them； as though the case had
been the same with that in the former battle； after which Joshua
ordered his forces to turn about； and placed them against their
front。 He then made the signals agreed upon to those that lay in
ambush； and so excited them to fight； so they ran suddenly into
the city； the inhabitants being upon the walls； nay； others of
them being in perplexity； and coming to see those that were
without the gates。 Accordingly； these men took the city； and slew
all that they met with； but Joshua forced those that came against
him to come to a close fight； and discomfited them； and made them
run away； and when they were driven towards the city； and thought
it had not been touched； as soon as they saw it was taken； and
perceived it was burnt； with their wives and children； they
wandered about in the fields in a scattered condition； and were
no way able to defend themselves； because they had none to
support them。 Now when this calamity was come upon the men of Ai；
there were a great number of children； and women； and servants；
and an immense quantity of other furniture。 The Hebrews also took
herds of cattle； and a great deal of money； for this was a rich
country。 So when Joshua came to Gilgal； he divided all these
spoils among the soldiers。
16。 But the Gibeonites； who inhabited very near to Jerusalem；
when they saw what miseries had happened to the inhabitants of
Jericho； and to those of Ai； and suspected that the like sore
calamity would come as far as themselves； they did not think fit
to ask for mercy of Joshua； for they supposed they should find
little mercy from him； who made war that he might entirely
destroy the nation of the Canaanites； but they invited the people
of Cephirah and Kiriathjearim； who were their neighbors； to join
in league with them； and told them that neither could they
themselves avoid the danger they were all in； if the Israelites
should prevent them； and seize upon them： so when they had
persuaded them； they resolved to endeavor to escape the forces of
the Israelites。 Accordingly； upon their agreement to what they
proposed； they sent ambassadors to Joshua to make a league of
friendship with him； and those such of the citizens as were best
approved of； and most capable of doing what was most advantageous
to the multitude。 Now these ambassadors thought it dangerous to
confess themselves to be Canaanites； but thought they might by
this contrivance avoid the danger； namely； by saying that they
bare no relation to the Canaanites at all； but dwelt at a very
great distance from them： and they said further； that they came a
long way； on account of the reputation he had gained for his
virtue； and as a mark of the truth of what they said； they showed
him the habit they were in； for that their clothes were new when
they came out； but were greatly worn by the length of thee they
had been on their journey； for indeed they took torn garments； on
purpose that they might make him believe so。 So they stood in the
midst of the people； and said that they were sent by the people
of Gibeon； and of the circumjacent cities； which were very remote
from the land where they now were； to make such a league of
friendship with them； and this on such conditions as were
customary among their forefathers； for when they understood that；
by the favor of God； and his gift to them； they were to have the
possession of the land of Canaan bestowed upon them； they said
that they were very glad to hear it； and desired to be admitted
into the number of their citizens。 Thus did these ambassadors
speak； and showing them the marks of their long journey； they
entreated the Hebrews to make a league of friendship with them。
Accordingly Joshua； believing what they said； that they were not
of the nation of the Canaanites； entered into friendship with
them； and Eleazar the high priest； with the senate； sware to them
that they would esteem them their friends and associates； and
would attempt nothing that should be unfair against them； the
multitude also assenting to the oaths that were made to them。 So
these men； having obtained what they desired； by deceiving the
Israelites； went home： but when Joshua led his army to the
country at the bottom of the mountains of this part of Canaan； he
understood that the Gibeonites dwelt not far from Jerusalem； and
that they were of the stock of the Canaanites； so he sent for
their governors； and reproached them with the cheat they had put
upon him； but they alleged； on their own behalf； that they had no
other way to save themselves but that； and were therefore forced
to have recourse to it。 So he called for Eleazar the high priest；
and for the senate； who thought it right to make them public
servants； that they might not break the oath they had made to
them； and they ordained them to be so。 And this was the method by
which these men found。 safety and security under the calamity
that was ready to overtake them。
17。 But the king of Jerusalem took it to heart that the
Gibeonites had gone over to Joshua； so he called upon the kings
of the neighboring nations to join together； and make war against
them。 Now when the Gibeonites saw these kings； which were four；
besides the king of Jerusalem； and perceived that they had
pitched their camp at a certain fountain not far from their city；
and were getting ready for the siege of it； they called upon
Joshua to assist them； for such was their case； as to expect to
be destroyed by these Canaanites； but to suppose they should be
saved by those that came for the destruction of the Canaanites；
because of the league of friendship that was between them。
Accordingly； Joshua made haste with his whole army to assist
them； and marching day and night； in the morning he fell upon the
enemies as they were going up to the siege； and when he had
discomfited them； he followed them； and pursued them down the
descent of the hills。 The place is called Bethhoron； where he
also understood that God assisted him； which he declared by
thunder and thunderbolts； as also by the falling of hail larger
than usual。 Moreover； it happened that the day was lengthened （7）
that the night might not come on too soon； and be an obstruction
to the zeal of the Hebrews in pursuing their enemies； insomuch
that Joshua took the kings； who were hidden in a certain cave at
Makkedah； and put them to death。 Now； that the day was lengthened
at this thee； and was longer than ordinary； is expressed in the
books laid up in the temple。 （8）
18。 These kings which made war with； and were ready to fight the
Gibeonites； being thus overthrown； Joshua returned again to the
mountainous parts of Canaan； and when he had made a great
slaughter of the people there； and took their prey； he came to
the camp at Gilgal。 And now there went a great fame abroad among
the neighboring people of the courage of the Hebrews； and those
that heard what a number of men were destroyed； were greatly
aftrighted at it： so the kings that lived about Mount Libanus；
who were Canaanites； and those Canaanites that dwelt in the plain
country； with auxiliaries out of the land of the Philistines；
pitched their camp at Beroth； a city of the Upper Galilee； not
far from Cadesh； which is itself also a place in Galilee。 Now the
number of the whole army was three hundred thousand armed
footmen； and ten thousand horsemen； and twenty thousand chariots；