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Joshua and the princes of Israel knew God was on
their side but they grew lax and were taken off guard when the
Gibeonites arrived under false pretenses to make a pact with Israel.
The emissaries from Gibeon flattered Joshua and he was swayed by
their appearance. Ironically, this mutual defense agreement was
sealed with an oath that involved God, even though Joshua failed to
consult the Lord. Joshua and the leadership did not foresee their
covenant would obligate them to defend the city of Gibeon if the
other Canaanites attacked their ally. Five Amorite kings set out to
punish Gibeon’s perceived betrayal and Joshua quickly realized he
had to fight a battle not chosen by God. The resulting battle saw
the Amorite armies slaughtered by the Israelites and God in a
miraculous way. Joshua surprised the five kings by marching
overnight and decimating them. As the enemy fled, God ordered holy
angels to kill them with large hailstones. Joshua then commanded the
sun and moon to stand still so the Israelites could fully avenge
themselves. It was yet another amazing victory because with God all
things are possible. |
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