blackened faces, and our worn-out clothes, and our dried-out food; for we did not start out from our places, to come here, in garments of old clothes, but this is the necessary result after the long journey. And now trust us with protection, that we may exist in the company of this great, blessed, holy people." And Yûsh'â bid some of his people advance unto them, and he entered into a covenant with them, and swore unto them by the God of Isrâîl, that they would not kill them, nor those who were members of their company. And when it was after three days, the king found out, that they were of his enemies, from three towns near by him, on the south of the blessed mountain,2 and they were: Jaba'ûn (Gibeon), and Qiryah (Kirjath-jearim), and Bîrût (Beeroth). And no one of the army was able to go to this place, because of the protection granted, and the oath, and covenant. Thereupon the king summoned the men, and said unto them: Why did ye conceal from me, and say that ye were from a distance, while ye were neighbors?" And they answered him, and said: "We knew that the God of the children of Isrâîl, had commanded you to destroy these places, and not to spare the sword in any place in which a soul was, and we feared for ourselves, and did what we did; and now we are in thy hands, O king, do with us whatever you decide upon.' And he set them at liberty, and made proclamation throughout the children of Isrâîl, saying: "Do not kill them; but they shall become among the class of those cutting wood and drawing water for the beasts." And they did this with them, according to what he commanded.

66

2 Note 47.

8 Note 48.

CHAPTER XX.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE KANAANITES, WHOSE TERRITORIES THE LAND WAS.

SOME of the Kanâ'anites, when they heard of the children of Isrâîl's passing over the Urdun, had fled to one people and another; but when they had been informed of what had befallen Yariha and its people, all those who were dwelling around the Urdun, and the great sea, gathered themselves together, and entered into an agreement, and made preparation to meet the children of Isrâîl, and join in battle with them. And they sent five of their chiefs, with the majority of the army with them; and they were bidden to advance and make an attack upon the three towns which had sued for themselves protection with the children of Isrâîl. And they began with Jaba'ûn, and put its people to great straits. And the inhabitants of Jaba'ûn sent unto Yûsh'â, the king, to inform him of the truth concerning the intentions of the kings, and that they had already commenced by destroying them, and that they were now in a state of severe siege and extreme distress; and they pled their cause with him with the greatest emphasis, and begged him to deliver them from this enemy, who was carrying out the designs against them. And while they proceeded on their journey, the king collected his assembly, and God made a revelation to him in that night, saying: "Do not fear, O Yûsh'â, behold I am about to give over into thy hands these five chiefs; do not let a single man of them, or of their soldiers, escape safe." So he marched forward and surprised the army of the

enemies by night, and the watchword of the children of Isrâîl was GOD THE OMNIPOTENT IN BATTLES, GOD IS HIS NAME. And the five kings were driven in flight before them unto Kasahah,1 and unto Maqadah (Makkedah). And when the children of Isrâîl came up with them, they conquered them, and did not spare in killing them. And Yûsh'â spoke unto the day to stand still, and it stood still; and the day was great, for God heard the voice of the children of Isrâîl, and sent forth the angels with them. And the five kings, the chiefs already mentioned, fled and found a cave in Maqadah. Then the king ordered to place great stones on the mouth of the cave, that he might keep them under guard, until they (the children of Isrâîl) should return, when they should have made an end of destroying the rest of the army. And he killed the multitude of the people, and not a single man of them did escape safe. Then they returned to the cave, and the king gave command to bring them (the five kings) out, and to throw them down upon their faces, and he ordered the prominent leaders of the army to tread with the soles of their shoes upon their necks; and he said to the children of Isrâîl: "Be strong and of good courage, and fear not, nor be dismayed, for thus shall God do with your enemies." Then he gave command that the kings should be killed, and be crucified until the setting of the sun; and after sunset he gave orders, that they should be placed in the cave to which they had fled, along with the wood upon which they had been crucified, and also that there should be placed over the mouth of the cave, a mound of stones, to perpetuate the knowledge of this unto the end of the ages. And they did what he ordered, and then, being gladdened, assembled together.

1 Note 49.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE ACCOUNT OF THIS ARMY, AND ITS TRIUMPH, AND THE DESTRUCTION OF ITS ENEMIES.

WHEN it was in the beginning of the eighth month (now this is the time of the journeying of this army), the king divided the infantry and cavalry into three bands, and sent each band in a different.direction, while he and they who were with him journeyed along in the highway, tending towards the hostile people; and he first alone was the one who surprised the enemies' camp, and he held them for a considerable time in an engagement, and they were not as yet recovered from the surprise, when there arose a cloud of dust, and the army approached from every side. And when the children of Isrâîl beheld one another, they shouted out with loudest voice: God is our Lord, who wages instead of us the war." And God on that day showed miracles with the enemy, for it came to pass that every one who would flee fire met him and burned him up. And a spectre appeared among them, so that the horses did stampede with them, upon hearing the shouts of the children of Isrâîl and carried them down to death; and the hours of the day were lengthened out for them, as God had promised them, until they had accomplished in it the results of a whole year, and not a remnant of the enemies was left after this battle. And the king from Mahzun1 wrote a letter unto el-'Azar, the imâm, binding it on the wing of a bird; telling him in it the good news about what God had bestowed upon them, and what He had shown forth among them

1 Note 50.

of miracles and signs, which should be eulogized. And he also informed him that he would not return until he should have taken possession of the remaining territorial districts for the children of Isrâîl. And he set the bird at liberty on the morning of the fifth day, and it immediately proceeded on its journey, under the blessing of God and the goodness of His guidance and grace.

And he (Yûsh'â) continued descending upon one city after another, and taking possession of them, and doing with the rebellious like unto what we have already mentioned, until he had completed the subjugation of the territories, and then he returned in the first month of the second year. And it resulted, that he, in one year, took possession of all their territories, and this was the region of the seven Kanâ'anites, whose fame is enduring, well known and spread abroad. Then he and all who were with him removed apart for purification; now there there descended from the blessed mountain a great river which watered the lowlands, and to it the king went down with all his army. And when he had completed his purification, el-'Azar the imâm offered up for them the sacrifices, and they celebrated a grand feast, the carrying out of which was complete and consummate. Never was there witnessed a better feast than it; for the people were united, not having as yet dispersed throughout their territorial sections, and when they did shout, and praise, and exult with halleluiahs, they were heard in the most distant and remote places. And when the feast was over, the king and his assembly gathered together, and began to arrange the distribution of the territories among their people; and they asked God, Mighty and Powerful, for His favor and guidance.

2 Note 51.