In order to avert the impending destruction, which now began to threaten all the neighbouring kingdoms, the inhabitants of Gibeon, a city of the Hivites, sent ambassadors to Joshua, who, arriving at his camp in Gilgal, with old tattered garments, clouted shoes, and a quantity of mouldy bread, assured the Israelites, that they had come from a far country to solicit an amicable alliance; and acted their parts with such address, that Joshua, inconsiderately, made a league with them. At the expiration of three days the artifice was discovered, but the Israelites had already engaged to protect them as friends: they were, however, condemned to be hewers of wood, and drawers of water, to the people they had so subtilely deceived.

Adonizedek, king of Jerusalem, resolving to make an example of the Gibeonites, who had so tamely surrendered their liberties, called in the kings of Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon, to assist him in besieging the city of Gibeon. The inhabitants, in this distress, applied for succour to Joshua, who immediately came, and obliged the royal confederates to retire with the utmost precipitation. As they were fleeing, and had nearly reached Beth-Horon, there fell a dreadful storm of hail, which did more execution than the arms of the Israelites. Thus persecuted by the heavens above, and pressed by Joshua in the rear, they fled as chance directed them. In so general a dispersion great numbers of them would, in all probability, have escaped; had not the sun stopped his career at Joshua's command, that the Israelites might see to overtake and destroy their enemies. The five kings found a temporary asylum in a cave near the city of Makkedah; but,

being discovered, they were soon dragged out; exposed to various indignities; and put to death.

Jabin, king of Azor, receiving intelligence of this catastrophe, resolved to raise all the tribes of the Canaanites to resist the common enemy, and actually assembled an army for that purpose, which is said to have been " like the sand on the seashore for numbers." But these confederates, being attacked by surprise while they were encamped near the waters of Meron, were driven from their camp, and pursued with great slaughter.

Notwithstanding their numerous losses and misfortunes, the Canaanites still retained their spirits, and kept Joshua employed for the space of six years, at the expiration of which great numbers are supposed to have emigrated into foreign countries.

After they had been repeatedly defeated and reduced, the Anakim, a barbarous race who inhabited the mountainous part of the country, were invaded and cut off, and thus the Israelites acquired, by degrees, the possession of the greatest part of Canaan. But still the Canaanites of several denominations were very powerful, and, during the remainder of Joshua's life, were but little molested, as the conquerors were engaged in the important business of dividing their new territories.

Subsequent to this division they were again invaded on all sides by the children of Israel. The tribes of Simeon and Judah marched against the Canaanites and Perizzites, slew ten thousand men in the field, and pursued the fugitives to the city of Bezek, the residence of king Adonibezek, who was infamous for his

singular insolence and inhumanity; for by his own confession he caused seventy monarchs, whom he had taken captive, to be deprived of their thumbs and great toes, and obliged them to receive their allowance of food, like dogs, beneath his table. His city was now taken by assault, and all the inhabitants put to death. The king himself escaped, but being overtaken in his flight, his thumbs and great toes were cut off, as a just reward for his former cruelty.

Shortly after this expedition the Canaanites. were invaded in several other parts. Those who dwelt in the mountains were easily reduced, but those who occupied the low country were able to make a long and vigorous resistance, being furnished with chariots of iron. In the course of this war Hebron fell into the hands of Caleb, who drove thence the three sons of Anak.

Some vigorous attempts were also made by the other tribes against the cities that had fallen to their lot, but the adverse party maintained their ground with such firmness and resolution, that, after all their calamities, they were but little inferior to the Israelites, nor had one tribe of them been extirpated, except the Girgasites.

The Canaanites, the Hivites of mount Lebanon, and the Sidonians, were left to prove the sacred people, by exercising them with temptation to idolatry: and the other devoted nations, living as it were in common with the Israelites, soon persuaded them to intermarry with them, and serve their gods.

B. C. In consequence of their artifices, Israel 1285. incurred the heavy displeasure of the Al

mighty, who employed a second Jabin as the instrument of his wrath, This prince re

duced the Jews to the most abject state of slavery, and oppressed them with the utmost rigour for the space of twenty years. At the expiration of that time they revolted, and proved so successfuð in their attempt for the recovery of their liberty, that they routed Jabin's army, and pursued Sisera (who had the command of nine hundred chariots of iron) to the gates of Harosheth of the Gentiles. That general, fearing to be made prisoner, quitted his chariot, and directed his steps with all possible speed to the tent of Heber the Kenite, where he was received by Jael, Heber's wife, with every token of respect and amity. Having refreshed himself with a bowl of milk, and requested his hostess to keep watch at the tent door lest his enemies should discover him, he fell into a deep sleep. Jael immediately seized the opportunity of driving a nail into his temples, and thus deprived him of life. Barak, the commander of Israel, came to the tent in quest of the fugitive, and found that he had perished by the hand of a woman; in consequence of which Jabin's oppression was set aside, and the Israelites obtained a respite for the term of forty years.

B. C.

1047.

The

After this battle the history of the Canaanites is very obscure, and unsatisfactory, till the reign of David, when that monarch invaded the city of Jerusalem. Jebusites, who held the fortress of Zion, are said to have posted their lame and blind to defend it, saying, they were sufficient to keep off so contemptible an enemy: but David soon convinc. ed them of their error, and carried the place by storm. About the same time they were invaded

in Gezer, by the king of Egypt, and reduced to the utmost extremities.

Thus oppressed by Israel on the one hand, and assaulted by the powerful armies of Pharaoh on the other, the remnant of the Amorites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, and Jebusites, were, in the days of Solomon, sunk to so wretched a situation, that they were unable to answer the demand of a tribute, and are therefore supposed to have been employed in the most laborious and servile works by the Jews, who reckoned them of a more ignoble birth than themselves. It is how. ever necessary to remark, that the Canaanites, properly so called, were not subject to the yoke of Solomon, but, remaining free in their possessions on the seacoast, gradually rose to a great height of fame and prosperity under the appellation of Phoenicians.

SECT. II.

The History of the Philistines.

T has been already observed, that this people

partly from the Caphtorim, the posterity of Mizraim. Moses affirms, that they drove out the Avim or Avites, even to Gaza, and took possession of the country which was the chief, if not the best, part of the Land of Promise.

Their most ancient form of government was administered by kings, all of whom were honoured