Hezekiah's Appeal to God ....
547
379.
Hezekiah's Resignation
550
380.
The Benefits arising from Peace and
Truth
554
381.
xxiii. 3.
Covenanting with God
558
382.
xxiii. 25.
The Character of Josiah ....
562
CCLXl.
adoni-bezek's punishment.
Judg, i. 6, 7. But Adoni-hezek fled ; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes. And Adoni-hezek said. Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table : as I have done, so God hath requited me.
THERE are times and seasons afforded us for the performance of our duty, which, if they be once lost, can never afterwards be recovered. It was thus with the Israehtes in the invasion of Canaan : if they had followed up their successes with becoming- zeal, their difficulties would have been comparatively light : but at no time did they advance with that ardour which they should have manifested in such a cause. Joshua had reproved them for their indo- lence^, and quickened them in some degree ; but still, after his death, and fifteen years after their first invasion of Canaan, no one of the tribes had com- plete possession of the lot assigned them. The Is- raelites had increased, and now wanted the whole of their inheritance : but the Canaanites had increased also, and, possessing still their strong-holds, were able to cope with Israel in battle. Now therefore the different tribes found the bitter consequences of their past indifference ; and, as it should seem, were afraid to resume a warfare with such potent enemies. However, after having consulted God, Judah, by divine direction, took the lead, and, in conjunction
^ Josh, xviii. 3.