MARK TWAIN
I can go as far as the next man in genuine reverence of
holy things, but this thing of stretching the narrow gar-
ment of belief to fit the broad shoulders of a wish, 'tis too
much for me.
Gibeon or El Gib
This place is spoken of in the Old Testament as a great
city—"one of the royal cities." Here lived the people
when the Israelites invaded the land, gathered their old
tattered garments and worn out shoes, packed their sacks
with musty bread, and came with their jaded hungry ani-
mals and beguiled Joshua and the others into a treaty of
peace. It is a small village now, but great in historic
interest. In the plain below the 5 kings of the Amorites
assembled together to punish Gibeon. Toward Gilgal east-
ward Joshua and his host encamped. The Amorites are
defeated, the day is not long enough for Israel to con-
tinue the conquest, and Joshua gives the ever-memorable
command: "Sun, stand thou still over Gibeon, and thou
moon in the valley of Ajalon." And the sun stood still and
the moon also until Israel was avenged.
On the cast side is a pool or spring. There is first a nat-
ural cavity or grotto in the rock—then an inner chamber
has been excavated which is entered by a long narrow
opening down several steps of stone. Here a copious foun-
tain gushes apparently from the rock—a little below it on
the hillside are the ruins of a large reservoir. It was here
that a remarkable meeting took place between Abner and
Joab—they were generals of the armies of Israel and
Judah—12 men of Judah were charged to fight 12 men of
Israel. The whole 24 were slain. "For they caught every
one his fellow by the head (got him in chancery) and
thrust his sword in his fellow's side, so that they fell down
together." And on that plain the subsequent battle took
place. Abner was defeated and the swift-footed Usahel
slain.
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