BETHLEHEM
The enemy was spread out over the hills south of Gibeon. Joshua attacked them immediately, without waiting to have any breakfast. The battle was rough and long. Noon came and went and the enemy was beginning to run from them. As they ran down a hill near Beth-Horon, it began to hail, but the hail fell only on the enemy, not on Joshua and his army. The hail stones were like huge rocks that struck them down, so that more enemy soldiers died because of the hail stones than because of the battle.
Joshua was afraid that the enemy would get away and run into the walled cities, where they would be twice as hard to conquer. He breathed an urgent prayer to God, and then stood on the crest of the hill and raised both hands toward heaven.
"Sun!" he cried. "Stand still in Gibeon! And you, moon, in the valley of Ajalon!" Then he returned to the battle, confident that God would grant his unheard of request. Salma stood with his sword in one hand and his shield in the other, staring at the sun.
"Salma," called Joshua. "To the battle! God will take care of the sun." They fought on and on, in spite of hunger and weariness. Now their praises blended with the sound of battle.
"God is on our side!" they cried. "Praise the Lord! First He sends hail on our enemies and now He has made the day longer so we can win a complete victory." On and on they battled, taking a terrible toll on the Canaanites.
The five kings were so terrified that they hid in a cave in Makeda. The Israelites had won a wonderful victory. Only a few Canaanite soldiers reached the walled cities. The Israelites made camp at Makeda and finally ate and rested... Finally that long, long day was over and they could sleep safely, preparing for the battles that were ahead of them in the southern Canaanite cities....
It was a weary but happy army that marched back to Gilgal to their women and children.....In all these battles, the soldiers of the tribes of Dan and Ruben and the half tribe of Manasses fought alongside their companions of the other tribes, but they did not return to their families until the conquest was done. They had promised Moses to help conquer Canaan before they returned to their lands in Gilead, on the east side of the Jordan river. Salma admired them and often invited some of them to eat with his family. That day he invited two of them.
When they arrived at Rahab's camp, the children told them that Rahab was with his sister-in-law.
When they got to the tents of his family, she was elbow deep in flour, teaching the women how to make bread. She had made an oven out of sun-baked adobe bricks, and they were hurrying to make bread for arrival of the warriors. When she saw Salma, she shook the flour off her hands and ran to greet him.
"And, how is my lord today? You look like you could use a bath and supper, and a good night's sleep." He introduced her to his Danite friends.
"This is my beloved. As soon as there is a quiet time in the midst of the war, Joshua is to marry us." They greeted her warmly and then went off with Salma to bathe and change. Rahab had heated a big waterpot of river water and laid out towels and a clean robe. Salma was so happy, he tried to sing, but singing was not his best art.
When they were ready, the food was almost done. Rahab took the golden breads out of the oven and laid out the food. As they ate, Salma talked quietly but earnestly with her.
"My dear," he said. "Would you be willing to marry me although I have to continue fighting our enemies? The law says I should not go to war when we are first married, but I would like very much for us to be married very soon. We are not young and I want to begin our married life now.
"Whatever you say, my dear." said Rahab. "If you want Joshua to marry us tonight, that would be fine! But a prince of Israel should have a beautiful wedding feast. Tell him tomorrow." Salma gave her a bear hug and a kiss on her forehead.
"Thank you, my dear. You have made me a very happy man. Tomorrow I will ask Joshua to come to our feast and bless our union. I will take some of the animals that we brought from the war to make a sacrifice at the Tabernacle. Let my sisters-in-law prepare the food, and we can have more of that delicious bread you made."
"Thank you, God! Thank you, God!" was all she could say as she returned to her tent. He had brought Salma safe home and now they were to be married. Her reproach was finally to be completely erased, and now she was to be the wife of a wonderful prince of Israel.....
( the next day)They all began to sing a hauntingly beautiful love song,customary to sing at weddings......Joshua was resplendent in his white robes.........He raised his hands toward heaven and invoked the special blessing of God on their union, on their children, on their lives.
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