dedicated to "Baal" as god of "fortune," the Caesarea Philippi of the Gospels (11:16- 18). More than that,

Joshua also drove the Anakim, who had inspired the spies with such dread, from their original seats in the

mountains,125 and in and around Hebron, Debir, and Anab into the Philistine cities of Gaza, Gath, and

Ashdod. From ch. 15:14 we infer that they shortly afterwards returned, but were conquered by that veteran

hero, Caleb.

To sum up all, we find that the wars under Joshua put Israel into possession of Canaan and broke the power

of its inhabitants, but that the latter were not exterminated, nor yet all their cities taken by Israel (13:1-6;

17:14, etc.; 18:3, 23:5, 12). Indeed, such a result could scarcely have been desirable, either in reference to the

country or to Israel, while, from Exodus 23:28-30 and Deuteronomy 7:22, we know that from the beginning it

had not been the Divine purpose. But there was also a higher object in this. It would teach that a conquest,

begun in the power of God and in believing dependence on Him, must be completed and consolidated in the

same spirit. Only thus could Israel prosper as a nation. Canaan had been given to Israel by God, and given

to their faith. But much was left to be done which only the same faith could achieve. Any conformity to the

heathen around, or tolerance of heathenism, any decay of the spirit in which they had entered the land,

would result not only in weakness, but in the triumph of the enemy. And so it was intended of the Lord. The

lesson of all this is obvious and important. To us also has our Joshua given entrance into Canaan, and

victory over our enemies - the world, the flesh, and the devil. We have present possession of the land. But

we do not yet hold all its cities, nor are our enemies exterminated. It needs on our part constant faith; there

must be no compromise with the enemy, no tolerance of his spirit, no cessation of our warfare. Only that

which at first gave us the land can complete and consolidate our possession of it.