e battle of the valley of Rephaim, recorded in 2
Sam. v. 22-25 and 1 Chron. xiv. 13-17.

"The several evolutions of a complicated and hazardous nature
which decided the fate of the battle would betoken, even at
the present day, when successfully conducted, a consummate
general, experienced lieutenants, troops well accustomed to
manoeuvres, mobile, and, above all, disciplined almost into
unconsciousness, so contrary is it to our instincts not
to meet peril face to face. . . . In point of fact, the
Israelites had just effected in the face of the Philistines a
turning and enveloping movement--that is to say, an operation
of war considered to be one of the boldest, most skilful, and
difficult attempted by forces similar in number to those of
the Hebrews, but, at the same time, very efficacious and
brilliant when successful. It was the favourite manoeuvre of
Frederick II, and the one on which his military reputation
rests."

But though the Amorites had been discomfited by Joshua, they had not
been completely surrounded; one way of escape was left open. More than
this, it appears that they obtained a very ample start in the race along
the north-western road. We infer this from the incident of the
hailstorm which fell upon them whilst rushing down the precipitous road
between the Beth-horons; a storm so sudden and so violent that more of
the Amorites died by the hailstones than had fallen in the contest at
Gibeon. It does not appear that the Israelites suffered from the storm;
they must consequently have, at the time, been much in the rear of their
foes. Probably they were still "in the way that goeth up to Beth-horon";
that is to say, in the ascent some two miles long from Gibeon till the
summit of the road is reached. There would be a special appropriateness
in this case in the phrasing of the record that "the Lord discomfited
the Amorites before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at
Gibeon, and _chased_ them along the way that goeth up to Beth-horon, and
smote them to Azekah and unto Makkedah." There was no slaughter on the
road between Gibeon and Beth-horon. It was a simple _chase_; a pursuit
with the enemy far in advance.

The Israelites, general and soldiers alike, had done their best. The
forced march all night up the steep ravines, the plan of the battle, and
the way in which it had been carried out were alike admirable. Yet when
t