58 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

people to look for help to that God with whom Joshua
held communion, even in the thickest of the battle. It
has been said by some that a flag was fastened to this
spear, which would make it the better seen by the Israel-
ites in a crowded field. There were twelve thousand
people, which was the whole population of Ai, slain that
day by the sword. But there was one exception. The
king of Ai was taken alive and brought toJoshua. The
leader of Israel commanded that the king be hanged on
a tree till the evening ; then his body was taken down
and cast under a heap of stones where the city gate had
been. i

Johnnie. Why was he hanged, grandfather ? why was
he not killed with the other people of the town ?

Grandfather. He had been so wicked that he required
a special punishment. Doubtless he had been a notorious
sinner, noted for his wickedness even when living in the
midst of a wicked people. In the slaughter of Jericho,
Rahab, for her faith, was set apart that she might be ex- ©
alted to honour ; in the slaughter of Ai, one was set apart
too, but it was in order that he might suffer an igno-
minious death for his vileness.

George. What was the next place that the Israelites
attacked ?

Grandfather. There was a pause now in their warlike
proceedings.

George. A pause; what did they wait for?

Grandfather. The Lord had directed them by his ser-
vant Moses, that as soon as they had obtained a posses-