meridian,  and  Joshua  began  the  hatlle  very  early  in  the  morning
after  their  traveliinc:  all  the  night  before ;  so  that  after  that  night's
watching  and  travelling,  they  had  continued  in  battle  and  pursuit
about  eighteen  hours,  and  great  part  of  the  time  under  a  very
great  and  extreme  liJ-at  of  the  sini,  which  must  necessarily  arise
I'vom  its  standing  still  so  long  at  a  meridian  height,  and  shininfj
down  on  their  heads  with  a  perpendicular  ray.  So  that  by  lliat
lime  without  doubt  the  army  of  Israel  were  exceeding  weary  and
faint,  and  the  clouds  that  covered  the  heavens,  sent  forth  no  hail
on  iliem,  but  probably  it  was  rain  where  they  were,  and  a  very
great  shower,  which  cooled  and  sweetened  the  air,  and  was  a
great  refreshment  to  them  after  such  toil  and  extreme  heat.  If
tlie  rain  was  frozen  in  some  places,  doubtless  it  was  a  very  cool
rain  where  they  were,  which  was  needed  to  cool  the  air,  after
such  extreme  heat.  So  that  it  was  now  with  this  cloud  that
arose,  as  it  was  with  the  pillar  of  cloud  and  fire  at  the  Red  sea,  as
that  was  a  cloud  and  darkness  to  their  enemies,  and  sent  forth
thimder  and  lightning  to  confound  then),  Psalm  Ixxvii.  IG,  17,
18,  19,  but  gave  light  to  the  Israelites  ;  so  now  the  cloud  that
arose,  sent  forth  destructive  hail  and  thunder  on  the  Amorites,
but  sent  a  most  refreshing  rain  on  Israel,  whereby  they  were
strengthened,  after  they  had  be.cn  made  faint  with  the  heat  ^f  the
sun,  and  the  toil  of  battle.
