Joshua 10

Joshua 10:1

I. The Southern Campaign (Chap. 10)10:1-6 Chapter 10 records the southern campaign. When the kings of five Canaanite cities . . . heard that the Gibeonites had defected to the Israelites, they realized that this made the central hilly district vulnerable, and so they decided to attack Gibeon. The Gibeonites sent an appeal for military assistance to Joshua. 10:7, 8 Once again Joshua heard those comforting words from the mouth of the LORD, “Do not fear them.” He had heard them before the victory at Jericho and before the successful ambush of Ai. They guaranteed triumph despite the size of the opposition. 10:9-11 Assured of victory by the Lord, Joshua engaged the enemy’s forces at Gibeon, causing them to flee. Two miracles occurred in the destruction of the enemy. First there was a tremendous hailstorm, which killed more men than the Israelites had slain. But note that they were discriminating hailstonesthey killed only the enemies. 10:12-15 Then, at the request of Joshua, the sun and moon “stood still” (or “tarried”), prolonging the hours that the Israelites could continue to pursue and destroy the foe before they could escape to the security of their walled cities. It is literally descriptive language to say that the sun and the moon stood still. We use such language when we say that the sun rose or set. Various natural explanations have been given as to what actually happened at this time. But it is enough to know that it was a miracle which resulted in an extended day for fighting. Spurgeon says, How He did it is no question for us. . . . It is not ours to try and soften down miracles, but to glorify God in them. The book of Jasher (v. 13) may mean “The Book of the Upright.” No book of that name can be identified today, and it certainly was not inspired. The battle was a tremendous undertaking for Israel. They had marched all night and then fought through the longest day in history. They exerted themselves beyond ordinary limits, but still the victory was the Lord’s (vv. 10, 11). With his usual insight Matthew Henry observes: But why needed Joshua to put himself and his men so much to the stretch? Had not God promised him that without fail He would deliver the enemies into his hand? It is true He had; but God’s promises are intended, not to slacken and supersede, but to quicken and encourage our endeavours. 10:16-27 The five kings were trapped in a cave at Makkedah, then slain and hung on five trees, and finally buried in the cave. 10:28-39 Following this, Joshua conquered the Canaanite cities of Makkedah (v. 28), Libnah (vv. 29, 30), Lachish (vv. 31, 32), Gezer (v. 33), Eglon (vv. 34, 35), Hebron (vv. 36, 37), and Debir (vv. 38, 39). The king of Hebron in verse 37 was a successor to the one slain in verse 26. 10:40-43 This paragraph summarizes the southern campaign. The destruction referred to in this chapter must be taken generally, as noted by Haley: . . . Joshua swept over this region in too rapid a manner to depopulate it entirely. . . . All whom he pursued he destroyed; but he did not stop to search into every possible hiding place. This was left to be done by each tribe in its own inheritance.