Joshua 10

CHAPTER 10THEME: Southern campaign: five kings conquered; the sun stood stillIn this chapter Joshua conquers five kings of the Amorites, as he continues the campaign in the south. He completes the campaign in the south by the destruction of Makkedah, Lachish, Libnah, Eglon, Hebron, and Debir. This chapter contains the account of the long day of Joshua. “Did Joshua make the sun stand still?” is a question which is asked by skeptic and saint alike. Following are some explanations of the long day of Joshua which have been proposed:

1. It is the practice of some to avoid giving any interpretation. They ignore it entirely as if it were not worthy of comment.
2. Some treat the language as poetic (v. Jos_10:12). This is to adopt a non-literal interpretation which dismisses the miraculous from the incident entirely. Those who hold to this view generally refer to Jdg_5:20, “…the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.” I refuse to dismiss this as poetic because we do not have enough information to state dogmatically that these are poetic statements and not matters of fact. It reminds us of the old bromide that poetic language is sometimes prosaic lying.
3. Some call this a miracle of refraction. The emphasis is placed on verse Jos_10:13.
4. Some adopt the position that God stopped the entire solar system. They make Joshua’s day 23 hours and 20 minutes. The other 40 minutes is found in 2Ki_20:8-11, where the sun went ten degrees backward for a sign to Hezekiah that his life would be extended.
5. Some adopt the position that God blacked out the sun rather than continued its shining. The Berkeley Version translates it, “O Sun, wait in Gibeon.” In the ASV the marginal reading is, “Sun, be silent.” Maunder in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia takes this position. Joshua had made a forced march all night (about forty miles), attacked the enemy from the rearcame suddenly upon them. It was Julyabout 105°or 120°in the shade, and there was no shade. Joshua did not want more sunhe wanted less sun.
6. The best explanation, it seems, is a combination of numbers 4 and 5. Joshua needed more light and less heat. God covered the sun with a storm of hailstones. God slowed down the earth (v. Jos_10:12). “Upon Gibeon” indicates that the sun was directly overbisecting Gibeonand the moon was going down “in the valley of Ajalon.” Gibeon is latitude 31 degrees, 51 minutes north. This is a miracle.

Joshua 10:1

THE MIRACULOUS DEFENSE OF GIBEONThe background for all the action in this chapter is the treaty Joshua made with the Gibeonites. Of course, he should not have made this treaty, but since he did, he felt bound to it. These kings hear of the treaty Gibeon made with Israel, and they come against these Hivitesfor that is what these Gibeonites wereto destroy them.

Joshua 10:5

So what do these Gibeonites do?

Joshua 10:6

They send an SOS to Joshuacome help us quickly!

Joshua 10:7

Joshua came to their rescue for, I think, two reasons. First, because of the treaty, he felt obligated. Second, after all, he had been told to exterminate the enemy in that land. So his army took out after them. He used the tactic of surprise attack, and the Lord routed them before Israel.

Joshua 10:12

We have already discussed the various interpretations of Joshua’s long day in the opening remarks of this chapter. According to Jos_10:12, I believe God stopped the entire solar system to accomplish this miracle. The sun became silent. Joshua wanted more daylight in which to fight; so God stopped the solar system and cut down the heat of the sun by a hailstorm. God caused the sun to stand still so that Joshua might be victorious in battle. A certain professor once said, “It is ridiculous that God would stop the entire universe for one man.” It may sound preposterous to some people, but God did it. He also sent His Son into the world to die for sinners, which was much more wonderful than stopping the sun. When God stopped the sun, He demonstrated His wisdom and power. When He sent His Son into the world to become a man and die on the cross, He displayed His love. If you were the only person that had ever been born, Christ would have died for you. The professor will say that is ridiculous also, and it is. But we have another word for it: grace. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph_2:8).

Joshua 10:15

VICTORY AT MAKKEDAHRemember that these kings and their people were given 420 years to make up their minds as to whether or not they would turn to God. Also God had made it known that He was giving the land to Israel and that He would save anyone who would turn to Him. Israel had to stay out of the land 420 years until the iniquity of the Amorites was full. That time had now come. God brought the children of Israel across the Red Sea not only for their sake, but also to demonstrate His redemption through power, as He had by blood that last night in Egypt when the angel of death passed over the homes on which the blood was on the doorposts. This was not only to convince the Egyptians that there was the living and true God amidst all the idols of Egypt, but also to convince these people in the land.

Remember that the harlot Rahab had said, “For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you” (Jos_2:10). She believed. Now if that woman believed, anybody could have believed God. However, these folk who are losing their lives did not believe. They had rejected God’s mercy, and judgment is coming upon them. Friend, the message has never changed.

God loves the world. God loves you and gave His Son. If you will believe on Him, you will not perish. Will you perish if you don’t believe? Yes. That is what is happening to these folk.

They just don’t believe God. Now that may not sound nice to you, and you’d like to have it otherwise, but this is the way it is written in the Word of God.

Joshua 10:24

This is an impressive array of kings. Forty years prior to this time they caused Israelite spies to say, “We cannot enter the land. We will never be able to take it.” Joshua had the captains of his army put their feet upon the necks of these kings to strengthen the heart of these people. They were frightened folk. There was a whimsical story that came out of World War I when a certain hero, who had captured more German prisoners than any other, was being feted by some society folk in Nashville, Tennessee. One dear talkative dowager asked the hero, “How did you feel when you brought all of those soldiers in?” He replied, “I was scared to death!” This is how the Israelites felt. God wants to encourage them. Then Joshua slew the kings and hanged them on five trees.

Joshua 10:27

The Israelites could have left the kings in the cave and starved them to death. It was more humane to slay them, and they did. They could not turn them loose, and they had no prison in which to put them. Do you think we live in a more civilized day? What do you think about the lawlessness on every hand in our country? We are not in a position to criticize what the Israelites did. They did not have lawlessness, and they settled their problem in the only way they could with a sinful, wicked race. If these kings had been turned loose, they would have led a rebellion against Joshua that would have caused literally thousands of people to die. After the kings were hanged, they were taken down from the trees. They were not left hanging overnight. Why? Because we are told, “His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance” (Deu_21:23). In the New Testament Gal_3:13 says, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” Christ was crucified, but they took Him down from the cross because it is written that cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree. He bore the curse of sin for you and me.

Joshua 10:41

It is important to see that it is God who gave Israel victory and possession. Today our victory is in Christ. The victorious life is His life lived in us. Then we are blessed with all spiritual blessings, which are the possessions He has promised to us.