Now it came to pass, when Adoni–zedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;
That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.
Wherefore Adoni–zedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying,
Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.
Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.
And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.
So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.
And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.
Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.
And the Lord discomfited them 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.
And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Beth–horon, that the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.
Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel.
And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.
But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.
And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.
And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them:
And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the Lord your God hath delivered them into your hand.
And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities.
And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.
Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave.
And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.
And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.
And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.
And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.
And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave’s mouth, which remain until this very day.
And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho.
Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah:
And the Lord delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho.
And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it:
And the Lord delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah.
Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.
And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it, and fought against it:
And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.
And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron; and they fought against it:
And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein.
And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it:
And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.
So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel commanded.
And Joshua smote them from Kadesh–barnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.
And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.
And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.
Joshua 10 recounts a pivotal moment in Israel's conquest of Canaan, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His promises and the importance of obedience and faith in the face of overwhelming odds. This chapter reveals not only God's power but also the partnership He establishes with those who are willing to step out in faith.
An Alliance Threatened (Joshua 10:1-5)
The treaty between Israel and the Gibeonites sent shockwaves throughout Canaan. The Amorite king of Jerusalem, Adoni-Zedek, was deeply alarmed by the news that Gibeon, a significant city with strong warriors, had allied itself with Israel. News of the defeats of Jericho and Ai had already spread, and this new alliance threatened to destabilize the entire region. Adoni-Zedek rallied four other Amorite kings – Hoham of Hebron, Piram of Jarmuth, Japhia of Lachish, and Debir of Eglon – to besiege Gibeon. Their goal was clear: to crush this growing alliance and prevent Israel from gaining further momentum. They sought to stop the domino effect before all the peoples of the land fell before Israel's God.
A Call for Help and Divine Assurance (Joshua 10:6-8)
Under attack, the Gibeonites appealed to Joshua for help, reminding him of their treaty. Their message was urgent: "Do not abandon your servants! Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings in the hill country have joined forces against us" (Joshua 10:6).
Joshua, honoring the covenant he had made, responded swiftly. He gathered his troops and sought the Lord's guidance. God reassured Joshua, saying, "Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you" (Joshua 10:8). This divine promise underscores a crucial principle found throughout the book of Joshua: God empowers those who demonstrate faith through obedience. God's promise was sure, but victory required Joshua and the Israelites to act, to pick up their swords and engage in battle.
Divine Intervention: Hailstones and Confusion (Joshua 10:9-11)
Unlike the fall of Jericho or the ambush at Ai, this battle involved a different form of divine intervention. As Joshua and his army confronted the Amorite coalition, "the LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, so that Israel defeated them with a great slaughter at Gibeon" (Joshua 10:10). But the Lord's intervention didn't stop there. As the Amorites fled, the LORD hurled large hailstones upon them from the sky, killing more of them than the Israelites did with the sword. This miraculous event highlights God's active involvement in the battle, fighting alongside His people. The hailstones didn't fall until the army marched. When those on earth were obedient, heaven intervened in history.
This passage reminds us that God often waits for us to act in obedience before He fully reveals His power and plan. We sometimes declare that we’re waiting on God to act in our situations, but we don’t realize that God is often waiting on us to obey Him before He will.
The Sun Stands Still (Joshua 10:12-15)
As the battle raged, Joshua, driven by a desire to complete the task God had given him, prayed for an extraordinary miracle: "Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon" (Joshua 10:12). In an astounding display of power, the sun stood still in the sky for almost a full day, allowing the Israelites to pursue and defeat their enemies completely.
This event has been the subject of much debate and scrutiny. Some critics argue that it contradicts scientific understanding. However, the passage describes the event from a human perspective, using observational language. The text describes how things appeared. It's written from the perspective of an observer on Earth.
The miracle itself is a testament to God's sovereignty over creation. If the earth slowed its rotation, it would be catastrophic—unless the author of creation was multi-tasking behind the scenes to keep everything in order. And that’s what happened. Mother Nature is answerable to Father God. The LORD listened to a man (Joshua 10:14) regarding such an outlandish request. Joshua was dedicated to accomplishing the will of God—radically so. Therefore, when he boldly asked for divine drastic measures, God was willing to literally move—or in this case pause—heaven and earth. For those who are committed to making God’s agenda their own, even the wildest prayer requests just might be granted.
The Defeated Kings and Symbolic Triumph (Joshua 10:16-27)
The five defeated kings sought refuge in a cave, but their hiding place was discovered. Joshua ordered his commanders to place their feet on the necks of the captured kings, a symbolic act of triumph and subjugation. This imagery, repeated throughout the Bible, foreshadows the ultimate victory over evil. Genesis 3:15 speaks of the offspring of the woman striking the serpent's head, and Psalms 110:1 declares that the Messiah's enemies will be made his footstool. The New Testament echoes this theme, emphasizing Christ's ultimate victory (Matthew 22:43-44, 1 Corinthians 15:24-25). Even believers are promised victory: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20).
Following this symbolic display, the kings were executed, further solidifying Israel's victory and demonstrating God's judgment on their enemies.
Conquest and Fulfillment of Promise (Joshua 10:28-43)
The remainder of the chapter details Joshua's conquest of the southern region of Canaan. City after city fell to the Israelites, fulfilling God's promise to give them the land. Joshua conquered the whole region (Joshua 10:40). The text emphasizes that God made good on his promise, just as he had said, “I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads. . . . No one will be able to stand against you” (Joshua 1:3, 5).
This victory, however, was conditional. God would deliver the land only if Joshua and the people were faithful to do what he commanded. We know this is the case by looking at what happened to the previous generation. They wandered in the wilderness for forty years and died there because they sinfully refused to pursue what God had promised (see Numbers 13–14). So if you want to enjoy the purposes God has for your life, you must trust him and follow through on what he asks of you. His promises are guaranteed—but not automatic. Remember, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
Joshua 10 is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness, His active involvement in the lives of His people, and the importance of obedience and faith in claiming His promises. The chapter encourages us to step out in faith, trusting that God will empower us to overcome any obstacle and fulfill His purpose for our lives.
Now it came to pass, when Adoni–zedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;
That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.
Wherefore Adoni–zedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying,
Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.
Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.
And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.
So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.
And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.
Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.
And the Lord discomfited them 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.
And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Beth–horon, that the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.
Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel.
And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.
But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.
And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.
And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them:
And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the Lord your God hath delivered them into your hand.
And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities.
And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.
Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave.
And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.
And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.
And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.
And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.
And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave’s mouth, which remain until this very day.
And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho.
Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah:
And the Lord delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho.
And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it:
And the Lord delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah.
Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.
And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it, and fought against it:
And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.
And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron; and they fought against it:
And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein.
And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it:
And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.
So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel commanded.
And Joshua smote them from Kadesh–barnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.
And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.
And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.
Joshua 10 recounts a pivotal moment in Israel's conquest of Canaan, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His promises and the importance of obedience and faith in the face of overwhelming odds. This chapter reveals not only God's power but also the partnership He establishes with those who are willing to step out in faith.
An Alliance Threatened (Joshua 10:1-5)
The treaty between Israel and the Gibeonites sent shockwaves throughout Canaan. The Amorite king of Jerusalem, Adoni-Zedek, was deeply alarmed by the news that Gibeon, a significant city with strong warriors, had allied itself with Israel. News of the defeats of Jericho and Ai had already spread, and this new alliance threatened to destabilize the entire region. Adoni-Zedek rallied four other Amorite kings – Hoham of Hebron, Piram of Jarmuth, Japhia of Lachish, and Debir of Eglon – to besiege Gibeon. Their goal was clear: to crush this growing alliance and prevent Israel from gaining further momentum. They sought to stop the domino effect before all the peoples of the land fell before Israel's God.
A Call for Help and Divine Assurance (Joshua 10:6-8)
Under attack, the Gibeonites appealed to Joshua for help, reminding him of their treaty. Their message was urgent: "Do not abandon your servants! Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings in the hill country have joined forces against us" (Joshua 10:6).
Joshua, honoring the covenant he had made, responded swiftly. He gathered his troops and sought the Lord's guidance. God reassured Joshua, saying, "Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you" (Joshua 10:8). This divine promise underscores a crucial principle found throughout the book of Joshua: God empowers those who demonstrate faith through obedience. God's promise was sure, but victory required Joshua and the Israelites to act, to pick up their swords and engage in battle.
Divine Intervention: Hailstones and Confusion (Joshua 10:9-11)
Unlike the fall of Jericho or the ambush at Ai, this battle involved a different form of divine intervention. As Joshua and his army confronted the Amorite coalition, "the LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, so that Israel defeated them with a great slaughter at Gibeon" (Joshua 10:10). But the Lord's intervention didn't stop there. As the Amorites fled, the LORD hurled large hailstones upon them from the sky, killing more of them than the Israelites did with the sword. This miraculous event highlights God's active involvement in the battle, fighting alongside His people. The hailstones didn't fall until the army marched. When those on earth were obedient, heaven intervened in history.
This passage reminds us that God often waits for us to act in obedience before He fully reveals His power and plan. We sometimes declare that we’re waiting on God to act in our situations, but we don’t realize that God is often waiting on us to obey Him before He will.
The Sun Stands Still (Joshua 10:12-15)
As the battle raged, Joshua, driven by a desire to complete the task God had given him, prayed for an extraordinary miracle: "Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon" (Joshua 10:12). In an astounding display of power, the sun stood still in the sky for almost a full day, allowing the Israelites to pursue and defeat their enemies completely.
This event has been the subject of much debate and scrutiny. Some critics argue that it contradicts scientific understanding. However, the passage describes the event from a human perspective, using observational language. The text describes how things appeared. It's written from the perspective of an observer on Earth.
The miracle itself is a testament to God's sovereignty over creation. If the earth slowed its rotation, it would be catastrophic—unless the author of creation was multi-tasking behind the scenes to keep everything in order. And that’s what happened. Mother Nature is answerable to Father God. The LORD listened to a man (Joshua 10:14) regarding such an outlandish request. Joshua was dedicated to accomplishing the will of God—radically so. Therefore, when he boldly asked for divine drastic measures, God was willing to literally move—or in this case pause—heaven and earth. For those who are committed to making God’s agenda their own, even the wildest prayer requests just might be granted.
The Defeated Kings and Symbolic Triumph (Joshua 10:16-27)
The five defeated kings sought refuge in a cave, but their hiding place was discovered. Joshua ordered his commanders to place their feet on the necks of the captured kings, a symbolic act of triumph and subjugation. This imagery, repeated throughout the Bible, foreshadows the ultimate victory over evil. Genesis 3:15 speaks of the offspring of the woman striking the serpent's head, and Psalms 110:1 declares that the Messiah's enemies will be made his footstool. The New Testament echoes this theme, emphasizing Christ's ultimate victory (Matthew 22:43-44, 1 Corinthians 15:24-25). Even believers are promised victory: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20).
Following this symbolic display, the kings were executed, further solidifying Israel's victory and demonstrating God's judgment on their enemies.
Conquest and Fulfillment of Promise (Joshua 10:28-43)
The remainder of the chapter details Joshua's conquest of the southern region of Canaan. City after city fell to the Israelites, fulfilling God's promise to give them the land. Joshua conquered the whole region (Joshua 10:40). The text emphasizes that God made good on his promise, just as he had said, “I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads. . . . No one will be able to stand against you” (Joshua 1:3, 5).
This victory, however, was conditional. God would deliver the land only if Joshua and the people were faithful to do what he commanded. We know this is the case by looking at what happened to the previous generation. They wandered in the wilderness for forty years and died there because they sinfully refused to pursue what God had promised (see Numbers 13–14). So if you want to enjoy the purposes God has for your life, you must trust him and follow through on what he asks of you. His promises are guaranteed—but not automatic. Remember, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
Joshua 10 is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness, His active involvement in the lives of His people, and the importance of obedience and faith in claiming His promises. The chapter encourages us to step out in faith, trusting that God will empower us to overcome any obstacle and fulfill His purpose for our lives.