The Victory at Gibeon & The Southern Campaign
Joshua 10
Joshua 10
Joshua 10. It is remarkable to see that a mistake made by those who failed to trust in God does not mean its consequences cannot be used by Him for a greater purpose. In this case, Israel’s misguided alliance with Gibeon leads them into conflict with Adoni-zedek and his confederacy. Yet, this very battle results in a significant victory for Israel, advancing their conquest of Canaan. The victory was so extraordinary that it is said, “there was no day like that before it or after it”. Joshua 10 covers the battle of Israel against Adoni-zedek and his confederacy (vv.1-11), the miraculous event of the sun standing still at Joshua’s command (vv.12-15), the victory over the five kings (vv.16-27), and the successive conquests of other Canaanite cities that followed on (vv.28-43). The battle in this chapter combined with the next form one type: the battle in heavenly places for the possession of our spiritual inheritance in Christ. Adoni-zedec and Jabin may well represent Satan in different characteristics.
Contents
Adoni-zedec and His Amorite Confederacy (10:1-6)
CHAPTER 10
1 And it came to pass when Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and had utterly destroyed it, that he had done to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them, 2 that they feared greatly; for Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty. 3 And Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, and to Piream king of Jarmuth, and to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 Come up to me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon; for it has made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel. 5 And the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their armies, and they encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it. 6 And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, saying, Withdraw 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 hill-country are gathered against us.
vv.1-6 The Five Kings, Gibeon Calls for Aid. The enemies of Israel are now gathered together in a confederacy led by Adoni-zedec, king of Jerusalem. They were afraid of Israel, and rightly so. However, they did not seek to make peace with Israel as Gibeon had. They were also afraid because Gibeon had made an alliance with Israel, and Gibeon was “a great city, as one of the royal cities, and it was greater than Ai”. Five kings unite together with the express purpose of smiting Gibeon, because of its league with Israel. The men of Gibeon immediately send word to Joshua, and call for aid. Israel was obliged to answer this because of their promise in Joshua 9.
The War (10:7-11)
7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, even all the valiant men. 8 And Jehovah said to Joshua, Fear them not; for into thy hand have I given them: not a man of them shall stand before thee. 9 And Joshua came upon them suddenly; he went up from Gilgal all night. 10 And Jehovah discomfited them before Israel, and smote them with a great slaughter at Gibeon; and he chased them on the way of the ascent of Beth-horon, and smote them up to Azekah and Makkedah. 11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, — they were at the descent of Beth-horon, — that Jehovah cast down great stones from heaven upon them up to Azekah, and they died. They were more who died with the hailstones than they whom the children of Israel had slain with the sword.
vv.7-11 The War at Gibeon. Israel did right in responding to Gibeon’s call for aid. They came from Gilgal, which was where the people were circumcised in ch.5. It would appear that Israel continually returned to Gilgal between battles during the initial conquest of Canaan. It speaks of the the believer’s need to continually pass judgment on the flesh. This involves more than the confession of sin, which could even be done in a way to draw attention to self. Rather, Gilgal speaks of the recognition in the soul of what God has done with the flesh; He has “condemned sin in the flesh”. The place of self-judgment is the best starting point for any spiritual conflict! The Lord also spoke to Joshua and comforted him with similar words as we have in ch.1; “not a man of them shall stand before thee.” What an encouragement! Yet the victory was all the Lord’s; “Jehovah discomfited them before Israel, and smote them with a great slaughter”. The Lord demonstrated that He was not only the God of the earth but the God of heaven, and “cast down great stones from heaven”. More died from the hailstones than died at the hands of Israel’s soldiers. It was a total route!
The Miracle (10:12-15)
12 Then spoke Joshua to Jehovah in the day when Jehovah gave up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand still upon Gibeon; And thou, moon, in the valley of Ajalon! 13 And the sun stood still, and the moon remained where it was, until the nation had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? And the sun remained standing in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a full day. 14 And there was no day like that before it or after it, that Jehovah hearkened to the voice of a man; for Jehovah fought for Israel.
vv.12-14 The Sun and Moon Stand Still. An incredible thing happened that day. As Israel was chasing the five Amorite kings into the valley of Ajalon, Joshua commanded the son and moon to stand still, and it did so for “a full day”, or twenty four hours. This was an incredible thing, because Joshua didn’t even ask God for direction in this; “And there was no day like that before it or after it, that Jehovah hearkened to the voice of a man”. The defeat was so great, and it was only time that Israel needed to make the victory complete. All of nature – the sun, moon, earth, weather systems, etc. – were all coordinated by God in the aid of Israel’s victory! Why? “for Jehovah fought for Israel.” What courage the believe can take that the God of the universe is fighting for us, and therefore “all things are yours” (1 Corinthians 3:21). As to what exactly took place scientifically scripture does not tell us. We can be assured that the God who created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1) has the power to cause the sun and moon to stand still as long as He wishes, and to cause them to resume their normal courses without any catastrophic consequence. We know that the Earth orbits the sun, and the moon orbits the earth, yet Joshua speaks from the perspective of an ordinary man on the earth, just as Newton himself would speak of the sun and moon rising and setting. It is interesting that not only did the sun stand still, but the moon did as well. There was no confusion of the heavenly bodies. Miracles are not a suspension of the laws of nature, but of God acting on an individual or object in spite of them. The “book of Jasher” is an ambiguous reference only found here and in 2 Sam. 1:18. Jasher means ‘upright’, and it could refer to the scriptures, to to some non-inspired chronicle.
15 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp, to Gilgal.
v.15 The Return to Gilgal. After the victory is so returned to Gilgal. There is a moral lesson in this. We are never more vulnerable to attack than after we have won a victory. So they returned to the place of the cutting off of the flesh. This is always a safe recourse in times of victory or in times of defeat.
The Victory Won (10:16-21)
16 And these five kings fled, and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah. 17 And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings have been found, hid in the cave at Makkedah. 18 And Joshua said, Roll great stones before the mouth of the cave, and set men before it to keep them. 19 And ye, stay not, pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities; for Jehovah your God has given them into your hand. 20 And it came to pass when Joshua and the children of Israel had ended smiting them with a very great slaughter, until they were consumed, that the remnant which remained of them entered into fortified cities; 21 and all the people returned to the camp to Joshua, at Makkedah, in peace; none moved his tongue against the children of Israel.
vv.16-21 The Victory. The five kings of the Amorites fled, and hid themselves in a cave. Joshua would not allow the spectacle of the captured kings distract the people from finishing the battle. He had the people rolled big stones over the mouth of the cave and set men to guard it. Meanwhile, the people were to pursue after their enemies and prevent them from coming into their cities and taking up protection behind the walls. The victory is described as “a very great slaughter” in which the majority of the enemies were killed, while only a remnant made it into the fortified cities. The children of Israel came through this battle unscathed! The matter of the five kings remained.
The Five Kings Slain (10:22-27)
22 And Joshua said, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring forth to me those five kings out of the cave. 23 And they did so, and brought forth to him those five kings out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon. 24 And it came to pass when they had brought forth those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called to all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war who went with him, Come forward, put your feet on the necks of these kings. And they came forward and put their feet on their necks. 25 And Joshua said to them, Fear not, neither be dismayed; be strong and courageous, for thus will Jehovah do to all your enemies against whom ye fight. 26 And afterwards Joshua smote them, and put them to death, and hanged them on five trees; and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening. 27 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 where they had been hid, and laid great stones before the cave’s mouth, which remain to this very day.
vv.22-27 The Five Kings Slain. After the battle was finished it was time to deal with the five kings. Joshua commanded for the cave to be opened and the five kings brought out. Joshua called to his men and captains to put their feet on the necks of the kings. Joshua spurred them forward with the very words that Jehovah had spoken to him at the outset of the conquest; “Fear not, neither be dismayed; be strong and courageous”. Why did Joshua do this? He wanted his men to have this experience! There were many battles to come, but this victory would give them courage, as he says that, “thus will Jehovah do to all your enemies against whom ye fight”. It is crucial to recognize that our enemy has already been defeated. Placing a foot on the enemy’s neck symbolizes affirming this truth. They were as good as dead, though not yet dead. Their execution followed, and all five were hanged on trees until the evening. The five kings were buried in the very cave they had hidden in. Their hiding place became their tomb!
Further Conquests (10:28-43)
Makkedah (v.28)
28 And Joshua took Makkedah on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, him and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed; he let none remain; and he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.
v.28 Makkedah. Makkedah is a city mentioned only in Joshua. The city was completely destroyed and all the people put to death. We must remember that these were Amorites renowned for their wickedness. This was the judgment of God on them that they had had coming for a long time (Gen. 15:16). After it was destroyed, it was taken as part of the inheritance of Judah (Joshua 15:41).
Libnah (vv.29-30)
29 And Joshua passed, and all Israel with him, from Makkedah to Libnah, and fought against Libnah. 30 And Jehovah gave 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: and he did to the king thereof as he had done to the king of Jericho.
vv.29-30 Libnah. Libnah was the next city in the south taken by Joshua and its inhabitants totally destroyed. It was part of the inheritance of to Judah but was afterwards given to the priests (Joshua 21:13; 1 Chron. 6:57).
Lachish (vv.29-30)
31 And Joshua passed, and all Israel with him, from Libnah to Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it. 32 And Jehovah gave Lachish into the hand of Israel; and they 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. 33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.
vv.29-30 Lachish and Gezer. Lachish was an Amorite city in the south that was heavily fortified. It may have had a strategic military importance in the region, because it was garrisoned by Rehoboam (2 Chron. 11:9). However, Israel was able to take it “on the second day”, because “Jehovah gave Lachish into the hand of Israel”. Horam king of Gezer came down to aid Lachish, but it was of no avail. Israel completely wiped them out!
Eglon (vv.34-35)
34 And Joshua, and all Israel with him, passed from Lachish to Eglon; and they encamped against it, and fought against it. 35 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 on that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.
vv.34-35 Eglon. The next city to fall was Eglon, one of the five confederate Amorite states. This city also was completely destroyed.
Hebron (vv.36-37)
36 And Joshua went up, and all Israel with him, from Eglon to Hebron; and they fought against it. 37 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 let none remain, according to all that he had done to Eglon; and he utterly destroyed it, and all the souls that were therein.
vv.36-37 Hebron. The next city to be destroyed was Hebron, and this was a city somewhat to the east. Hebron figures strongly in the Old Testament, especially in the book of Genesis. Hebron means communion. However, the Amorite inhabitants were very wicked and must be put to death; so “he let none remain”.
Debir (vv.38-39)
38 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it. 39 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 let none remain: as he had done to Hebron, and as he had done to Libnah, and to the king thereof, so he did to Debir and to the king thereof.
vv.38-39 Debir. The next city was Debir, whose former name was Kijath-Sepher, in the portion of Judah that was promised to Caleb. Joshua as the leader of Israel is viewed as taking Debir in the book of Joshua, but in Judges we find that it was actually taken by Othniel. Caleb gave his daughter Achsah to Othniel in marriage for its capture (Judges 1:11-12). Othniel went on to be one of Israel’s judges. Eventually Debir was given to the priests (1 Chron. 6:58).
Further Conquests (vv.40-43)
40 And Joshua smote the whole country, the mountain, and the south, and the lowland, and the hill-slopes, and all their kings: he let none remain, but he utterly destroyed all that breathed, as Jehovah the God of Israel had commanded. 41 And Joshua smote them from Kadesh-barnea even to Gazah, and all the country of Goshen, even to Gibeon; 42 and all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time; for Jehovah the God of Israel fought for Israel. 43 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp, to Gilgal.
vv.40-43 Further Conquests. Joshua continued his campaign south all the way down to Kadesh-barnea (the border), including the country of Goshen, which was the border of Egypt, and then back up to Gibeon. This was one sweeping campaign to the south, and after this Joshua returned to Gilgal. This would then be followed by a northern campaign which is taken up in subsequent chapters. While the power of the enemy in the South was broken, there remained much to do. For example, Jerusalem remain unconquered for centuries, and was finally taken by David from the Jebusites.