*Joshua 10:1-15
The Gibeonites seek help from Joshua, who leads the Israelites to victory over a coalition of Amorite kings and miraculously extends daylight to ensure complete defeat.
- Alliance of Amorite Kings:
- Adoni-Zedek, king of Jerusalem, learns about the fall of Ai and Jericho and forms an alliance with four other Amorite kings: Hoham of Hebron, Piram of Jarmuth, Japhia of Lachish, and Debir of Eglon.
- They unite their forces to combat Joshua and the Israelites.
- Gibeon Seeks Help:
- The people of Gibeon, fearing the impending threat from the Amorite coalition, send word to Joshua in the Israelite camp at Gilgal.
- They request aid, reminding Joshua of the covenant they had made to spare their lives.
- Joshua’s Response:
- Joshua honors the covenant made with the Gibeonites and marches with his entire army from Gilgal to help defend Gibeon against the Amorite kings.
- Divine Intervention:
- As Joshua and his forces advance, God assures him of victory over the coalition of kings.
- God throws the enemy forces into confusion, causing panic among them.
- Miraculous Victory:
- The Lord inflicts heavy casualties on the Amorites, causing confusion and chaos among their ranks.
- A hailstorm devastates the enemy, causing more deaths than the Israelites’ swords.
- The day prolongs as Joshua commands the sun and moon to stand still until the Israelites have avenged themselves upon their enemies.
- Complete Conquest:
- Joshua and his army pursue the fleeing Amorites, not letting any escape.
- They utterly defeat the coalition of kings, including the king of Jerusalem.
Joshua 10:1-15 teaches us that God fights for us when we trust Him. When Joshua and the Israelites were battling their enemies, God helped them by sending hailstones and even making the sun stand still. This reminds us that no challenge is too big for God. It encourages us to pray boldly, trust His power, and know that when we follow Him, He will give us the strength and help we need to overcome obstacles in our lives.
Joshua 10:1-15 (WEB)
10:1 Now when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem 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, 2 they were very afraid, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty. 3 Therefore Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 “Come up to me and help me. Let’s strike Gibeon; for they have made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.” 5 Therefore 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 encamped against Gibeon, and made war against it. 6 The men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, “Don’t abandon your servants! Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us; for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill country have gathered together against us.”7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and the whole army with him, including all the mighty men of valor. 8 The LORD said to Joshua, “Don’t fear them, for I have delivered them into your hands. Not a man of them will stand before you.”9 Joshua therefore came to them suddenly. He marched from Gilgal all night. 10 The LORD confused them before Israel. He killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth Horon, and struck them to Azekah and to Makkedah. 11 As they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth Horon, the LORD hurled down great stones from the sky on them to Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the children of Israel killed with the sword.12 Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel. He said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still on Gibeon! You, moon, stop in the valley of Aijalon!”13 The sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the nation had avenged themselves of their enemies. Isn’t this written in the book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and didn’t hurry to go down about a whole day. 14 There was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD listened to the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel.15 Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp to Gilgal.