*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.
10:1 Now it came to pass, when Adonizedec 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; 10:2 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.
10:3 Wherefore Adonizedec 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, 10:4 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.
10:5 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.
10:6 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.
10:7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.
10:8 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.
10:9 Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.
10:10 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 Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.
10:11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, 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.
10:12 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.
10:13 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.
10:14 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.
10:15 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.