Joshua 10:12-22

12 Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, "O ¹sun, stand still at Gibeon, And O moon in the valley of Aijalon."

13 ²So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not written in ³the book of Jashar? And ⁴the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.

14 There was no day like that before it or after it, when the LORD listened to the voice of a man; for ⁵the LORD fought for Israel.

15 Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp to Gilgal.

Victory at Makkedah

16 Now these ⁶five kings had fled and hidden themselves in the cave at Makkedah.

17 It was told Joshua, saying, "The five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Makkedah."

18 Joshua said, "Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and assign men by it to guard them,

19 but do not stay there yourselves; pursue your enemies and attack them in the rear. Do not allow them to enter their cities, for the LORD your God has delivered them into your hand."

20 It came about when Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished slaying them with a very great slaughter, ⁷until they were destroyed, and the survivors who remained of them had entered the fortified cities,

21 that all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace. No one uttered a word against any of the sons of Israel.

22 Then Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave and bring these five kings out to me from the cave."

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Joshua 10:12-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 10

This chapter treats of the combination of five kings against the Gibeonites, Jos 10:1-5; and of the application of the Gibeonites to Joshua, for assistance, in virtue of the league between them, which was granted, Jos 10:6-9; of the slaughter of the army by the kings of Israel, and chiefly by hailstones from heaven, Jos 10:10,11; and of the standing still of the sun, and of the moon, while vengeance was taken on them, Jos 10:12-14; and of the five kings being hid in a cave, and of the usage of them when taken, Jos 10:15-27; and of the taking of Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, and Debir, Jos 10:28-39; which finished the conquest of the southern part of the land, Jos 10:40-43.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 7

1. Habakkuk 3:11
2. Habakkuk 3:11
3. 2 Samuel 1:18
4. Isaiah 38:8
5. Exodus 14:14; Deuteronomy 1:30; Joshua 10:42
6. Joshua 10:5
7. Deuteronomy 20:16

Footnotes 4

[a]. Lit "smite their tail"
[b]. Lit "striking"
[c]. Lit "and had"
[d]. Lit "sharpened his tongue"