Joshua 10:1-3

The Sun Stands Still

1 Now Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and totally destroyed^[a] it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon had made a treaty of peace with Israel and had become their allies.

2 He and his people were very much alarmed at this, because Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters.

3 So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem appealed to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish and Debir king of Eglon.

Joshua 10:1-3 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.

Cross References

• 1. ver 3
• 2. Joshua 12:10; Joshua 15:8,63; Joshua 18:28; Judges 1:7
• 3. S Joshua 8:1
• 4. S Deuteronomy 20:16; S Joshua 8:22
• 5. Joshua 9:3
• 6. S Joshua 9:15
• 7. S Genesis 13:18
• 8. ver 5; Joshua 12:11; Joshua 15:35; Joshua 21:29; Nehemiah 11:29
• 9. ver 5,31; Joshua 12:11; Joshua 15:39; 2 Kings 14:19; 2 Chronicles 11:9; 2 Chronicles 25:27; 2 Chronicles 32:9; Nehemiah 11:30; Isaiah 36:2; Isaiah 37:8; Jeremiah 34:7; Micah 1:13
• 10. ver 38; Joshua 11:21; Joshua 12:13; Joshua 13:26; Joshua 15:7,49; Joshua 21:15; Judges 1:11; 1 Chronicles 6:58
• 11. ver 23,34,36; Joshua 12:12; Joshua 15:39

Footnotes

• [a]. The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verses 28, 35, 37, 39 and 40.