Joshua 10

1 quae cum audisset Adonisedec rex Hierusalem quod scilicet cepisset Iosue Ahi et subvertisset eam sicut enim fecerat Hiericho et regi eius sic fecit Ahi et regi illius et quod transfugissent Gabaonitae ad Israhel et essent foederati eorum

2 timuit valde urbs enim magna erat Gabaon et una regalium civitatum et maior oppido Ahi omnesque bellatores eius fortissimi

3 misit ergo Adonisedec rex Hierusalem ad Oham regem Hebron et ad Pharam regem Hieremoth ad Iaphie quoque regem Lachis et ad Dabir regem Eglon dicens

4 ascendite ad me et ferte praesidium ut expugnemus Gabaon quare transfugerit ad Iosue et filios Israhel

5 congregati igitur ascenderunt quinque reges Amorreorum rex Hierusalem rex Hebron rex Hieremoth rex Lachis rex Eglon simul cum exercitibus suis et castrametati sunt circa Gabaon obpugnantes eam

6 habitatores autem Gabaon urbis obsessae miserunt ad Iosue qui tunc morabatur in castris apud Galgalam et dixerunt ei ne retrahas manus tuas ab auxilio servorum tuorum ascende cito et libera nos ferque praesidium convenerunt enim adversum nos omnes reges Amorreorum qui habitant in montanis

7 ascenditque Iosue de Galgalis et omnis exercitus bellatorum cum eo viri fortissimi

8 dixitque Dominus ad Iosue ne timeas eos in manus enim tuas tradidi illos nullus tibi ex eis resistere poterit

9 inruit itaque Iosue super eos repente tota ascendens nocte de Galgalis

10 et conturbavit eos Dominus a facie Israhel contrivitque plaga magna in Gabaon ac persecutus est per viam ascensus Bethoron et percussit usque Azeca et Maceda

11 cumque fugerent filios Israhel et essent in descensu Bethoron Dominus misit super eos lapides magnos de caelo usque Azeca et mortui sunt multo plures lapidibus grandinis quam quos gladio percusserant filii Israhel

12 tunc locutus est Iosue Domino in die qua tradidit Amorreum in conspectu filiorum Israhel dixitque coram eis sol contra Gabaon ne movearis et luna contra vallem Ahialon

13 steteruntque sol et luna donec ulcisceretur se gens de inimicis suis nonne scriptum est hoc in libro Iustorum stetit itaque sol in medio caeli et non festinavit occumbere spatio unius diei

14 non fuit ante et postea tam longa dies oboediente Domino voci hominis et pugnante pro Israhel

15 reversusque est Iosue cum omni Israhel in castra Galgalae

16 fugerant enim quinque reges et se absconderant in spelunca urbis Maceda

17 nuntiatumque est Iosue quod inventi essent quinque reges latentes in spelunca Maceda

18 qui praecepit sociis et ait volvite saxa ingentia ad os speluncae et ponite viros industrios qui clausos custodiant

19 vos autem nolite stare sed persequimini hostes et extremos quosque fugientium caedite ne dimittatis eos urbium suarum intrare praesidia quos tradidit Dominus Deus in manus vestras

20 caesis igitur adversariis plaga magna et usque ad internicionem paene consumptis hii qui Israhel effugere potuerunt ingressi sunt civitates munitas

21 reversusque est omnis exercitus ad Iosue in Maceda ubi tunc erant castra sani et integro numero nullusque contra filios Israhel muttire ausus est

22 praecepitque Iosue dicens aperite os speluncae et producite ad me quinque reges qui in ea latitant

23 fecerunt ministri ut sibi fuerat imperatum et eduxerunt ad eum quinque reges de spelunca regem Hierusalem regem Hebron regem Hieremoth regem Lachis regem Eglon

24 cumque educti essent ad eum vocavit omnes viros Israhel et ait ad principes exercitus qui secum erant ite et ponite pedes super colla regum istorum qui cum perrexissent et subiectorum pedibus colla calcarent

25 rursum ait ad eos nolite timere nec paveatis confortamini et estote robusti sic enim faciet Dominus cunctis hostibus vestris adversum quos dimicatis

26 percussitque Iosue et interfecit eos atque suspendit super quinque stipites fueruntque suspensi usque ad vesperum

27 cumque occumberet sol praecepit sociis ut deponerent eos de patibulis qui depositos proiecerunt in speluncam in qua latuerant et posuerunt super os eius saxa ingentia quae permanent usque in praesens

28 eodem die Macedam quoque cepit Iosue et percussit in ore gladii regemque illius interfecit et omnes habitatores eius non dimisit in ea saltim parvas reliquias fecitque regi Maceda sicut fecerat regi Hiericho

29 transivit cum omni Israhel de Maceda in Lebna et pugnabat contra eam

30 quam tradidit Dominus cum rege suo in manu Israhel percusseruntque urbem in ore gladii et omnes habitatores eius non dimiserunt in ea ullas reliquias feceruntque regi Lebna sicut fecerant regi Hiericho

31 de Lebna transivit in Lachis et exercitu per gyrum disposito obpugnabat eam

32 tradiditque Dominus Lachis in manu Israhel et cepit eam die altero atque percussit in ore gladii omnemque animam quae fuerat in ea sicut fecerat Lebna

33 eo tempore ascendit Hiram rex Gazer ut auxiliaretur Lachis quem percussit Iosue cum omni populo eius usque ad internicionem

34 transivitque de Lachis in Eglon et circumdedit

35 atque expugnavit eam eadem die percussitque in ore gladii omnes animas quae erant in ea iuxta omnia quae fecerat Lachis

36 ascendit quoque cum omni Israhele de Eglon in Hebron et pugnavit contra eam

37 cepitque et percussit in ore gladii regem quoque eius et omnia oppida regionis illius universasque animas quae in ea fuerant commoratae non reliquit in ea ullas reliquias sicut fecerat Eglon sic fecit et Hebron cuncta quae in ea repperit consumens gladio

38 inde reversus in Dabir

39 cepit eam atque vastavit

40 regem quoque eius et omnia per circuitum oppida percussit in ore gladii non dimisit in ea ullas reliquias sicut fecerat Hebron et Lebna et regibus earum sic fecit Dabir et regi illius

41 percussit itaque Iosue omnem terram montanam et meridianam atque campestrem et Asedoth cum regibus suis non dimisit in ea ullas reliquias sed omne quod spirare poterat interfecit sicut praeceperat ei Dominus Deus Israhel

42 a Cadesbarne usque Gazam omnem terram Gosen usque Gabaon

43 universos reges et regiones eorum uno cepit impetu atque vastavit Dominus enim Deus Israhel pugnabat pro eo

44 reversusque est cum omni Israhele ad locum castrorum in Galgala

Joshua 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

Five kings war against Gibeon. (1-6) Joshua succours Gibeon The sun and moon stand still. (7-14) The kings are taken, their armies defeated, and they are put to death. (15-27) Seven other kings defeated and slain. (28-43)

Verses 1-6 When sinners leave the service of Satan and the friendship of the world, that they make peace with God and join Israel, they must not marvel if the world hate them, if their former friends become foes. By such methods Satan discourages many who are convinced of their danger, and almost persuaded to be Christians, but fear the cross. These things should quicken us to apply to God for protection, help, and deliverance.

Verses 7-14 The meanest and most feeble, who have just begun to trust the Lord, are as much entitled to be protected as those who have long and faithfully been his servants. It is our duty to defend the afflicted, who, like the Gibeonites, are brought into trouble on our account, or for the sake of the gospel. Joshua would not forsake his new vassals. How much less shall our true Joshua fail those who trust in Him! We may be wanting in our trust, but our trust never can want success. Yet God's promises are not to slacken and do away, but to quicken and encourage our endeavours. Notice the great faith of Joshua, and the power of God answering it by the miraculous staying of the sun, that the day of Israel's victories might be made longer. Joshua acted on this occasion by impulse on his mind from the Spirit of God. It was not necessary that Joshua should speak, or the miracle be recorded, according to the modern terms of astronomy. The sun appeared to the Israelites over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Ajalon, and there they appeared to be stopped on their course for one whole day. Is any thing too hard for the Lord? forms a sufficient answer to ten thousand difficulties, which objectors have in every age started against the truth of God as revealed in his written word. Proclamation was hereby made to the neighbouring nations, Behold the works of the Lord, and say, What nation is there so great as Israel, who has God so nigh unto them?

Verses 15-27 None moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel. This shows their perfect safety. The kings were called to an account, as rebels against the Israel of God. Refuges of lies will but secure for God's judgment. God punished the abominable wickedness of these kings, the measure of whose iniquity was now full. And by this public act of justice, done upon these ringleaders of the Canaanites in sin, he would possess his people with the greater dread and detestation of the sins of the nations that God cast out from before them. Here is a type and figure of Christ's victories over the powers of darkness, and of believers' victories through him. In our spiritual conflicts we must not be satisfied with obtaining some important victory. We must pursue our scattered enemies, searching out the remains of sin as they rise up in our hearts, and thus pursue the conquest. In so doing, the Lord will afford light until the warfare be accomplished.

Verses 28-43 Joshua made speed in taking these cities. See what a great deal of work may be done in a little time, if we will be diligent, and improve our opportunities. God here showed his hatred of the idolatries and other abominations of which the Canaanites had been guilty, and shows us how great the provocation was, by the greatness of the destruction brought upon them. Here also was typified the destruction of all the enemies of the Lord Jesus, who, having slighted the riches of his grace, must for ever feel the weight of his wrath. The Lord fought for Israel. They could not have gotten the victory, if God had not undertaken the battle. We conquer when God fights for us; if he be for us, who can be against us?

Chapter Summary

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.