Joshua 10:9-19

9 So Joshua came upon them suddenly by marching all night from Gilgal.

10 ¹And the LORD confounded them before Israel, and He slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and pursued them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah.

11 As they fled from before * Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, ²the LORD threw large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died from the hailstones * than those whom the sons 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 sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, "O ³sun, stand still at Gibeon, And O moon in the valley of Aijalon."

13 ⁴So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not written in ⁵the book of Jashar? And ⁶the 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 ⁷the LORD fought for Israel.

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

Victory at Makkedah

16 Now these ⁸five 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."

Joshua 10:9-19 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. Deuteronomy 7:23
• 2. Psalms 18:12; Isaiah 28:2
• 3. Habakkuk 3:11
• 4. Habakkuk 3:11
• 5. 2 Samuel 1:18
• 6. Isaiah 38:8
• 7. Exodus 14:14; Deuteronomy 1:30; Joshua 10:42
• 8. Joshua 10:5

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "he went up"
• [b]. Lit "struck"
• [c]. Lit "with"
• [d]. Lit "smite their tail"