Joshua 10:12-23

Listen to Joshua 10:12-23

12 On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”

13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on^[a] its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.

14 There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a human being. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!

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

Five Amorite Kings Killed

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

17 When Joshua was told that the five kings had been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah,

18 he said, “Roll large rocks up to the mouth of the cave, and post some men there to guard it.

19 But don’t stop; pursue your enemies! Attack them from the rear and don’t let them reach their cities, for the LORD your God has given them into your hand.”

20 So Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely, but a few survivors managed to reach their fortified cities.

21 The whole army then returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one uttered a word against the Israelites.

22 Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.”

23 So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon.

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Joshua 10:12-23 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

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Cross References 10

1. Amos 2:9
2. Joshua 19:42; Joshua 21:24; Judges 1:35; Judges 12:12; 1 Samuel 14:31; 1 Chronicles 6:69; 1 Chronicles 8:13; 2 Chronicles 11:10; 2 Chronicles 28:18
3. Habakkuk 3:11
4. 2 Samuel 1:18
5. Isaiah 38:8
6. ver 42; S Exodus 14:14; Deuteronomy 1:30; Psalms 106:43; Psalms 136:24; Isaiah 63:10; Jeremiah 21:5
7. ver 43
8. Psalms 68:12
9. Deuteronomy 20:16
10. 2 Chronicles 11:10; Jeremiah 4:5; Jeremiah 5:17; Jeremiah 8:14; Jeremiah 35:11

Footnotes 1

[a] Or "nation triumphed over"