Joshua 10

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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Joshua Chapter 10

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: Joshua

Date Penned: (1406-1370 BC)

Overview: A Record of Israel in the Promised Land (c 1-24)

Theme: Conquering the Promised Land (c 5-12)

Message: The Sun Stands Still (v 1-43)

Joshua 10 Commentary

(10:5-8) God Makes a Way - This alliance of enemy kings from the south actually helped Joshua and his army. Because the enemies had united to attack Gibeon, Joshua didn't have to spend the time and resources required to wage separate campaigns against each fortified city represented in the coalition. Even though Joshua made a bad decision by making a treaty with the Gibeonites, God was faithful to his people and made a plan to give them success over the kings from the south anyway.

(10:6-7) Israel Aids the Gibeonites - Joshua's response shows his integrity. After having been deceived by the Gibeonites, Joshua and the leaders could have been slow about their attempt to rescue them. Instead, the Israelites immediately responded to their call for help. Even if you had promised to help someone, how quickly would you do it if they had deceived you? We should take our word just as seriously as Joshua did.

(10:12-14) The Sun Stands Still - How did the sun stand still? Of course, in relation to the earth, the sun always stands still- the earth travels around the sun. But this was not meant to be a scientific description--after all, we are not confused when someone tells us the sun rises or sets. The point is that the day was prolonged, not that God used a particular method to prolong it. Two explanations have been given for how this event occurred: (1) A slowing of the earth's normal rotation gave Joshua more time. (2) Some unusual refraction of the sun's rays gave additional hours of light. Regardless of how God did this, the Bible is clear that the day was prolonged by a miracle and that God's intervention turned the tide of battle for his people.

(10:13) An Account of Jasher - The book of Jasher (also mentioned in 2 Samuel 18) was probably a collection of historical events put to music. Many parts of the Bible contain quotations from older books, songs, poems, and other spoken or written materials. Because God guided the writer of this book to select this material, his message comes with divine authority.

(10:24) A Mark of Victory - Placing a foot on the neck of a captive was a common military practice in the ancient Middle East. It symbolized the victor's domination of his captives. These proud kings had boasted of their power. Now all Israel could see that God was superior to any earthly army.

(10:25) A Series of Victories - With God's help, Israel won the battle against five Amorite armies. Such a triumph was part of God's daily business as he worked with his people for victory. Joshua told his men never to be afraid because God would give them similar victories over all their enemies. God has often protected us and won victories for us. The same God who empowered Joshua and who has led us in the past will help us with our present and future needs. Reminding ourselves of his help in the past will give us hope for the struggles that lie ahead.

(10:32) Giving God the Glory - Notice that after every Israelite victory, the text gives the credit to the Lord. All of Israel's victories came from God. When we are successful, we may be tempted to take all the credit and glory as though we succeeded by ourselves, in our own strength. In reality, God gives us the victories, and he alone delivers us from our enemies. We should give him the credit and praise him for his goodness.

(10:40-43) Getting Rid of Sin - God had commanded Joshua to take leadership in ridding the land of sin so God's people could occupy it. Joshua did his part thoroughly, leading the united army to weaken the inhabitants. When God asks us to do something, we must not pause to debate, consider the options, negotiate a compromise, or rationalize. Instead, like Joshua, our response must be swift and complete. Let us ruthlessly avoid relationships and activities that can keep us from hearing and heeding God's commands.

Dave Burnette's Life Application

Power Over All

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the book of Joshua with Chapter 10 and we see the Lord giving Joshua and the nation of Israel victory. What catches my attention is verse 13 where it says "The Sun stood still" which gave Israel extra time in the day for victory. We see that if we follow the Lord that He has power of time and nature to fulfill His Will. The Red Sea and the Jordan River are a couple of many examples in the Bible of the Lord having this power. In making application we see that if you have a need - and it is the Lord's Will for Him to Intervene - Then nothing can stop our Lord. Not time, space, not natural law, He is Lord of all so nothing is out of His Reach. So in my life and yours - No matter what we face - God Can Do the Impossible if it is His Will. This truth should strengthen our faith, our obedience, our prayer life, our attitude, and our outlook on life. No matter what you face - God Can. How about you? Do you see the power of our God? Let us learn from our text today and realize that the Lord has Power Over All.

Joshua 10

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Joshua 10

¹Now it came to pass, when Adonizedec king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;

²That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.

³Wherefore Adonizedec king of Jerusalem, sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying,

⁴Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.

⁵Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.

⁶And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.

⁷So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.

⁸And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.

⁹Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.

¹⁰And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.

¹¹And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

¹²Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.

¹³And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.

¹⁴And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.

¹⁵And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.

¹⁶But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.

¹⁷And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.

¹⁸And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them:

¹⁹And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hand.

²⁰And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities.

²¹And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.

²²Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave.

²³And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.

²⁴And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.

²⁵And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.

²⁶And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.

²⁷And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave's mouth, which remain until this very day.

²⁸And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho.

²⁹Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah:

³⁰And the LORD delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho.

³¹And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it:

³²And the LORD delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah.

³³Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.

³⁴And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it, and fought against it:

³⁵And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.

³⁶And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron; and they fought against it:

³⁷And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein.

³⁸And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it:

³⁹And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.

⁴⁰So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded.

⁴¹And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.

⁴²And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.

⁴³And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.