The Sun Stands Still. Five Amorite Kings Killed. Southern Cities Conquered. Joshua 10:1-43

Transcription

1 1 Commentary by Ron Thomas Questions by John C. Sewell The Sun Stands Still Five Amorite Kings Killed Southern Cities Conquered Joshua 10:1-43

2 2 Text: Joshua 10:1-43, The Sun Stands Still Five Amorite Kings Killed Southern Cities Conquered Commentary by Ron Thomas 1. Now Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and totally destroyed 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 were living near them. 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. 4. "Come up and help me attack Gibeon," he said, "because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites." 5. Then the five kings of the Amorites the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon joined forces. They moved up with all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it. 6. The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: "Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us!

3 3 Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us." 7. So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. 8. The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you." 9. After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. 10. The LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great victory at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. 11. As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky, and more of them died from the hailstones than were killed by the swords of the Israelites. 12. On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: "O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon." 13. So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on 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 man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel! 15. Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal. 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.

4 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 destroyed them completely almost to a man but the few who were left reached 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. 24. When they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, "Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings." So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks. 25. Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight." 26. Then Joshua struck and killed the kings and hung them on five trees, and they were left hanging on the trees until evening. 27. At sunset Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large rocks, which are there to this day. 28. That day Joshua took Makkedah. He put the city and its king to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it. He left no survivors. And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho. 29. Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it. 30. The LORD also gave that city and its king into Israel's hand. The city and everyone in it Joshua put to the sword. He left no survivors there. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.

5 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish; he took up positions against it and attacked it. 32. The LORD handed Lachish over to Israel, and Joshua took it on the second day. The city and everyone in it he put to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah. 33. Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezer had come up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army until no survivors were left. 34. Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Lachish to Eglon; they took up positions against it and attacked it. 35. They captured it that same day and put it to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it, just as they had done to Lachish. 36. Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron and attacked it. 37. They took the city and put it to the sword, together with its king, its villages and everyone in it. They left no survivors. Just as at Eglon, they totally destroyed it and everyone in it. 38. Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned around and attacked Debir. 39. They took the city, its king and its villages, and put them to the sword. Everyone in it they totally destroyed. They left no survivors. They did to Debir and its king as they had done to Libnah and its king and to Hebron. 40. So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded. 41. Joshua subdued them from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from the whole region of Goshen to Gibeon. 42. All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel. 43. Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

6 6 Commentary: I. The Confederation Against Gibeon. 10:1-5 A. Joshua 10:1-5, Now Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and totally destroyed 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 were living near them. 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. 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. "Come up and help me attack Gibeon," he said, "because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites." Then the five kings of the Amorites the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon joined forces. They moved up with all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it. 1. Five Kings banded together to go against Gibeon. a. The Israelite army and the Israelite people brought fear to those in the land of Palestine. b. Gibeon, being a somewhat large city now in allegiance with Israel, amplified that fear. c. Thus, five Kings banded together against a city they felt they could defeat. These cities were: Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. 2. They encamped against Gibeon. II. Joshua Marched All Night to Rescue Gibeon. 10:6-28

7 7 A. Joshua 10:6-28, Now Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and totally destroyed 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 were living near them. 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. 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. "Come up and help me attack Gibeon," he said, "because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites." Then the five kings of the Amorites the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon joined forces. They moved up with all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it. 1. Joshua, knowing his obligation to protect Gibeon, marched all night in order to strike the attacking force and throw them into confusion. 2. Evidently Joshua asked the Lord s guidance (10:8) and the Lord not only gave him approval, but told him he would be victorious as well. a. Joshua 10:8, The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you." 3. Joshua s attack was probably a surprise to the five kings attacking Gibeon, especially so quickly mounted. 4. To compound that surprise, the Lord intervened and threw them into a panic.

8 In 10:12-14, we learn of one remarkable day. a. Joshua 10:12-14, On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: "O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon." So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on 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. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel! b. Joshua spoke to the Lord. i. Yet, looking at Joshua s words precisely, he addressed the heavenly bodies and commanded them to a certain action. ii. There is no reason to read this occasion as merely something poetic. iii. The Holy Spirit wrote it is narrative form and we should read it as it actually occurred. c. The book of Jashar. Literally, the book of the righteous. Also mentioned in 2 Samuel 1:18. No longer in existence. i. 2 Samuel 1:18, and ordered that the men of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar):

9 9 B. The amazing thing: ii. Important note: some will use this phrase and the words of this occasion and extrapolate the idea that our present book of the Bible was compiled by an editor. This implies the removal of the final authors of Scripture from eye witnesses to compilers of early traditions and sources, just as critical scholarship has shown on other grounds (Butler, p. 117). iii. Much debate exists on the formation of Scripture in its present form. This is good and productive. iv. However, it is far from established that there was a compiler or redactor as some propose and at the level in which they propose it. v. Exercise caution in this area. vi. The Lord obeyed the voice of man! Remarkable! 1. The Lord threw down large hailstones and completely devastated the five kings. a. Since a hailstorm makes no discrimination in regard to whom it rains upon, it is clear that what took place on this occasion was miraculous entirely. b. Butler (WBC) said hailstones have been recorded upwards of 2 inches in diameter.

10 10 c. Imagine being pelted by that kind of hailstorm with the force of the Lord behind it! 2. An extra long day. C. As the battle was raging the five kings who attacked Gibeon actually fled for their lives because they saw they were losing the battle. 1. Joshua directed his forces to chase them and when the kings hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah, Joshua further directed them to close up the cave, guard it, and pursue the enemies further (10:18-19). a. Joshua 10:18, 19, he said, "Roll large rocks up to the mouth of the cave, and post some men there to guard it. 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." 2. There were some, however, who escaped into the fortified cities. a. It is difficult to tell whether Joshua went after them or not. b. We know he destroyed the five kings and those of Makkedah. c. The word cities is plural, thus we are uncertain. D. A sixth king and the inhabitants of the region under his authority were destroyed because they hosed (tried to protect) the five kings who fled for their lives.

11 11 III. Southern Campaign of Palestine Completed. 10:29-43 A. Joshua 10:29-43, Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it. The LORD also gave that city and its king into Israel's hand. The city and everyone in it Joshua put to the sword. He left no survivors there. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho. Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish; he took up positions against it and attacked it. The LORD handed Lachish over to Israel, and Joshua took it on the second day. The city and everyone in it he put to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah. Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezer had come up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army until no survivors were left. Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Lachish to Eglon; they took up positions against it and attacked it. They captured it that same day and put it to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it, just as they had done to Lachish. Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron and attacked it. They took the city and put it to the sword, together with its king, its villages and everyone in it. They left no survivors. Just as at Eglon, they totally destroyed it and everyone in it. Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned around and attacked Debir. They took the city, its king and its villages, and put them to the sword. Everyone in it they totally destroyed. They left no survivors. They did to Debir and its king as they had done to Libnah and its king and to Hebron. So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded. Joshua subdued them from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from the whole region of Goshen to Gibeon. All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in

12 12 one campaign, because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel. Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal. B. The following cities identified: 1. Libnah. 2. Lachish. 3. Gezer. 4. Eglon. 5. Hebron. 6. Debir. C. The summary of 10:40-42 might suggest that the cities named were merely the larger ones of the area. Joshua and Israel took all the hill country, lowlands, and the Negeb. 1. Joshua 10:40-42, So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded. Joshua subdued them from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from the whole region of Goshen to Gibeon. All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel. D. A key fact in this southern campaign of Joshua and Israel is that Lord fought for Israel (10:42).

13 Joshua 10:43, Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

14 14 Questions Joshua 10:1-43 (Questions based on NIV text.) 1. Now - king of heard that had taken and totally it, doing to and its as he had done to and its, and that the of had made a of with and were near them. 2. What caused the alarm? 3. So, - king of appealed to king of, king of, King of and King of. Come up and help me attack, because it has made with and the. 4. Geographically locate the eight cities mentioned in Joshua 10:1-4. (1) (2) (3)

15 15 (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) 5. These joined, moved up with all their, took against and it. 6. The sent word to in the camp at : Do not your. Come up to us and us! us, because all the kings from the have against us. 7. Geographically locate Gilgal and the Valley of Aijalon. How far was it from Gilgal to Gibeon? 8. So marched up from with his, including all the. The said to, Do not be of them; I have given

16 16 them into your. Not one of them will be able to you. 9. After an - from, Joshua took them by. The Lord threw them into before, who them in a at. pursued them along the going up to and cut them down all the way to and. As they before on the road down from - to, the hurled large down on them from the, and more of them from the than were by the of the. 10. Geographically locate Azekah, Makkedah, Aijalon and Beth Horon. 11. How do you account for the fact that all the large hailstones fell on Israel s enemies and not one fell on any Israelite soldier? 12. What is meant by the statement, so the sun stood still, and the moon stopped... Is this a literal or figurative statement? If figurative explain

17 17 what you believe it means. If literal, did the sun stand still or did the earth stop rotating for about the space of a full day? 13. What do you know about the Book of Jashar? Where else is it mentioned in the Bible? Is the Book of Jashar a lost book of the Bible?_ 14. There has never been a like it or, a when the to a man. Surely the was for! 15. Give other examples of God s listening to his children. When you pray do you truly believe God is listening? 16. Where had the five enemy kings hidden? What orders did Joshua give regarding these kings and their retreating enemies?

18 No one uttered a word against the Israelites. Why was this? 18. What happened to the five enemy kings? 19. Joshua told his commanders to put their feet on the necks of the five enemy kings, Do not be ; do not be. Be and. This is what the will do to all the you are going to. 20. What did Joshua do to Makkedah? Was this the right and honorable thing to do? 21. Joshua then attacked and defeated,, the king of,, and. subdued the, including the

19 19, the, the and the, from to, from to. 22. Geographically locate all the places mentioned in question 21 above. 23. All these and their in one, because the, the of, fought for. 24. The and in it put to the. He left no there. How many times is this said in Joshua 10? Why did God command Israel to kill all their enemies, including men, women and children, and to leave no survivors? 25. What lessons does Joshua 10 contain which are applicable to our generation?