# Overview Joshua Chapter 10 recounts a significant event in the conquest of #Canaan, where #Joshua leads the #Israelites in a miraculous victory over a coalition of five Amorite kings. The chapter begins with #Adoni-Zedek, king of #Jerusalem, forming an alliance with other Amorite kings to attack #Gibeon, a city that had made peace with Israel. In response to Gibeon's call for help, Joshua and his men march overnight from #Gilgal and launch a surprise attack. The Lord assures Joshua of victory, and as the battle progresses, God intervenes directly by throwing the enemy into confusion and hurling large hailstones from the sky, causing more deaths than the Israelites’ swords. In a remarkable display of divine power, Joshua prays for the sun and moon to stand still, prolonging the daylight so that the Israelites can continue their pursuit and achieve a complete victory. This event underscores the might of God and His support for Israel, demonstrating that the Lord fights for His people. Following their triumph, Joshua captures and executes the five kings who had hidden in a cave at #Makkedah. The chapter details the subsequent military campaign as Joshua leads the Israelites to conquer multiple cities, including Makkedah, #Libnah, #Lachish, #Eglon, #Hebron, and #Debir, each time receiving assurance from God of victory. The narrative emphasizes Joshua's obedience to God's commands and the fulfillment of the covenant promise to give Israel the land of Canaan. The chapter concludes with Joshua's return to the camp at Gilgal, highlighting the comprehensive nature of this southern campaign and the divine assistance that secured these victories for Israel. ## Theological Insights In #Joshua Chapter 10, the narrative highlights the active role of #God in the battles of #Israel, demonstrating His power and faithfulness to His promises. This chapter recounts the miraculous intervention of God as the Israelites face a coalition of Amorite kings. The Lord's supernatural actions, such as causing hailstones to fall on Israel's enemies and stopping the sun and moon, underscore His sovereignty over creation and His commitment to fulfilling His covenant with Israel. The appeal of #Joshua for divine intervention ("Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon" - Joshua 10:12) and God's response illustrate the theme of divine-human cooperation in the fulfillment of God's purposes. This moment emphasizes the power of faith and prayer in the life of believers, where human petitions align with God's will and result in extraordinary outcomes. The chapter also reveals God's judgment against the Canaanite kings who oppose His purposes, reinforcing the biblical theme of divine justice. The execution of these kings and the capture of their cities demonstrate that the victory belongs to the Lord and affirm His promise to give Israel the land of Canaan, as seen in previous chapters such as [[Deuteronomy/Deuteronomy Chapter 7]] and [[Numbers/Numbers Chapter 33]]. Joshua 10 serves as a profound reminder of God's ability to intervene in human history in miraculous ways to accomplish His redemptive plans. It calls believers to trust in God's power and timing, encouraging a life of faith and obedience in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. The chapter ultimately points to God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant people and His overarching plan for #redemption, a theme that resonates throughout both the #OldTestament and #NewTestament. ## Thematic Connections ### Divine Warfare and Victory In Joshua 10, the theme of divine warfare and victory is prominent as #God intervenes directly in the battle against the Amorite kings. The miraculous halting of the sun and moon at Joshua's request (Joshua 10:12-13) underscores God's sovereignty over creation and His commitment to fulfilling His promises to #Israel. This echoes other instances of divine intervention in battles, such as the parting of the Red Sea in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 14]], where God delivers His people through supernatural means. ### Faith and Leadership Joshua's leadership and faith in God's promises are central to this chapter. His boldness in commanding the sun and moon to stand still reflects a deep trust in God's power and purpose. This theme connects with other biblical leaders who exhibited faith in God's promises, like #Moses in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 17]] when he struck the rock to provide water, and #David in his battle with Goliath in [[1 Samuel/1 Samuel Chapter 17]], where faith in God's deliverance played a crucial role. ### Fulfillment of God's Promises The conquest of the Amorite coalition by #Israel under Joshua's command fulfills God's promises to give them the land of #Canaan. This theme of promise fulfillment is a continuation of the covenantal assurances given to #Abraham in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 15]] and reiterated to Moses. God's faithfulness in bringing about His covenantal promises is a central narrative thread that runs through the history of Israel. ### Divine Judgment Joshua 10 also highlights the theme of divine judgment against the nations opposing God's plan. The complete destruction of the Amorite cities and their kings is a demonstration of God's righteous judgment. This reflects similar judgments in other parts of Scripture, such as the destruction of #Sodom and #Gomorrah in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 19]] and the plagues upon #Egypt in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 7]] to [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 12]]. ### The Role of Miracles in Salvation History The miraculous events in this chapter, particularly the stopping of the celestial bodies, serve as a testament to God's active role in salvation history. This theme can be related to other miraculous signs throughout Scripture that confirm God's presence and power, such as the burning bush in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 3]] and the multiple miracles performed by [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]] in the New Testament, like the calming of the storm in [[Mark/Mark Chapter 4]]. These miracles are meant to affirm God's sovereignty and His plan for His people. ### Unity and Cooperation Among God's People The cooperation among the tribes of Israel in fighting against a common enemy is a theme of unity and collective purpose. This unity is seen in other biblical scenarios, such as the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem under #Nehemiah in [[Nehemiah/Nehemiah Chapter 4]], where the people worked together for a shared cause. The solidarity of God's people in fulfilling His mandate is a recurring theme in the biblical narrative. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### The Sun Stands Still In [[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 10]], we witness the miraculous event where #Joshua commands the sun to stand still over Gibeon and the moon in the Valley of Aijalon. This extraordinary event fulfills the divine authority and power God granted to Joshua, echoing the dominion over creation that was intended for humanity from the beginning as seen in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 1|Genesis 1:26-28]]. This dominion is later perfected in #Christ, who exercises ultimate authority over creation, as demonstrated in miracles such as calming the storm ([[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 8|Matthew 8:23-27]]). ### Victory Over the Amorite Kings The victory over the five Amorite kings and their armies in [[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 10]] is a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to give the land of #Canaan to the Israelites. This event echoes the covenant God made with #Abraham in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 15|Genesis 15:18-21]], where He promised to deliver the land to Abraham's descendants. The conquest of Canaan prefigures the spiritual victory that believers experience through #Christ, who conquers spiritual enemies and grants believers the "Promised Land" of eternal life ([[1 Corinthians/1 Corinthians Chapter 15|1 Corinthians 15:57]]). ### The Role of Hailstones The divine intervention through hailstones, which killed more of the Amorites than the swords of the Israelites ([[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 10]]), serves as a fulfillment of God's promise to fight for Israel. This supernatural event parallels God's protective power seen in other biblical narratives, such as the plagues in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 9|Exodus 9:18-26]], where God uses natural elements to deliver His people. It also foreshadows the ultimate judgment and deliverance that will come through #Christ, as foretold in eschatological passages like [[Revelation/Revelation Chapter 16|Revelation 16:21]]. ### The Covenant with Gibeon The protection and deliverance of Gibeon, despite their deceptive covenant with Israel ([[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 10]]), highlights God's grace and faithfulness to uphold His covenants. This reflects the broader theme of God’s covenantal faithfulness seen throughout scripture, culminating in the New Covenant established through [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]]’ sacrifice ([[Jeremiah/Jeremiah Chapter 31|Jeremiah 31:31-34]], [[Hebrews/Hebrews Chapter 8|Hebrews 8:6-13]]), where grace extends to all nations, transcending human failures and deceit. ## Verses - **Joshua 10:1** - "Adoni-zedek, king of #Jerusalem, heard that #Joshua had captured and completely destroyed #Ai and killed its king, just as he had destroyed the town of #Jericho and killed its king. He also learned that the #Gibeonites had made peace with Israel and were now their allies." - See [[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 6]] for the destruction of Jericho. - See [[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 8]] for the capture of Ai. - **Joshua 10:2** - "He and his people became very afraid when they heard all this because Gibeon was a large town—as large as the royal cities and larger than Ai. And the #Gibeonite men were strong warriors." - **Joshua 10:3** - "So King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem sent messengers to several other kings: Hoham of #Hebron, Piram of #Jarmuth, Japhia of #Lachish, and Debir of #Eglon." - **Joshua 10:4** - "‘Come and help me destroy Gibeon,’ he urged them, ‘for they have made peace with Joshua and the people of Israel.’" - **Joshua 10:5** - "So these five Amorite kings combined their armies for a united attack. They moved all their troops into place and attacked Gibeon." - **Joshua 10:6** - "The men of Gibeon quickly sent messengers to Joshua at his camp in Gilgal. ‘Don’t abandon your servants now!’ they pleaded. ‘Come at once! Save us! Help us! For all the Amorite kings who live in the hill country have joined forces to attack us.’" - **Joshua 10:7** - "So Joshua and his entire army, including his best warriors, left Gilgal and set out for Gibeon." - **Joshua 10:8** - "'Do not be afraid of them,' the Lord said to Joshua, 'for I have given you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be able to stand up to you.'" - **Joshua 10:9** - "Joshua traveled all night from Gilgal and took the Amorite armies by surprise." - **Joshua 10:10** - "The Lord threw them into a panic, and the Israelites slaughtered great numbers of them at Gibeon. Then the Israelites chased the enemy along the road to Beth-horon, killing them all along the way to Azekah and Makkedah." - **Joshua 10:11** - "As the Amorites retreated down the road from Beth-horon, the Lord destroyed them with a terrible hailstorm from heaven that continued until they reached Azekah. The hail killed more of the enemy than the Israelites killed with the sword." - **Joshua 10:12** - "On the day the Lord gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said, 'Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.'" - **Joshua 10:13** - "So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. Is this event not recorded in the Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day." - **Joshua 10:14** - "There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer. Surely the Lord fought for Israel that day!" - **Joshua 10:15** - "Then Joshua and the Israelite army returned to their camp at Gilgal." - **Joshua 10:16** - "During the battle the five kings escaped and hid in a cave at Makkedah." - **Joshua 10:17** - "When Joshua heard that they had been found," - **Joshua 10:18** - "he issued this command: 'Cover the opening of the cave with large rocks, and place guards at the entrance to keep the kings inside.'" - **Joshua 10:19** - "The rest of you continue chasing the enemy and cut them down from the rear. Don’t give them a chance to get back to their towns, for the Lord your God has given you victory over them." - **Joshua 10:20** - "So Joshua and the Israelite army continued the slaughter and completely crushed the enemy. They totally wiped out the five armies, except for a tiny remnant that managed to reach their fortified towns." - **Joshua 10:21** - "Then the Israelites returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah. After that, no one dared to speak even a word against Israel." - **Joshua 10:22** - "Then Joshua said, 'Remove the rocks covering the opening of the cave, and bring the five kings to me.'" - **Joshua 10:23** - "So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon." - **Joshua 10:24** - "When they brought them out, Joshua told the commanders of his army, 'Come and put your feet on the kings’ necks.' And they did as they were told." - **Joshua 10:25** - "'Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged,' Joshua told his men. 'Be strong and courageous, for the Lord is going to do this to all of your enemies.'" - **Joshua 10:26** - "Then Joshua killed each of the five kings and impaled them on five sharpened poles, where they hung until evening." - **Joshua 10:27** - "As the sun was going down, Joshua gave instructions for the bodies of the kings to be taken down from the poles and thrown into the cave where they had been hiding. Then they covered the opening of the cave with a pile of large rocks, which remains to this very day." - **Joshua 10:28** - "That same day Joshua captured and destroyed the town of Makkedah. He killed everyone in it, including the king, leaving no survivors. He destroyed them all—and he killed the king of Makkedah as he had killed the king of Jericho." - **Joshua 10:29** - "Then Joshua and the Israelites went to Libnah and attacked it." - **Joshua 10:30** - "There, too, the Lord gave them the town and its king. He killed everyone in it, leaving no survivors. Then Joshua killed the king of Libnah as he had killed the king of Jericho." - **Joshua 10:31** - "From Libnah, Joshua and the Israelites went to Lachish and attacked it." - **Joshua 10:32** - "Here again, the Lord gave them Lachish. Joshua took it on the second day, and he killed everyone in it, just as he had done at Libnah." - **Joshua 10:33** - "During the attack on Lachish, King Horam of Gezer arrived with his army to help defend the town. But Joshua’s men killed him and his army, leaving no survivors." - **Joshua 10:34** - "Then Joshua and the Israelite army went on to Eglon and attacked it." - **Joshua 10:35** - "They captured it that day and killed everyone in it. He completely destroyed everyone, just as he had done at Lachish." - **Joshua 10:36** - "From Eglon, Joshua and the Israelite army went up to Hebron and attacked it." - **Joshua 10:37** - "They captured the town and killed everyone in it, including its king, leaving no survivors. They did the same thing to all of its surrounding villages. And just as he had done at Eglon, he completely destroyed the entire population." - **Joshua 10:38** - "Then Joshua and the Israelites turned back and attacked Debir." - **Joshua 10:39** - "He captured the town, its king, and all its surrounding villages. He completely destroyed everyone in it, leaving no survivors. He did to Debir and its king just what he had done to Hebron and to Libnah and its king." - **Joshua 10:40** - "So Joshua conquered the whole region—the kings and people of the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills, and the mountain slopes. He completely destroyed everyone in the land, leaving no survivors, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded." - **Joshua 10:41** - "Joshua slaughtered them from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza and from the region around the town of Goshen up to Gibeon." - **Joshua 10:42** - "Joshua conquered all these kings and their land in a single campaign, for the Lord, the God of Israel, was fighting for his people." - **Joshua 10:43** - "Then Joshua and the Israelite army returned to their camp at Gilgal."