Joshua Chapter 10

At a Glance

  • Joshua 10 is the dramatic crescendo of Israel’s rapid conquests in the southern campaign.
  • The chapter emphasizes the inclusivity of divine power: geography, time, and even celestial bodies bend to accomplish God’s purposes.
  • Historical & Literary Context.
  • Joshua 10 sits firmly in the military-narrative portion of the book, where the momentum of victories illustrates God’s faithfulness to fulfill territorial promises.
  • - Divine intervention in history: God’s direct involvement determines the outcome of battles.

JOSHUA CHAPTER 10

Chapter Overview

Joshua 10 is the dramatic crescendo of Israel’s rapid conquests in the southern campaign. The chapter opens with the five of the Amorite kings banding together in fear of Israel’s advance after the Gibeon treaty, recognizing that Israel’s God is with them. The Canaanite alliance mobilizes to crush Gibeon for breaking the alliance with Israel, setting a larger stage for divine intervention. When word comes to Joshua, he does not hesitate but acts decisively. The Lord commands him to fear not and promises victory, leading to a bold nighttime march against the enemies at Gibeon’s behest. The battle unfolds with extraordinary divine aid: the sun and moon are said to stand still until Israel’s victory is secured. The Lord also dispatches meteoric stones from heaven upon the enemy, delivering a spectacular defeat. By day’s end, the five kings are pursued, routed, and executed, and vast swaths of territory are subdued. The fulfillment of divine promise to drive out the inhabitants of the land continues to unfold, with Joshua’s leadership coupled with heaven’s initiative producing decisive change.

The chapter emphasizes the inclusivity of divine power: geography, time, and even celestial bodies bend to accomplish God’s purposes. It also showcases the consequences of obedience: the conquests are not merely military victories but are framed as responses to covenant obedience, ensuring the integrity of God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Yet there remains a realism about divine judgment—not all enemies are annihilated, and the literature invites readers to contemplate the complexity of conquest in a fallen world.

Historical & Literary Context

Joshua 10 sits firmly in the military-narrative portion of the book, where the momentum of victories illustrates God’s faithfulness to fulfill territorial promises. The Deuteronomistic lens frames these events as the outworking of covenant fidelity and divine kingship. The chapter’s extraordinary solar eclipse-like event (the sun stands still) is a literary device that highlights God’s intervention and secures the momentum of the conquest. The style blends vivid battle scenes with theological reflections on divine sovereignty, human courage, and the fulfillment of covenantal promises.

Key Themes

- Divine intervention in history: God’s direct involvement determines the outcome of battles.

- Faith and obedience under pressure: Joshua’s reliance on the Lord leads to strategic and dramatic victories.

- The legitimacy of conquest as fulfillment of covenant promises: territorial possession is tied to God’s oath to Israel.

- The authority of divine command even when it defies natural expectations: the sun standing still is a symbol of God’s sovereignty over time and creation.

- The consequences of alliances and moral decision-making: political decisions carry violent, far-reaching outcomes.

Modern Application

- Trust in God when outcomes seem miraculous or improbable: Scripture invites believers to lean into God’s sovereignty during crises.

- Leadership courage and reliance on divine guidance: in moments of existential threat, turning to prayerful discernment yields strategic wisdom.

- The tension between justice and mercy in real-world politics: how communities pursue safety and stability while reflecting God’s character.

- Recognizing that some victories have lasting ethical and spiritual costs, inviting reflection on how we steward God’s gifts and powers.

- Exodus 14 (divine deliverance through miraculous means)

- Joshua 6 (Jericho, and the role of obedience in conquest)

- Joshua 3-4 (crossing the Jordan and God’s leadership in marching orders)

- Psalm 18 (God’s deliverance and divine intervention in battles)

Recommended Personas

- Moses (leadership and covenant faithfulness in war)

- David (military courage and reliance on God)

- Jesus (discipleship under divine command and mercy in conflict)

- Deborah (strategic planning and leadership under divine direction)

Chapter Text

1

Now 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;

2

That 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.

3

Wherefore 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,

4

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

5

Therefore 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.

6

And 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.

7

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

8

And 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.

9

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

10

And 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.

11

And 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.

12

Then 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.

13

And 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.

14

And 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.

15

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

16

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

17

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

18

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

19

And 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.

20

And 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.

21

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

22

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

23

And 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.

24

And 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.

25

And 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.

26

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

27

And 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.

28

And 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.

29

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

30

And 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.

31

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

32

And 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.

33

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

34

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

35

And 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.

36

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

37

And 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.

38

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

39

And 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.

40

So 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.

41

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

42

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

43

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

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