Read Joshua 10
The Sun Stands Still
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 had become their allies. 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! 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, so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely 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, and more of them died from the hail 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:
“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 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. 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 put the kings to death and exposed their bodies on five poles, and they were left hanging on the poles until evening.
27 At sunset Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the poles 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.
Southern Cities Conquered
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.
31 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 gave Lachish into Israel’s hands, 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.
Go Deeper
Joshua 10 is a chapter that demonstrates quick obedience and earnest trust. In the midst of tension between kings, treaties, and war, Joshua repeatedly shows us what it looks like to rely on God. When surrounded by enemy warriors, the people of Gibeon went to Joshua and pleaded for help. Joshua then gathered his men, but before stepping into battle, he listened for the Lord.
In verse 8, the Lord tells Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.” Without missing a beat, Joshua demonstrates quick obedience by immediately getting up and heading to battle. Joshua confidently went into battle because God prepared the way for him. God threw the enemy warriors into a panic and fought for His people by throwing down large hailstones from heaven. God crushed the enemy and delivered His people.
Though victory was in their favor, the Lord’s people were running out of daylight to finish the battle. It was here that Joshua pleaded with the Lord for a miracle. He earnestly trusted God’s power and asked for more time to win the battle. God answered. He stopped the sun and moon from moving to give Joshua and His army time to defeat the people and the kings of the surrounding land.
Many of us face battles, yet God doesn’t send us into battle alone. Despite the “impossible” nature of our circumstances, He can win any battle we face. As He did for Joshua and His people, He is fighting for us by preparing the battlegrounds ahead of us, interceding and fighting alongside us in our present struggles, and protecting us from things that might sneak up from behind. God equips us for battle. In Ephesians 6, God lists the armor He’s given us. He isn’t leaving us helpless. He has empowered us. Let us be people who have the faith in God that He can do the impossible. If He can stop the sun from setting, He can make a way for you.
Questions
- How can you practice quick obedience and earnest trust today?
- How can you intercede and pray for victory in the battles your family, neighbors, or friends are facing?
- How has God equipped you for the battles you are facing right now?
Did You Know?
The Canaanites revered the sun and moon as deities. The fact that the sun and moon were under the control of God’s hand showed just how powerful Yahweh was.
4 thoughts on “Joshua 10”
Although our battles may look quite different than Joshua’s they are none the less real and so important to building up or faith. The very same God who gave victories to Joshua is our God! As we surrender and trust that God is present and fighting for us we are strengthened to demolish strongholds in our lives. I’ve been praying for years for a miracle in the life of one of my loved ones. Instead of giving up, I’ve been asking God, “is this the day you give victory?” I know it’s not IF but WHEN. I’m so encouraged to keep trusting, interceding and expectantly watching for God to do what he does best-perform miracles!
Ella, I am so encouraged by your hopeful faith.
I love this chapter because it reminds me that even when I feel discouraged, I’m not alone! Of course, I know that, but in the midst of struggles Satan can get in our minds and take over if we aren’t faithful. It can be so tempting to come up with our plan and not go to God for guidance. I love to remember the many times that God was faithful and provided for us when we couldn’t see any way that things would work out. Reflecting on God’s goodness and provision in the past, encourages us to trust him today. My husband and I have a tradition – “God is Good day” each July 13th, in remembrance and gratefulness of a miracle in our lives that we could never have imagined. God is so good.
Carol, I love your tradition of God is Good Day! My family might need one of those. Thank you for all the ways you spur others on in faith and thanksgiving.