101 Now it came about when Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai , and had utterly destroyed it (just as he had done to Jericho and its king , so he had done to Ai and its king ), and that the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were within their land , 2 that he feared greatly , because Gibeon was a great city , like one of the royal cities , and because it was greater than Ai , and all its men were mighty . 3 Therefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent word to Hoham king of Hebron and to Piram king of Jarmuth and to Japhia king of Lachish and to Debir king of Eglon , saying , 4 "Come up to me and help me, and let us attack Gibeon , for it has made peace with Joshua and with the sons of Israel ." 5 So the five kings of the Amorites , the king of Jerusalem , the king of Hebron , the king of Jarmuth , the king of Lachish , and the king of Eglon , gathered together and went up, they with all their armies , and camped by Gibeon and fought against it. 6 Then the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal , saying , "Do not abandon e e your servants ; come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites that live in the hill country have assembled against us."
7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal , he and all the people of war with him and all the valiant warriors . 8 The Lord said to Joshua , " Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands ; not one of them shall stand before you." 9 So Joshua came upon them suddenly by marching all night from Gilgal . 10 And the Lord confounded them before Israel , and He slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon , and pursued them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah . 11 As they fled from before e Israel , while they were at the descent of Beth-horon , the Lord threw large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah , and they died ; there were more who died from the hailstones e than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword . 12 Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel , and he said in the sight of Israel , "O sun , stand still at Gibeon , And O moon in the valley of Aijalon ." 13 So the sun stood still , and the moon stopped , Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies . Is it not written in the book of Jashar ? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day . 14 There was no day like that before it or after it, when the Lord listened to the voice of a man ; for the Lord fought for Israel .
15 Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp to Gilgal . 16 Now these five kings had fled and hidden themselves in the cave at Makkedah . 17 It was told Joshua , saying , "The five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Makkedah ." 18 Joshua said , "Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave , and assign men by it to guard them, 19 but do not stay there yourselves ; pursue your enemies and attack them in the rear . Do not allow them to enter their cities , for the Lord your God has delivered them into your hand ." 20 It came about when Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished slaying them with a very great slaughter , until they were destroyed , and the survivors who remained of them had entered the fortified cities , 21 that all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace . No one uttered a word against any of the sons of Israel . 22 Then Joshua said , "Open the mouth of the cave and bring these five kings out to me from the cave ." 23 They did so , and brought these five kings out to him from the cave : the king of Jerusalem , the king of Hebron , the king of Jarmuth , the king of Lachish , and the king of Eglon . 24 When they brought these kings out to Joshua , Joshua called for all the men of Israel , and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, "Come near , put your feet on the necks of these kings ." So they came near and put their feet on their necks . 25 Joshua then said to them, " Do not fear or be dismayed ! Be strong and courageous , for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies with whom you fight ." 26 So afterward e Joshua struck them and put them to death , and he hanged them on five trees ; and they hung on the trees until evening . 27 It came about at sunset e that Joshua gave a command , and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where e they had hidden themselves, and put large stones over the mouth of the cave , to this very day .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 10:1-27
Commentary on Joshua 10:1-6
(Read Joshua 10:1-6)
When sinners leave the service of Satan and the friendship of the world, that they make peace with God and join Israel, they must not marvel if the world hate them, if their former friends become foes. By such methods Satan discourages many who are convinced of their danger, and almost persuaded to be Christians, but fear the cross. These things should quicken us to apply to God for protection, help, and deliverance.
Commentary on Joshua 10:7-14
(Read Joshua 10:7-14)
The meanest and most feeble, who have just begun to trust the Lord, are as much entitled to be protected as those who have long and faithfully been his servants. It is our duty to defend the afflicted, who, like the Gibeonites, are brought into trouble on our account, or for the sake of the gospel. Joshua would not forsake his new vassals. How much less shall our true Joshua fail those who trust in Him! We may be wanting in our trust, but our trust never can want success. Yet God's promises are not to slacken and do away, but to quicken and encourage our endeavours. Notice the great faith of Joshua, and the power of God answering it by the miraculous staying of the sun, that the day of Israel's victories might be made longer. Joshua acted on this occasion by impulse on his mind from the Spirit of God. It was not necessary that Joshua should speak, or the miracle be recorded, according to the modern terms of astronomy. The sun appeared to the Israelites over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Ajalon, and there they appeared to be stopped on their course for one whole day. Is any thing too hard for the Lord? forms a sufficient answer to ten thousand difficulties, which objectors have in every age started against the truth of God as revealed in his written word. Proclamation was hereby made to the neighbouring nations, Behold the works of the Lord, and say, What nation is there so great as Israel, who has God so nigh unto them?
Commentary on Joshua 10:15-27
(Read Joshua 10:15-27)
None moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel. This shows their perfect safety. The kings were called to an account, as rebels against the Israel of God. Refuges of lies will but secure for God's judgment. God punished the abominable wickedness of these kings, the measure of whose iniquity was now full. And by this public act of justice, done upon these ringleaders of the Canaanites in sin, he would possess his people with the greater dread and detestation of the sins of the nations that God cast out from before them. Here is a type and figure of Christ's victories over the powers of darkness, and of believers' victories through him. In our spiritual conflicts we must not be satisfied with obtaining some important victory. We must pursue our scattered enemies, searching out the remains of sin as they rise up in our hearts, and thus pursue the conquest. In so doing, the Lord will afford light until the warfare be accomplished.