Joshua 10

Five Kings of the Canaanites combine together to besiege Gibeon , v.1, & c. Those of Gibeon crave help of Josua , 6. He marcheth on with his army , 7.And surpriseth them unawares , 9. and smiteth them , 10. The LORD casteth hail-stones upon them , 11. The sun and noon shall still about the space of one day, at the request of Josua , 13. The five Kings hide themselves in the caves by Makkeda , 16. Josua causeth them to be shut up therein , 18. Afterwards causeth them to be brought forth , 22. and to be trod upon in the presence of all the people , 24. Afterward causeth them to be hanged pu , 26. and to be thrown out in the cave by Makkeda , 27. Josua taketh Makkeda , and burneth the King thereof , together with the city , and all that was in it , 29.from thence to Lachis , and winneth it , 31. King Horam is defended , 33. Eglon is taken ,34. Hebron is taken, 36. likewise Debir, 38. and all the land , 40. Josua returneth to Gilgal, 43.

1. Now it came to pass when Adonizedek the King of Jerusalem had heard that Josua had taken Ai , and banned it , and had done so unto Ai, and the King thereof , even as he had done unto Jericho and the King thereof : and that the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel , and dwelt in the midst of them :

2. Then they were sore afraid ; [viz. the King of Jerusalem , and his people ; as also the other Kings which are named verse 3.] for Gibeon was a great Citie like one of the Royal cities , yea, it was greater then Ai, and all the men thereof were strong ; [oth. stout , valiant , mightie .]

3. Therefore Adonizedek King of Jerusalem sent unto Chobam the King of hebron , and unto Piream the King of Jarmuth , and unto Japhia the king of Lachis , and unto Debir the king of Eglon , saying : [i.e. sending word unto them].

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

5. Then (there) were assembled and came up five kings of the Amorites , [See the annot, Genesis 48:22.] the king of Jerusalem , the king of Hebron , the king of Jarmuth , the king of Lachis , the King of Eglon , they , and all their camps : and they besieged Gibeon , and made war against it .

6. Now the men of Gibeon sent unto Josua unto the camp at Gilgal , [viz. when they heard that the five Kings came up against them] saying : Withdraw not thy hand . [Or , let not thy hands be remisse , slacken not thy hands] from thy servants [i.e. from us , who have given our selves over unto thee to be thy servants , wherefore thou art obliged to protect us against this great power] come up, quickly to us , and deliver us and help us : for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell on the mountains , have gathered themselves together against us ;

7. Then josua went up from Gilgal , he and all the men of war with him , [These were no hired Souldiers , but the stoutest and valiantest men out of all the tribes] and all the mighty men of valour .

8. For the LORD had said unto Josua , Be not afraid of them , for I have delivered them into thine hand : none of them shall subsist before thy face .

9. So Josua came unto them suddenly , all the night long marched he on from Gilgal.

10. And the LORD affrighted them before the face of Israel, and he slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon : [Not in the city of Gibeon , but in the countrey about Gibeon . So it is said , Joshua 5:13. at Jericho i.e. in the countrey bordering neer upon , or about Jericho] and chased them on the way , where they go up Bethoron , and smote them unto Azeka , and unto Makkeda.

11. Now it came to passe when they fled before the face of Israel , being in the desert of Beth-horon , that the LORD cast great stones [i.e. hail-stones , as presently followeth in this v.] upon them from heaven unto Azeka , that they died : there were more that died of the hail-stones , then they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword .

12. Then Josua spake unto the LORD [i.e. he called upon , and prayed unto the Lord] in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the face of the children of Israel , and said before the eyes [i.e. in the presence] of the Israelites , Sun stand still [Heb. be silent , as 1 Samuel 14:9. Psal. 4.5. Jonah 1:12.] at Gibeon , [i.e. stand still in the place where thou now art , for Josua was at this time at Gibeon , v.10.] and thou Moon in the valley of Ajalon : [this place belonged to the tribe of Zebulon , Judg. 12.22. There was another Ajalon in the tribe of Dan : Jos.19.42. The meaning of Josua's words is this , Sun , go not down upon us all the while we are fighting in Gibeon , neither do thou , Moon , in the valley of Ajalon . See v.13. Others tender it thus : let the sun stand still , or , the moon stand still .]

13. And the Sun stood still , and the moon stayed , untill the people had avenged them selves upon their enemies . Is not this written in the book of the Upright ? [Or of the Godly ,or of him that is just . Some retain in Hebrew word Jaschar in the text . This book with some other historical books more , of which mention is made in the holy Scripture , are not now any more extant . See Numbers 21:14.] the Sun now stood still in the midst of heaven , and hasted not to go down about a whole day.

14. And there was no day like unto this , before it , nor after it , that the LORD (so) hearkened unto the voice of one man : [i.e. that God for one mans prayer made the Sun and the Moon to stand still . In Ezechias time the Sun stood not still , but went back] for the LORD fought for Israel .

15. Then Josua returned [viz. after he had dispatched whatsoever is recorded from this verse to the end of this chapter . The writer of this book hath briefly as in one short sum or draught related this whole war : afterward he describeth more amply and fully that which afterward happened] and all Israel with him , unto the camp at Gilgal .

16. But those five Kings [Which are named , v.3.] were fled , and had hid themselves in the cave of Makkeda .

17. And it was told Josua , saying : Those five Kings are found hid in the cave by Makkeda :

18. And Josua said : Roll great stones before the mouth of the cave , and set men before it , for to keep them.

19. But stand ye not still , pursue after your enemies , and smite them in the tail : [The meaning is , that they should fall upon and smite the hindmost , or rereward] let them not enter into their cities , for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hand .

20. And it came to passe when Josua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter , untill they were consumed , and that the remnant who remained of them were entered into the fenced cities .

21. That all the people whom Josua had sent , to pursue the enemie , v.19. ] returned unto Josua into the camp by Makkeda in peace : [i.e. well and in good health] no man had moved his tongue against the children of Israel . [i.e. no man had set himself against them with so much as a word ; or no man had opened his mouth against them . Compare Exodus 11:7.]

22. Afterward Josua said , Open the mouth of the cave , and bring forth those five kings unto me out of the cave.

23. They then did so , and brought forth unto him those five Kings out of the cave : the King of Jerusalem , the king of Hebron , the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachis , the ing of Eglon .

24. And it came to passe , when they had brought forth those kings unto Josua , that Josua called all the men of Israel, and he said unto the chieftains of the people of war which went with him, come neer, and set their feet upon upon their necks.

25. Then Josha said unto them, Fear not, neither be dismayed, be strong and of good courage , for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies, against whom ye fight.

26. And afterwards Joshua smote them, and slew them, and bang them on the trees, until the evening . [as above chap.8.29.]

27. And it came to passe on the going down of the sun, Joshua commanded that they should take yhem down off the tree, and they cast them into the cave, where they had been hid: and they laid great stones upon the mouth of the cave, (which are there) until this very day.

28. The same day Joshua also took Makkeda, [this was a city, situate in the uttermost boarder of the tribe of Juda, toward the west, Josh.15.41.] and smote it with the edge of the sword, likewise them, and every soul[i.e all the men and so hereafter,for cattel and other things were the spoil or prey of the Isrealites Deut.20.16.&17.& below v 40&11.11.] that was therein, he let no remnant remain: and he did unto the King of Makkeda, according as he had done unto the King of Jericho.

29. Then Joshua marched on, and all Israel [viz. all those that have been with him in Gibeon] with him from Makkeda unto Libna? [Oth. Lobna were of the house of Aaron, for an habitation, Jos.21.13] and he warred against Libna.

30. And the LORD gave the same also into the hand of Israel, with the King thereof, and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and the every soul that was therein, he let no remnant remainin it: he did it unto the King thereof according as he had done unto the King of Jericho

31. Then Joshua marched on, and all Israel with him from Libna unto Lachis : [This was a strong city lying in the uttermost border of the tribe of Judatoward the West , so Joshua 15:39.] and he besieged it , and warred against it :

32. And the LORD gave Lachis into the hand of Israel , and he took it on the second day , [viz . after he came with the camp before it .] and he smote it with the edge of the sword , and every soul that was therein , according to all that he had done unto Libna.

33. Then marched up Horam the king of Gezer , [A city lying in the Tribe of Ephraim , Jos.16.3,10 Judg.1.19.] for the help Lachis : but Josua smote him , and his people , untill he had left him none remaining .

34. And Josua marched on from Lachis unto Eglon , [A city lying in the midst of Juda , Jos.15.38. about five leagues distance from Jerusalem toward the South , three leagues from Emmaus] and all Israel with him and he besieged it , and warred against it .

35. And they took it the second day , [He had besieged it , See v.32.] and slew them with the edge of the sword , and he banned [Or, devoted to destruction] every soul that was therein the same day : according to all that he had done to Lachis .

36. After that Josua marched on , and all Israel with him , from Eglon unto Hebron : [The taking of Hebron is more amply related below chap.14. and 15. This city was one of the ancientest cities in the land of Canaan ; it was built seven yeares before Zoan in Egypt Numb.13.23. It was situate in the inheritance of Juda, Jos.15.13. It was at first called Kirjath-Arba]and they warred against it .

37. And they took it , and smote it with the edge of the sword , as well as the King thereof , [Understand here the King of Hebron , that succeeded in the room of him that was hanged , v.26.] and every soul that was therein , he left none remaining alive ,according to all that he had done to Eglon : and he banned it , and every soul that was therein .

38. Then Josua remained , and all Israel with him to Debir : [A citie lying on the uttermost borders of the Tribe of Juda, where it joyneth on the inheritance of the Tribe of Simeon , and was at first called Kiriath-Sepher, i.e. the Book Citie . There was also another Citie called Debir , which lay beyond Jordan in the tribe of Gad , on the uttermost border thereof , Jos.13.26.] and he warred against it .

39. And he took it with the King thereof , and all the Cities thereof , and they smote them with the edge of the sword , and bound every soul that was therein , he let no remnant remain ; according as he had done unto Hebron , so did he unto Debir , and the King thereof , and according as he had done unto Libna , and the King thereof .

40. Thus Josua smote all the land ; [i.e. he subdued all the Countrie and took possession of it] the hills , and the south , and the low grounds , and the descents of waters , and all their Kings , he left none remaining , yea he banned all that had breath ; [i.e. all mankind , for the cattel they reserved for their prey , Heb. all or , every breath] according as the LORD the God of Israel had commanded . [This serveth to excuse Josua and the Israelites , for slaying of so great a maltitude of men as they destroye by the edge of the sword]

41. And Josua smote them from Kades-Barnea , unto Gaza : also all the land of Gosen ; [ This is not Gosen in Egypt , Gen.45.9. but it lieth in the land of Canaan , chapter 11.v.6. and 17. and chap.15.51. and unto Gibeon .

42. And Josua took all these Kings and their land at once , for the LORD the God of Israel fought for Israel .[These words are added to take away from all men that read this , all scruple or doubt concerning the truth of these great acts]

43. Then Josua returned and all Israel with him , unto the Camp at Gilgall . [All that hitherto hath been related in this Book , happened within the space of about seven years from the beginning of this Book , i.e. of that which Josua and the children of Israel perfomed in the land of Canaan .]