Joshua 10

1. Jerusalem. “City” (or abode) “of peace”; perhaps given in allusion to the natural strength of its position. The meaning of the name was in some doubt until the discovery of the Tel-el-Amarna tablets in 1887. Adoni-zedek means “Lord of righteousness.” Melchizedek, “King of righteousness,” Gen. xiv., reigned also in Jerusalem.

were among them. i.e., on terms of peace and friendly intercourse.

3. Hebron, etc. All these places lay within a circuit of a few miles.

5 the Amorites. This name is here, as elsewhere, used as a generic term. The people of Jerusalem were Jebusites, and those of Hebron, Hittites.

7 ascended from Gilgal. About fifteen miles.

10 up to Beth-horon. From Gibeon the road ascends to the Upper Beth-horon, and then it descends to the lower village, by a rocky and rugged pass, down which Joshua drove the foe, in the face of a fearful hailstorm, to Azekah and Makkedah. The two Beth-horons, Upper and Lower, still exist, both bearing the name of Beitur. Cp. xvi. 3, 5. Sir Charles Warren identified Makkedak as el-Mughar, south of Ekron.

12. Then spake Joshua. As Joshua spake to the Lord, his command was evidently given in connexion with prayer. Cp. James v. 16-18, with 1 Kings xvii. 1, for a similar miraculous answer, and the encouragement to prayer to be derived from it.

Sun, stand thou still. The language employed is general and popular, so as to discourage curious speculations upon the question, in what way or for what length of time the daylight was prolonged. This renewed intervention of Jehovah would show still more clearly to all parties that the battle was the Lord’s, and that the interests of Israel were His.

upon Gibeon, etc. Gibeon was eastward of the place occupied by Joshua, and Ajalon towards the west. Mr. E. W. Maunder, F.R.A.S., of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, thinks that the time was noon. In two articles on “Joshua’s Long Day,” in the Sunday at Home for 1904, he says that whether the sun appeared to stand still through the temporary arrest of earth’s rotation or through some exaltation of the physical powers of the Israelites, it seems clear that both the prose account and the poem were written by eye-witnesses, who recorded what they themselves had seen and heard whilst every detail was fresh in their memory.

13 the book of Jasher. The “book of Jasher,” or “the upright,” was a collection of poetical narratives.

a whole day. Or, “when the day was complete.”

15. And Joshua returned, etc. This verse is not in the Greek version; it interrupts the narrative, and is the same, word for word, as the last verse of the chapter. Probably it was misplaced here, by the error of some ancient transcriber. It is very improbable that Joshua should have gone so far away at that critical period. It is supposed by some to be a part of the quotation from the “book of Jasher.”

16 in a cave. The caves of Palestine, which are large and numerous, have often served for retreats in time of danger. See Judges vi. 2; 1 Sam. xxiv. 3; 1 Kings xviii. 3, 4.

19 smite the hindmost. i.e., attack them in the rear.

24 put your feet upon the necks. An ancient symbol of absolute subjection, often seen in the paintings on Egyptian tombs.

29. Makkedah. See v. 10, note.—Libnah. An important place in the southern hill country of Judah; now Arak el Menshiyeh. See xv. 42; xxi. 13.

36. Hebron. The city of Hebron seems to have lain principally in the valley, and was occupied by the Hittites; but its fortress probably remained in the hands of the Anakim till Caleb expelled them (Judges i. 20). The same was the case with Debir.

38. Debir. Debir is called Kiriath-sannah (xv. 49), the meaning of which is uncertain, and also Kiriath-sepher (xv. 15), which means “City of books”; the Targum calls it “City of archives.” The latest investigations seem to place it at Dhāheriyah, about an hour and a quarter to the west of Hebron.

40 the South. “The Negeb,” comprising most of the portions allotted to Benjamin, Judah, Simeon, and Dan. Joshua could now turn northwards without danger of being attacked in the rear.

of the vale, and of the springs. Perhaps “the lowland country (the Shephelah) and the slopes,” i.e., where the mountain district of Judah sinks gradually into the western plains. (So R.V.)

41 all the country of Goshen. This district (mentioned also in xi. 16), with a town of the same name spoken of in xv. 51, probably lay at the extreme south of Palestine. It has not been identified; but it must of course be distinguished from the Egyptian “Goshen.”

42 at one time. i.e., in one campaign.