Joshua 10

Because Gibeon was a great city.) Having others depending on it. As one of the royal cities. Tho Vulgar Latin takes no notice of the particle caph (as), but saith it was a royal city. And, indeed, that particle doth not always denote likeness, but only tho truth of tho thing spoken of; as in Hosca iv* 4. and many other places of the New Testament, as well as tho Old, (John i. 14. Phil. ii. 7.) But I think here it should bo expressed, as we do in our translation; because Gibeon was not a royal city, that is, had no king in it that we read of; but was, notwithstanding, equal to those cities that had kings, being governed by elders, (ix. 11.) who were persons of very great authority. And because it teas greater than Ai.] More populous. And all tlie men thereof were mighty.’] The inhabitants wero esteemed men of great valour; which made their revolt to the Israelites the more considerable. 1 A- COM^EN^ARY. [cHAf>. X, follows, that they encamped against it, and fought against it, as they had done against the other. Their king ivas one Of the five who were killed and hanged before, (ver. 23.)

Joshua 10:1

1\ OW it came to -pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem,. Who seems to have been the most potent prince in Canaan, and carried in his name aa honourable title, which had been anciently given to the kings of this place; who had been famous for doing justice. For, it is probable, that ever since Melchizedeck, who was king of Salem (the same with Jerusalem), and truly king of righteousness, as his name signified; they affectedthis title, though they did not always answer their character: for this •Adonizedek (whose name imports the law of righteousness) had none of the virtues that were in Melchizedeck. King of Jerusalem.] It is probably thought that this city held.the name of Salem, which it had in Abraham’s time, till the Israelites came into the land of Canaan; and then they called it Jerusalem, when they first took possession of it. Which they did not so fully, but that still the Jebusites dwelt there with the children of Benjamin, (see Judg. i. 8. 21.) who were so weak, that the Jebusites, in time, recovered it wholly to themselves, and expelled the Benjamites; see Judg. xix. 10. where it is called Jebus, though the other name is also acknowledged; because the Israelites called it Jerusalem, while the Jebusites, having prevailed, called it Jebus. Heard how Joshud had taken Ai-] By which means the Israelites were come nearer to him, than when they took Jericho.., And had utterly destroyed it, (as he had done to Jericho and her king, so hehad done to At a?id her king.)] And therefore it highly concerned him to provide, the best he could, for his own safety. And how the iiihabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel.] Especially, since one of the prime cities of the country had submitted to the Israelites. And were among them.] Joined in society with them, or come as we now speak) into their interest.

Joshua 10:2

Then they feared greatly. All his people thought themselves in great danger; they as well as their king havingheard of the terrible execution Joshua had made at Jericho and AU

Joshua 10:3

Wherefore AdonizedeJc king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king ofLachish, and unto Debir king ofEglon, saying. All thesecities afterward belonged to the tribe of Judah; as appears from the following part of this book.

Joshua 10:4

Come unto me, and help me. He was the most active in the war, and seems -to have been of greatest power; calling the other kings only as auxiliaries to him. That we may smite Gibeon.] He thought to discourage others from yielding, by making this city an example of 4heir vengeance.’ - For it hath made peace unto Joshua, and with the children -of Israel.] Forsaken theinterest of their country, and gone over to our enemies.

Joshua 10:5

Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, &c. It is certain that Hebron belonged to the Hittites; as Jerusalem did to the Jebusites.. But the.Amorites being the most powerful people in Canaan, (as appears from Gen. xv. 16.) had, it seems, brought them under their power, and set kings of their own nation over’them. Whence it is, that the Gibeonites, who were originally Hivites, (ix. 17.) are said to be of the remnant of -the Amorites, (2 Sam. xxi.2.) because they were fallen un- -der their power, when Joshua conquered (heir country. Gathered themselves together.] Had a general meeting, and sent out a summons to all their people, who were fit -for war, to rendezvous (as we speak) at the place they appointed.’ And went up.] Though they lived in the high country, ^ -yet Jerusalem was still higher; where they seem to have all met, according to Adonizedek’s desire, ver. 4.,’ " They and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon.] -Laid siege to it. * And made war against it.] Began to assault it.- -. Ver. G. And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the -camp to Gilgal.] Or, Itad sent, as soon as they heard of their march towards them. Saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants.] They doubted not of his succour, because they were his servants who had put themselves under his protection; but begged •ft might be speedy, for. fear they should be overpowered by such numerous forces as were coming against them. * Come tip quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites, that dwell in the mountains, are gathered together against us.] They, did not hope to bo preserved without his help; nor unless it arrived quickly.

Joshua 10:7

So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour. These last words are the explication of the former, as if he had said, All the people of war, even all the mighty men of valour. For it is not likely he took along with him all the. fighting men (some of which were necessary to guard tho oamp at Gilgal), but only the choicest of them; on whose valour ho could most rely, and who could march most swiftly to the relief of their confederates.

Joshua 10:8

And the Lord said unto Joshua. Before he stirred a foot, he consulted the Divine Majesty about this expedition; who encouraged him to undertake it. Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.] He promised him an entire victory; which emboldened him to fall upon thein undauntedly.

Joshua 10:9

Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly, and went upfront Gilgal all night. Accordingly, Joshua made all the haste he could towards them, marching all night, that he might surprise them in their quarters (as I suppose he did) before they could draw out their army against him.

Joshua 10:10

And the Lord discomfited them before Israel.* The suddenness of the attack, no doubt, put them into great confusion. And besides, God struck a terror into them, which made them seek for safety by flight, rather than fighting. And slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon.] Near to the city, as the particle beth signifies in many places; particularly in the second chapter of this book, w r here Rahab’s house is said to be upon the wall (we translate it, near or adjoining to the wall), and v. 13. where Joshua is said to be Bejericho, near to that city, for he was not in it when the Captain of the Lord’s host appeared to him. (See Bochart’s Hierozoicon, par. i. lib. ii. cap. 50.) And chased them along the way that goeth tip to Beth* horon.] To the place which was called by this name, when this book was written; for there was no such placo now; it being built after they were settled in Canaan by Sherah, daughter or grand-daughter of Ephraim; as we read in 1 Chron. vii. 24. And smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.] Two cities afterward in the tribe of Judah, (xv. 35. 41.) For, in the great confusion wherein they were, by the hailstones falling upon them (as it here follows), they fled backward and forward, as we speak, sometimes this way, sometimes the quite contrary (for Beth-horon lay northerly, and these other towns in the south), according as the hailstones, by the shifting of the wind, flew in. their faces.

Joshua 10:11

And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Beth-horon. Which was seated on the side of a hill; and seems to have taken its name from this wonderful storm here mentioned: for Beth-horon signifies as much, as the house or place of fury or anger. ^. •. That the Lord cast dmvn great stones from heaven upon them.] The LXX. call them '&qvc xak&Znto hailstones of a vast bigness;, which some think w f ere accompanied with thunder and lightning. And thus the ancient heathen say, that Hercules was assisted in his war against Albion, &c. (See Vossius, lib. i. de Orig. et Progressu Idolol. cap. 26.) CHAP, X.] UPON JOSHUA.. And that raining of stones is not a fable, hut a real truth, see him also, lib. Hi. cap. 12. Plutarch also, in the life of Timoleon, relates how a terrible storm, in the face of the Carthaginian army, -gave him a great victory over them, with a very few forces which he had to encounter them. They that desire to see more to this purpose may look into Huetius’s Quacstiones Alnetanae, lib. ii. cap. 12. sect. 12. Unto Azekah.] This storm meeting them at Beth-horon drove them back to Azekah, as I observed on the foregoing verse. And they died.’] They* upon whom the hailstones fell were killed by them. They were more that died with the hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.] For they could not flee from the stones which came from heaven, as they did from the sword of Israel.

Joshua 10:12

TJien spake Joshua unto the Lord. This song, as the Hebrews call it, (see Masius.) In the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel] It is not certain at what time of the day he spake what follows. Many think, when the sun was declining; others, rather in the morning. For he marched all night to surprise them, and in all probability fell upon them by break of day; and having routed and chased them for some hours, and killed great numbers of them, and seen others fall by the hailstones, concluded he should destroy them all, if he had but time enough before night came to favour their escape. Which made him pray that he might have light to continue his pursuit, and gain a complete victory over them. And he said, in the sight of Israel.] It is a frivolous observation of Maimonides, that, because it is not said in the sight of all Israel (before >vhom Moses did his miracles), Joshua was inferior to him, even when God wrought this stupendous miracle at his request: for all Israel did not hear him speak these words, but only some few; as many, perhaps, as were with Elijah at Mount Carmel, when ho brought fire down from heaven to consume his sacrifice. But there is no question that Israel signifies all the army; who heard, or were told what he said. Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon.] Ho desired it might stand immoveable, in that part of the heavens where he saw it now shining upon Gibeon, - And thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.] There were more Ajalon’s than one; and it is not certain which it is he means: but it is most likely that in the tribe of Dan, (xix. 42. Judg. i.35.) which was farthest from Gibeon; for we must suppose these two places to have been at some distance, otherwise Joshua could not have seen the sun and the moon both appear at the same time; as it is probable they were both now in his eye, when he spake these words. It is not fit to enter into such questions as these; in what sign the sun now was, and whether the moon was in her increase or decrease, &c. They that can make, and are disposed to suchinquiries, may consult Bonfrerius.

Joshua 10:13

And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed. Thus Callimachus represents the sun as stopping the wheels of his chariot, to behold a chorus of nymphs; which so highly pleased him, that it made him prolong the day (ver, 181, 182. of his hymn to Diana): “HXfle Trap* H&«>c koKov x°p K ° v > “^” &«rrai • Atypov c7T«TTfjaac, ta ll tj>ata fir\K>vovT<u Where Ezek. Spanhemius excellently notes, that what the poets only fancied might be, was really done in the days of Joshua; and wishes Grotius had not followed some of the Jews, who make this only a poetical phrase to express a long summer’s day: for the prophet Habakkuk represents it otherwise, and so do many of the Talmudic doctors. They that can consult Huetius also, in his Alnetanae Quaestiones, (lib. ii. cap. 12. sect. 27.) will find enough to shame those who disbelieve this history: when they read a great number of stories. among the heathen, which shew they thought it within the power of their gods to do such things. And, among other memorable things, he doth not forget the ancient tradition of the Egyptians, related by Herodotus, (in his.Euterpe, cap. 142.) concerning the stupendous alteration of the course of the sun. And our Dr. Jackson hath observed, that the heathen people of those times did note this miraculous event, and deliver the tradition of it to their posterity; who, as men are wont to do^ endeavour to assign some cause of it. And the poets in ages following ascribe it (with some additions) unto that unnatural murder which Atreus committed: at wbich the heavens blushed, and the sun stood still. For this bloody fact, if Statius mistake not, was in the time of the Theban war; and that is placed, by good chronologers, about thd time of Joshua’s conquest of Canaan. (See booki. upon the Creed, chap. 15.) But in this he was deceived, for Atreus lived in the days of the Judges.”. Until the people had avenged themselves upon their ene~ mies.] Till they had gained a complete victory, and utterly destroyed their enemies,; i Is not this written in the booh of Jasher?] The Targum expounds it, m the book of the law: as if the meaning was, that there God had foretold what wonders he would do’ for his people. But from the marginal translation (which is, the book of the upright, or of righteous men) others take it for a book where was recorded the wonderful things done by or for the Teligious heroes. And there are some probable arguments that it was written in verse, to fix these things in the memory of the people. Grotius is of this opinion: for we find mention of it no where else, but only in 2 Sam. i. IS. and there it is mentioned upon account of a song made upon the death of Saul and Jonathan by king David, who caused it to be recorded in this book. Which was not accounted sacred (being written by several hands and in several ages), and so not preserved with such careas this and the other canonical books were. As fofflieir opinion who think this book contained the ancient annals of the Jews more largely than they are recorded in this and the following books, it hath no ground at all; but is invented merely to frame an argument from thence, that Joshua was not the author of this book; but that it Avas collected in aftertimes, out of this great Chronicle, by somebody who made an abridgment of it/ But Du Pin hath well observed, that it is not said here the wars of Joshua were: Telated in the book of Jasher; but only that mention is made therein of the miracle by which the moon stood still. i So thesun stood kill.] There is no more mention of the moon; for it was the light of the sun that made the day.. In the midst of heaven.’] This doth not necessarily isig-’ nify that it stood still precisely in the meridian point; but that it appeared visibly to every body, fixed in* the same place where it was, when. Joshua spake tho -foregoing l-/fcC7Lf ^^Jr **’*v/ vvl/ii A. COMMENTARY [chap. X. words, to which ho was moved, no doubt, by a Divine inspiration. And hastened not to go down about a tvfiole day.’] It may be simply translated, a whole day: the particle caph, as I observed before, signifying oftentimes nothing of similitude, but the very thing itself. Therefore I look upon Maimonides’s explication as ungrounded; who by kajom thamim (as a whole day) understands only as the longest day in summer, (More Nevochim, par. xi. cap. 35.) Which was a poor business, it being now summer-time, when this rniracle was wrought: and, as Lyra thinks, in the month of June.

Joshua 10:14

And there was no day like that before it, or after it, that the Lord hearkened to the voice of a man. That is, did at his desire (or rather command) such a stupendous tiling as this. Whereby he gave an evident demonstration, that -he who did such wonders in Egypt, and at the Red Sea, and the river Jordan, had an absolute power not only over the elements (as wc call them) and all inferior creatures, but over the heavenly bodies, the sun, moon, and stars, whom the heathen worshipped. They have strange love to cavilling, who would hence have it thought this book was not written by Joshua: when, if he wrote it in his old age, there were many days passed since this prodigy, as Huetius well observes in his Demonstr. Evang. p. 186. See various opinions about the length of this day in Sixtinus Amama’s Antibarbarus Biblicus, lib. iii. p. 381,&c. For the Lord fought for Israel.] By throwing stones from heaven upon their enemies; and giving the Israelites strength to pursue them; and stopping the sun’s course, that they might not want light for their pursuit; and preserving them from the stones which fell upon their enemies, •and not upon them, though mingled with them in the fight. t

Joshua 10:15

And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to GilgalJ. The LXX. in the common copies wholly omit this verse; because Joshua did not return to Gilgal, till he had done what follows: and then he speaks of his return, in the same words and syllables, ver, 43. but it is in the edition of Hcrvasius, 1540. as my most learned friend Dr. Alix informs me; and the meaning of it here, therefore, is no more than this; that he was about to return, till he heard where the five kings were; and that many of the enemies were still remaining.

Joshua 10:16

But these five kings. Mentioned ver. 3., Fled.] Escaped the sword of the Israelites by flight; being provided, perhaps, with swift beasts for that purpose; and taking some by-ways, separate from their scattered forces, so that the hailstones did not fall upon them. - And hid themselves in a cave.] Which they knew to have secret lurking-places.in it; where they could not be easily discovered. At Makkedah.] In the confines of that city. Which not being yet taken, Joshua could not command great stones to be -rolled upou the mouth of the cave, if it had been in the city itself.

Joshua 10:17

And it was told Joshua, saying, Tltat the five kings were hid in a cave at Makkedah. It is likely Joshua had givea a particular charge about them; and they made no inquiry what was become of them, till it was discovered, that they were in this place.

Joshua 10:18

And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave. To hinder their coming out. igtflzed by I And set men by it for to keep them.] He ordered a guard also, to see that none removed’he stones. Ver. ID. And stay you not, but pursue after your enemies.] They that brought this intelligence, were, it is likely, some officers in the army; whom he would not have to stop their pursuit of the scattered Canaanites, by looking after these kings; but leave it to others to take care to keep them safe shut up in the cave. And smite the hindermost of them.] He means all that they could overtake in their flight. Suffer them not to enter into their cities.] And hinder the rest from retreating into their own cities; by which means they would not remain in. a body together; but dispersed here and there, where they could save themselves. For the Lord your God hath delivered them into your hand.] Given you an opportunity to complete their destruction.

Joshua 10:20

And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel. i. e. The children of Israel, by the command and direction of Joshua, who sent out strong parties to pursue them; but he himself seems to have gone to lay siege to Makkedah. Had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed^] Till there was none of them to be seen in a body together. That the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities.] Those few that escaped got into such fortified cities as they could reach..

Joshua 10:21

And all the people. Who had been sent out, and engaged in pursuit of the enemy. Returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah.] Where, no doubt, he had ordered a general rendezvous, as we now speak, of the whole army that had been employed in this war. In peace.] The LXX. translate it vy«7c, sound and safe; and the Vulgar, f sani et intcgro numero;" sound and without the loss of a man. Which is to be understood of that detachment sent to pursue them, (ver. 19.) who came all’ safe to the camp, and not a man of them lost, or so much as wounded. None moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.] There was not so much as a dog that barked at them. For that word dog is to be supplied (as Bochartus thinks) according to what we read, Exod. xi. 7. (See Hicrozoicon, par. i. lib. ii. cap. 55.) It is an expression of tho great tranquillity wherein they were, and of an entire victory, there being not so much as a dog left to disturb them.

Joshua 10:22

TJien said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave. The wisdom of Joshua is here observed by Arius Montanus, who would not do this execution till all the people were returned to the camp to be witnesses of it. And he might have added, that he executed them before he assaulted Makkedah, that the inhabitants of that city might see there was no hope of any succour from those kings who had been very powerful.

Joshua 10:23

And they did so, and brought forth those’ five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, &c. They are named in the same order as in ver. 3. according to their rank and quality; for next to the king of Jerusalem, who was the chief, the king of Her##wl vwvl I CHAP. X.J UPON JOSHUA. brpn seems to have been of greatest note; and so of the rest. The same Montanus thinks it probable, that as they, brought them forth and set thein before Joshua, they said/ This is the king of Jerusalem; and then, This is the king of Hebron, &c.

Joshua 10:24

And it came to pass, token they brought out those’kings to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel. That is, all the men of war. And said unto the captains of the men of war which were with him.’] That is, the great officers of the army. Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings.] Who lay bound, I suppose, prostrate upon the ground. And they cams near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.] Not out of insolence and pride; but in token that these kings and their countries were brought in absolute subjection to them; and that God had fulfilled his promise, (Dcut. xxxiii. vlt.)

Joshua 10:25

And Joshua said, Fear not, nor be dismayed; be strong, and of good courage. The same that Moses had said to them all long ago, Deut. i. 21. 29. and God had lately said to Joshua, i. 6, 7. 9. and might be said with greater reason now, when they saw their greatest enemies lie prostrate under their feet. For thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom you fight.] To all the inhabitants of Canaan.

Joshua 10:26

And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them. After they had trampled upon them he ordered them to be killed. And hanged them on five trees.] As a mark of infamy, whereby a terror was struck into all others. And they were hanging on the trees till the evening.] Exposed to this contempt all that long day; which God made on purpose that they might do all the great things beforementioned, and what follows, before the night came upon them. Then their bodies were taken down, not in honour to them, but in honour to tho land of Israel, where God now dwelt. So Aben Ezra.

Joshua 10:27

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 liadbeen hid, &c] Ho had given this order as soon as they were hanged, according to the law of Moses, by which ho acted before at Ai, (viii. 29.) And with their bodies he cast all the instruments of their punishment (the trees, and whatsoever fastened them unto them) into the cave, as Maimonides saith, and the Samaritan Chronicle here particularly observes.

Joshua 10:28

And that day Joshua took Atakkedah. The same day the king of it was hanged; and it seems to be probable it was on that long day (as 1 said before) which God made that they might complete their conquest of these kings; and when they had done, take this city also. Our great primate of Ireland indeed, by that day, understands the same day that he set down before tho city; which he thinks was some time after what is before related. And smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king tliereofhe utterly destroyed.] He was slain among the rest, * and not taken alive as* the king of Ai was. litem, and all the souls that were therein.] All the fight ing men, together with the women and children;* because they had refused the offers of peace, sent them from Joshua, before he invaded their land. - He let none remain.] But saved the cattle, which they took, with their goods, for a prey. And he did to the king ofMakkedah as he did to the king of Jericho.] What he did to the king of Jericho is not recorded; but by what is said of other kings, it is probable that he hanged him up after he was found dead.

Joshua 10:29

Then Joshua passed from Makkedah. .This only signifies what was their next expedition; for it is likely they refreshed themselves awhile before they left this place. All Israel with him.] All that he brought along with him, to the relief of Gibeon. (See ver. 7.) Unto Libnah.] A city which fell to the share of the tribe, of Judah, in the division of the land, (xv. 42.) and was one of the cities given to the priests, (xxi. 13. 1 Chron. vi. 57.) Andfoirght against Libnah.] Laid siege to it, and plantedtheir batteries against it.

Joshua 10:30

And the Lord delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel.’) They made an easy conquest of it, because God gave it up into their hand. And he smote it tvith the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, &.c] The same words whereby the destruction of Makkcdah is described, ver. 28. For both v these cities favoured the five kings beforementioned, and therefore (as Conradus Pellicanus thinks) were destroyed utterly, not only by the command of God, but by the right of war. But the command of God was the only ground, as it is expressed, ver. 40.

Joshua 10:31

And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with Mm, unto Lachish. Another city which fell to the tribe, of Judah, (xv. 39.) and was not far from Libnah. And encamped against it, and fought against it.] This, it seems, was a stronger city than either of the former; for there is no mention of an encampment against them before they began their assault.

Joshua 10:32

And the Lord delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel. He doth not add, and the king thereof as he doth of Makkedah and Libnah, (ver. 28. 30.) because he was one of tho five kings which he had lately hanged, and they had not, it is likely, set a new one on his throne, (ver, 23.) Which took it on the second day.) After they began the siege; or, the second day after the taking of Makkcdah and Libnah. The former is most likely, because their encampment against it signifies they spent some time before it. And smote it with the edge of the sword, &c] These words, and the following, are the very same with what ho said before of the two forcnamed cities; only he doth not add, he let none remain, which is to be supposed,

Joshua 10:33

Then Horam king of Gezer came tip to help Lachish. This was a city afterward in the tribe of Ephraim, (xvi. 10.) belonging to the Lcvitcs, (xxi. 21.) and not far from Gibeon, as may be guessed from 1 Chron. xiv. 16. And Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.] If ho destroyed his city at this time, he returned to Lachish. And it is probable, he sent forth a detachment to fight Horam and his army; who having routed them, destroyed also their city, and then went on with the siege of Lachish.

Joshua 10:34

And from Lachish. Joshua passed unto Eglon. Which also belonged afterward to Judah, (xv. 39.) and seems to have been as considerable as Lachish; for it

Joshua 10:35

And they took it on that day. The same day they set down before it; fomone came to their relief, as Horam did to help Laehish, which may be one reason that City was not taken till the second day, (ver. 32.) And smote it with the edge of the sword, &c] The same lie had said of the forcnaracd cities; only he saith, he utterly destroyed all that were therein on the same day, which is the same with those words, he let nohe remain. Ver. 3G. And Joshua went upfront Eglon, and all Israel tvith him, nrito Hebron; and they fonght against it.] This tva’s also a city of Judah,(as everyone knows, xv. 64.) and wa& seated in the mountainous country, as the former were in the plain, which is the reason he is said to go tip to it from Eglon.

Joshua 10:37

And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof. Their king was one of the five whom Joshua had lately killed and hanged. But, it seems, they had set up a new one, being a city of great note, which had other cities depending on it, as it follows in the next words. And all the cities thereof] It was not only one of the royal cities, which had other cities subject to it (as Gibeon had, which was a kind of royal city), but of very great power. For these words import, as if there were many cities under its jurisdiction. “• And all the souls that were therein: he left hone remaining, &c.] In this cdnquest, Caleb was very instrumental, ^and signalized himself (as we now speak) by driving out the three sons of Anak (xy. 13, 14.) who Were slain there, (Judg. i. 10.) Thus wo must understand this history; or else say, as some do, either that Joshua only to6k the city and destroyed it, but could not take the citadel, or strong fort, on the top oif the mountain, (which doth not seem to Tie exactly true, for we read in the hextchapter, ver. 21, 22. that lie cut off the Anakinis from the mountains, &c.) or that, after he had destroyed it, as is hero related, the Ahakiras came from Gaza, and other cities of the Philistines, whither they now fled, ttnd peopled it again, but were expelled again by Caleb, as some Understand xiv. 12. (See Judg. i. 10.)

Joshua 10:38

AndJoshiia returned, and all Israel with him, toDebir, and fonght against it. He had not been there heforc, but having gone as far south and west as he thought fit, (even as far as Gaza, which was in the western coast,

Joshua 10:40

So Joshuasmote all the country of the hills, and of the soutk, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all, their kiiigs. He forbears to name all the cities he took, •and, in short, saith he subdued the whole country that lay ♦south and west (as it is explained in the next verse), ofwhatsoever Scjrt it was; both the hilly And thd low country: for they that describe countries are wont to have respect to two things; the condition and quality of tho soil, and then the situation: the first of these he expresses in this verse, and the other in the next. For here he describes it as partly hilly and dry, and partly pldin and full of spHtigs. He left hone remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breatlted.] Which must be restrained to mankind; for they kept their cattle afc a prey to themselves. As the LorU God of Israel commanded.] This is added as a justification of the Israelites, from all imputation of cruelty or Severity; fbr they only executed a Divine sen’- tencc against this people for their abominable wickedness, (Lev. xviii. 24, 25, &e.) wherewith the Israelites would have been in danger to be infected, if they had not been extirpated,

Joshua 10:41

) he turned his course towards the camp at Gilgal, which was now north-east from him, and in his way thither look I)ehir, which also was a city of Judah, (xv. 49.) and one of the cities of the priests, (xxi. 15. 1 Chrou. vi. 58.) called also Kiriath-Scpher, and Kiriath-Sanna. Ver. 3J>. And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof &c] It was a great city (we may gather from hence, like to Hebron), in the conquest of which Othnicl the brother of Caleb did great service, and therefore it was’given’to him, as we read, xv. 15 — 17. and Judg. i. 11. And Joshua smote them from Kadesh-barnea.] Which was in thd south of Canaan, as appears from fc umb. xxxiv. 4. and chap. xv. of this book, ver. 3. whereit is mentioned as belonging to the tribe of Judah. Even wito Gaza.] A city of the Philistines, in the west part of Canaan, towards the south. And all the country of Goshen.] There was a city in the tribe of Judah of this name, which lay in the mountains, as Hebron did, in the southern part of the country, (xv.ol.) From “which city, the region thereabouts was called the country’of Goshen: which had excellent pasture-ground in it, and was well watered (like that country in Egypt of the same name), and thence was called Goshen, as Conradus Pellicanus ebnjectures; because the Hebrew word geshem signifies large showers, which make the earth fruitful. Even unto Gibeon.] Which wus in the more northerly part of the country. And therefore, as before he gave an account of his conquest from the south to the west; so here of his conquest from the south to the north.

Joshua 10:42

All these kings, and their land, did Joshua take at one time. In one expedition. Because the Lord God of Israel fought for Isi-ael.] Which made their conquest easy and speedy. The Targnm hath it, The Lord God of Israel, by his Word, fought for Israel. That is, by him who appeared to Joshua as the captain of the Lord’s host, ver. 13, 14.

Joshua 10:43

And Joshua returned, and Israel with him, iinto the tamp to Gilgal. To refresh themselves with the company of their wives tmd children; and to make those who were left to defend them partakers of their booty; but especially to return solemn thanks to God for their victories at his house, which was now settled at Gilgal. Our great primate of Ireland thinks, that this war with the five kings, that came against Gibeon, &e. concluded this famous year. In the first part of which Moses took the kingdoms of Sihon and Og on the other side.lordan; and in the latter part of it Joshua conquered a great part of the land of Canaan; and in the middle of it the fnanna ceased, and they ate of the fruit of the country. So that in the autumn of this year they began to sow, and consequently, from this time, thoy began to number their sabbatical years. (See him in his Annals, A. M. 2554.) But another great man (Dr. Alix) admonishes me, that this is against i the opinion of the ancient Jews, who supposo that the first year of the semitah was the fourteenth after rf #Vl ^^w^^* ft V-^ CHAP. XI.] UPON JOSHUA/ their entrance into Canaan: for the land must have^been divided before it was cultivated; and so the sabbath of the land must be se\en years after the division. *! . r