40 So Joshua H3091 smote H5221 all the country H776 of the hills, H2022 and of the south, H5045 and of the vale, H8219 and of the springs, H794 and all their kings: H4428 he left H7604 none remaining, H8300 but utterly destroyed H2763 all that breathed, H5397 as the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 commanded. H6680
And when the LORD H3068 thy God H430 shall deliver H5414 them before H6440 thee; thou shalt smite H5221 them, and utterly H2763 destroy H2763 them; thou shalt make H3772 no covenant H1285 with them, nor shew mercy H2603 unto them: Neither shalt thou make marriages H2859 with them; thy daughter H1323 thou shalt not give H5414 unto his son, H1121 nor his daughter H1323 shalt thou take H3947 unto thy son. H1121 For they will turn away H5493 thy son H1121 from following H310 me, that they may serve H5647 other H312 gods: H430 so will the anger H639 of the LORD H3068 be kindled H2734 against you, and destroy H8045 thee suddenly. H4118 But thus shall ye deal H6213 with them; ye shall destroy H5422 their altars, H4196 and break down H7665 their images, H4676 and cut down H1438 their groves, H842 and burn H8313 their graven images H6456 with fire. H784 For thou art an holy H6918 people H5971 unto the LORD H3068 thy God: H430 the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hath chosen H977 thee to be a special H5459 people H5971 unto himself, above all people H5971 that are upon the face H6440 of the earth. H127 The LORD H3068 did not set his love H2836 upon you, nor choose H977 you, because ye were more H7230 in number than any people; H5971 for ye were the fewest H4592 of all people: H5971 But because the LORD H3068 loved H160 you, and because he would keep H8104 the oath H7621 which he had sworn H7650 unto your fathers, H1 hath the LORD H3068 brought you out H3318 with a mighty H2389 hand, H3027 and redeemed H6299 you out of the house H1004 of bondmen, H5650 from the hand H3027 of Pharaoh H6547 king H4428 of Egypt. H4714 Know H3045 therefore that the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 he is God, H430 the faithful H539 God, H410 which keepeth H8104 covenant H1285 and mercy H2617 with them that love H157 him and keep H8104 his commandments H4687 to a thousand H505 generations; H1755 And repayeth H7999 them that hate H8130 him to their face, H6440 to destroy H6 them: he will not be slack H309 to him that hateth H8130 him, he will repay H7999 him to his face. H6440 Thou shalt therefore keep H8104 the commandments, H4687 and the statutes, H2706 and the judgments, H4941 which I command H6680 thee this day, H3117 to do H6213 them. Wherefore it shall come to pass, if H6118 ye hearken H8085 to these judgments, H4941 and keep, H8104 and do H6213 them, that the LORD H3068 thy God H430 shall keep H8104 unto thee the covenant H1285 and the mercy H2617 which he sware H7650 unto thy fathers: H1 And he will love H157 thee, and bless H1288 thee, and multiply H7235 thee: he will also bless H1288 the fruit H6529 of thy womb, H990 and the fruit H6529 of thy land, H127 thy corn, H1715 and thy wine, H8492 and thine oil, H3323 the increase H7698 of thy kine, H504 and the flocks H6251 of thy sheep, H6629 in the land H127 which he sware H7650 unto thy fathers H1 to give H5414 thee. Thou shalt be blessed H1288 above all people: H5971 there shall not be male H6135 or female barren H6135 among you, or among your cattle. H929 And the LORD H3068 will take away H5493 from thee all sickness, H2483 and will put H7760 none of the evil H7451 diseases H4064 of Egypt, H4714 which thou knowest, H3045 upon thee; but will lay H5414 them upon all them that hate H8130 thee. And thou shalt consume H398 all the people H5971 which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 shall deliver H5414 thee; thine eye H5869 shall have no pity H2347 upon them: neither shalt thou serve H5647 their gods; H430 for that will be a snare H4170 unto thee.
And G2532 to you G5213 who are troubled G2346 rest G425 with G3326 us, G2257 when G1722 the Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 shall be revealed G602 from G575 heaven G3772 with G3326 his G846 mighty G1411 angels, G32 In G1722 flaming G5395 fire G4442 taking G1325 vengeance G1557 on them that know G1492 not G3361 God, G2316 and G2532 that obey G5219 not G3361 the gospel G2098 of our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ: G5547 Who G3748 shall be punished G1349 G5099 with everlasting G166 destruction G3639 from G575 the presence G4383 of the Lord, G2962 and G2532 from G575 the glory G1391 of his G846 power; G2479
And the seventh H7637 lot H1486 came out H3318 for the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Dan H1835 according to their families. H4940 And the coast H1366 of their inheritance H5159 was Zorah, H6881 and Eshtaol, H847 and Irshemesh, H5905 And Shaalabbin, H8169 and Ajalon, H357 and Jethlah, H3494 And Elon, H356 and Thimnathah, H8553 and Ekron, H6138 And Eltekeh, H514 and Gibbethon, H1405 and Baalath, H1191 And Jehud, H3055 and Beneberak, H1139 and Gathrimmon, H1667 And Mejarkon, H4313 and Rakkon, H7542 with the border H1366 before H4136 Japho. H3305 And the coast H1366 of the children H1121 of Dan H1835 went out H3318 too little for them: therefore the children H1121 of Dan H1835 went up H5927 to fight H3898 against Leshem, H3959 and took H3920 it, and smote H5221 it with the edge H6310 of the sword, H2719 and possessed H3423 it, and dwelt H3427 therein, and called H7121 Leshem, H3959 Dan, H1835 after the name H8034 of Dan H1835 their father. H1 This is the inheritance H5159 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Dan H1835 according to their families, H4940 these cities H5892 with their villages. H2691
And the uttermost H7097 cities H5892 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Judah H3063 toward the coast H1366 of Edom H123 southward H5045 were Kabzeel, H6909 and Eder, H5740 and Jagur, H3017 And Kinah, H7016 and Dimonah, H1776 and Adadah, H5735 And Kedesh, H6943 and Hazor, H2674 and Ithnan, H3497 Ziph, H2128 and Telem, H2928 and Bealoth, H1175 And Hazor, H2674 Hadattah, H2675 and Kerioth, H7152 and Hezron, H2696 which is Hazor, H2674 Amam, H538 and Shema, H8090 and Moladah, H4137 And Hazargaddah, H2693 and Heshmon, H2829 and Bethpalet, H1046 And Hazarshual, H2705 and Beersheba, H884 and Bizjothjah, H964 Baalah, H1173 and Iim, H5864 and Azem, H6107 And Eltolad, H513 and Chesil, H3686 and Hormah, H2767 And Ziklag, H6860 and Madmannah, H4089 and Sansannah, H5578 And Lebaoth, H3822 and Shilhim, H7978 and Ain, H5871 and Rimmon: H7417 all the cities H5892 are twenty H6242 and nine, H8672 with their villages: H2691 And in the valley, H8219 Eshtaol, H847 and Zoreah, H6881 and Ashnah, H823 And Zanoah, H2182 and Engannim, H5873 Tappuah, H8599 and Enam, H5879 Jarmuth, H3412 and Adullam, H5725 Socoh, H7755 and Azekah, H5825 And Sharaim, H8189 and Adithaim, H5723 and Gederah, H1449 and Gederothaim; H1453 fourteen H702 H6240 cities H5892 with their villages: H2691 Zenan, H6799 and Hadashah, H2322 and Migdalgad, H4028 And Dilean, H1810 and Mizpeh, H4708 and Joktheel, H3371 Lachish, H3923 and Bozkath, H1218 and Eglon, H5700 And Cabbon, H3522 and Lahmam, H3903 and Kithlish, H3798 And Gederoth, H1450 Bethdagon, H1016 and Naamah, H5279 and Makkedah; H4719 sixteen H8337 H6240 cities H5892 with their villages: H2691 Libnah, H3841 and Ether, H6281 and Ashan, H6228 And Jiphtah, H3316 and Ashnah, H823 and Nezib, H5334 And Keilah, H7084 and Achzib, H392 and Mareshah; H4762 nine H8672 cities H5892 with their villages: H2691 Ekron, H6138 with her towns H1323 and her villages: H2691 From Ekron H6138 even unto the sea, H3220 all that lay near H3027 Ashdod, H795 with their villages: H2691 Ashdod H795 with her towns H1323 and her villages, H2691 Gaza H5804 with her towns H1323 and her villages, H2691 unto the river H5158 of Egypt, H4714 and the great H1419 H1366 sea, H3220 and the border H1366 thereof: And in the mountains, H2022 Shamir, H8069 and Jattir, H3492 and Socoh, H7755 And Dannah, H1837 and Kirjathsannah, H7158 which is Debir, H1688 And Anab, H6024 and Eshtemoh, H851 and Anim, H6044 And Goshen, H1657 and Holon, H2473 and Giloh; H1542 eleven H259 H6240 cities H5892 with their villages: H2691 Arab, H694 and Dumah, H1746 and Eshean, H824 And Janum, H3241 and Bethtappuah, H1054 and Aphekah, H664 And Humtah, H2547 and Kirjatharba, H7153 which is Hebron, H2275 and Zior; H6730 nine H8672 cities H5892 with their villages: H2691 Maon, H4584 Carmel, H3760 and Ziph, H2128 and Juttah, H3194 And Jezreel, H3157 and Jokdeam, H3347 and Zanoah, H2182 Cain, H7014 Gibeah, H1390 and Timnah; H8553 ten H6235 cities H5892 with their villages: H2691 Halhul, H2478 Bethzur, H1049 and Gedor, H1446 And Maarath, H4638 and Bethanoth, H1042 and Eltekon; H515 six H8337 cities H5892 with their villages: H2691 Kirjathbaal, H7154 which is Kirjathjearim, H7157 and Rabbah; H7237 two H8147 cities H5892 with their villages: H2691 In the wilderness, H4057 Betharabah, H1026 Middin, H4081 and Secacah, H5527 And Nibshan, H5044 and the city of Salt, H5898 and Engedi; H5872 six H8337 cities H5892 with their villages. H2691 As for the Jebusites H2983 the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem, H3389 the children H1121 of Judah H3063 could H3201 H3201 not drive them out: H3423 but the Jebusites H2983 dwell H3427 with the children H1121 of Judah H3063 at Jerusalem H3389 unto this day. H3117
And I will set H7896 thy bounds H1366 from the Red H5488 sea H3220 even unto the sea H3220 of the Philistines, H6430 and from the desert H4057 unto the river: H5104 for I will deliver H5414 the inhabitants H3427 of the land H776 into your hand; H3027 and thou shalt drive them out H1644 before H6440 thee. Thou shalt make H3772 no covenant H1285 with them, nor with their gods. H430 They shall not dwell H3427 in thy land, H776 lest they make thee sin H2398 against me: for if thou serve H5647 their gods, H430 it will surely be a snare H4170 unto thee.
This day H3117 the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hath commanded H6680 thee to do H6213 these statutes H2706 and judgments: H4941 thou shalt therefore keep H8104 and do H6213 them with all thine heart, H3824 and with all thy soul. H5315 Thou hast avouched H559 the LORD H3068 this day H3117 to be thy God, H430 and to walk H3212 in his ways, H1870 and to keep H8104 his statutes, H2706 and his commandments, H4687 and his judgments, H4941 and to hearken H8085 unto his voice: H6963
But of the cities H5892 of these people, H5971 which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 doth give H5414 thee for an inheritance, H5159 thou shalt save alive H2421 nothing that breatheth: H5397 But thou shalt utterly H2763 destroy H2763 them; namely, the Hittites, H2850 and the Amorites, H567 the Canaanites, H3669 and the Perizzites, H6522 the Hivites, H2340 and the Jebusites; H2983 as the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hath commanded H6680 thee:
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Joshua 10
Commentary on Joshua 10 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 10
Jos 10:1-5. Five Kings War against Gibeon.
1. Adoni-zedek—"lord of righteousness"—nearly synonymous with Melchizedek, "king of righteousness." These names were common titles of the Jebusite kings.
Jerusalem—The original name, "Salem" (Ge 14:18; Ps 76:2), was superseded by that here given, which signifies "a peaceful possession," or "a vision of peace," in allusion, as some think, to the strikingly symbolic scene (Ge 22:14) represented on the mount whereon that city was afterwards built.
inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them—that is, the Israelites; had made an alliance with that people, and acknowledging their supremacy, were living on terms of friendly intercourse with them.
2. they feared greatly—The dread inspired by the rapid conquests of the Israelites had been immensely increased by the fact of a state so populous and so strong as Gibeon having found it expedient to submit to the power and the terms of the invaders.
as one of the royal cities—Although itself a republic (Jos 9:3), it was large and well-fortified, like those places in which the chiefs of the country usually established their residence.
3, 4. Wherefore Adoni-zedek … sent, … saying, Come up unto me, and help me—A combined attack was meditated on Gibeon, with a view not only to punish its people for their desertion of the native cause, but by its overthrow to interpose a barrier to the farther inroads of the Israelites. This confederacy among the mountaineers of Southern Palestine was formed and headed by the king of Jerusalem, because his territory was most exposed to danger, Gibeon being only six miles distant, and because he evidently possessed some degree of pre-eminence over his royal neighbors.
5. the five kings of the Amorites—The settlement of this powerful and warlike tribe lay within the confines of Moab; but having also acquired extensive possessions on the southwest of the Jordan, their name, as the ruling power, seems to have been given to the region generally (2Sa 21:2), although Hebron was inhabited by Hittites or Hivites (Jos 11:19), and Jerusalem by Jebusites (Jos 15:63).
Jos 10:6-9. Joshua Rescues It.
6-8. the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua—Their appeal was urgent and their claim to protection irresistible, on the ground, not only of kindness and sympathy, but of justice. In attacking the Canaanites, Joshua had received from God a general assurance of success (Jos 1:5). But the intelligence of so formidable a combination among the native princes seems to have depressed his mind with the anxious and dispiriting idea that it was a chastisement for the hasty and inconsiderate alliance entered into with the Gibeonites. It was evidently to be a struggle of life and death, not only to Gibeon, but to the Israelites. And in this view the divine communication that was made to him was seasonable and animating. He seems to have asked the counsel of God and received an answer, before setting out on the expedition.
9. Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly—This is explained in the following clause, where he is described as having accomplished, by a forced march of picked men, in one night, a distance of twenty-six miles, which, according to the slow pace of Eastern armies and caravans, had formerly been a three days' journey (Jos 9:17).
Jos 10:10, 11. God Fights against Them with Hailstones.
10, 11. the Lord discomfited them—Hebrew, "terrified," confounded the Amorite allies, probably by a fearful storm of lightning and thunder. So the word is usually employed (1Sa 7:10; Ps 18:13; 144:6).
and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon—This refers to the attack of the Israelites upon the besiegers. It is evident that there had been much hard fighting around the heights of Gibeon, for the day was far spent before the enemy took to flight.
chased them along the way that goeth up to Beth-horon—that is, "the House of Caves," of which there are still traces existing. There were two contiguous villages of that name, upper and nether. Upper Beth-horon was nearest Gibeon—about ten miles distant, and approached by a gradual ascent through a long and precipitous ravine. This was the first stage of the flight. The fugitives had crossed the high ridge of Upper Beth-horon, and were in full flight down the descent to Beth-horon the Nether. The road between the two places is so rocky and rugged that there is a path made by means of steps cut in the rock [Robinson]. Down this pass Joshua continued his victorious rout. Here it was that the Lord interposed, assisting His people by means of a storm, which, having been probably gathering all day, burst with such irresistible fury, that "they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword." The Oriental hailstorm is a terrific agent; the hailstones are masses of ice, large as walnuts, and sometimes as two fists; their prodigious size, and the violence with which they fall, make them always very injurious to property, and often fatal to life. The miraculous feature of this tempest, which fell on the Amorite army, was the entire preservation of the Israelites from its destructive ravages.
Jos 10:12-15. The Sun and Moon Stand Still at the Word of Joshua.
12-15. Then spake Joshua to the Lord … and … he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still … and thou, Moon—The inspired author here breaks off the thread of his history of this miraculous victory to introduce a quotation from an ancient poem, in which the mighty acts of that day were commemorated. The passage, which is parenthetical, contains a poetical description of the victory which was miraculously gained by the help of God, and forms an extract from "the book of Jasher," that is, "the upright"—an anthology, or collection of national songs, in honor of renowned and eminently pious heroes. The language of a poem is not to be literally interpreted; and therefore, when the sun and moon are personified, addressed as intelligent beings, and represented as standing still, the explanation is that the light of the sun and moon was supernaturally prolonged by the same laws of refraction and reflection that ordinarily cause the sun to appear above the horizon, when it is in reality below it [Keil, Bush]. Gibeon ("a hill") was now at the back of the Israelites, and the height would soon have intercepted the rays of the setting sun. The valley of Ajalon ("stags") was before them, and so near that it was sometimes called "the valley of Gibeon" (Isa 28:21). It would seem, from Jos 10:14, that the command of Joshua was in reality a prayer to God for the performance of this miracle; and that, although the prayers of eminently good men like Moses often prevailed with God, never was there on any other occasion so astonishing a display of divine power made in behalf of His people, as in answer to the prayer of Joshua. Jos 10:15 is the end of the quotation from Jasher; and it is necessary to notice this, as the fact described in it is recorded in due course, and the same words, by the sacred historian (Jos 10:43).
Jos 10:16-27. The Five Kings Hanged.
16-27. these five kings … hid themselves in a cave—Hebrew, "the cave."
at Makkedah—The pursuit was continued, without interruption, to Makkedah at the foot of the western mountains, where Joshua seems to have halted with the main body of his troops while a detachment was sent forward to scour the country in pursuit of the remaining stragglers, a few of whom succeeded in reaching the neighboring cities. The last act, probably the next day, was the disposal of the prisoners, among whom the five kings were consigned to the infamous doom of being slain (De 20:16, 17); and then their corpses were suspended on five trees till the evening.
24. put your feet upon the necks of these kings—not as a barbarous insult, but a symbolical action, expressive of a complete victory (De 33:29; Ps 110:5; Mal 4:3).
Jos 10:28-42. Seven More Kings Conquered.
28-42. that day Joshua took Makkedah—In this and the following verses is described the rapid succession of victory and extermination which swept the whole of southern Palestine into the hands of Israel. "All these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal."