JOSHUA LESSON 10
We will begin this lesson in Joshua 10:1 "Now it came to pass,
when Adoni-zedec king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai,
and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king,
so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon
had made peace with Israel, and were among them;"
"Adoni-zedec" means lord of justice. This name of the king of
Jerusalem indicates that at some time earlier Jerusalem had been
inhabited by people who did believe in God. They are now inhabited by
the Amorites who are very definitely not pleasing unto God. This evil
king has received word that Israel is headed their way. He has kept up
with their exploits along the way. He has even heard of the alliance
of Israel with Gibeon.
Joshua 10:2 "That they feared greatly, because Gibeon [was] a
great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it [was] greater
than Ai, and all the men thereof [were] mighty."
The king of Jerusalem is very angry with Gibeon because they have
set a bad example for the other cities around them, by surrendering
themselves to serve Israel. Gibeon was bigger and stronger than Ai.
They had mighty warriors. If they could not defeat Israel, who could?
The king of Jerusalem thinks they showed cowardice.
Joshua 10:3 "Wherefore Adoni-zedec king of Jerusalem sent unto
Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia
king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying," Joshua 10:4
"Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath
made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel."
There are several reasons these 5 evil kings wanted to come
against Gibeon. One reason was they did not want the strength of
Gibeon on the side of Israel. Another reason was to discourage any of
the others from falling away. Another reason was their anger at Gibeon
for doing this, and they wanted revenge. Adoni-zedec knew he could not
defeat them by himself, so he got the other 4 kings to help him. They
had made an agreement earlier to fight together against Israel.
Joshua 10:5 "Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king
of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of
Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up,
they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war
against it."
They were less afraid of Gibeon than they were of the God of
Israel. They think they will be able to eliminate Gibeon and they will
have that problem out of the way. They have forgotten their alliance
with Israel.
Joshua 10:6 "And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp
to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us
quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites
that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us."
The Gibeonites knew they were no match for 5 groups of the
Amorites. They quickly send for help from Joshua.
Joshua 10:7 "So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the
people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour."
This was not because of any great love that Joshua had for
Gibeon, but because of their agreement. This would also be an
opportunity to eliminate 5 of their enemies at once. The Israelites
had hundreds of thousands of soldiers.
Joshua 10:8 "And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I
have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them
stand before thee."
The LORD encourages Joshua that they will fall to Israel. God
fights on Israel's side and they cannot fail. Fear is the opposite of
faith. God wants Joshua and Israel to have faith in Him.
Joshua 10:9 "Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, [and] went
up from Gilgal all night."
The five Amorite kings had not planned on this happening. The
"suddenly" shows they were not expecting Joshua and his troops.
Joshua 10:10 "And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and
slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the
way that goeth up to Beth-horon, and smote them to Azekah, and unto
Makkedah."
This just says there was great loss of life of the Amorites at
Gibeon. Those, who were not killed at Gibeon, ran. They fled to Beth-
horon, Azekah, and Makkedah. This would soon be known as the land of
Judah.
Joshua 10:11 "And it came to pass, as they fled from before
Israel, [and] were in the going down to Beth-horon, that the LORD cast
down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died:
[they were] more which died with hailstones than [they] whom the
children of Israel slew with the sword."
This is not a rockslide, but is speaking of giant hailstones that
miraculously fall from heaven. Things like this Scripture let us know
beyond a shadow of doubt that God is control of all the elements of
the earth, and the heavens. God has killed the enemies of Israel here.
It is interesting that more were killed of the enemy of these giant
hailstones, that God sent, than were killed in the entire battle by
Israel. It is also interesting that, none of the Israelites were
killed with the hailstones.
Joshua 10:12 "Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the
LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he
said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and
thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon."
We notice that, Joshua spoke to the LORD in this. This is not
some miraculous power that Joshua has, it is the power of the LORD
speaking through Joshua. Notice he speaks to the sun and moon as if
that is their proper name. They are capitalized. The sun and the moon
were created to be containers for the Light. The source of all Light
is the LORD. Joshua is asking for the light to remain until he can
finish this battle. Scientist have now discovered that there was
possibly a time when this very thing did happen. The sun and moon
stood still at the Word of God.
Joshua 10:13 "And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until
the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. [Is] not this
written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of
heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day."
It is normal for the sun to shine about 12 hours, so this would
be assumed that the sun shone for 24 hours on this particular
occasion. The book of Jasher is mentioned again in II Samuel 1:18
"(Also he bade them teach the children of Judah [the use of] the bow:
behold, [it is] written in the book of Jasher.)" These two witnesses
show that there was a book of Jasher. My own personal knowledge of
this book is limited. It would possibly be a book such as the
Apocryphal books. The sun shining twice as long this day as any other
in history would certainly be classed as one of the great miracles of
God.
Joshua 10:14 "And there was no day like that before it or after
it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD
fought for Israel."
The LORD answered the prayer of Joshua and extended the light
until the battle could be finished. This day is like no other in all
of history.
Joshua 10:15 "And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto
the camp to Gilgal."
When the battle was won, Joshua returned to Gilgal with all
Israel.
Joshua 10:16 "But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a
cave at Makkedah."
Their armies were dead, so they fled to a cave in the mountains.
Makkedah was in Palestine.
Joshua 10:17 "And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are
found hid in a cave at Makkedah."
It appears, that some of Joshua's men had followed and knew where
the kings were hiding.
Joshua 10:18 "And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth
of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them:"
Joshua had them imprisoned by rolling great stones to the mouth
of the cave. There would be no way out, unless someone from outside
freed them.
Joshua 10:19 "And stay ye not, [but] pursue after your enemies,
and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their
cities: for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hand."
This had probably happened before Joshua went back to Gilgal. He
was not going to allow them to get away. The troops followed them, and
killed them, until there were no more, except for the handful that
escaped. If they had made it to their cities, they might have been
able to hide from the troops of Israel. They would not fail in
destroying them, because it was the will of God for Israel to defeat
them.
Joshua 10:20 "And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children
of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter,
till they were consumed, that the rest [which] remained of them
entered into fenced cities."
There were very few that escaped. Those few fled to their walled
cities and hid from Joshua and all Israel.
Joshua 10:21 "And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua
at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the
children of Israel."
This is explaining that there was no murmuring for what happened.
The fact that they returned to Makkedah, instead of Gilgal, shows this
is relating what happened before Joshua returned to Gilgal.
Joshua 10:22 "Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and
bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave."
The 5 Amorite kings were brought out of their prison cave and
brought before Joshua for judgement.
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,
the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, [and] the king of Eglon."
The names of the 5 kings are given again, here, to show they are
the same that started this war.
We will continue this in the next lesson.
Joshua 10 Questions
1. Who was king in Jerusalem?
2. What had he heard about Joshua?
3. What had he heard about Gibeon?
4. "Adoni-zedec means what?
5. What does the meaning of his name indicate?
6. How did he describe Gibeon?
7. Why was he so angry at Gibeon?
8. Who did Adoni-zedec make a pact with?
9. What were some of the reasons the 5 evil kings wanted to come
against Gibeon?
10. They were less afraid of Gibeon than they were of the ______ of
Israel.
11. They were the 5 kings of the __________.
12. What have they forgotten about Gibeon?
13. When Gibeon saw them encamped around them, what did they do?
14. Why did Joshua come to help Gibeon?
15. What encouragement does the LORD give Joshua?
16. Where did they run for safety?
17. What were the stones, in verse 11, that God cast down on them?
18. What are some interesting things about those stones from God?
19. In verse 12 who does Joshua speak to?
20. Why were the sun and moon capitalized in verse 12?
21. How long did the sun shine that day?
22. Where is there another mention of the book of Jasher?
23. Quote Joshua chapter 10 verse 14.
24. Where did the five kings hide?
25. How did Joshua find out where they were?
26. What did Joshua have his men to do to the cave?
27. Where did the few that were left of the Amorites go?
28. Who were the five kings?
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