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Joshua 10

43 verses

TL;DR

Joshua leads Israel to victory over Gibeon and the surrounding Amorite kings, with divine intervention as the sun stands still, and then campaigns across many cities, leaving no enemy alive.

Summary

In Joshua 10 the narrative opens with the king of Jerusalem, Adonizedec, learning of Israel’s victories and fearing the power of Gibeon. He gathers five Amorite kings—of Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon, and Jerusalem—to attack Gibeon, but Joshua rushes to aid Gibeon, and God delivers the Amorites, striking them down and even causing hailstones to fall from heaven. After the battle, the five kings flee to a cave in Makkedah; Joshua later forces them out, puts them on a tree, then places them back in the cave and covers it with stones. From there Joshua proceeds to take a long list of cities—Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, Debir, and many others—each time defeating the king and destroying the population, following the pattern of Jericho. The chapter ends with Joshua returning to Gilgal after utterly annihilating the hill country and the southern cities, completing the conquest as commanded by God.

Outline
  1. 1. The gathering of Amorite kings to attack Gibeon and Joshua’s swift rescue with divine aid, including the sun standing still.
  2. 2. The defeat and capture of the five kings in Makkedah, and the ritual treatment of their bodies.
  3. 3. Joshua’s sweeping campaign across the hill country, conquering multiple cities and annihilating their peoples, fulfilling the divine command.
Themes
Divine intervention in warfareObedience and faithfulness of IsraelJudgment and total destruction of enemiesThe sun standing still as a sign of God’s power
Keywords
JoshuaIsraelGibeonAmoritesfive kingssunmoondivine interventionconquestdestructioncave
People
JoshuaAdonizedecHohamPiramJaphiaDebirKing of JerusalemKing of HebronKing of JarmuthKing of LachishKing of EglonFive Amorite kings
Places
GibeonJerusalemHebronJarmuthLachishEglonGilgalBethhoronAzekahMakkedahLibnahKadeshbarneaGazaAjalon
Things
sunmoonhailstonesstones from heaventreesstone-covered cave
Key Verses
  • Joshua 10:10: Describes the sun standing still, a key divine sign.
  • Joshua 10:12: Stones from heaven fall on the fleeing Amorites, highlighting divine judgment.
  • Joshua 10:28: Marks Joshua’s capture of Makkedah, turning the tide of the campaign.
  • Joshua 10:40: Summarizes the total annihilation of the hill country, underscoring the fulfillment of God’s command.
Questions
  • What does the sun standing still signify in the context of the Israelite conquest?
  • How does Joshua’s treatment of the five kings reflect his leadership style?
  • In what ways does the chapter illustrate the relationship between divine favor and military success?
  • What lessons about judgment and mercy can be drawn from the thorough destruction of enemy cities?
Sentiment

positive
The narrative portrays Israel’s triumph and divine favor, though the violence is stark.