March 5, 2025
Victories for Israel!
Joshua 10-13
Ashley Harbor
Big Book Idea
God's instruction is given intentionally and leads to flourishing.
Key Verse | Joshua 10:13-14
And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.
Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.
There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD heeded the voice of a man, for the LORD fought for Israel.
Joshua 10-13
Chapter 10
The Sun Stands Still
1 As soon as Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard how Joshua had captured Ai and had devoted it to destruction, 1 10:1 That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction); also verses 28, 35, 37, 39, 40 doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, 2 he 2 10:2 One Hebrew manuscript, Vulgate (compare Syriac); most Hebrew manuscripts they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were warriors. 3 So Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, to Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 “Come up to me and help me, and let us strike Gibeon. For it has made peace with Joshua and with the people of Israel.” 5 Then the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered their forces and went up with all their armies and encamped against Gibeon and made war against it.
6 And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, “Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us.” 7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. 8 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.” 9 So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal. 10 And the LORD threw them into a panic before Israel, who 3 10:10 Or and he struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11 And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the LORD threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.
12 At that time Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
13
And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.
Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. 14 There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD heeded the voice of a man, for the LORD fought for Israel.
15 So Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.
Five Amorite Kings Executed
16 These five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah. 17 And it was told to Joshua, “The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.” 18 And Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave and set men by it to guard them, 19 but do not stay there yourselves. Pursue your enemies; attack their rear guard. Do not let them enter their cities, for the LORD your God has given them into your hand.” 20 When Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished striking them with a great blow until they were wiped out, and when the remnant that remained of them had entered into the fortified cities, 21 then all the people returned safe to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah. Not a man moved his tongue against any of the people of Israel.
22 Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me from the cave.” 23 And they did so, and brought those five kings out to him from the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. 24 And when they brought those kings out to Joshua, Joshua summoned all the men of Israel and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, “Come near; put your feet on the necks of these kings.” Then they came near and put their feet on their necks. 25 And Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. For thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.” 26 And afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hanged them on five trees. And they hung on the trees until evening. 27 But at the time of the going down of the sun, Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and they set large stones against the mouth of the cave, which remain to this very day.
28 As for Makkedah, Joshua captured it on that day and struck it, and its king, with the edge of the sword. He devoted to destruction every person in it; he left none remaining. And he did to the king of Makkedah just as he had done to the king of Jericho.
Conquest of Southern Canaan
29 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against Libnah. 30 And the LORD gave it also and its king into the hand of Israel. And he struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it; he left none remaining in it. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.
31 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Libnah to Lachish and laid siege to it and fought against it. 32 And the LORD gave Lachish into the hand of Israel, and he captured it on the second day and struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it, as he had done to Libnah.
33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish. And Joshua struck him and his people, until he left none remaining.
34 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Lachish to Eglon. And they laid siege to it and fought against it. 35 And they captured it on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword. And he devoted every person in it to destruction that day, as he had done to Lachish.
36 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron. And they fought against it 37 and captured it and struck it with the edge of the sword, and its king and its towns, and every person in it. He left none remaining, as he had done to Eglon, and devoted it to destruction and every person in it.
38 Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned back to Debir and fought against it 39 and he captured it with its king and all its towns. And they struck them with the edge of the sword and devoted to destruction every person in it; he left none remaining. Just as he had done to Hebron and to Libnah and its king, so he did to Debir and to its king.
40 So Joshua struck the whole land, the hill country and the Negeb and the lowland and the slopes, and all their kings. He left none remaining, but devoted to destruction all that breathed, just as the LORD God of Israel commanded. 41 And Joshua struck them from Kadesh-barnea as far as Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, as far as Gibeon. 42 And Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel. 43 Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.
Chapter 11
Conquests in Northern Canaan
1 When Jabin, king of Hazor, heard of this, he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph, 2 and to the kings who were in the northern hill country, and in the Arabah south of Chinneroth, and in the lowland, and in Naphoth-dor on the west, 3 to the Canaanites in the east and the west, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, and the Jebusites in the hill country, and the Hivites under Hermon in the land of Mizpah. 4 And they came out with all their troops, a great horde, in number like the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. 5 And all these kings joined their forces and came and encamped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel.
6 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for tomorrow at this time I will give over all of them, slain, to Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.” 7 So Joshua and all his warriors came suddenly against them by the waters of Merom and fell upon them. 8 And the LORD gave them into the hand of Israel, who struck them and chased them as far as Great Sidon and Misrephoth-maim, and eastward as far as the Valley of Mizpeh. And they struck them until he left none remaining. 9 And Joshua did to them just as the LORD said to him: he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire.
10 And Joshua turned back at that time and captured Hazor and struck its king with the sword, for Hazor formerly was the head of all those kingdoms. 11 And they struck with the sword all who were in it, devoting them to destruction; 4 11:11 That is, setting apart (devoting) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction); also verses 12, 20, 21 there was none left that breathed. And he burned Hazor with fire. 12 And all the cities of those kings, and all their kings, Joshua captured, and struck them with the edge of the sword, devoting them to destruction, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded. 13 But none of the cities that stood on mounds did Israel burn, except Hazor alone; that Joshua burned. 14 And all the spoil of these cities and the livestock, the people of Israel took for their plunder. But every person they struck with the edge of the sword until they had destroyed them, and they did not leave any who breathed. 15 Just as the LORD had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.
16 So Joshua took all that land, the hill country and all the Negeb and all the land of Goshen and the lowland and the Arabah and the hill country of Israel and its lowland 17 from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, as far as Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. And he captured all their kings and struck them and put them to death. 18 Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. 19 There was not a city that made peace with the people of Israel except the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon. They took them all in battle. 20 For it was the LORD's doing to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle, in order that they should be devoted to destruction and should receive no mercy but be destroyed, just as the LORD commanded Moses.
21 And Joshua came at that time and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua devoted them to destruction with their cities. 22 There was none of the Anakim left in the land of the people of Israel. Only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod did some remain. 23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. And the land had rest from war.
Chapter 12
Kings Defeated by Moses
1 Now these are the kings of the land whom the people of Israel defeated and took possession of their land beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise, from the Valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon, with all the Arabah eastward: 2 Sihon king of the Amorites who lived at Heshbon and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and from the middle of the valley as far as the river Jabbok, the boundary of the Ammonites, that is, half of Gilead, 3 and the Arabah to the Sea of Chinneroth eastward, and in the direction of Beth-jeshimoth, to the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, southward to the foot of the slopes of Pisgah; 4 and Og 5 12:4 Septuagint; Hebrew the boundary of Og king of Bashan, one of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei 5 and ruled over Mount Hermon and Salecah and all Bashan to the boundary of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and over half of Gilead to the boundary of Sihon king of Heshbon. 6 Moses, the servant of the LORD, and the people of Israel defeated them. And Moses the servant of the LORD gave their land for a possession to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
Kings Defeated by Joshua
7 And these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the people of Israel defeated on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, that rises toward Seir (and Joshua gave their land to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their allotments, 8 in the hill country, in the lowland, in the Arabah, in the slopes, in the wilderness, and in the Negeb, the land of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites): 9 the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one; 10 the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one; 11 the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one; 12 the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one; 13 the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one; 14 the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one; 15 the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one; 16 the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one; 17 the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one; 18 the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one; 19 the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one; 20 the king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one; 21 the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one; 22 the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one; 23 the king of Dor in Naphath-dor, one; the king of Goiim in Galilee, 6 12:23 Septuagint; Hebrew Gilgal one; 24 the king of Tirzah, one: in all, thirty-one kings.
Chapter 13
Land Still to Be Conquered
1 Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the LORD said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to possess. 2 This is the land that yet remains: all the regions of the Philistines, and all those of the Geshurites 3 (from the Shihor, which is east of Egypt, northward to the boundary of Ekron, it is counted as Canaanite; there are five rulers of the Philistines, those of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron), and those of the Avvim, 4 in the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians, to Aphek, to the boundary of the Amorites, 5 and the land of the Gebalites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrise, from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo-hamath, 6 all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim, even all the Sidonians. I myself will drive them out from before the people of Israel. Only allot the land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have commanded you. 7 Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh.”
The Inheritance East of the Jordan
8 With the other half of the tribe of Manasseh 7 13:8 Hebrew With it the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond the Jordan eastward, as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them: 9 from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the tableland of Medeba as far as Dibon; 10 and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, as far as the boundary of the Ammonites; 11 and Gilead, and the region of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salecah; 12 all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei (he alone was left of the remnant of the Rephaim); these Moses had struck and driven out. 13 Yet the people of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites, but Geshur and Maacath dwell in the midst of Israel to this day.
14 To the tribe of Levi alone Moses gave no inheritance. The offerings by fire to the LORD God of Israel are their inheritance, as he said to him.
15 And Moses gave an inheritance to the tribe of the people of Reuben according to their clans. 16 So their territory was from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the tableland by Medeba; 17 with Heshbon, and all its cities that are in the tableland; Dibon, and Bamoth-baal, and Beth-baal-meon, 18 and Jahaz, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath, 19 and Kiriathaim, and Sibmah, and Zereth-shahar on the hill of the valley, 20 and Beth-peor, and the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth, 21 that is, all the cities of the tableland, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses defeated with the leaders of Midian, Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who lived in the land. 22 Balaam also, the son of Beor, the one who practiced divination, was killed with the sword by the people of Israel among the rest of their slain. 23 And the border of the people of Reuben was the Jordan as a boundary. This was the inheritance of the people of Reuben, according to their clans with their cities and villages.
24 Moses gave an inheritance also to the tribe of Gad, to the people of Gad, according to their clans. 25 Their territory was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites, to Aroer, which is east of Rabbah, 26 and from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir, 8 13:26 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew Lidebir 27 and in the valley Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, having the Jordan as a boundary, to the lower end of the Sea of Chinnereth, eastward beyond the Jordan. 28 This is the inheritance of the people of Gad according to their clans, with their cities and villages.
29 And Moses gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh. It was allotted to the half-tribe of the people of Manasseh according to their clans. 30 Their region extended from Mahanaim, through all Bashan, the whole kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, sixty cities, 31 and half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. These were allotted to the people of Machir the son of Manasseh for the half of the people of Machir according to their clans.
32 These are the inheritances that Moses distributed in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan east of Jericho. 33 But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance; the LORD God of Israel is their inheritance, just as he said to them.
Footnotes
[1] 10:1 That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction); also verses 28, 35, 37, 39, 40[2] 10:2 One Hebrew manuscript, Vulgate (compare Syriac); most Hebrew manuscripts they
[3] 10:10 Or and he
[4] 11:11 That is, setting apart (devoting) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction); also verses 12, 20, 21
[5] 12:4 Septuagint; Hebrew the boundary of Og
[6] 12:23 Septuagint; Hebrew Gilgal
[7] 13:8 Hebrew With it
[8] 13:26 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew Lidebir
Table of Contents
Introduction to Joshua
Timeline
Author and Date
While this book mentions Joshua writing (8:32; 24:26), it does not claim he wrote the book. The repeated references to something existing “to this day” (see 4:9; 5:9; 6:25; etc.) seem to suggest that there was a significant lapse of time between the events recorded in the book and the time when the writing of the book was completed. The final writing may have taken place in the time of the exile (post-587 B.C.), but the writing probably began much earlier.
Theme
Joshua records part two of God’s grandest work of redemption in the OT period. In part one (the Pentateuch), the Lord redeemed his people out of slavery in Egypt and formalized his covenantal love for them at Sinai. Moses led the people during that time. Now in part two, under the leadership of Joshua, the Lord brings his people into the Land of Promise and gives them rest.
Purpose and Background
The book of Joshua seeks to explain God’s purpose in the events surrounding Israel’s capture of and settlement in Canaan. Those events are seen as the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Such an account would have been relevant to ancient Israel from its earliest arrival in Canaan, and to every generation of God’s people to the present day.
Joshua comes immediately after the Pentateuch and in many ways completes its story. The theme of the first five books of the Bible is the progressive fulfillment of the “patriarchal promise,” made first to Abraham (Gen. 12:1–3) and repeated to his son Isaac (Gen. 26:2–4) and his grandson Jacob (Gen. 28:13–15; etc.). The Lord promised Abraham and his descendants that they would be blessed and would become a blessing to others, that they would grow to become a great nation, and that they would be given a land of their own—and that these blessings would be enjoyed within a close covenant relationship with God.
By the end of the Pentateuch, Israel has been brought into a covenant relationship with the Lord and has become a great people. But they remain outside the Land of Promise, on the plains of Moab. Forty years before, the Lord had chosen Moses to lead his people out of slavery in Egypt and to bring them to the land he had promised (Ex. 3:6–8; 6:2–8). Now, after so many years of wandering, Joshua, the “new Moses” (Josh. 1:1–9), is to lead God’s people into the land, take it, and divide it among them as their inheritance from the Lord.
Key Themes
- The Lord’s continuing presence as the key to strength and courage (e.g., 1:5, 9).
- The importance of the Lord’s instructions for succeeding in one’s mission and acting with wisdom (1:7–8).
- The ability of the Lord to save the “outsider” (Rahab), and the danger of the “insider” falling away (Achan; see chs. 2 and 7).
- The Lord as divine Warrior and the reality of judgment (e.g., 10:42; 11:19–20).
- The danger of failing to ask the Lord (e.g., 9:14).
- The Lord as Protector of the covenant (e.g., 10:1–15, especially v. 11).
- The unity of the people of God (18:1–10; 22:34).
- The sovereignty of God in giving his people a place and rest (1:13; 11:23; 21:43–45).
- The faithfulness of God in fulfilling all his good promises (1:2; 21:43–45).
- The necessity of removing false gods and worshiping God alone (ch. 24).
Outline
- Crossing into the Land (1:1–5:15)
- Taking the Land (6:1–12:24)
- Dividing the Land (13:1–21:45)
- Serving the Lord in the Land (22:1–24:33)
The Setting of Joshua
c. 1406 B.C.
The book of Joshua recounts Israel’s conquest of the land of Canaan under Joshua’s command. The book opens with Joshua being commissioned by the Lord as the leader of the Israelites. It tells of his victories over the Canaanite kings and how he allotted the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel. The book ends with Joshua encouraging the people to remain faithful to the Lord.
Fact: Royal humiliation
Royal humiliation. In the ancient Near East, victors would often put their feet on the necks of defeated foes (10:24). This was usually done to people in positions of leadership. The act was meant to show dominance over the defeated foe.
Fact: How long did it take to conquer Canaan?
How long did it take to conquer Canaan? Though the brevity of Joshua’s account may make it seem like a swift military campaign, the conquest of Canaan probably took about seven years.
Fact: Mount Hermon
Mount Hermon (13:5) represented the northern boundary of the Promised Land. At over 9,000 feet (2,743 m), its snowy peak and thick forests were home to leopards and lions.
The Setting of Joshua
c. 1406 B.C.
The book of Joshua recounts Israel’s conquest of the land of Canaan under Joshua’s command. The book opens with Joshua being commissioned by the Lord as the leader of the Israelites. It tells of his victories over the Canaanite kings and how he allotted the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel. The book ends with Joshua encouraging the people to remain faithful to the Lord.
The Conquest of Canaan: The Southern Campaign
c. 1400 B.C.
Upon hearing that the Gibeonites signed a peace treaty with the Israelites, five Amorite cities attacked Gibeon. Joshua’s forces came up from Gilgal to defend the Gibeonites, and they chased the Amorites as far as Azekah and Makkedah. Joshua’s forces continued their attack until they had captured Libnah, Lachish, Makkedah, Eglon, Debir, Hebron, and most likely Jarmuth.
The Conquest of Canaan: The Northern Campaign
c. 1400 B.C.
After Joshua’s forces defeated several Amorite kings in the south, the king of Hazor assembled the northern Canaanite kings to battle the Israelites. Joshua and his men defeated the Canaanites at the waters of Merom and pursued them to Great Sidon and the Valley of Mizpeh. Then Joshua turned back and captured the city of Hazor.
The Allotment of the Land
c. 1400 B.C.
During the conquest of Canaan, Joshua allotted the land to the tribes of Israel. These boundaries, however, do not necessarily reflect the land each tribe actually inhabited by the end of the conquest. Several tribes, such as Dan, were unable to drive out the Canaanites that lived in much of their allotted territory (19:47), while other tribes controlled portions of land that were not originally allotted to them (e.g., 17:11).
Joshua 1:1–9 as a “Table of Contents” for the Rest of the Book
| “Table of Contents” Item: | Corresponds To: |
|---|---|
| “arise, go over this Jordan . . . into the land that I am giving . . . to the people of Israel” (1:2–5) | Israel conquers Canaan (1:10–12:24) |
| “you shall cause this people to inherit the land” (1:6) | Israel’s inheritance distributed (chs. 13–21) |
| “be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law . . .” (1:7–9) | Covenant renewal (chs. 22–24) |
Seven Stone Memorials in the Land
| 4:20 | Gilgal | a reminder of God’s faithfulness in bringing Israel safely across the Jordan into the Promised Land |
| 7:26 | over Achan | a reminder of Israel’s potential for unfaithfulness and of the dire consequences that result |
| 8:28–29 | over the king of Ai | a monument to Israel’s second chance and restoration |
| 8:30–32 | Joshua engraves a copy of the law | a reminder of Israel’s duty to live in obedience to the divine “Torah,” or “instruction” |
| 10:27 | over Amorite kings at Gibeon | a reminder of God’s gracious action in defending Israel’s covenant with a Canaanite city |
| 22:34 | peace in the land of Gilead | a witness to the unity of the Transjordanian tribes with Israel west of the Jordan |
| 24:26–27 | covenant renewal at Shechem | a reminder of Israel’s duty to serve the Lord, who fulfilled every promise in bringing them into the land |
Josh. 10:1 The name Adoni-zedek sounds like “lord of righteousness.”
Josh. 10:2–4 Gibeon was a great city. A royal city would have had its own “king” and would likely have controlled a larger district.
The Conquest of Canaan: The Southern Campaign
c. 1400 B.C.
Upon hearing that the Gibeonites signed a peace treaty with the Israelites, five Amorite cities attacked Gibeon. Joshua’s forces came up from Gilgal to defend the Gibeonites, and they chased the Amorites as far as Azekah and Makkedah. Joshua’s forces continued their attack until they had captured Libnah, Lachish, Makkedah, Eglon, Debir, Hebron, and most likely Jarmuth.
Josh. 10:5 Amorites. See 2:10 and note.
Josh. 10:8 I have given them into your hands. The Lord assures Joshua that he will be with him in defending the Gibeonites against the Jerusalem coalition. The past tense “have given” is significant. God has decided on the outcome, but Israel must still do some hard fighting (see 1:3 and note; compare 2:9, 24; 6:2, 16; 8:1; 10:19).
Josh. 10:9 marched up all night from Gilgal. While the precise location of Gilgal is not known, according to 4:19 it was “on the east border of Jericho.” From the vicinity of Jericho in the Jordan Valley to Gibeon in the hill country would have been an uphill journey of 15 miles (24 km).
Josh. 10:10 The battle spread west and then southwestward, covering more than 30 miles (48 km). This gave Israel a foothold in central Canaan, controlling the major east-west corridor from the Jordan through the central hills to the coast. It also opened the way for Joshua’s southern campaign (vv. 29–43).
Josh. 10:11 Large stones from heaven refers to the hailstones with which the Lord destroyed the fleeing Amorite troops.
Josh. 10:12–14 Sun, stand still suggests a cosmic miracle, in which the earth ceased rotating for a time. While scholars have proposed many other explanations for this amazing event, each one has difficulties. Each also fails to do justice to the claim that there has been no day like it before or since. The author’s emphasis is on the extraordinary answer that God gave to Joshua’s prayer: the LORD heeded the voice of a man. The Book of Jashar is also mentioned in 2 Sam. 1:18. It may have contained poetic accounts or songs of the deeds of heroes, but there are no surviving copies.
Josh. 10:15 The notice that Joshua returned . . . to the camp at Gilgal anticipates the conclusion of the entire southern campaign (see v. 43).
Josh. 10:24 In the ancient Near East, victors would often put their feet on the necks of defeated enemies, symbolizing supremacy.
Josh. 10:26 hanged them on five trees. A sign of curse (Deut. 21:22–23; compare the treatment of the king of Ai in Josh. 8:28–29).
Josh. 10:27 The large stones set against the mouth of the cave containing the bodies of the slain Amorite kings serve as a fifth monument in the land (see note on 4:20). This monument recalls God’s gracious action in defending Israel’s covenant with a Canaanite city (even though they acted recklessly in making it). to this very day. See note on 4:9.
Seven Stone Memorials in the Land
| 4:20 | Gilgal | a reminder of God’s faithfulness in bringing Israel safely across the Jordan into the Promised Land |
| 7:26 | over Achan | a reminder of Israel’s potential for unfaithfulness and of the dire consequences that result |
| 8:28–29 | over the king of Ai | a monument to Israel’s second chance and restoration |
| 8:30–32 | Joshua engraves a copy of the law | a reminder of Israel’s duty to live in obedience to the divine “Torah,” or “instruction” |
| 10:27 | over Amorite kings at Gibeon | a reminder of God’s gracious action in defending Israel’s covenant with a Canaanite city |
| 22:34 | peace in the land of Gilead | a witness to the unity of the Transjordanian tribes with Israel west of the Jordan |
| 24:26–27 | covenant renewal at Shechem | a reminder of Israel’s duty to serve the Lord, who fulfilled every promise in bringing them into the land |
Josh. 10:28–39 Joshua next conquers the important towns in the southern part of the land, establishing Israel’s hold on it.
Josh. 10:40–42 This summary of the conquest credits Joshua with acting obediently by taking no prisoners. It is very clear that the ultimate cause of Israel’s success is that the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.
Josh. 10:1–43 Because the events of ch. 10 are brought on by Canaanite aggression, Israel’s defeat of the south can be viewed as defensive.
Josh. 10:43 Joshua’s return to the camp at Gilgal (anticipated already in v. 15) marks the successful conclusion of the central and southern campaigns.
Fact: Royal humiliation
Royal humiliation. In the ancient Near East, victors would often put their feet on the necks of defeated foes (10:24). This was usually done to people in positions of leadership. The act was meant to show dominance over the defeated foe.
Josh. 11:1 Jabin, king of Hazor is not the Jabin mentioned in Judg. 4:2. Hazor was probably the largest city in Syria-Palestine in its day. It was located about 10 miles (16 km) north of the Sea of Galilee and covered an area of over 200 acres.
Josh. 11:4 The great horde gathered by the northern city-kings had chariots of light construction, with four-spoked wheels, drawn by two horses (contrast the “chariots of iron” of 17:16–18).
Josh. 11:5 Merom may be another name for Madon (v. 1). It was probably 5 miles (8 km) west of the Sea of Galilee.
Josh. 11:6 In keeping with the prohibition against placing confidence in military strength (see Deut. 17:16), Joshua is told to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots. Hamstringing would have involved cutting the horses’ equivalent of the Achilles tendon, which would make the animal unfit for military use (see also 2 Sam. 8:4).
Josh. 11:10–15 Joshua burned Hazor with fire (v. 11). He struck the other coalition cities as well, devoting them to destruction (v. 12; see note on 6:17–18). None of these other cities was burned except Hazor alone (11:13). Only three sites (Jericho in 6:24, Ai in 8:28, and Hazor) are explicitly said to have been burned.
Josh. 11:16–20 Joshua’s conquest of Canaan took a long time, perhaps seven years. it was the LORD’s doing to harden their hearts. On human responsibility vs. divine sovereignty, compare the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart (Ex. 4:21–14:31 and notes).
Josh. 11:21–22 Joshua cut off the Anakim. This was the race of giants amid whom the terrified Israelite spies had felt like “grasshoppers” (Num. 13:33). Joshua has now largely destroyed this threat (see Josh. 14:6–15).
Josh. 11:23 This verse begins the transition from the conquest phase (Joshua took the whole land) to the occupation phase (Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel; see chs. 13–19). rest from war. There will be more fighting when the Israelites try to occupy the conquered territories, but the land is in their control (see 18:1).
Fact: How long did it take to conquer Canaan?
How long did it take to conquer Canaan? Though the brevity of Joshua’s account may make it seem like a swift military campaign, the conquest of Canaan probably took about seven years.
Josh. 12:1 took possession of their land. It now falls to Israel to prove faithful in occupying the territories.
Josh. 12:9 The list of defeated kings generally follows the route of the preceding narrative: the central, southern, and northern campaigns. Some kings who were not mentioned during the narrative of the conquest are included in this list. This reminds readers that this is not a complete report of Israel’s history.
Josh. 6:1–12:24 Taking the Land. Although the Promised Land is God’s gift to the Israelites (6:2), now that they are in the land they must conquer it.
Josh. 11:1–12:24 The northern campaign takes shape as an effort to defend the Israelites against the coalition of northern kings gathered around Jabin of Hazor.
Josh. 12:1–24 Before the land is divided and assigned to the tribes, the conquest is summarized. Verses 1–6 describe the land beyond the Jordan (that is, east of the Jordan) that Israel had conquered under Moses (Num. 21:21–35). Joshua 12:7–24 lists the kings whom Joshua and the people of Israel defeated on the west side of the Jordan.
Josh. 12:24 This list of thirty-one kings suggests Israel’s overall success in gaining the upper hand in Canaan and in conquering the leaders who fought against them. It does not necessarily mean that all the cities formerly ruled by these kings were destroyed.
The Conquest of Canaan: The Northern Campaign
c. 1400 B.C.
After Joshua’s forces defeated several Amorite kings in the south, the king of Hazor assembled the northern Canaanite kings to battle the Israelites. Joshua and his men defeated the Canaanites at the waters of Merom and pursued them to Great Sidon and the Valley of Mizpeh. Then Joshua turned back and captured the city of Hazor.
The Allotment of the Land
c. 1400 B.C.
During the conquest of Canaan, Joshua allotted the land to the tribes of Israel. These boundaries, however, do not necessarily reflect the land each tribe actually inhabited by the end of the conquest. Several tribes, such as Dan, were unable to drive out the Canaanites that lived in much of their allotted territory (19:47), while other tribes controlled portions of land that were not originally allotted to them (e.g., 17:11).
Fact: Mount Hermon
Mount Hermon (13:5) represented the northern boundary of the Promised Land. At over 9,000 feet (2,743 m), its snowy peak and thick forests were home to leopards and lions.
Josh. 13:1–7 there remains yet very much land to possess. These verses speak of enemies whose land Israel has yet to possess. The Lord pledges to continue to drive them out. He instructs Joshua to go ahead and allot the land.
Josh. 13:11 Geshurites and Maacathites. Geshur and Maacah were two small kingdoms north and east of the Sea of Galilee. This Geshur is not to be confused with the Geshur mentioned in v. 2, which lay far to the south on the Philistine coast.
Josh. 13:13 the people of Israel did not drive out . . . dwell in the midst of Israel to this day. See note on 15:63.
Josh. 13:14 The notice that the tribe of Levi receives no inheritance (repeated in v. 33, explained in 14:3–4, and recalled in 18:7) anticipates the designation of Levitical cities in ch. 21; see Deut. 10:9 and note on Num. 18:21–24.
Josh. 13:22 Balaam . . . the son of Beor. See Numbers 22–24; 31:8.
What is the Book of Jasher?
Listen NowDive Deeper | Joshua 10-13
Joshua established a covenant with the Gibeonites in Joshua 9, and, because of this, the Israelites caught the attention of other surrounding kings in Canaan. The Gibeonites then asked Joshua to come to their defense. So, in addition to granting them peace, he must now provide them with protection.
As Joshua prepared for battle, the Lord tells him, "Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands." (Joshua 10:8a) Even though the Israelites disobeyed in making a covenant with the Gibeonites (Deuteronomy 7:2) and did not seek counsel from the Lord in doing so (Joshua 9:14), God defends the covenant Himself. What a faithful God we serve to come to our aid, even when we fail! When God told Joshua, "I have given"—using the past tense—God emphasized the assurance of victory in already declaring the outcome (Joshua 10:8). However, even with this assurance, the Israelites still had to fight in faith that God would deliver on His promise!
Then, get this: "The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day." (Joshua 10:13) Wow. God literally, miraculously, extended the day to deliver victory to the Israelites. No matter how you interpret this verse, we do know that "[t]here has been no day like it before or since . . . ." (Joshua 10:14) That day, the Lord's power was put on display in an astounding way.
After this victory, Joshua went on to more successful conquests in Southern and Northern Canaan. Through it all, the Lord gave their enemies into the Israelites' hands (Joshua 10:30, 32, 42; 11:8) and assured them to not be afraid (Joshua 11:6). While there still remained land to be possessed, the Lord told Joshua, "I myself will drive them out from before the people of Israel" (Joshua 13:6) and to go ahead and allot the land to the tribes of Israel. Once again, the Lord fulfills His promises to His chosen people!
Through this passage, we see God's power, faithfulness, and intentionality. All He asks in return is that we love Him and trust Him to guide our steps.
This month's memory verse
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
– 1 Samuel 16:7
Discussion Questions
1. Are there any ways you are not currently following the Lord's instructions that you need to confess to Him?
2. What are some times that you have seen the Lord provide or respond despite your missteps or imperfections?
3. What are moments you can look back on in your life that act as "mile markers" in your walk with the Lord—times when you have seen Him do miraculous things? (Joshua 10:14: "There has been no day like it before or since . . . .")
4. What are areas in your life right now in which you see God's deliverance that you can thank Him for?