(KJV) Joshua 101

<< Joshua 9 Joshua 11 >>

⥃The Day the Sun Stood Still

[1] Now it came to pass, when Adoni–zedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had2 done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the3 inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;4 [2] That they feared5 greatly, because Gibeon6 [was] a great city, as one of the royal cities7, and because it [was] greater than Ai, and all the men thereof [were] mighty. [3] Wherefore Adoni–zedek king of Jerusalem8 sent unto Hoham king of Hebron9, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish10, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying, [4] Come up unto me, and help11 me, that we may12 smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel. [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.13

[6] [¶]And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp14 to Gilgal, saying, Slack15 not thy hand from thy16 servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains17 are gathered together against us. [7] So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.18

[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.19 [9] Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, [and] went up from Gilgal all night20. [10] And the Lord21 discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon22, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Beth–horon23, and smote them to Azekah24, and unto Makkedah25. [11] And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, [and] were in the going down to Beth–horon, that the Lord26 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.

[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, Sun27, stand thou28 still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon29. [13] And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until30 the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. [Is] not this written in the book of Jasher31? So the sun32 stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. [14] And there was33 no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord34 hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord35 fought for Israel.

[15] And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.36

⥃The Victory at Makkedah

[16] But these five kings fled, and hid37 themselves in a cave38 at Makkedah. [17] And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.39 [18] And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them:40 [19] And stay ye41 not, [but] pursue after your enemies, and smite42 the hindmost of them; suffer them43 not to enter into their cities: for the Lord your God hath delivered them into your hand. [20] And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made44 an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest [which] remained of them entered into fenced cities45. [21] And all the people returned to the camp46 to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none47 moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel. [22] Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave.4849 [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.50 [24] And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet51 upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them. [25] And Joshua said unto them, Fear not52, nor be dismayed, be strong53 and of good courage: for thus shall54 the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight. [26] And afterward Joshua55 smote them, and slew them, and hanged56 them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening. [27] And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, [that] Joshua commanded, and they took57 them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave’s mouth, [which remain] until this very day58.

[28] And that day Joshua took Makkedah59, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them60, and all the souls that [were] therein; he let none remain: and he did61 to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho.

⥃Conquest of the Southern Cities

[29] Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah62, and fought against Libnah: [30] And the Lord delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that [were] therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho.

[31] [¶]And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish63, and encamped against it, and fought against it: [32] And the Lord delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that [were] therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah64.

[33] [¶]Then Horam king of Gezer65 came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.

[34] [¶]And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon66, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it, and fought against it: [35] And they took it on that day67, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that [were] therein he utterly68 destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish. [36] And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron69; and they fought against it: [37] And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king70 thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that [were] therein; he left none remaining, according71 to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that [were] therein.

[38] [¶]And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir72; and fought against it: [39] And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that [were] therein; he left none73 remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.

[40] [¶]So Joshua smote all the country74 of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly75 destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord76 God of Israel commanded. [41] And Joshua smote them from Kadesh–barnea77 even unto Gaza78, and all the country79 of Goshen, even unto Gibeon80. [42] And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because81 the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. [43] And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp82 to Gilgal.

<< Joshua 9 Joshua 11 >>

  1. Josh 10:1, Five kings war against Gibeon; Josh 10:6, Joshua rescues it; Josh 10:10, God fights against them with hailstones; Josh 10:12, The sun and moon stand still at the word of Joshua; Josh 10:16, The five kings are mured in a cave; Josh 10:22, They are brought forth; Josh 10:24, scornfully used; Josh 10:26, and hanged; Josh 10:28, Seven kings more are conquered; Josh 10:43, Joshua returns to Gilgal. ↩

  2. Josh 6:21, Josh 8:2, Josh 8:22-29 ↩

  3. Josh 9:15-27, Josh 11:19-20 ↩

  4. Adonizedec, Gen 14:18; Heb 7:1 ↩

  5. Josh 2:9-13, Josh 2:24; Exod 15:14-16; Deut 11:25, Deut 28:10; Ps 48:4-6; Prov 1:26-27; Prov 10:24; Heb 10:27, Heb 10:31; Rev 6:15-17 ↩

  6. Gibeon was situated on an eminence, as its name imports, 40 furlongs north from Jerusalem, according to Josephus. ↩

  7. Heb. cities of the kingdom, 1Sam 27:5; 2Sam 12:26 ↩

  8. Josh 10:1, Josh 10:5, Josh 12:10-13, Josh 15:35-39, Josh 15:54, Josh 15:63, Josh 18:28 ↩

  9. Hebron was situated on an eminence, 20 miles south of Jerusalem, and the same distance north of Beer–sheba. It is now called El Khalil, "the well-beloved," the usual epithet which the Turks and Arabs apply to Abraham, whose sepulchral cave they still shew; over which St. Helena built a magnificent church Its original site was on an eminence, at the southern foot of which the present village is pleasantly situated, on which are the remains of an ancient castle, its sole defence. Josh 14:15; Gen 23:2, Gen 37:14; Num 13:22; 2Sam 2:11 ↩

  10. 2Kgs 18:14, 2Kgs 18:17; 2Chr 11:9; Mic 1:13 ↩

  11. Isa 8:9-10, Isa 41:5-7; Acts 9:24-27, Acts 21:28; Rev 16:14, Rev 20:8-10 ↩

  12. Josh 10:1, Josh 9:15; Matt 16:24; John 15:19, John 16:2-3; Acts 9:23; 2Tim 3:12; Jas 4:4; 1Pet 4:4 ↩

  13. Josh 10:6, Josh 9:1-2; Gen 15:16; Isa 8:9-10 ↩

  14. Josh 5:10, Josh 9:6 ↩

  15. 2Kgs 4:24 ↩

  16. Josh 9:15, Josh 9:24-25; Isa 33:22 ↩

  17. Josh 21:11; Deut 1:15; Ps 125:2; Luke 1:39 ↩

  18. Isa 8:12, Isa 8:14 ↩

  19. Josh 1:5-9, Josh 8:1, Josh 11:6; Deut 3:2, Deut 20:1-4; Judg 4:14-15; Ps 27:1-2; Isa 41:10-15; Rom 8:31 ↩

  20. 1Sam 11:9-11; Prov 22:29, Prov 24:11-12; Eccl 9:10; 2Tim 2:3, 2Tim 4:2 ↩

  21. Josh 11:8; Judg 4:15; 1Sam 7:10-12; 2Chr 14:12; Ps 18:14, Ps 44:3, Ps 78:55 ↩

  22. Isa 28:21 ↩

  23. Josh 16:3, Josh 16:5, Josh 21:22; 1Sam 13:18 ↩

  24. Josh 10:11, Josh 15:35; Jer 34:7 ↩

  25. Josh 10:28, Josh 12:16, Josh 15:41 ↩

  26. Gen 19:24; Exod 9:22-26; Judg 5:20; Ps 11:6, Ps 18:12-14, Ps 77:17-18; Isa 28:2, Isa 30:30; Ezek 13:11; Rev 11:19, Rev 16:21 ↩

  27. Joshua doubtless acted, on this occasion, by an immediate impulse upon his mind from the Spirit of God. The terms here employed to record the miracle, agree with the accustomed manner in which the the motions of the earth and sun are described in our own day. The sun apparently moves, but really is stationary; while the diurnal movement of the earth on its axis is by us unnoticed, and would not have been known except by astronomical science. The sun appeared to the Israelites over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Ajalon, and there they stayed in their course for "a whole day." Many vain enquiries have been made concerning the way in which this miracle was wrought, and many difficulties and objections have been urged against understanding it literally. But the fact is authenticated by the Divine testimony; and the manner in which it was accomplished lies entirely out of our province, because beyond our comprehension. Josh 10:13; Deut 4:19, Deut 17:3; Job 9:7, Job 31:26-27; Ps 19:4, Ps 74:16, Ps 148:3; Isa 28:21, Isa 38:8, Isa 60:20; Amos 8:9; Hab 3:11 ↩

  28. Heb. be silent, Hab 2:20 *marg. Zech 2:13 ↩

  29. Josh 19:42; Judg 12:12, Aijalon ↩

  30. Num 31:2; Judg 5:2, Judg 16:28; Esth 8:13; Luke 18:7; Rev 6:10 ↩

  31. or, the upright, Num 21:14; 2Sam 1:18 ↩

  32. Josh 10:11, Josh 10:14; Ps 19:4, Ps 74:16-17, Ps 136:7-9, Ps 148:3; Isa 24:23, Isa 38:8; Joel 2:10, Joel 2:31, Joel 3:15; Matt 5:45, Matt 24:29; Acts 2:20; Rev 6:12, Rev 8:12, Rev 16:8-9; Rev 21:23 ↩

  33. 2Kgs 20:10-11; Isa 38:8 ↩

  34. Zech 4:6-7; Matt 21:21-22; Mark 11:22-24; Luke 17:6 ↩

  35. Josh 10:42, Josh 23:3; Deut 1:30 ↩

  36. Josh 10:6, Josh 10:43 ↩

  37. Ps 48:4-6, Ps 139:7-10; Isa 2:10-12; Amos 9:2; Rev 6:15 ↩

  38. Judg 6:2; 1Sam 13:6, 1Sam 24:3, 1Sam 24:8; Isa 2:19-22, Isa 24:21-22; Mic 7:17 ↩

  39. This information brought to Joshua, is an evidence that there were those of the country, who knew the holes and fastnesses of it, that were in his interests. And the care Joshua took to secure them there, as it is an instance of his policy and presence of mind, even in the heat of action; so, in the success of their project, it shews how they who think to hide themselves from God, not only deceive, but destroy themselves. Their refuge of lies will but bind them over to God's judgment. ↩

  40. Josh 10:22; Judg 9:46-49; Job 21:30; Amos 5:19, Amos 9:1; Matt 27:66 ↩

  41. Ps 18:37-41; Jer 48:10 ↩

  42. Heb. cut off the tail, Isa 9:14-15 ↩

  43. Josh 10:20; 2Sam 17:13, 2Sam 20:6; Jer 8:14 ↩

  44. Josh 10:10, Josh 8:24; 2Chr 13:17 ↩

  45. 2Sam 20:6; Jer 8:14 ↩

  46. Josh 10:15-17 ↩

  47. Exod 11:7; Isa 54:17, Isa 57:4 ↩

  48. 1Sam 15:32 ↩

  49. Josh 10:16-18 ↩

  50. Josh 10:1, Josh 10:3, Josh 10:5 ↩

  51. Deut 33:29; Judg 8:20; Ps 2:8-12, Ps 18:40, Ps 91:13, Ps 107:40, Ps 110:1, Ps 110:5; Ps 149:8-9; Isa 26:5-6, Isa 60:11-12; Mal 4:3; Rom 16:20; Rev 2:26-27 ↩

  52. Josh 1:9; Deut 31:6-8; 1Sam 17:37; Ps 63:9, Ps 77:11; 2Cor 1:10; 2Tim 4:17-18 ↩

  53. Eph 6:10 ↩

  54. Deut 3:21-22, Deut 7:19; Rom 8:37 ↩

  55. Judg 8:21; 1Sam 15:33 ↩

  56. Josh 8:29; Num 25:4; Deut 21:22-23; 2Sam 21:6, 2Sam 21:9; Esth 2:23, Esth 7:9-10; Matt 27:25; Gal 3:13 ↩

  57. Josh 8:29; Deut 21:23; 2Sam 18:17 ↩

  58. Josh 4:9, Josh 7:26 ↩

  59. Situated, according to Eusebius, 8 miles east from Eleutheropolis. It was afterwards assigned to the tribe of Judah. Josh 15:41 ↩

  60. Josh 10:32, Josh 10:35, Josh 10:37, Josh 10:39, Josh 6:21; Deut 7:2, Deut 7:16, Deut 20:16-17; Ps 21:8-9, Ps 110:1; Luke 19:27; 1Cor 15:25 ↩

  61. Josh 10:30, Josh 8:2 ↩

  62. This city was situated in the south of Judah, and in the district of Eleutheropolis, according to Eusebius and Jerome. It is probably the Libnah in the neighbourhood of which the Israelites encamped. Josh 12:15, Josh 15:42, Josh 21:13; Num 33:20; 2Kgs 8:22, 2Kgs 19:8; Jer 52:1, as he did, Josh 10:28, Josh 6:21, Josh 8:2, Josh 8:29 ↩

  63. Lachish was also situated in the south of Judah, seven miles south from Eleutheropolis, according to Eusebius and Jerome. It appears to have been anciently a very strong place; for though the people were panic struck, and the Israelites flushed with success, yet Joshua could not reduce it till the second day; and the king of Assyria afterwards was obliged to raise the siege. Josh 10:3, Josh 10:5, Josh 12:11, Josh 15:39; 2Kgs 19:8; 2Chr 11:9; Isa 37:8; Mic 1:13 ↩

  64. Josh 10:30 ↩

  65. Gezer was situated on the confines of Ephraim and Manasseh, between Beth–horon and the sea; and is evidently the village of Gazara mentioned by Eusebius, four miles (north) from Nicopolis or Emmaus. Josh 12:12, Josh 16:3, Josh 16:10, Josh 21:21; Judg 1:29; 1Kgs 9:16-17; 1Chr 6:67, 1Chr 20:4 ↩

  66. This town appears to have been no great distance from Lachish, with which it is mentioned, Josh 15:39, as one of the cities given to Judah. Josh 10:3, Josh 12:12, Josh 15:39 ↩

  67. Josh 10:32 ↩

  68. Josh 10:37; Lev 26:44; Job 19:10 ↩

  69. Josh 10:3, Josh 10:5, Josh 14:13-14, Josh 15:13, Josh 15:54, Josh 21:13; Gen 13:18; Num 13:22; Judg 1:10; 2Sam 5:1-5, 2Sam 15:9-10; 1Chr 12:23, 1Chr 12:28 ↩

  70. From Josh 10:23, we learn that the king of Hebron was one of the five whom Joshua slew and hanged on five trees at Makkedah. This slaying of the king of Hebron, therefore, must either refer to what had already been done, or the Hebronites had set up another, whom Joshua now slew when he took the city. ↩

  71. Josh 10:35 ↩

  72. Debir was situated in the south of the tribe of Judah, near Hebron. The expression of Joshua's returning to Debir, probably denotes, that having carried his conquests in the southern parts as far as Gaza (Josh 10:41), which was in the south-west angle of Canaan, he then marched back to besiege Debir. Josh 12:13, Josh 15:15, Josh 15:49, Josh 21:15; Judg 1:11-15 ↩

  73. Josh 10:33, Josh 10:37, Josh 10:40, Josh 11:8; Deut 3:3; 2Kgs 10:11; Obad 1:18 ↩

  74. Josh 15:21-63, Josh 18:21-28, Josh 19:1-8, Josh 19:40-48 ↩

  75. Josh 10:35, Josh 10:37; 1Kgs 15:29; Ps 9:17; 2Thess 1:7-9 ↩

  76. Josh 6:17, Josh 8:2, Josh 8:27, Josh 9:24; Exod 23:31-33, Exod 34:12; Deut 7:2-16, Deut 26:16-17 ↩

  77. Josh 14:6-7; Num 13:26, Num 32:8, Num 34:4; Deut 9:23 ↩

  78. Gen 10:19; Judg 16:1, Judg 16:21; 1Sam 6:17; Zech 9:5; Acts 8:26 ↩

  79. The country of Goshen, mentioned here, seems to have been in the south of Judah; and to have taken its name from the city of Goshen, situated in the same tribe. Josh 11:16, Josh 15:51 ↩

  80. Josh 10:2, Josh 10:12; 1Kgs 3:5 ↩

  81. Josh 10:14; Exod 14:14, Exod 14:25; Deut 20:4; Ps 44:3-8, Ps 46:1, Ps 46:7, Ps 46:11, Ps 80:3, Ps 118:6; Isa 8:9-10, Isa 43:4; Rom 8:31-37 ↩

  82. Josh 10:15, Josh 4:19; 1Sam 11:14 ↩