Joshua 10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 10:5

Therefore the five kings of the Amorites ,.... For though they were chiefly Hittites that dwelt in Hebron, and Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; yet as the Amorites were the most powerful people in the land, and had dispersed themselves in the several parts of it, and seem to have the greatest authority in it, they were all called Amorites, and perhaps the kings of those cities were of them, and set over them by them; so we find that the Gibeonites, who were Hivites, are said to be of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 10:6

And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal ,.... Which some think they did when besieged, and not before, which showed their faith in the power of God, whom they now professed; but it is not likely that they should defer sending for help so long, since it is reasonable to suppose they might have heard of the design of the five kings against them; or that they should be able to send out messengers when surrounded on all sides; it may be better therefore to render the words,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 10:7

So Joshua ascended from Gilgal ,.... Which lay low in the plains of Jericho: he and all the men of war with him ; which must not be understood of the whole camp of Israel, which consisted of five hundred thousand fighting men at least; since such a number was unnecessary for this expedition, and could not have proceeded with that haste the case required; nor would it have been prudent and advisable to have left the unarmed people, old men, women, and children, defenceless; but these were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 10:8

And the Lord said unto Joshua ,.... Either when upon the march, and while he was proceeding on in his journey to the assistance of the Gibeonites, or rather before he set out; and it is highly probable he consulted the Lord on this occasion, having, it may be, some doubt on his mind, whether he should go to their assistance, since the league between them was obtained by fraud; and the words may be rendered, "and the Lord hath said" F14 ויאמר "et dixerat", Masius, Drusius, Junius &... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 10:9

Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly ,.... Which no doubt threw them into consternation and confusion: and went up from Gilgal all night ; he chose the night for secrecy and surprise, and that he might be the sooner with the enemy, and to the assistance and relief of Gibeon; and as it was about nine or ten miles from Gilgal to Gibeon, it was easily performed in a night's march; See Gill on Joshua 9:6 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 10:10

And the Lord discomfited them before Israel ,.... Disturbed, troubled, and frightened them, at the appearance and presence of the people of Israel; they were thrown into terror and confusion upon their approach, being so sudden and unexpected: and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon ; by the Israelites, who came upon them suddenly: and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron ; there were two places of this name, the upper and the nether, both built by Sherah, the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 10:11

And it came to pass, as they fled before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron ,.... The descent of it on that side towards Azekah, and which was also a very narrow passage, of which Josephus F19 De Bello Jud. l. 2. c. 19. sect. 7, 8. makes mention. The Jews say F20 Gloss. in T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 54. 2. , that the going down of Bethhoron was the place where the army of Sennacherib fell: that the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 10:12

Then spake Joshua to the Lord ,.... In prayer, and entreated as follows, that the sun and moon might stand still, until the victory was complete; though the Jewish writers interpret it of a song; so the Targum, then Joshua praised, or sung praise, as in the Targum on Song of Solomon 1:1 ; and which is approved of by Jarchi and Kimchi: in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel ; the five kings of the Amorites, and their armies, Joshua 10:5 , ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 10:13

And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed ,.... The sun that came out of his chamber like a bridegroom, and rejoiced as a strong man to run his course, stopped his course at once; and the moon that walks in her brightness proceeded not on, but both stood still, motionless, and continued in this position: until the people had avenged themselves on their enemies : until the nation and people of Israel had taken vengeance on and destroyed the live kings and their forces: how this is to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 10:14

And there was no day like that, before it, or after it ,.... Which must be understood as referring not to natural days, or such as are according to the natural course of things, as those in the northern and southern poles, which are much longer, but to miraculous and extraordinary ones: never was there such a day as this, occasioned by the sun standing still; and as for Hezekiah's day, which is objected, when the sun went ten degrees backward on the dial of Ahaz, it is not certain whether... read more

Group of Brands