Joshua 10:3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 10:1-6

Joshua and the hosts of Israel had now been a good while in the land of Canaan, and no great matters were effected; they were made masters of Jericho by a miracle, of Ai by stratagem, and of Gibeon by surrender, and that was all; hitherto the progress of their victories had not seemed proportionable to the magnificence of their entry and the glory of their beginnings. Those among them that were impatient of delays, it is probable, complained of Joshua's slowness, and asked why they did not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 10:3

Wherefore Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron ,.... Which, according to Jerom F4 De loc. Heb. fol. 87. E. was twenty two miles from Jerusalem; it was an ancient city built seven years before Zoan in Egypt; See Gill on Genesis 13:18 and See Gill on Numbers 13:22 , and unto Piram king of Jarmuth ; a city which fell to the lot of Judah, as did Hebron, Joshua 15:35 ; according to Jerom F5 lb. fol. 92. H. , it was four miles distant from Eleutheropolis;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 10:3

Hoham king of Hebron - This city was situated in the mountains, southward of Jerusalem, from which it was about thirty miles distant. It fell to the tribe of Judah. Piram king of Jarmuth - There were two cities of this name; one belonged to the tribe of Issachar, see Joshua 21:29 ; that mentioned here fell to the tribe of Judah, see Joshua 15:35 ; it is supposed to have been about eighteen miles distant from Jerusalem. Japhia king of Lachish - This city is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 10:1-43

The great victory and its results. Many of the considerations which this passage suggests have been already anticipated. Thus the celerity of Joshua's march (verse 9) suggests the same set of ideas as Joshua 4:10 . The destruction of the cities teaches the same lessons as the destruction of Jericho; while the miraculous interposition in the battle of Beth-horon is hardly to be distinguished, as a source of spiritual instruction, from the destruction of Jericho. Again, the confederacy... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 10:3

Hoham king of Hebron. It was a powerful confederacy which the Phoenician tribes in their desperation formed against Joshua. At its head stood the king of Jerusalem, which, from its central situation and its almost impregnable position (see notes on Joshua 15:63 ), might naturally stand at the head of such a league. Next came Hebron, which, from its importance from an early period ( Genesis 23:2 ; Genesis 35:27 ), and the gigantic stature of its inhabitants ( Numbers 13:33 ; ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 10:3

For Hebron, see Genesis 13:18. Jarmuth, afterward one of the cities of Judah Joshua 15:35, is probably identified with the modern Yarmuk. Lachish was also a city of Judah Joshua 15:39, and, like Jarmuth, occupied by Jews after the captivity, Neh. 11:39. It was fortified by Rehoboam after the revolt of the Ten tribes 2 Chronicles 11:9, and seems to have been regarded as one of the safest places of refuge 2 Kings 14:19. Through Lachish the idolatry of Israel was imported into Judah Micah 1:13,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 10:2-3

Joshua 10:2-3. They feared greatly Namely, Adoni-zedek and his people, he being spoken of ( Jos 10:1 ) as a public person, representing all his people. Gibeon was as one of the royal cities Either really a royal city, and having a king, or equal to one of the royal cities, though it had not a king. It seems indeed to have been governed by elders, Joshua 9:11. Adoni- zedek sent Either because he was superior to them, or because he was nearest the danger, and most forward in the work. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Joshua 10:1-43

Victory in southern Canaan (10:1-43)The five kings who between them controlled much of southern Canaan saw Joshua’s control of Gibeon as a threat to their security. They decided to conquer Gibeon and so stop any further move south by Israel (10:1-5).Joshua faced his biggest battle thus far. He knew that it would be a life-or-death struggle, but God encouraged him with the assurance of victory (6-8). God then helped make victory possible by causing some unusual changes in the weather that were... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Joshua 10:3

Ver. 3. Adoni-zedec—sent unto Hoham, &c.— Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon, were four cities situated south of Jerusalem, and, together with that city, given to the tribe of Judah, as we shall see hereafter. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Joshua 10:3

3, 4. Wherefore Adoni-zedek . . . sent, . . . saying, Come up unto me, and help me—A combined attack was meditated on Gibeon, with a view not only to punish its people for their desertion of the native cause, but by its overthrow to interpose a barrier to the farther inroads of the Israelites. This confederacy among the mountaineers of Southern Palestine was formed and headed by the king of Jerusalem, because his territory was most exposed to danger, Gibeon being only six miles distant, and... read more

Group of Brands