Joshua 10:6-7

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 10:7-14

Here, I. Joshua resolves to assist the Gibeonites, and God encourages him in this resolve. 1. He ascended from Gilgal (Josh. 10:7), that is, he designed, determined, and prepared for, this expedition to relieve Gibeon, for it is probable it was before he stirred a step that God spoke to him to encourage him. It was generous and just in Joshua to help his new allies, though perhaps the king of Jerusalem, when he attacked them, little thought that Joshua would be so ready to help them, but... 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 Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 10:6

Verse 6 6.And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua, etc The course of the narrative is inverted; for the Gibeonites certainly did not wait till they were besieged, but on seeing an army levied and prepared, and having no doubt that they would have to sustain the first onset, as they had incurred general hatred, they anticipate the attack, and hasten to have recourse to the protection of Joshua. (91) To desert those to whom life had been given, would have been at once unlawful, unjust, and... 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 10:6

To Gilgal. See note on Joshua 9:6 . That dwell in the mountains. Another life like touch. The details of the confederacy were not fully known to the Gibeonites. There had not been time for that. It was only known that the storm was to break on them from the mountain region, Jerusalem ( Joshua 9:4 ) being the head quarters of the expedition. As a matter of fact, the kings who formed the confederacy principally inhabited the lowlands, as we have seen. No one could have hit upon this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 10:7

Joshua ascended. Keil insists upon the military sense here, as against the literal one, "went up." He believes in the second Gilgal, which was on higher ground than the first (see Joshua 9:6 ), where, however, we learn that the second Gilgal was not so elevated as Gibeon. And all the mighty men of valour. A selection of the bravest troops seems to be implied here, by the copulative particle. Cf. Genesis 3:16 , "Thy pain and (especially in the time of) thy pregnancy." read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 10:6

The language reflects the urgency of the crisis. Accordingly Joshua made a forced march, accompanied only by his soldiers Joshua 10:7, and accomplished in a single night the distance from Gilgal to Gibeon (about 15 miles in a direct line), which on a former occasion had been a three days’ journey Joshua 9:17. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 10:6-7

Joshua 10:6-7. Slack not thy hand from thy servants Do not neglect or delay to help us, whom thou art obliged to protect both in duty, as thou art our master, and for thy own interest, we being part of thy possessions; and because we have given ourselves to thee, and put ourselves under thy protection. In the mountains In the mountainous country. So Joshua ascended Having no doubt asked counsel of God first, which is implied in the answer God gives him, Joshua 10:8. All the mighty men ... read more

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