9 Joshua traveled all night from Gilgal and took the Amorite armies by surprise. 10 The Lord threw them (Israel’s enemies) into a panic (confusion), and the Israelites slaughtered great numbers of them at Gibeon. Then the Israelites chased the enemy along the road to Beth-horon, killing them all along the way to Azekah and Makkedah. 11 As the Amorites retreated down the road from Beth-horon, the Lord destroyed them with a terrible hailstorm from heaven that continued until they reached Azekah. The hail killed more of the enemy than the Israelites killed with the sword. 12 On the day the Lord gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said, “Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.” 13 So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day. 14 There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer. Surely the Lord fought for Israel that day! Joshua 10:9-14 (NLT).
After Israel’s defeat of Jericho and Ai, the reputation of Israel’s conquering army under the leadership of Joshua spread throughout the rest of Canaan (God’s Promised Land). From this point, Israel faced an alliance of united cites rather than one city at a time. Israel would eventually fight against a southern coalition of forces (Joshua 10) and then a northern coalition of forces (Joshua 11). The southern coalition of forces included the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. However, Gibeon of the Hivites decided to break from the southern coalition of forces.
Gibeon and its people lived in important cities, like one of the royal cities, in the southern region. Moreover, Gibeon was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters (Joshua 10:2). The Gibeonite cities occupied what would come to be called Bethlehem. The people of Gibeon heard of God’s protection of His people Israel and Israel’s victories (Joshua 9:9-10). These people knew God was fighting for Israel, and no army could resist God (Joshua 10:14). So, the Gibeonites sought peace with Joshua and the Israelites (Joshua 10:4: Joshua 11:19). However, Gibeon people deceitfully hide their true identity as Hivities of Canaan and disguised themselves as being from a far of country to make peace with God’s people. (Deut. 20:10-11). So, Gibeon hid their identity to deceive Israel and save themselves destruction. However, Gibeon’s surrender to Israel gave Israel four Hivite cities (Joshua 9:17; Joshua 10:2) and placed Israel in the central highlands of Canaan close to Jerusalem. The Gibeonites also became Israel’s servants and God’s people (see also 2 Samuel 21:1–15). Furthermore, the Gibeonites and Rahab’s household were the only people in Canaan that made peace with God and His people and received God’s grace, mercy and salvation from utter destruction (Joshua 2:12-14; Joshua 6:22-25; Joshua 11:19-20; see also Luke 15). The Gibeonites and Rahab surrendered to the one true and living God, became reconciled to God and part of His people (Matthew 1:5-6; 2 Corinthians 5).
Nonetheless, the author of Joshua points out that for the second time Joshua acted without seeking God for guidance (Joshua 9:14). The first time was at Ai (Joshua 7:2-4). The initial defeat at Ai should have taught Joshua and Israel the importance of seeking God first and His guidance (Joshua 7:2). God is the real hero of the Book of Joshua and the Commander (Joshua 5:13–15).
After the Gibeonites surrender to Joshua and Israel, five kings of Canaan created a coalition strategy to recapture Gibeon because of Gibeon’s central location in Canaan (Joshua 10:5). The people of Gibeon were now a part of God’s people and Israel came to help the Gibeon people (Joshua 9:15; Joshua 10:6-7). As at Jericho, God spoke to Joshua to affirm him and Israel that He had also given the five Canaanite kings and their cities into Joshua’s hand (Joshua 10:8). So Joshua led Israel into battle and God led the way (Joshua 10:9). Even more amazing, God threw the Canaanite people into panic and confusion before Israel. God threw large hailstones down from heaven on the southern Canaanite armies. In essence, God personally fought for Israel using nature as His weapons of war to defend His people from enemy attack (Joshua 10:10-11; see also Job 38:22-23). Then, God listened to Joshua’s prayer for help and even stopped the sun from setting so Joshua and Israel would have more time to defeat Israel’s enemy in battle (Joshua 10:12-14). God made the sun and moon stand still!
Joshua 10:12-14 describes one of God’s spectacular miracles on earth. On this day, Joshua prayed aloud to God and asked God to "Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and let the moon stand in its place over the valley of Aijalon!" (Joshua 10:12 (TLB)). So, God ordered the sun to stand still, and the moon stopped, until Joshua and Israel had defeated their enemies. So, the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day (Joshua 10:12-13). With this event, God revealed to the Canaanites that He was the true, living, and all-powerful God of heaven and earth. Israel’s God was dominant over any of the gods of Canaan.
But how could the sun stand still? From a scientific standpoint, the sun always stands still in relation to earth as the earth travels around the sun. Many explanations have been given for this miraculous event. Some scholars have argued that God slowed earth's normal rotation on the earth’s axis to give Joshua more time to fight. Other scholars argue that God sent an unusual refraction of the sun's rays to give Joshua additional hours of light, while other scholars argue a solar eclipse occurred on this day. Regardless of God's chosen method, the Holy Bible is clear that Joshua experienced the longest day in recorded history (Joshua 10:14). Even more, we know that God hears and response to the genuine prayers of help from His people (see also Luke 11:1-13; Luke 18:1-8)! From this battle, Joshua and Israel now had conquered the central and southern regions of Canaan (God’s Promised Land) for His people.
31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:31 (NLT).
Reference
Coleson, Joseph. Joshua, Judges, Ruth. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2012.
After Israel’s defeat of Jericho and Ai, the reputation of Israel’s conquering army under the leadership of Joshua spread throughout the rest of Canaan (God’s Promised Land). From this point, Israel faced an alliance of united cites rather than one city at a time. Israel would eventually fight against a southern coalition of forces (Joshua 10) and then a northern coalition of forces (Joshua 11). The southern coalition of forces included the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. However, Gibeon of the Hivites decided to break from the southern coalition of forces.
Gibeon and its people lived in important cities, like one of the royal cities, in the southern region. Moreover, Gibeon was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters (Joshua 10:2). The Gibeonite cities occupied what would come to be called Bethlehem. The people of Gibeon heard of God’s protection of His people Israel and Israel’s victories (Joshua 9:9-10). These people knew God was fighting for Israel, and no army could resist God (Joshua 10:14). So, the Gibeonites sought peace with Joshua and the Israelites (Joshua 10:4: Joshua 11:19). However, Gibeon people deceitfully hide their true identity as Hivities of Canaan and disguised themselves as being from a far of country to make peace with God’s people. (Deut. 20:10-11). So, Gibeon hid their identity to deceive Israel and save themselves destruction. However, Gibeon’s surrender to Israel gave Israel four Hivite cities (Joshua 9:17; Joshua 10:2) and placed Israel in the central highlands of Canaan close to Jerusalem. The Gibeonites also became Israel’s servants and God’s people (see also 2 Samuel 21:1–15). Furthermore, the Gibeonites and Rahab’s household were the only people in Canaan that made peace with God and His people and received God’s grace, mercy and salvation from utter destruction (Joshua 2:12-14; Joshua 6:22-25; Joshua 11:19-20; see also Luke 15). The Gibeonites and Rahab surrendered to the one true and living God, became reconciled to God and part of His people (Matthew 1:5-6; 2 Corinthians 5).
Nonetheless, the author of Joshua points out that for the second time Joshua acted without seeking God for guidance (Joshua 9:14). The first time was at Ai (Joshua 7:2-4). The initial defeat at Ai should have taught Joshua and Israel the importance of seeking God first and His guidance (Joshua 7:2). God is the real hero of the Book of Joshua and the Commander (Joshua 5:13–15).
After the Gibeonites surrender to Joshua and Israel, five kings of Canaan created a coalition strategy to recapture Gibeon because of Gibeon’s central location in Canaan (Joshua 10:5). The people of Gibeon were now a part of God’s people and Israel came to help the Gibeon people (Joshua 9:15; Joshua 10:6-7). As at Jericho, God spoke to Joshua to affirm him and Israel that He had also given the five Canaanite kings and their cities into Joshua’s hand (Joshua 10:8). So Joshua led Israel into battle and God led the way (Joshua 10:9). Even more amazing, God threw the Canaanite people into panic and confusion before Israel. God threw large hailstones down from heaven on the southern Canaanite armies. In essence, God personally fought for Israel using nature as His weapons of war to defend His people from enemy attack (Joshua 10:10-11; see also Job 38:22-23). Then, God listened to Joshua’s prayer for help and even stopped the sun from setting so Joshua and Israel would have more time to defeat Israel’s enemy in battle (Joshua 10:12-14). God made the sun and moon stand still!
Joshua 10:12-14 describes one of God’s spectacular miracles on earth. On this day, Joshua prayed aloud to God and asked God to "Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and let the moon stand in its place over the valley of Aijalon!" (Joshua 10:12 (TLB)). So, God ordered the sun to stand still, and the moon stopped, until Joshua and Israel had defeated their enemies. So, the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day (Joshua 10:12-13). With this event, God revealed to the Canaanites that He was the true, living, and all-powerful God of heaven and earth. Israel’s God was dominant over any of the gods of Canaan.
But how could the sun stand still? From a scientific standpoint, the sun always stands still in relation to earth as the earth travels around the sun. Many explanations have been given for this miraculous event. Some scholars have argued that God slowed earth's normal rotation on the earth’s axis to give Joshua more time to fight. Other scholars argue that God sent an unusual refraction of the sun's rays to give Joshua additional hours of light, while other scholars argue a solar eclipse occurred on this day. Regardless of God's chosen method, the Holy Bible is clear that Joshua experienced the longest day in recorded history (Joshua 10:14). Even more, we know that God hears and response to the genuine prayers of help from His people (see also Luke 11:1-13; Luke 18:1-8)! From this battle, Joshua and Israel now had conquered the central and southern regions of Canaan (God’s Promised Land) for His people.
31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:31 (NLT).
Reference
Coleson, Joseph. Joshua, Judges, Ruth. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2012.
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