mh_parser/vol_split/6 - Joshua/Chapter 10.xml

<div2 id="Jos.xi" n="xi" next="Jos.xii" prev="Jos.x" progress="5.25%" title="Chapter X">
<h2 id="Jos.xi-p0.1">J O S H U A</h2>
<h3 id="Jos.xi-p0.2">CHAP. X.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Jos.xi-p1">We have in this chapter an account of the conquest
of the kings and kingdoms of the southern part of the land of
Canaan, as, in the next chapter, of the reduction of the northern
parts, which together completed the glorious successes of the wars
of Canaan. In this chapter we have an account, I. Of the routing of
their forces in the field, in which observe, 1. Their confederacy
against the Gibeonites, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.1-Josh.10.5" parsed="|Josh|10|1|10|5" passage="Jos 10:1-5">ver.
1-5</scripRef>. 2. The Gibeonites' request to Joshua to assist
them, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.6" parsed="|Josh|10|6|0|0" passage="Jos 10:6">ver. 6</scripRef>. 3. Joshua's
speeds march under divine encouragement for their relief, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.7-Josh.10.9" parsed="|Josh|10|7|10|9" passage="Jos 10:7-9">ver. 7-9</scripRef>. 4. The defeat of the
armies of these confederate kings, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.10-Josh.10.11" parsed="|Josh|10|10|10|11" passage="Jos 10:10,11">ver. 10, 11</scripRef>. 5. The miraculous prolonging
of the day by the standing still of the sun in favour of the
conquerors, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.12-Josh.10.14" parsed="|Josh|10|12|10|14" passage="Jos 10:12-14">ver. 12-14</scripRef>.
II. Of the execution of the kings that escaped out of the battle,
<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.15-Josh.10.27" parsed="|Josh|10|15|10|27" passage="Jos 10:15-27">ver. 15-27</scripRef>. III. Of the
taking of the particular cities, and the total destruction of all
that were found in them. Makkedah, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.28" parsed="|Josh|10|28|0|0" passage="Jos 10:28">ver. 28</scripRef>. Libnah, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.29-Josh.10.30" parsed="|Josh|10|29|10|30" passage="Jos 10:29,30">ver. 29, 30</scripRef>. Lachish, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.31-Josh.10.32" parsed="|Josh|10|31|10|32" passage="Jos 10:31,32">ver. 31, 32</scripRef>, and the king of Gezer that
attempted its rescue, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.33" parsed="|Josh|10|33|0|0" passage="Jos 10:33">ver.
33</scripRef>. Eglon, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p1.11" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.34-Josh.10.35" parsed="|Josh|10|34|10|35" passage="Jos 10:34,35">ver. 34,
35</scripRef>. Hebron, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p1.12" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.36-Josh.10.37" parsed="|Josh|10|36|10|37" passage="Jos 10:36,37">ver. 36,
37</scripRef>. Debir, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p1.13" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.38-Josh.10.39" parsed="|Josh|10|38|10|39" passage="Jos 10:38,39">ver. 38,
39</scripRef>. And the bringing of all that country into the hands
of Israel, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p1.14" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.40-Josh.10.42" parsed="|Josh|10|40|10|42" passage="Jos 10:40-42">ver. 40-42</scripRef>.
And, lastly, the return of the army to the head-quarters, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p1.15" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.43" parsed="|Josh|10|43|0|0" passage="Jos 10:43">ver. 43</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Jos.xi-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10" parsed="|Josh|10|0|0|0" passage="Jos 10" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Jos.xi-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.1-Josh.10.6" parsed="|Josh|10|1|10|6" passage="Jos 10:1-6" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Josh.10.1-Josh.10.6">
<h4 id="Jos.xi-p1.18">The Combination Against
Gibeon. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.xi-p1.19">b. c.</span> 1450.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jos.xi-p2">1 Now it came to pass, when Adoni-zedec king of
Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly
destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had
done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made
peace with Israel, and were among them;   2 That they feared
greatly, because Gibeon <i>was</i> a great city, as one of the
royal cities, and because it <i>was</i> greater than Ai, and all
the men thereof <i>were</i> mighty.   3 Wherefore Adoni-zedec
king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram
king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir
king of Eglon, saying,   4 Come up unto me, and help me, that
we may 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.   6 And the
men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack
not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us,
and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the
mountains are gathered together against us.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xi-p3">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
immediately penetrate into the heart of the country, before the
enemy could rally their forces to make head against them, why they
stood trifling, while they were so confident both of their title
and of their success. Thus Joshua's prudence, perhaps, was censured
as slothfulness, cowardice, and want of spirit. But, 1. Canaan was
not to be conquered in a day. God had said that <i>by little and
little</i> he would drive out the Canaanites, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.23.30" parsed="|Exod|23|30|0|0" passage="Ex 23:30">Exod. xxiii. 30</scripRef>. He that believeth will not
make haste, or conclude that the promise will never be performed
because it is not performed so soon as he expected. 2. Joshua
waited for the Canaanites to be the aggressors; let them first make
an onset upon Israel, or the allies of Israel, and then their
destruction will be, or at least will appear to be, the more just
and more justifiable. Joshua had warrant sufficient to set upon
them, yet he stays till they strike the first stroke, that he might
provide for honest things in the sight, not only of God, but of
men; and they would be the more inexcusable in their resistance,
now that they had seen what favour the Gibeonites found with
Israel. 3. It was for the advantage of Israel to sit still awhile,
that the forces of these little kings might unite in one body, and
so might the more easily be cut off at one blow. This God had in
his eye when he put it into their hearts to combine against Israel;
though they designed thereby to strengthen one another, that which
he intended was to gather them as sheaves into the floor, to fall
together under the flail, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Mic.4.12" parsed="|Mic|4|12|0|0" passage="Mic 4:12">Mic. iv.
12</scripRef>. Thus oftentimes that seeming paradox proves
wholesome counsel, <i>Stay awhile, and we shall have done the
sooner.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xi-p4">After Israel had waited awhile for an
occasion to make war upon the Canaanites, a fair one offers itself.
1. Five kings combine against the Gibeonites. Adoni-zedec king of
Jerusalem was the first mover and ring-leader of this confederacy.
He had a good name (it signifies <i>lord of righteousness</i>),
being a descendant perhaps from Melchizedek, <i>king of
righteousness;</i> but, notwithstanding the goodness of his name
and family, it seems he was a bad man, and an implacable enemy to
the posterity of that Abraham to whom his predecessor, Melchizedek,
was such a faithful friend. He called upon his neighbours to join
against Israel either because he was the most honourable prince,
and had the precedency among these kings (perhaps they had some
dependence upon him, at least they paid a deference to him, as the
most public, powerful, and active man they had among them), or
because he was first or most apprehensive of the danger his country
was in, not only by the conquest of Jericho and Ai, but the
surrender of Gibeon, which, it seems, was the chief thing that
alarmed him, it being one of the most considerable frontier towns
they had. Against Gibeon therefore all the force he would raise
must be leveled. <i>Come,</i> says he, <i>and help me, that we may
smite Gibeon.</i> This he resolves to do, either, (1.) In policy,
that he might retake the city, because it was a strong city, and of
great consequence to this country in whose hands it was; or, (2.)
In passion, that he might chastise the citizens for making peace
with Joshua, pretending that they had perfidiously betrayed their
country and strengthened the common enemy, whereas they had really
done the greatest kindness imaginable to their country, by setting
them a good example, if they would have followed it. Thus Satan and
his instruments make war upon those that make peace with God.
<i>Marvel not if the world hate you,</i> and treat those as
deserters who are converts to Christ. 2. The Gibeonites send notice
to Joshua of the distress and danger they are in, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.6" parsed="|Josh|10|6|0|0" passage="Jos 10:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. Now they expect benefit
from the league they had made with Israel, because, though it was
obtained by deceit, it was afterwards confirmed when the truth came
out. They think Joshua obliged to help them, (1.) In conscience,
because they were his servants; not in compliment, as they had said
in their first address (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.9.8" parsed="|Josh|9|8|0|0" passage="Jos 9:8"><i>ch.</i> ix.
8</scripRef>), <i>We are thy servants,</i> but in reality made
servants to the congregation; and it is the duty of masters to take
care of the poorest and meanest of their servants, and not to see
them wronged when it is in the power of their hand to right them.
Those that pay allegiance may reasonably expect protection. Thus
David pleads with God (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.94" parsed="|Ps|119|94|0|0" passage="Ps 119:94">Ps. cxix.
94</scripRef>), <i>I am thine, save me;</i> and so may we, if
indeed we be his. (2.) In honour, because the ground of their
enemies' quarrel with them was the respect they had shown to
Israel, and the confidence they had in a covenant with them. Joshua
cannot refuse to help them when it is for their affection to him,
and to the name of his God, that they are attacked. David thinks it
a good plea with God (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.69.7" parsed="|Ps|69|7|0|0" passage="Ps 69:7">Ps. lxix.
7</scripRef>), <i>For thy sake I have borne reproach.</i> When our
spiritual enemies set themselves in array against us, and threaten
to swallow us up, let us, by faith and prayer, apply to Christ, our
Joshua, for strength and succour, as Paul did, and we shall receive
the same answer of peace, <i>My grace is sufficient for thee,</i>
<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.12.8-2Cor.12.9" parsed="|2Cor|12|8|12|9" passage="2Co 12:8,9">2 Cor. xii. 8, 9</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Jos.xi-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.7-Josh.10.14" parsed="|Josh|10|7|10|14" passage="Jos 10:7-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Josh.10.7-Josh.10.14">
<h4 id="Jos.xi-p4.7">The Sun and Moon Stand
Still. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.xi-p4.8">b. c.</span> 1450.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jos.xi-p5">7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all
the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.
  8 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.xi-p5.1">Lord</span> said unto
Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand;
there shall not a man of them stand before thee.   9 Joshua
therefore came unto them suddenly, <i>and</i> went up from Gilgal
all night.   10 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.xi-p5.2">Lord</span>
discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great
slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to
Beth-horon, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.   11
And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, <i>and</i>
were in the going down to Beth-horon, that the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.xi-p5.3">Lord</span> cast down great stones from heaven upon
them unto Azekah, and they died: <i>they were</i> more which died
with hailstones than <i>they</i> whom the children of Israel slew
with the sword.   12 Then spake Joshua to the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.xi-p5.4">Lord</span> in the day when the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.xi-p5.5">Lord</span> delivered up the Amorites before the
children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand
thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
  13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the
people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. <i>Is</i> not
this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the
midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
  14 And there was no day like that before it or after it,
that the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.xi-p5.6">Lord</span> hearkened unto the
voice of a man: for the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.xi-p5.7">Lord</span> fought
for Israel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xi-p6">Here, I. Joshua resolves to assist the
Gibeonites, and God encourages him in this resolve. 1. He ascended
from Gilgal (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.7" parsed="|Josh|10|7|0|0" passage="Jos 10:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>),
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 expected he would abandon them as
Canaanites, the rather because they had obtained their league with
him by fraud; therefore he speaks with assurance (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.4" parsed="|Josh|10|4|0|0" passage="Jos 10:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>) of smiting Gibeon. But
Joshua knew that his promise to let them live obliged him, not only
not to slay them himself, but not to stand by and see them slain
when it was in the power of his hand to prevent it, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Prov.24.11-Prov.24.12" parsed="|Prov|24|11|24|12" passage="Pr 24:11,12">Prov. xxiv. 11, 12</scripRef>. He knew that
when they embraced the faith and worship of the God of Israel they
came to trust under the shadow of his wings (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Ruth.2.12" parsed="|Ruth|2|12|0|0" passage="Ru 2:12">Ruth ii. 12</scripRef>), and therefore, as his servants,
he was bound to protect them. 2. God animated him for his
undertaking, (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.8" parsed="|Josh|10|8|0|0" passage="Jos 10:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>):
<i>Fear not,</i> that is, (1.) "Doubt not of the goodness of thy
cause and the clearness of thy call; though it be to assist
Gibeonites, thou art in the way of duty, and God is with thee of a
truth." (2.) "Dread not the power of the enemy; though so many
kings are confederate against thee, and are resolved to make their
utmost efforts for the reduction of Gibeon, and it may be will
fight desperately in a desperate cause, yet let not this discourage
thee, <i>I have delivered them into thy hand;</i>" and those can
make neither resistance nor escape whom God has marked for
destruction.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xi-p7">II. Joshua applies himself to execute this
resolve, and God assists him in the execution. Here we have,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xi-p8">1. The great industry of Joshua, and the
power of God working with it for the defeat of the enemy. In this
action, (1.) Joshua showed his good-will in the haste he made for
the relief of Gibeon (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.9" parsed="|Josh|10|9|0|0" passage="Jos 10:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>): <i>He came unto them suddenly,</i> for the extremity
was such as would not admit delay. If one of the tribes of Israel
had been in danger, he could not have shown more care or zeal for
its relief than here for Gibeon, remembering in this, as in other
cases, there must be one law for the stranger that was proselyted
and for him that was born in the land. Scarcely had the confederate
princes got their forces together, and sat down before Gibeon, when
Joshua was upon them, the surprise of which would put them into the
greatest confusion. Now that the enemy were actually drawn up into
a body, which had all as it were but one neck, despatch was as
serviceable to his cause as before delay was, while he waited for
this general rendezvous; and now that things were ripe for
execution no man more expeditious than Joshua, who before had
seemed slow. Now it shall never be said, <i>He left that to be done
to-morrow which he could do to-day.</i> When Joshua found he could
not reach Gibeon in a day, lest he should lose any real advantages
against the enemy, or so much as seem to come short or to neglect
his new allies, he marched all night, resolving not to give sleep
to his eyes, nor slumber to his eye-lids, till he had accomplished
this enterprise. It was well the forces he took with him were
mighty men of valour, not only able-bodied men, but men of spirit
and resolution, and hearty in the cause, else they neither could
nor would have borne this fatigue, but would have murmured at their
leader and would have asked, "Is this the rest we were promised in
Canaan?" But they well considered that the present toil was in
order to a happy settlement, and therefore were reconciled to it.
Let the <i>good soldiers of Jesus Christ</i> learn hence to
<i>endure hardness, in following the Lamb whithersoever he
goes,</i> and not think themselves undone if their religion lose
them now and then a night's sleep; it will be enough to rest when
we come to heaven. But why needed Joshua to put himself and his men
so much to the stretch? Had not God promised him that without fail
he would <i>deliver the enemies into his hand?</i> It is true he
had; but God's promises are intended, not to slacken and supersede,
but to quicken and encourage our endeavours. He that believeth doth
not make haste to anticipate providence, but doth make haste to
attend it, with a diligent, not a distrustful, speed. (2.) God
showed his great power in defeating the enemies whom Joshua so
vigorously attacked, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.10-Josh.10.11" parsed="|Josh|10|10|10|11" passage="Jos 10:10,11"><i>v.</i> 10,
11</scripRef>. Joshua had a very numerous and powerful army with
him, hands enough to despatch a dispirited enemy, so that the enemy
might have been scattered by the ordinary fate of war; but God
himself would appear in this great and decisive battle, and draw up
the artillery of heaven against the Canaanites, to demonstrate to
this people that they <i>got not this land in possession by their
own sword, neither did their own arm save them, but God's right
hand and his arm,</i> <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.3" parsed="|Ps|44|3|0|0" passage="Ps 44:3">Ps. xliv.
3</scripRef>. <i>The Lord discomfited them before Israel.</i>
Israel did what they could, and yet God did all. [1.] It must needs
be a very great terror and confusion to the enemy to perceive that
heaven itself fought against them; for who can contest with, flee
from, or fence against, the powers of heaven? They had affronted
the true God and robbed him of his honour by worshipping the host
of heaven, giving that worship to the creature which is due to the
Creator only; and now the host of heaven fights against them, and
even that part of the creation which they had idolized is at war
with them, and even triumphs in their ruin, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.8.2" parsed="|Jer|8|2|0|0" passage="Jer 8:2">Jer. viii. 2</scripRef>. There is no way of making any
creature propitious to us, no, not by sacrifice nor offering, but
only by making our peace with God and keeping ourselves in his
love. This had been enough to make them an easy prey to the
victorious Israelites, yet this was not all. [2.] Besides the
terror struck upon them, there was a great slaughter made of them
by hail-stones, which were so large, and came down with such a
force, that more were killed by the hail-stones than by the sword
of the Israelites, though no doubt they were busy. God himself
speaks to Job of treasures, or magazines, of snow and hail, which
he has <i>reserved for the day of battle and war</i> (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:Job.38.22-Job.38.23" parsed="|Job|38|22|38|23" passage="Job 38:22,23">Job xxxviii. 22, 23</scripRef>), and here
they are made use of to destroy the Canaanites. Here was hail, shot
from God's great ordnance, that, against whomsoever it was
directed, was sure to hit (and never glanced upon the Israelites
mixed with them), and wherever it hit was sure to kill. See here
how miserable those are that have God for their enemy, and how sure
to perish; it is a fearful thing to fall into his hands, for there
is no fleeing out of them. Some observe that Beth-horon lay north
of Gibeon, Azekah and Makkedah lay south, so that they fled each
way but, which way soever they fled, the hail-stones pursued them,
and met them at every turn.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xi-p9">2. The great faith of Joshua, and the power
of God crowning it with the miraculous arrest of the sun, that the
day of Israel's victories might be prolonged, and so the enemy
totally defeated. The hail-stones had their rise no higher than the
clouds, but, to show that Israel's help came from above the clouds,
the sun itself, who by his constant motion serves the whole earth,
by halting when there was occasion served the Israelites, and did
them a kindness. <i>The sun and moon stood still in their
habitation, at the light of thy arrows</i> which gave the signal,
<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Hab.3.11" parsed="|Hab|3|11|0|0" passage="Hab 3:11">Hab. iii. 11</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xi-p10">(1.) Here is the prayer of Joshua that the
sun might stand still. I call it his prayer, because it is said
(<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.12" parsed="|Josh|10|12|0|0" passage="Jos 10:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>) <i>he spoke
to the Lord;</i> as Elijah, though we read (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.17.1" parsed="|1Kgs|17|1|0|0" passage="1Ki 17:1">1 Kings xvii. 1</scripRef>) only of his prophesying of
the drought, yet is said (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Jas.5.17" parsed="|Jas|5|17|0|0" passage="Jam 5:17">James v.
17</scripRef>) to pray for it. Observe, [1.] An instance of
Joshua's unwearied activity in the service of God and Israel, that
though he had marched all night and fought all day, and, one might
expect, would be inclined to repose himself and get a little sleep,
and give his army some time to rest—that, like the hireling, he
would earnestly desire the shadow, and bid the night welcome, when
he had done such a good day's work—yet, instead of this, he wishes
for nothing so much as the prolonging of the day. Note, Those that
<i>wait on the Lord</i> and work for him <i>shall renew their
strength, shall run and not be weary, shall walk and not faint,</i>
<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.40.31" parsed="|Isa|40|31|0|0" passage="Isa 40:31">Isa. xl. 31</scripRef>. [2.] An
instance of his great faith in the almighty power of God, as above
the power of nature, and able to control and alter the usual course
of it. No doubt Joshua had an extraordinary impulse or impression
upon his spirit, which he knew to be of divine origin, prompting
him to desire that this miracle might be wrought upon this
occasion, else it would have been presumption in him to desire or
expect; the prayer would not have been granted by the divine power,
if it had not been dictated by the divine grace. God wrought this
faith in him, and then said, "<i>According to thy faith,</i> and
thy prayer of faith, <i>be it unto thee.</i>" It cannot be
imagined, however, that such a thing as this should have entered
into his mind if God had not put it there; a man would have had a
thousand projects in his head for the completing of the victory
before he would have thought of desiring the sun to stand still;
but even in the Old-Testament saints <i>the Spirit made
intercession according to the will of God.</i> What God will give
he inclines the hearts of his praying people to ask, and for what
he will do he will be enquired of, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.36.37" parsed="|Ezek|36|37|0|0" passage="Eze 36:37">Ezek. xxxvi. 37</scripRef>. Now, <i>First,</i> It
looked great for Joshua to say, <i>Sun, stand thou still.</i> His
ancestor Joseph had indeed dreamed that the sun and moon did homage
to him; but who would have thought that, after it had been
fulfilled in the figure, it should be again fulfilled in the letter
to one of his posterity? The prayer is thus expressed with
authority, because it was not an ordinary prayer, such as is
directed and supported only by God's common providence or promise,
but the prayer of a prophet at this time divinely inspired for this
purpose; and yet it intimates to us the prevalency of prayer in
general, so far as it is regulated by the word of God, and may
remind us of that honour put upon prayer (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:Isa.45.11" parsed="|Isa|45|11|0|0" passage="Isa 45:11">Isa. xlv. 11</scripRef>), <i>Concerning the work of my
hands command you me.</i> He bids the sun stand still upon Gibeon,
the place of action and the seat of war, intimating that what he
designed in this request was the advantage of Israel against their
enemies; it is probable that the sun was now declining, and that he
did not call for the lengthening out of the day until he observed
it hastening towards it period. He does likewise, in the name of
the King of kings, arrest the moon, perhaps because it was
requisite for the preserving of the harmony and good order of the
spheres that the course of the rest of the heavenly bodies should
be stayed likewise, otherwise, while the sun shone, he needed not
the moon; and here he mentions the valley of Ajalon, which was near
to Gibeon, because there he was at that time. <i>Secondly,</i> It
was bold indeed to say so before Israel, and argues a very strong
assurance of faith. If the event had not answered the demand,
nothing could have been a greater slur upon him; the Israelites
would have concluded he was certainly going mad, or he would never
have talked so extravagantly. But he knew very well God would own
and answer a petition which he himself directed to be drawn up and
presented, and therefore was not afraid to say before all Israel,
calling them to observe this work of wonder, <i>Sun, stand thou
still,</i> for he was confident in him whom he had trusted. He
believed the almighty power of God, else he could not have expected
that the sun, going on in its strength, driving in a full career,
and <i>rejoicing as a strong man to run a race,</i> should be
stopped in an instant. He believed the sovereignty of God in the
kingdom of nature, else he could not have expected that the
established law and course of nature should be changed and
interrupted, the ordinances of heaven, and the constant usage
according to these ordinances, broken in upon. And he believed
God's particular favour to Israel above all people under the sun,
else he could not have expected that, to favour them upon an
emergency with a double day, he should (which must follow of
course) amaze and terrify so great a part of the terrestrial globe
with a double night at the same time. It is true, he <i>causeth the
sun to shine upon the just and the unjust;</i> but for this once
the unjust shall wait for it beyond the usual time, while, in
favour to righteous Israel, it stands still.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xi-p11">(2.) The wonderful answer to this prayer.
No sooner said than done (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.13" parsed="|Josh|10|13|0|0" passage="Jos 10:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>): <i>The sun stood still, and the moon staid.</i>
Notwithstanding the vast distance between the earth and the sun, at
the word of Joshua the sun stopped immediately; for the same God
that rules in heaven above rules at the same time on this earth,
and, when he pleases, even <i>the heavens shall hear the earth,</i>
as here. Concerning this great miracle it is here said, [1.]
<i>That it continued a whole day,</i> that is, the sun continued as
long again above the horizon as otherwise it would have done. It is
commonly supposed to have been about the middle of summer that this
happened, when, in that country, it was about fourteen hours
between sun and sun, so that this day was about twenty-eight hours
long; yet, if we suppose it to have been at that time of the year
when the days are at the shortest, it will be the more probable
that Joshua should desire and pray for the prolonging of the day.
[2.] That hereby the people had full time to avenge themselves of
their enemies, and to give them a total defeat. We often read in
history of battles which the night put an end to, the shadows of
which favoured the retreat of the conquered; to prevent this
advantage to the enemy in their flight, the day was doubled, that
the hand of Israel might <i>find out all their enemies;</i> but the
eye and hand of God can find them out without the help of the sun's
light, for to him <i>the night shineth as the day,</i> <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.139.12" parsed="|Ps|139|12|0|0" passage="Ps 139:12">Ps. cxxxix. 12</scripRef>. Note, Sometimes God
completes a great salvation in a little time, and makes but one
day's work of it. Perhaps this miracle is alluded to <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Zech.14.6-Zech.14.7" parsed="|Zech|14|6|14|7" passage="Zec 14:6,7">Zech. xiv. 6, 7</scripRef>, where the day of
God's fighting against the nations is said to be <i>one day,</i>
and that <i>at evening time it shall be light,</i> as here. And,
[3.] That there was <i>never any day like it,</i> before or since,
in which God put such an honour upon faith and prayer, and upon
Israel's cause; never did he so wonderfully comply with the request
of a man, nor so wonderfully fight for his people. [4.] This is
said to be written <i>in the book of Jasher,</i> a collection of
state-poems, in which the poem made upon this occasion was
preserved among the rest; probably the same with that <i>book of
the wars of the Lord</i> (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:Num.21.14" parsed="|Num|21|14|0|0" passage="Nu 21:14">Num. xxi.
14</scripRef>), which afterwards was continued and carried on by
one Jasher. Those words, <i>Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon, and
thou moon in the valley of Ajalon,</i> sounding metrical, are
supposed to be taken from the narrative of this event as it was
found in the book of Jasher. Not that the divine testimony of the
book of Joshua needed confirmation from the book of Jasher, a human
composition; but to those who had that book in their hands it would
be of use to compare this history with it, which warrants the
appeals the learned make to profane history for corroborating the
proofs of the truth of sacred history. [5.] But surely this
stupendous miracle of the standing still of the sun was intended
for something more than merely to give Israel so much the more time
to find out and kill their enemies, which, without this, might have
been done the next day. <i>First,</i> God would hereby magnify
Joshua (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p11.5" osisRef="Bible:Josh.3.7" parsed="|Josh|3|7|0|0" passage="Jos 3:7"><i>ch.</i> iii. 7</scripRef>),
as a particular favourite, and one whom he did delight to honour,
being a type of him who has all power both in heaven and in earth
and whom the winds and the seas obey. <i>Secondly,</i> He would
hereby notify to all the world what he was doing for his people
Israel here in Canaan; the sun, the eye of the world, must be fixed
for some hours upon Gibeon and the valley of Ajalon, as if to
contemplate the great works of God there for Israel, and so to
engage the children of men to look that way, and to <i>enquire of
this wonder done in the land,</i> <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p11.6" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.32.31" parsed="|2Chr|32|31|0|0" passage="2Ch 32:31">2
Chron. xxxii. 31</scripRef>. Proclamation was hereby made to all
the neighbouring nations. <i>Come, behold the works of the Lord</i>
(<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p11.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.8" parsed="|Ps|46|8|0|0" passage="Ps 46:8">Ps. xlvi. 8</scripRef>), and say,
<i>What nation is there so great as Israel is, who has God so nigh
unto them?</i> One would have supposed that this would bring such
real ambassadors as the Gibeonites pretended to be from a very far
country, to court the friendship of Israel because of the name of
the Lord their God. <i>Thirdly,</i> He would hereby convince and
confound those idolaters that worshipped the sun and moon and gave
divine honours to them, by demonstrating that they were subject to
the command of the God of Israel, and that, as high as they were,
he was above them; and thus he would fortify his people against
temptations to this idolatry, which he foresaw they would be
addicted to (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p11.8" osisRef="Bible:Deut.4.19" parsed="|Deut|4|19|0|0" passage="De 4:19">Deut. iv. 19</scripRef>),
and which, notwithstanding this, they afterwards corrupted
themselves with. <i>Fourthly,</i> This miracle signified (it is the
learned bishop Pierson's notion) that in the latter days, when the
light of the world was tending towards a light of darkness, the
<i>Sun of righteousness,</i> even our Joshua, should arise
(<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p11.9" osisRef="Bible:Mal.4.2" parsed="|Mal|4|2|0|0" passage="Mal 4:2">Mal. iv. 2</scripRef>), give check to
the approaching night, and be the true light. To which let me add
that when Christ conquered our spiritual enemies upon the cross the
miracle wrought on the sun was the reverse of this; it was then
darkened as if it had gone down at noon, for Christ needed not the
light of the sun to carry on his victories: he then made darkness
his pavilion. And, <i>Lastly,</i> The arresting of the sun and moon
in this day of battle prefigured the turning of the sun into
darkness, and the moon into blood, in the last great and terrible
day of the Lord.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Jos.xi-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.15-Josh.10.27" parsed="|Josh|10|15|10|27" passage="Jos 10:15-27" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Josh.10.15-Josh.10.27">
<h4 id="Jos.xi-p11.11">The Five Kings Slain. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.xi-p11.12">b. c.</span> 1450.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jos.xi-p12">15 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him,
unto the camp to Gilgal.   16 But these five kings fled, and
hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.   17 And it was told
Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.
  18 And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the
cave, and set men by it for to keep them:   19 And stay ye
not, <i>but</i> pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost
of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.xi-p12.1">Lord</span> your God hath delivered them into
your hand.   20 And it came to pass, when Joshua and the
children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very
great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest
<i>which</i> remained of them entered into fenced cities.   21
And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in
peace: none 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.   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, <i>and</i> the king of Eglon.  
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 feet 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 not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good
courage: for thus shall the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.xi-p12.2">Lord</span> do
to all your enemies against whom ye fight.   26 And afterward
Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged 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,
<i>that</i> Joshua commanded, and they took 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, <i>which remain</i> until
this very day.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xi-p13">It was a brave appearance, no doubt, which
the five kings made when they took the field for the reducing of
Gibeon, and a brave army they had following them; but they were all
routed, put into disorder first, and then brought to destruction by
the hail-stones. And now Joshua thought, his work being done, he
might go with his army into quarters of refreshment. Accordingly it
was resolved, perhaps in a council of war, that they should
presently return <i>to the camp at Gilgal</i> (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.15" parsed="|Josh|10|15|0|0" passage="Jos 10:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>), till they should receive
orders from God to take possession of the country they had now
conquered; but he soon finds he has more work cut out for him. The
victory must be pursued, that the spoils might be divided.
Accordingly he applies himself to it with renewed vigour.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xi-p14">I. The forces that had dispersed themselves
must be followed and smitten. When tidings were brought to Joshua
where the kings were he ordered a guard to be set upon them for the
present (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.18" parsed="|Josh|10|18|0|0" passage="Jos 10:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>),
<i>reserving them</i> for another <i>day of destruction,</i> and to
be <i>brought forth to a day of wrath,</i> <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.21.30" parsed="|Job|21|30|0|0" passage="Job 21:30">Job xxi. 30</scripRef>. He directs his men to pursue
the common soldiers, as much as might be, to prevent their escaping
to the garrisons, which would strengthen them, and make the
reduction of them the more difficult, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.19" parsed="|Josh|10|19|0|0" passage="Jos 10:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>. Like a prudent general, he
does that first which is most needful, and defers his triumphs till
he has completed his conquests; nor was he in such haste to insult
over the captive kings but that he would first prevent the rallying
again of their scattered forces. The result of this vigorous
pursuit was, 1. That a very great slaughter was made of the enemies
of God and Israel. And, 2. The field was cleared of them, so that
none remained but such as got into fenced cities, where they would
not long be safe themselves, nor were they capable of doing any
service to the cities that sheltered them, unless they could have
left their fears behind them. 3. <i>None moved his tongue against
any of the children of Israel,</i> <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p14.4" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.21" parsed="|Josh|10|21|0|0" passage="Jos 10:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>. This expression intimates,
(1.) Their perfect safety and tranquillity; some think it should be
read (from <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p14.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.11.7" parsed="|Exod|11|7|0|0" passage="Ex 11:7">Exod. xi. 7</scripRef>),
<i>Against any of the children of Israel did not a dog move his
tongue;</i> no, not against any one man of them. They were not
threatened by any danger at all after their victory, no, not so
much as the barking of a dog. Not one single Israelite (for the
original makes it so particular) was brought into any distress,
either in the battle or in the pursuit. (2.) Their honour and
reputation; no man had any reproach to cast upon them, nor an ill
word to give them. God not only tied the hands, but stopped the
mouths, of their enraged enemies, and put lying lips to silence.
(3.) The Chaldee paraphrase makes it an expression of their
unalloyed joy for this victory, reading it, <i>There was no hurt
nor loss to the children of Israel, for which any man should
afflict his soul.</i> When the army came to be reviewed after the
battle, there was none slain, none wounded, none missing. Not one
Israelite had occasion to lament either the loss of a friend or the
loss of a limb, so cheap, so easy, so glorious, was this
victory.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xi-p15">II. The kings that had hidden themselves
must now be called to an account, as rebels against the Israel of
God, to whom, by the divine promise and grant, this land did of
right belong and should have been surrendered upon demand. See
here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xi-p16">1. How they were secured. The cave which
they fled to, and trusted in for a refuge, became their prison, in
which they were clapped up, till Joshua sat in judgment on them,
<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.18" parsed="|Josh|10|18|0|0" passage="Jos 10:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. It seems
they all escaped both the hail-stones and the sword, God so
ordering it, not in kindness to them, but that they might be
reserved for a more solemn and terrible execution; as, for this
cause, Pharaoh survived the plagues of Egypt, and was made to
stand, that God might in him <i>show his power,</i> <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.16" parsed="|Exod|9|16|0|0" passage="Ex 9:16">Exod. ix. 16</scripRef>. They all fled, and met
at the same place, Providence directing them; and now those who
were lately consulting against Israel were put upon new counsels to
preserve themselves and agreed to take shelter in the same cave.
The information brought to Joshua of this 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 keep them
there when they were there, as it is an instance of his policy and
presence of mind, even in the heat of action, so, in the result of
their project, it shows how those not only deceive themselves, but
destroy themselves, who think to hide themselves from God. Their
refuge of lies will but bind them over to God's judgment.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xi-p17">2. How they were triumphed over. Joshua
ordered them to be brought forth out of the cave, set before him as
at the bar, and their names called over, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.22-Josh.10.23" parsed="|Josh|10|22|10|23" passage="Jos 10:22,23"><i>v.</i> 22, 23</scripRef>. And when they either
were bound and cast upon the ground unable to help themselves, or
threw themselves upon the ground, humbly to beg for their lives, he
called for the general officers and great men, and commanded them
to trample upon these kings, and set their feet upon their necks,
not in sport and to make themselves and the company merry, but with
the gravity and decorum that became the ministers of the divine
justice who were not herein to gratify any pride or passion of
their own, but to give glory to the God of Israel as higher than
the highest, who <i>treads upon princes as mortar</i> (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.41.25" parsed="|Isa|41|25|0|0" passage="Isa 41:25">Isa. xli. 25</scripRef>), and <i>is terrible to
the kings of the earth,</i> <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.76.12" parsed="|Ps|76|12|0|0" passage="Ps 76:12">Ps. lxxvi.
12</scripRef>. The thing does indeed look barbarous, thus to insult
over men in misery, who had suddenly fallen from the highest pitch
of honour into this disgrace. It was hard for crowned heads to be
thus trodden upon, not by Joshua himself (that might better have
been borne), at least not by him only, but by all the captains of
the army. Certainly it ought not to be drawn into a precedent, for
the case was extraordinary, and we have reason to think it was by
divine direction and impulse that Joshua did this. (1.) God would
hereby punish the abominable wickedness of these kings, the measure
of whose iniquity was now full. And, by this public act of justice
done upon these ringleaders of the Canaanites in sin, he would
possess his people with the greater dread and detestation of those
sins of <i>the nations that God cast out from before them,</i>
which they would be tempted to imitate. (2.) He would hereby have
the promise by Moses made good (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p17.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.33.29" parsed="|Deut|33|29|0|0" passage="De 33:29">Deut.
xxxiii. 29</scripRef>), <i>Thou shalt tread upon their high
places,</i> that is, their great men, which should the rather be
speedily fulfilled in the letter because they are the very last
words of Moses that we find upon record. (3.) He would hereby
encourage the faith and hope of his people Israel in reference to
the wars that were yet before them. Therefore Joshua said
(<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p17.5" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.25" parsed="|Josh|10|25|0|0" passage="Jos 10:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>): <i>Fear
not, nor be dismayed.</i> [1.] "Fear not these kings, nor any of
theirs, as if there were any danger of having this affront now put
upon them in after-time revenged upon yourselves, a consideration
which keeps many from being insolent towards those they have at
their mercy, because they know not how soon the uncertain fate of
war may turn the same wheel upon themselves; but you need not fear
that any should rise up ever to revenge this quarrel." [2.] "Fear
not any other kings, who may at any time be in confederacy against
you, for you see these brought down, whom you thought formidable.
<i>Thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies;</i> now that they
begin to fall, to fall so low that you may set your feet on their
necks, you may be confident that they shall not prevail, but shall
<i>surely fall before you,</i>" <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p17.6" osisRef="Bible:Esth.6.13" parsed="|Esth|6|13|0|0" passage="Es 6:13">Esth.
vi. 13</scripRef>. (4.) He would hereby give a type and figure of
Christ's victories over the powers of darkness, and believers'
victories through him. All the enemies of the Redeemer shall be
<i>made his footstool,</i> <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p17.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.1" parsed="|Ps|110|1|0|0" passage="Ps 110:1">Ps. cx.
1</scripRef>. And see <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p17.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.18.40" parsed="|Ps|18|40|0|0" passage="Ps 18:40">Ps. xviii.
40</scripRef>. The <i>kings of the earth set themselves</i> against
him (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p17.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.2" parsed="|Ps|2|2|0|0" passage="Ps 2:2">Ps. ii. 2</scripRef>), but sooner
or later we shall see all things put under Him (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p17.10" osisRef="Bible:Heb.2.8" parsed="|Heb|2|8|0|0" passage="Heb 2:8">Heb. ii. 8</scripRef>), and <i>principalities and
powers</i> made a show of, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p17.11" osisRef="Bible:Col.2.15" parsed="|Col|2|15|0|0" passage="Col 2:15">Col. ii.
15</scripRef>. And in these triumphs we are more than conquerors,
may <i>tread upon the lion and adder</i> (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p17.12" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.13" parsed="|Ps|91|13|0|0" passage="Ps 91:13">Ps. xci. 13</scripRef>), may <i>ride on the high places
of the earth</i> (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p17.13" osisRef="Bible:Isa.58.14" parsed="|Isa|58|14|0|0" passage="Isa 58:14">Isa. lviii.
14</scripRef>), and may be confident that <i>the God of peace shall
tread Satan under our feet,</i> shall do it shortly and do it
effectually, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p17.14" osisRef="Bible:Rom.16.20" parsed="|Rom|16|20|0|0" passage="Ro 16:20">Rom. xvi. 20</scripRef>.
See <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p17.15" osisRef="Bible:Ps.149.8-Ps.149.9" parsed="|Ps|149|8|149|9" passage="Ps 149:8,9">Ps. cxlix. 8, 9</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xi-p18">3. How they were put to death. Perhaps,
when they had undergone that terrible mortification of being
trodden upon by the captains of Israel, they were ready to say, as
Agag, <i>Surely the bitterness of death is past,</i> and that
<i>sufficient unto them was this punishment which was inflicted by
many;</i> but their honours cannot excuse their lives, their
forfeited devoted lives. Joshua smote them with the sword, and then
hanged up their bodies till evening, when they were taken down, and
thrown <i>into the cave in which they had hidden themselves,</i>
<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.26-Josh.10.27" parsed="|Josh|10|26|10|27" passage="Jos 10:26,27"><i>v.</i> 26, 27</scripRef>. That
which they thought would have been their shelter was made their
prison first and then their grave; so shall we be disappointed in
that which we flee to from God: yet to good people the grave is
still <i>a hiding-place,</i> <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.14.13" parsed="|Job|14|13|0|0" passage="Job 14:13">Job xiv.
13</scripRef>. If these five kings had humbled themselves in time,
and had begged peace instead of waging war, they might have saved
their lives; but now the decree had gone forth, and they <i>found
no place for repentance,</i> or the reversal of the judgment; it
was too late to expect it, though perhaps <i>they sought it
carefully with tears.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Jos.xi-p0.5" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.28-Josh.10.43" parsed="|Josh|10|28|10|43" passage="Jos 10:28-43" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Josh.10.28-Josh.10.43">
<h4 id="Jos.xi-p18.4">Seven Kings Defeated and
Slain. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.xi-p18.5">b. c.</span> 1450.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jos.xi-p19">28 And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote
it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly
destroyed, them, and all the souls that <i>were</i> therein; he let
none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the
king of Jericho.   29 Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and
all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah:  
30 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.xi-p19.1">Lord</span> 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 <i>were</i> 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 Lachish, and encamped against it, and
fought against it:   32 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.xi-p19.2">Lord</span> 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 <i>were</i> therein, according to all
that he had done to Libnah.   33 Then Horam king of Gezer 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 Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped
against it, and fought against it:   35 And they took it on
that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the
souls that <i>were</i> therein he utterly 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 Hebron; and they
fought against it:   37 And they took it, and smote it with
the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities
thereof, and all the souls that <i>were</i> therein; he left none
remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but
destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that <i>were</i> therein.
  38 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir;
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
<i>were</i> therein; he left none 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
country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the
springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly
destroyed all that breathed, as the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.xi-p19.3">Lord</span> God of Israel commanded.   41 And
Joshua smote them from Kadesh-barnea even unto Gaza, and all the
country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.   42 And all these kings
and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.xi-p19.4">Lord</span> God of Israel fought for Israel.
  43 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the
camp to Gilgal.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xi-p20">We are here informed how Joshua improved
the late glorious victory he had obtained and the advantages he had
gained by it, and to do this well is a general's praise.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xi-p21">I. Here is a particular account of the
several cities which he immediately made himself master of. 1. The
cities of three of the kings whom he had conquered in the field he
went and took possession of, Lachish (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.31-Josh.10.32" parsed="|Josh|10|31|10|32" passage="Jos 10:31,32"><i>v.</i> 31, 32</scripRef>), Eglon (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.34-Josh.10.35" parsed="|Josh|10|34|10|35" passage="Jos 10:34,35"><i>v.</i> 34, 35</scripRef>), and Hebron,
<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.36-Josh.10.37" parsed="|Josh|10|36|10|37" passage="Jos 10:36,37"><i>v.</i> 36, 37</scripRef>. The
other two, Jerusalem and Jarmuth, were not taken at this time;
perhaps his forces were either so much fatigued with what they had
done or so well content with what they had got that they had no
mind to attack those places, and so they let slip the fairest
opportunity they could ever expect of reducing them with ease,
which afterwards was not done without difficulty, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.1.8 Bible:2Sam.5.6" parsed="|Judg|1|8|0|0;|2Sam|5|6|0|0" passage="Jdg 1:8,2Sa 5:6">Judg. i. 8; 2 Sam. v. 6</scripRef>. 2.
Three other cities, and royal cities too, he took: Makkedah, into
the neighbourhood of which the five kings had fled, which brought
Joshua and his forces thither in pursuit of them, and so hastened
its ruin (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p21.5" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.28" parsed="|Josh|10|28|0|0" passage="Jos 10:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>),
Libnah (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p21.6" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.29-Josh.10.30" parsed="|Josh|10|29|10|30" passage="Jos 10:29,30"><i>v.</i> 29,
30</scripRef>), and Debir, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p21.7" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.38-Josh.10.39" parsed="|Josh|10|38|10|39" passage="Jos 10:38,39"><i>v.</i> 38, 39</scripRef>. 3. One king that
brought in his forces for the relief of Lachish, that had lost its
king, proved to meddle to his own hurt; it was Horam king of Gezer,
who, either in friendship to his neighbours or for his own
security, offered to stop the progress of Joshua's arms, and was
cut off with all his forces, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p21.8" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.33" parsed="|Josh|10|33|0|0" passage="Jos 10:33"><i>v.</i> 33</scripRef>. Thus wicked men are often
snared in their counsels, and, by opposing God in the way of his
judgments, bring them the sooner on their own heads.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xi-p22">II. A general account of the country which
was hereby reduced and brought into Israel's hands (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.40-Josh.10.42" parsed="|Josh|10|40|10|42" passage="Jos 10:40-42"><i>v.</i> 40-42</scripRef>), that part of
the land of Canaan of which they first got possession, which lay
south of Jerusalem, and afterwards fell, for the most part, to the
lot of the tribe of Judah. Observe in this narrative,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xi-p23">1. The great speed Joshua made in taking
these cities, which, some think, is intimated in the manner of
relating it, which is quick and concise. He flew like lightning
from place to place; and though they all stood it out to the last
extremity, and none of these cities opened their gates to him, yet
in a little time he got them all into his hands, summoned them, and
seized them, the same day (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.28" parsed="|Josh|10|28|0|0" passage="Jos 10:28"><i>v.</i>
28</scripRef>), or in two days, <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p23.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.32" parsed="|Josh|10|32|0|0" passage="Jos 10:32"><i>v.</i> 32</scripRef>. Now that they were struck with
fear, by the defeat of their armies and the death of their kings,
Joshua prudently followed his blow. See what a great deal of work
may be done in a little time, if we will but be busy and improve
our opportunities.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xi-p24">2. The great severity Joshua used towards
those he conquered. He gave no quarter to man, woman, nor child,
put to the sword <i>all the souls</i> (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.28 Bible:Josh.10.30 Bible:Josh.10.32 Bible:Josh.10.35" parsed="|Josh|10|28|0|0;|Josh|10|30|0|0;|Josh|10|32|0|0;|Josh|10|35|0|0" passage="Jos 10:28,30,32,35"><i>v.</i> 28, 30, 32, 35</scripRef>, &amp;c.),
<i>utterly destroyed all that breathed</i> (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p24.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.40" parsed="|Josh|10|40|0|0" passage="Jos 10:40"><i>v.</i> 40</scripRef>), and <i>left none
remaining.</i> Nothing could justify this military execution but
that herein they did <i>as the Lord God of Israel commanded</i>
(<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p24.3" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.40" parsed="|Josh|10|40|0|0" passage="Jos 10:40"><i>v.</i> 40</scripRef>), which was
sufficient not only to bear them out, and save them for the
imputation of cruelty, but to sanctify what they did, and make it
an acceptable piece of service to his justice. God would hereby,
(1.) Manifest his hatred of the idolatries and other abominations
which the Canaanites had been guilty of, and leave us to judge how
great the provocation was which they had given him by the greatness
of the destruction which was brought upon them when the measure of
their iniquity was full. (2.) He would hereby magnify his love to
his people Israel, in giving so many men for them, and <i>people
for their life,</i> <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p24.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.43.4" parsed="|Isa|43|4|0|0" passage="Isa 43:4">Isa. xliii.
4</scripRef>. When the <i>heathen are to be cast out to make room
for this vine</i> (<scripRef id="Jos.xi-p24.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.8" parsed="|Ps|80|8|0|0" passage="Ps 80:8">Ps. lxxx.
8</scripRef>) divine justice appears more prodigal than ever of
human blood, that the Israelites might find themselves for ever
obliged to spend their lives to the glory of that God who had
sacrificed so many of the lives of his creatures to their interest.
(3.) Hereby was typified the final and eternal destruction of all
the impenitent implacable enemies of the Lord Jesus, who, having
slighted the riches of his grace, must for ever feel the weight of
his wrath, and shall <i>have judgment without mercy. Nations that
forget God shall be turned into hell,</i> and no reproach at all to
God's infinite goodness.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xi-p25">3. The great success of this expedition.
The spoil of these cities was now divided among the men of war that
plundered them; and the cities themselves, with the land about
them, were shortly to be divided among the tribes, for the Lord
<i>fought for Israel,</i> <scripRef id="Jos.xi-p25.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.42" parsed="|Josh|10|42|0|0" passage="Jos 10:42"><i>v.</i>
42</scripRef>. They could not have gotten the victory if God had
not undertaken the battle; then we conquer when God fights for us;
and, <i>if he be for us, who can be against us?</i></p>
</div></div2>