J
O S H U A
CHAP. X.
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, ver. 1-5. 2. The Gibeonites' request
to Joshua to assist them, ver. 6. 3. Joshua's speeds march under divine
encouragement for their relief, ver. 7-9. 4. The defeat of the armies of these
confederate kings, ver. 10, 11. 5. The miraculous prolonging of the day by the
standing still of the sun in favour of the conquerors, ver. 12-14. II. Of the
execution of the kings that escaped out of the battle, ver. 15-27. III. Of the
taking of the particular cities, and the total destruction of all that were
found in them. Makkedah, ver. 28. Libnah, ver. 29, 30. Lachish, ver. 31, 32,
and the king of Gezer that attempted its rescue, ver. 33. Eglon, ver. 34, 35.
Hebron, ver. 36, 37. Debir, ver. 38, 39. And the bringing of all that country
into the hands of Israel, ver. 40-42. And, lastly, the return of the army to
the head-quarters, ver. 43.
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The
Combination Against Gibeon.
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B.
C. 1450.
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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 was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was
greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were 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.
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 by little and little he would
drive out the Canaanites, Exod. xxiii. 30. 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, Mic.
iv. 12. Thus oftentimes that seeming paradox proves wholesome counsel, Stay
awhile, and we shall have done the sooner.
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 lord of righteousness),
being a descendant perhaps from Melchizedek, king of righteousness;
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 levelled. Come, says he, and help me, that we may smite
Gibeon. 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. Marvel not if
the world hate you, 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, v. 6. 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 (ch. ix. 8), We are thy servants,
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 (Ps. cxix. 94), I am thine, save me; 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 (Ps. lxix. 7), For thy sake I have borne
reproach. 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, My grace is sufficient for thee, 2 Cor. xii. 8,
9.
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The
Sun and Moon Stand Still.
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B.
C. 1450.
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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 LORD
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, and went up from Gilgal all
night. 10 And the LORD
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, and were in the going down to Beth-horon, that the
LORD
cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they
were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of
Israel slew with the sword. 12 Then spake Joshua to the LORD
in the day when the LORD
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. Is 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 LORD
hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD
fought for Israel.
Here, I. Joshua resolves to assist the Gibeonites, and God encourages him in
this resolve. 1. He ascended from Gilgal (v. 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 expected he would abandon them as Canaanites,
the rather because they had obtained their league with him by fraud; therefore
he speaks with assurance (v. 4) 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, Prov. xxiv. 11, 12. 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
(Ruth ii. 12), and therefore, as his servants, he was bound to protect them.
2. God animated him for his undertaking, (v. 8): Fear not, 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 have
delivered them into thy hand;" and those can make neither resistance
nor escape whom God has marked for destruction.
II. Joshua applies himself to execute this resolve, and God assists him in the
execution. Here we have,
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 (v. 9): He came unto them
suddenly, 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, He left that to be done to-morrow which he could do
to-day. 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 good soldiers of Jesus Christ learn hence to endure
hardness, in following the Lamb whithersoever he goes, 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 deliver the enemies into his hand? 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, v. 10, 11. 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 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, Ps.
xliv. 3. The Lord discomfited them before Israel. 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, Jer. viii. 2. 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 reserved for the day of battle
and war (Job xxxviii. 22, 23), 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.
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. The sun and moon stood still in their habitation, at the light of
thy arrows which gave the signal, Hab. iii. 11.
(1.) Here is the prayer of Joshua that the sun might stand still. I call it
his prayer, because it is said (v. 12) he spoke to the Lord; as
Elijah, though we read (1 Kings xvii. 1) only of his prophesying of the
drought, yet is said (James v. 17) 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 wait on the Lord and work for him shall renew their
strength, shall run and not be weary, shall walk and not faint, Isa. xl.
31. [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, "According to thy faith, and thy prayer of
faith, be it unto thee." 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 the Spirit made intercession according to
the will of God. 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, Ezek. xxxvi.
37. Now, First, It looked great for Joshua to say, Sun, stand thou
still. 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 (Isa. xlv. 11), Concerning the work of my hands
command you me. 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. Secondly, 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, Sun,
stand thou still, 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 rejoicing as a
strong man to run a race, 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 causeth the sun to
shine upon the just and the unjust; but for this once the unjust shall
wait for it beyond the usual time, while, in favour to righteous Israel, it
stands still.
(2.) The wonderful answer to this prayer. No sooner said than done (v.
13): The sun stood still, and the moon staid. 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 the heavens shall hear the
earth, as here. Concerning this great miracle it is here said, [1.] That
it continued a whole day, 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 find out all their enemies; but the eye and
hand of God can find them out without the help of the sun's light, for to him the
night shineth as the day, Ps. cxxxix. 12. 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 Zech. xiv. 6, 7, where the day of God's fighting
against the nations is said to be one day, and that at evening time
it shall be light, as here. And, [3.] That there was never any day like
it, 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 in the book of Jasher, a collection of state-poems, in
which the poem made upon this occasion was preserved among the rest; probably
the same with that book of the wars of the Lord (Num. xxi. 14), which
afterwards was continued and carried on by one Jasher. Those words, Sun,
stand thou still upon Gibeon, and thou moon in the valley of Ajalon,
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. First, God would hereby magnify Joshua (ch.
iii. 7), 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. Secondly, 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 enquire of this
wonder done in the land, 2 Chron. xxxii. 31. Proclamation was hereby made
to all the neighbouring nations. Come, behold the works of the Lord
(Ps. xlvi. 8), and say, What nation is there so great as Israel is, who has
God so nigh unto them? 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. Thirdly,
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 (Deut. iv. 19), and
which, notwithstanding this, they afterwards corrupted themselves with. Fourthly,
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 Sun of righteousness, even our Joshua, should arise (Mal.
iv. 2), 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, Lastly, 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.
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The
Five Kings Slain.
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B.
C. 1450.
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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, but pursue
after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter
into their cities: for the LORD
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 which
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, and 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 LORD
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, that 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, which remain
until this very day.
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 to
the camp at Gilgal (v. 15), 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.
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 (v. 18), reserving them for
another day of destruction, and to be brought forth to a day of
wrath, Job xxi. 30. 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, v.
19. 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. None moved his tongue
against any of the children of Israel, v. 21. This expression
intimates, (1.) Their perfect safety and tranquillity; some think it should be
read (from Exod. xi. 7), Against any of the children of Israel did not a
dog move his tongue; 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, There was no hurt nor loss to the children of
Israel, for which any man should afflict his soul. 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.
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,
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, v. 18. 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 show his power, Exod. ix. 16. 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.
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, v.
22, 23. 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 treads upon princes as mortar (Isa. xli.
25), and is terrible to the kings of the earth, Ps. lxxvi. 12. 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 the nations that God cast out from before
them, which they would be tempted to imitate. (2.) He would hereby have
the promise by Moses made good (Deut. xxxiii. 29), Thou shalt tread upon
their high places, 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 (v. 25): Fear not, nor be dismayed. [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. Thus shall the Lord do to all
your enemies; 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 surely fall before you," Esth. vi. 13. (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 made his footstool, Ps. cx. 1. And see Ps. xviii. 40.
The kings of the earth set themselves against him (Ps. ii. 2), but
sooner or later we shall see all things put under Him (Heb. ii. 8), and principalities
and powers made a show of, Col. ii. 15. And in these triumphs we are more
than conquerors, may tread upon the lion and adder (Ps. xci. 13), may ride
on the high places of the earth (Isa. lviii. 14), and may be confident
that the God of peace shall tread Satan under our feet, shall do it
shortly and do it effectually, Rom. xvi. 20. See Ps. cxlix. 8, 9.
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, Surely the bitterness of death is past, and that sufficient
unto them was this punishment which was inflicted by many; 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 into the cave in which they had hidden
themselves, v. 26, 27. 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 a hiding-place, Job xiv. 13. 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 found
no place for repentance, or the reversal of the judgment; it was too late
to expect it, though perhaps they sought it carefully with tears.
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Seven
Kings Defeated and Slain.
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B.
C. 1450.
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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 were 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 LORD
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 were 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 LORD
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 were
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 were
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 were therein; he left none
remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it
utterly, and all the souls that were 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 were 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 LORD
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
LORD
God of Israel fought for Israel. 43 And Joshua returned, and all
Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.
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.
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 (v. 31,
32), Eglon (v. 34, 35), and Hebron, v. 36, 37. 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, Judg. i. 8; 2 Sam. v.
6. 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 (v. 28),
Libnah (v. 29, 30), and Debir, v. 38, 39. 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, v. 33.
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.
II. A general account of the country which was hereby reduced and brought into
Israel's hands (v. 40-42), 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,
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 (v. 28), or in two days, v. 32. 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.
2. The great severity Joshua used towards those he conquered. He gave no
quarter to man, woman, nor child, put to the sword all the souls (v.
28, 30, 32, 35, &c.), utterly destroyed all that breathed (v.
40), and left none remaining. Nothing could justify this military
execution but that herein they did as the Lord God of Israel commanded
(v. 40), 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 people for
their life, Isa. xliii. 4. When the heathen are to be cast out to make
room for this vine (Ps. lxxx. 8) 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 have judgment without mercy.
Nations that forget God shall be turned into hell, and no reproach at all
to God's infinite goodness.
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 fought for Israel, v. 42. They could not have gotten the
victory if God had not undertaken the battle; then we conquer when God fights
for us; and, if he be for us, who can be against us?
Contents
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