| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index
|
Joshua Chapter
Ten
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 10
This
chapter treats of the combination of five kings against the Gibeonites
Joshua 10:1; and of
the application of the Gibeonites to Joshua
for assistance
in virtue of the
league between them
which was granted
Joshua 10:6; of the
slaughter of the army by the kings of Israel
and chiefly by hailstones from
heaven
Joshua 10:10; and
of the standing still of the sun
and of the moon
while vengeance was taken on
them
Joshua 10:12; and
of the five kings being hid in a cave
and of the usage of them when taken
Joshua 10:15; and
of the taking of Makkedah
Libnah
Lachish
Eglon
Hebron
and Debir
Joshua 10:28; which
finished the conquest of the southern part of the land
Joshua 10:40.
Joshua 10:1 Now
it came to pass when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai
and had utterly destroyed it—as he had done to Jericho and its king
so he had
done to Ai and its king—and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with
Israel and were among them
YLT
1And it cometh to pass
when
Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heareth that Joshua hath captured Ai
and doth
devote it (as he had done to Jericho and to her king so he hath done to Ai and
to her king)
and that the inhabitants of Gibeon have made peace with Israel
and are in their midst
--
Now it came to pass
when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem
.... So
called
perhaps by anticipation
Jerusalem
since it seems to have had this
name given it by the Israelites
when they had got possession of it: and
Jerusalem signifies "the possession of Salem"F23Reland
p.
833.
and in memory of this its ancient name
the Jews sayF24Gloss.
in T. Bab. Taanith
fol. 16. 1.
they do not put "jod" in Jerusalem
between "lamed" and "mem"; though some make the
signification of it
"they shall see peace"F25Vid.
Stockium
p. 480. ; and others
nearer to its old name
and with respect to it
"fear Salem"
O ye enemies. Now the king of this place
had heard how Joshua had taken Ai
and had utterly destroyed it; which
being
nearer to him than Jericho
the more alarmed him:
as he had done to Jericho and her king
so he had done to Ai and
her king; burnt the one
and slew the other; and this terrified him
lest
he and his city should undergo the same fate:
and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel
and
were among them; which as it weakened the interest of the kings of Canaan
might
set an example to other places to do the like. Abarbinel suggests
that the
Gibeonites making peace with Israel secretly
without the knowledge of their
king
as he supposes
made Adonizedek fearful
lest his subjects should do the
like; the Jewish chronologers sayF26Seder Olam Rabba
c. 11. p. 31.
that these three acts respecting Jericho
Ai
and Gibeon
were all finished
within three months.
Joshua 10:2 2 that they feared greatly
because Gibeon was a great city
like one of the royal cities
and
because it was greater than Ai
and all its men were mighty.
YLT
2that they are greatly
afraid
because Gibeon [is] a great city
as one of the royal cities
and
because it [is] greater than Ai
and all its men -- heroes.
That they feared greatly
.... The king of
Jerusalem and his people
lest they should fall into the hands of the
Israelites
and be used as Jericho and Ai
and the kings and inhabitants of
them were
and that they would be the next that should fall a sacrifice to
them; for Gibeon was fifty furlongs from Jerusalem
as Josephus saysF1De
Bello Jud. l. 2. c. 19. sect. 1. ; and in another place he saysF2Antiqu.
l. 7. c. 11. sect. 7. but forty
which were but five miles; and if fifty
but
little more than six miles; according to BuntingF3Travels of the
Patriarchs
&c. p. 98.
it was but four miles: and what added to their
terror was:
because Gibeon was a great city; being a
metropolitan city
and having others subject to it; therefore the surrender of
that to the Israelites might intimidate other cities
and lead them by example
to do the like
and so of bad consequence:
as one of the royal cities; the Vulgate Latin
version omits the note of similitude
and reads
"and one of the royal
cities"; and sometimes "caph" or "as" is not a note of
likeness
but of reality; yet as we nowhere read of a king of Gibeon
the sense
may be
that though it was not a royal seat
it was equal to those that were
and like one
being a metropolitan city: and
because it was greater than Ai: had more
inhabitants in it
and perhaps better fortified:
and all the men thereof were mighty; men of
strength
courage
and valour
warlike men
and therefore for such a city to
yield so easily
and in such a base
mean
and cowardly way
was setting a very
bad example.
Joshua 10:3 3 Therefore Adoni-Zedek king
of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron
Piram king of Jarmuth
Japhia king
of Lachish
and Debir king of Eglon
saying
YLT
3And Adoni-Zedek king of
Jerusalem sendeth unto Hoham king of Hebron
and unto Piram king of Jarmuth
and unto Japhia king of Lachish
and unto Debir king of Eglon
saying
Wherefore Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of
Hebron
.... Which
according to JeromF4De loc. Heb. fol. 87.
E. was twenty two miles from Jerusalem; it was an ancient city built seven
years before Zoan in Egypt; See Gill on Genesis 13:18 and
See Gill on Numbers 13:22
and unto Piram king of Jarmuth; a city which fell to the
lot of Judah
as did Hebron
Joshua 15:35;
according to JeromF5lb. fol. 92. H.
it was four miles distant from
Eleutheropolis; according to ProcopiusF6Apud Reland. Palestin.
Illustrat. l. 2. p. 505. fourteen
about the village Eshtaol
near to which
Samson was buried
Judges 16:31; but
JeromF7Ut supra
(De loc. Heb. fol. 92.) I. speaks of a city called
Jermus
in the tribe of Judah
which seems to be the same with this; and which
he says in his day was a village
that went by the name of Jermucha
ten miles
from Eleutheropolis
as you go to Aelia or Jerusalem; and as Eleutheropolis lay
twenty miles from Jerusalem
this place must be ten miles from it
lying
between them both:
and unto Japhia king of Lachish; which the above writer
saysF8Ib. M. was a city in the tribe of Judah
and in his time a
village
seven miles from Eleutheropolis
as you go to Daroma
or the south;
and
according to BuntingF9Travels
p. 99.
it lay between
Eleutheropolis and Hebron
and was twenty miles from Jerusalem towards the
southwest:
and unto Debir king of Eglon; which the Septuagint
version calls Odollam or Adullam; and Jerom
following this version
makes
Eglon the same with Adullam
when it is certain they were different places
and
had distinct kings over them
Joshua 12:12; and
which he saysF11De loc. Heb. fol. 91. A. in his time was a very large
village
twelve miles from Eleutheropolis to the east; and
according to
BuntingF12Travels
p. 92. it was twelve miles from Jerusalem
southward. To these four kings the king of Jerusalem sent:
saying; as follows.
Joshua 10:4 4 “Come up to me and help
me
that we may attack Gibeon
for it has made peace with Joshua and with the
children of Israel.”
YLT
4`Come up unto me
and help
me
and we smite Gibeon
for it hath made peace with Joshua
and with the sons
of Israel.'
Come up unto me
and help me
that we may smite Gibeon
.... For which
he thought himself not a match
not only because it was a great city
and full
of mighty men
and had other cities subject to it
but because he might
reasonably judge that Joshua would come to their assistance if possible
being
in league with him; he sends to these kings in an authoritative manner
as if
they were in some respects subject to him; and he proposes Jerusalem as the
place of their rendezvous
and which it seems lay higher than their cities
though they were in the mountainous part of the country:
for it hath made peace with Joshua
and with the children of
Israel; their avowed enemies
and so had separated themselves from their
countrymen
and from their common interest; and therefore it was thought proper
to make an example of them
that others might fear to do the same.
Joshua 10:5 5 Therefore the five kings
of the Amorites
the king of Jerusalem
the king of Hebron
the king of
Jarmuth
the king of Lachish
and the king of Eglon
gathered together
and went up
they and all their armies
and camped before Gibeon and made war
against it.
YLT
5And five kings of the
Amorite (the king of Jerusalem
the king of Hebron
the king of Jarmuth
the
king of Lachish
the king of Eglon) are gathered together
and go up
they and
all their camps
and encamp against Gibeon
and fight against it.
Therefore the five kings of the Amorites
.... For
though they were chiefly Hittites that dwelt in Hebron
and Jebusites who
inhabited Jerusalem; yet as the Amorites were the most powerful people in the
land
and had dispersed themselves in the several parts of it
and seem to have
the greatest authority in it
they were all called Amorites
and perhaps the
kings of those cities were of them
and set over them by them; so we find that
the Gibeonites
who were Hivites
are said to be of the remnant of the Amorite
2 Samuel 21:2
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; that is
to Jerusalem
the place of their
rendezvous
and from thence they marched:
and encamped before Gibeon
and made war against it: by besieging
it
and attacking it in some of its forts.
Joshua 10:6 6 And the men of Gibeon sent
to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal
saying
“Do not forsake your servants; come up
to us quickly
save us and help us
for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell
in the mountains have gathered together against us.”
YLT
6And the men of Gibeon send
unto Joshua
unto the camp at Gilgal
saying
`Let not thy hand cease from thy
servants; come up unto us [with] haste
and give safety to us
and help us; for
all the kings of the Amorite
dwelling in the hill-country
have been assembled
against us.'
And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal
.... Which
some think they did when besieged
and not before
which showed their faith in
the power of God
whom they now professed; but it is not likely that they
should defer sending for help so long
since it is reasonable to suppose they
might have heard of the design of the five kings against them; or that they
should be able to send out messengers when surrounded on all sides; it may be
better therefore to render the words
"had sent"F13וישלהו "sed miserant"
Piscator; so Pool and
Patrick.
which they did as soon as they heard of the preparations made by the
five kings to war with them
and of their rendezvous at Jerusalem
and
especially as soon as they had information of their march towards them:
saying
slack not thine hands from thy servants; they entreat
that he would not neglect them
be indifferent to them
and delay to assist
them
since they were his subjects; and were entitled to his protection:
come up to us quickly
and save us
and help us; they did not
doubt
if he made haste and helped them
but they should be saved by him:
for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are
gathered together against us. Jerusalem lay among mountains
and Hebron
was in the hill country in Judea
see Psalm 125:2; and
the other cities were doubtless in a like situation.
Joshua 10:7 7 So Joshua ascended from
Gilgal
he and all the people of war with him
and all the mighty men of valor.
YLT
7And Joshua goeth up from
Gilgal
he
and all the people of war with him
even all the mighty men of
valour.
So Joshua ascended from Gilgal
.... Which lay low in the
plains of Jericho:
he and all the men of war with him; which must not be
understood of the whole camp of Israel
which consisted of five hundred
thousand fighting men at least; since such a number was unnecessary for this
expedition
and could not have proceeded with that haste the case required; nor
would it have been prudent and advisable to have left the unarmed people
old
men
women
and children
defenceless; but these were a select company of able
men
fit for travel as well as war:
and all the mighty men of valour; or "even all"
as many as were picked out for the purpose
being men of strength
activity
and courage.
Joshua 10:8 8 And the Lord said to
Joshua
“Do not fear them
for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man
of them shall stand before you.”
YLT
8And Jehovah saith unto
Joshua
`Be not afraid of them
for into thy hand I have given them
there doth
not stand a man of them in thy presence.'
And the Lord said unto Joshua
.... Either when upon the
march
and while he was proceeding on in his journey to the assistance of the
Gibeonites
or rather before he set out; and it is highly probable he consulted
the Lord on this occasion
having
it may be
some doubt on his mind
whether
he should go to their assistance
since the league between them was obtained by
fraud; and the words may be rendered
"and the Lord hath said"F14ויאמר "et dixerat"
Masius
Drusius
Junius &
Tremellius
Piscator. : before he set forward with his men of war:
fear them not; the five kings
and their combined army:
for I have delivered them into thine hand; had
determined to do it
and which was as certain as if it had been actually done:
there shall not a man of them stand before thee; but be either
cut off
or obliged to flee.
Joshua 10:9 9 Joshua therefore came upon
them suddenly
having marched all night from Gilgal.
YLT
9And Joshua cometh in unto
them suddenly (all the night he hath gone up from Gilgal)
Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly
.... Which no
doubt threw them into consternation and confusion:
and went up from Gilgal all
night; he chose the night for secrecy and surprise
and that he might
be the sooner with the enemy
and to the assistance and relief of Gibeon; and
as it was about nine or ten miles from Gilgal to Gibeon
it was easily
performed in a night's march; See Gill on Joshua 9:6.
Joshua 10:10 10 So the Lord routed them
before Israel
killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon
chased them along
the road that goes to Beth Horon
and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah.
YLT
10and Jehovah doth crush them
before Israel
and it smiteth them -- a great smiting -- at Gibeon
and
pursueth them the way of the ascent of Beth-Horon
and smiteth them unto
Azekah
and unto Makkedah.
And the Lord discomfited them before Israel
....
Disturbed
troubled
and frightened them
at the appearance and presence of the
people of Israel; they were thrown into terror and confusion upon their
approach
being so sudden and unexpected:
and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon; by the
Israelites
who came upon them suddenly:
and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron; there were
two places of this name
the upper and the nether
both built by Sherah
the
daughter or granddaughter of Ephraim
1 Chronicles 7:24;
therefore here so called by anticipation. It was about an hundred furlongs
or
twelve miles and a half
according to JosephusF15Antiqu. l. 20. c.
4. sect. 4.
from Jerusalem
which agrees with Eusebius and Jerom; and from
Gibeon thither
it was fifty furlongs
or six miles and a quarter; so far the
kings were pursued by Joshua and his army
at least unto the ascent of it; for
being built on a hill
it had an ascent on one side
and a descent on the
other
after mentioned
and both were very narrow passages; of the former it is
said in the TalmudF16T. Bab. Sanhedrin
fol. 32. 2.
that if two
camels go up the ascent to Bethhoron
they both fall; upon which the gloss
says
it is a narrow place
and there is no way to turn to the right hand
or
the left:
and smote them to Azekah
and unto Makkedah; the former of
which is placed by JeromF17De loc. Heb. fol. 88. A. & 93. C.
between Eleutheropolis and Jerusalem
and was a village in his days
and the
other eight miles from Eleutheropolis
and both in the tribe of Judah
see Joshua 15:35;
according to BuntingF18Travels
&c. p. 98.
they were both
eight miles from Jerusalem towards the west.
Joshua 10:11 11 And it happened
as they
fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon
that the Lord cast down
large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah
and they died. There
were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed
with the sword.
YLT
11And it cometh to pass
in
their fleeing from the face of Israel -- they [are] in the descent of
Beth-Horon -- and Jehovah hath cast upon them great stones out of the heavens
unto Azekah
and they die; more are they who have died by the hailstones than
they whom the sons of Israel have slain by the sword.
And it came to pass
as they fled before Israel
and were
in the going down to Bethhoron
.... The descent of it on that side towards
Azekah
and which was also a very narrow passage
of which JosephusF19De
Bello Jud. l. 2. c. 19. sect. 7
8. makes mention. The Jews sayF20Gloss.
in T. Bab. Beracot
fol. 54. 2.
that the going down of Bethhoron was the
place where the army of Sennacherib fell:
that the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto
Azekah
and they died; the Septuagint version calls them hailstones; and so they are
called in the next clause; and that such sometimes have fallen as to kill men
and cattle
is certain from the plague of hail in Egypt
Exodus 9:19; and
some in very late timesF21Vid. Louthorp. Abridg. Philosoph. vol. 2.
p. 144
146. have been known to fall
which were from eight
nine
and twelve
inches about
some bigger than the eggs of turkeys
and some half a pound
weight; see Gill on Revelation 16:21;
but these seem to be proper stones
such as did not melt away as hailstones do;
though so called
because they fell from heaven
as they do
but remained
and
still remain
according to the notion the Jews have of them; for they sayF23T.
Bab. Betacot
fol. 54. 1. whoever sees these great stones
in the going down to
Bethhoron
is bound to bless; and frequent mention is made by historians of
showers of stones being rained. LivyF24L. 1. p. 17. speaks of such a
shower when King Tullus conquered the Sabines; and of anotherF25L.
30. c. 30.
when Scipio succeeded at Carthage; and Pomponius MelaF26De
Orbis Situ
l. 2. c. 5. relates
that when Hercules fought with the sons of
Neptune
and darts failed him
he obtained of Jupiter to rains shower of
stones
which lay spread in great abundance; and someF1Vossius de
Origin. Idol. c. 1. sect. 16. think it refers to this fact in Joshua's time
who is supposed to be the same with the Tyrian HerculesF2See Gale's
Court of the Gentiles
l. 2. c. 5.
from hence also called SaxanusF3Dickins.
Delph. Phoenic. c. 4. p. 42. ; and in memory of this there are stony camps in
various places
called by his nameF4Sanford de Descens. Christi
l.
1. sect. 20. p. 35. :
they were more which
died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the
sword; but what was the number of each of them is not said; it was
doubtless very great
since there was an utter destruction and consumption of
them
Joshua 10:20.
Joshua 10:12 12 Then Joshua spoke 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 still over Gibeon; And Moon
in the Valley of
Aijalon.”
YLT
12Then speaketh Joshua to
Jehovah in the day of Jehovah's giving up the Amorites before the sons of
Israel
and he saith
before the eyes of Israel
`Sun -- in Gibeon stand still;
and moon -- in the valley of Ajalon;'
Then spake Joshua to the Lord
.... In prayer
and
entreated as follows
that the sun and moon might stand still
until the
victory was complete; though the Jewish writers interpret it of a song; so the
Targum
then Joshua praised
or sung praise
as in the Targum on Song of Solomon 1:1;
and which is approved of by Jarchi and Kimchi:
in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children
of Israel; the five kings of the Amorites
and their armies
Joshua 10:5
and he said
in the sight of Israel; in their presence
and
in the hearing of great numbers
being under a divine impulse
and having
strong faith in the working of the miracle
after related
and that it would be
according to his word; he was bold to say what he did
being fully persuaded he
should not be disappointed
and made ashamed:
sun
stand thou still upon Gibeon
and thou
moon
in the valley
of Ajalon; where they now appeared
and were seen by all Israel
the one as
if over Gibeon
and the other as in the valley of which Masius thinks is the
same with the valley of Gibeon
Isaiah 28:21; and
so must be near Gibeon
and the sun and the moon not far from one another
as
they might be if it was now new moon
as Kimchi and R. Isaiah; or on the
decrease; some say seven days before her change: but Abarbinel is of opinion
that it was near the full of the moon
which was just rising in the valley of
Ajalon
and the sun near setting as it seemed over Gibeon
and were just
opposite one to another; and Joshua fearing he should not have time to pursue
his enemies
and make the victory entire
should the sun set
prays that both
sun and moon might continue in the position they were; the sun that he might
have the benefit of daylight
which was the chief thing desired; the moon being
only mentioned
that the heavenly motions might not be confounded
and the
order of the orbs disturbed; and he observes
with Jarchi and Kimchi
that
Gibeon was in the tribe of Benjamin
Joshua 18:25; and
Ajalon in the tribe of Dan
Joshua 19:42; and
it may be observed
that there was also another in the tribe of Zebulun
Judges 12:12; but
that seems to be at too great a distance; and still less probable is what some
late travellers have observedF5Egmont and Heyman's Travels
vol. 1.
p. 290.
that the plain of Sharon near Joppa
is thought by many to be the
place where Joshua defeated the five kings
when the sun stood still
&c.
the opinion of Masius
first mentioned
seems most likely.
Joshua 10:13 13 So the sun stood still
And
the moon stopped
Till the people had revenge Upon their enemies. Is
this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of
heaven
and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.
YLT
13and the sun standeth still
and the moon hath stood -- till the nation taketh vengeance [on] its enemies;
is it not written on the Book of the Upright
`and the sun standeth in the
midst of the heavens
and hath not hasted to go in -- as a perfect day?'
And the sun stood still
and the moon stayed
.... The sun
that came out of his chamber like a bridegroom
and rejoiced as a strong man to
run his course
stopped his course at once; and the moon that walks in her
brightness proceeded not on
but both stood still
motionless
and continued in
this position:
until the people had avenged themselves on their enemies: until the
nation and people of Israel had taken vengeance on and destroyed the live kings
and their forces: how this is to be reconciled to the Copernican system
or
that with this
I shall not inquire. It was a most wonderful and surprising
phenomenon
to see both luminaries standing still in the midst of heaven; it is
pretended by some historiansF6See Bayle's Dictionary
vol. 4. p.
268.
that a like miracle was wrought at the battle of Mulberg
won by the
Emperor Charles the Fifth
on April 24
1547. In the Chinese historyF7Martin.
Sinie. Histor. l. 1. p. 25. it is reported
that in the time of their seventh
emperor
Yao
the sun did not set for ten days
and that men were afraid the
world would be burnt
and there were great fires at that time; and though the
time of the sun's standing still is enlarged beyond the bounds of truth
yet it
seems to refer to this fact
and was manifestly about the same time; for this
miracle was wrought in the year of the world 2554
which fell in the seventy
fifth
or
as some say
the sixty seventh year of that emperor's reign
who
reigned ninety years:
is not this written in the
book of Jasher? about which the Jews are divided; some say it is the book of
Genesis
others the book of Deuteronomy
others the book of JudgesF8T.
Bab. Avoda Zara
fol. 35. 1. ; the Targum interprets it of the book of the law
and so Jarchi and Kimchi; and Ben Melech interprets it of the book of the law
of Moses
where they suppose this miracle was predicted. The former thinks
in
the words of Jacob to Joseph
"his seed shall fill the nations"
Genesis 48:19;
which he supposes was fulfilled in Joshua of the tribe of Ephraim
when the
whole world was filled with the fame of him on account of this miracle; and the
latter in the words
"before all thy people I will do miracles"
Exodus 34:10; one
was in making the face of Moses to shine
the other the standing still of the
sun for Joshua
as he interprets it. Bolducius
a commentator on the book of
JobF9Bolduc. in Job. ix. 7.
fancies that that book is designed
and that this miracle is foretold in it
particularly in Job 9:7;
"which commandeth the sun
and it riseth not"; it is most likely that
this book of Jasher
in which this miracle was recorded
was a public register
or annals
in which memorable events were written
as they happened in
different ages by different persons; and Masius thinks JosephusF11Antiqu.
l. 5. c. 1. sect. 17. means this by the archives laid up in the temple
to
which he appeals for the truth of this miracle:
so the sun stood still in the midst of heaven; somewhere
above the horizon
very probably this was about noon
when the sun was in its
meridian. GussetiusF12Comment. Ebr. p. 281. thinks about ten or
eleven o'clock; it may be supposed that early in the morning Joshua came up
with his troops
and engaged the kings
and it might be noon before the battle
was over
and the victory obtained
at least before Joshua had proceeded in his
pursuit of them
so far as he had done
when the miracle was wrought; and the
rather
as it would be the more conspicuous in the several parts of the world;
for had it been near sun setting
it could not have been seen in some places
and particularly by the Chinese
as it seems to have been by what has been
observed:
and hasted not to go down about a whole day; which was
either artificial or natural; if an artificial day
then it stood still but
twelve hours; if a natural day
twenty four hours; and accordingly the length
of the day must be judged of; if it was at noon when it stood still
and
continued so a natural day
or twenty four hours
then as it had gone six hours
to noon
and
after it returned to its motion
had six more to go to its
setting
this day must be thirty six hours long; and so the Jews commonly sayF13Targum
in Cant. i. 1. T. Bab. Avoda Zara
fol. 25. 1. Kimchi in loc. So Justin Martyr.
Dialog. cum Tryph. p. 361. ; but if an artificial day
or twelve hours
then it
was but a day of twenty four hours; but if this was
as the Jews sayF14Seder
Olam Rabba
c. 11. p. 31. Kimchi in loc.
on the third of Tammuz
which
answers to part of June
and was in the summer solstice
on the longest day in
the year
when their days consisted of fourteen hours
this will make this long
day four hours longer. According to the author of Ecclesiasticus
in the
Apocrypha:"Did not the sun go back by his means? and was not one day as
long as two?' (Sirach 46:4)it was a
double day
or
as he expresses it
one day became two
or was as long as two.
(In the late 1960's
someone circulated a story that NASA had discovered there
was a missing day in the solar system. Using this passage they accounted for
about twenty one missing hours and the account in Isaiah 38:8 to
account for the rest of the missing time. This story is a complete fable and
has absolutely no basis in fact. Editor.)
Joshua 10:14 14 And there has been no day
like that
before it or after it
that the Lord heeded the
voice of a man; for the Lord
fought for Israel.
YLT
14And there hath not been
like that day before it or after it
for Jehovah's hearkening to the voice of a
man; for Jehovah is fighting for Israel.
And there was no day like that
before it
or after it
.... Which
must be understood as referring not to natural days
or such as are according
to the natural course of things
as those in the northern and southern poles
which are much longer
but to miraculous and extraordinary ones: never was
there such a day as this
occasioned by the sun standing still; and as for
Hezekiah's day
which is objected
when the sun went ten degrees backward on
the dial of Ahaz
it is not certain whether those degrees were hours
or half
hours
or quarters of an hour; and if they were hours
as the going backwards
was at once
in a moment
it could only make an addition of ten hours in the
return of them
and so it must make but a day of twenty two hours: besides
the
writer of this book only speaks of days that had been in his time
and not of
what might be hereafter; add to which
that this respects not so much the
length of the day
as the manner in which it became so long; and especially it
regards the following circumstance
being at the entreaty of a man
and that
delivered in a very authoritative manner:
that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man; expressed in
prayer
and which prayer was a prayer of faith:
for the Lord fought for Israel: by casting hailstones
upon their enemies
and preserving them from them by the stopping the course of
the sun
until they had taken full vengeance on them. The day on which this
miracle was wrought
is conjectured to be Wednesday the eleventh of April
in
the year before Christ 1454F14Bedford's Chronology
p. 492. .
Joshua 10:15 15 Then Joshua returned
and
all Israel with him
to the camp at Gilgal.
YLT
15And Joshua turneth back
and all Israel with him
unto the camp at Gilgal.
And Joshua returned
and all Israel with him
unto the camp to
Gilgal. That is
he thought to have returned
had determined upon it
and
prepared for it
but was prevented by hearing that the five kings had hid
themselves in a cave at Makkedah; which he ordered to be stopped up till the
people had finished the pursuit of their enemies
when he destroyed Makkedah
and which led him on to the conquest of other places before he returned; or
else this verse stands not in its proper place
or is superfluous
since the
same is expressed Joshua 10:43; after
all the above mentioned was done; the Septuagint version leaves it out.
Joshua 10:16 16 But these five kings had
fled and hidden themselves in a cave at Makkedah.
YLT
16And these five kings flee
and are hidden in a cave at Makkedah
But these five kings fled
.... They were not killed
by hailstones
nor slain by the sword of the Israelites
but made their escape
being reserved by the providence of God for a more shameful end:
and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah; not in the
city of Makkedah
which as yet was not in the hands of Israel
whereas this
cave was
as appears by what follows; but it was in some hill
or mountain
near it; in the border of it
as Kimchi expresses it
and where a hill is shown
to this day in which it was
as Drusius says.
Joshua 10:17 17 And it was told Joshua
saying
“The five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Makkedah.”
YLT
17and it is declared to
Joshua
saying
`The five kings have been found hidden in a cave at Makkedah.'
And it was told Joshua
.... Either by some of his
own people
or by some of the inhabitants of the land in his interest
who had
observed it:
saying
the five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah: this seems to
make it appear that they were others
and not Joshua's soldiers
that found
them; for had they
no doubt they would have seized them
and brought them
before him
or slain them
unless they chose first to know his will concerning
them
next expressed.
Joshua 10:18 18 So Joshua said
“Roll
large stones against the mouth of the cave
and set men by it to guard them.
YLT
18And Joshua saith
`Roll
great stones unto the mouth of the cave
and appoint over it men to watch them;
And Joshua said
roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave
.... To keep
the kings in
that they might not make their escape
until he had convenient
time to have them brought before him
and be treated by him as they deserved;
and no doubt there were plenty of stones about the hill or mountain
in which
this cave was
fit for this purpose:
and set men by it for to keep them; as a guard upon them
to
prevent their escape.
Joshua 10:19 19 And do not stay there
yourselves
but pursue your enemies
and attack their rear guard.
Do not allow them to enter their cities
for the Lord your God has
delivered them into your hand.”
YLT
19and ye
stand not
pursue
after your enemies
and ye have smitten the hindmost of them; suffer them not
to go in unto their cities
for Jehovah your God hath given them into your
hand.'
And stay you not
but pursue after your enemies
.... That is
do not stay at this cave
but having placed a sufficient guard there
go in
pursuit of the enemy
with as much celerity as possible:
and smite the hindmost of them; their rear; or
"tail" themF15אב־תאם
"caudam eorum caedite"
Pagninus
Vatablus
Masius
Drusius; "et
decaudetis eos"
Montanus; "decaudabitis eos"
Munster.
as the
word is
cut off the tail of them:
suffer them not to enter their cities; where they
would not only be safe themselves for a while
but would be able to hold out
against a siege for some time
and give much trouble to conquer them:
for the Lord your God hath delivered them into your hands; this he said
to encourage them
and quicken them to the pursuit of them with all eagerness
and vehemence. According to the Samaritan ChronicleF16Apud
Hottinger. Smegma
p. 509.
the signal or watchword was
"God is strong in
battle
God is his name.'
Joshua 10:20 20 Then it happened
while
Joshua and the children of Israel made an end of slaying them with a very great
slaughter
till they had finished
that those who escaped entered fortified
cities.
YLT
20And it cometh to pass
when
Joshua and the sons of Israel finish to smite them -- a very great smiting
till they are consumed
and the remnant who have remained of them go in unto
the fenced cities
And it came to pass
when Joshua and the children of Israel
.... Joshua
seems to have pitched his camp at Makkedah
while the rest of his army pursued
the fleeing Canaanites
and when he and they were at different places:
had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter
till
they were consumed: and not to be seen in any large bodies
but scattered here and
there:
that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced
cities; to which they belonged
and which were afterwards taken
as
related in the latter part of this chapter
Joshua 10:28.
Joshua 10:21 21 And all the people
returned to the camp
to Joshua at Makkedah
in peace. No one moved his tongue
against any of the children of Israel.
YLT
21that all the people turn
back to the camp
unto Joshua
[at] Makkedah
in peace; none moved sharply his
tongue against the sons of Israel.
And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in
peace
.... Sound and well
as not one killed or missing
so not one
wounded
as the Vulgate Latin version
"sound and in full number:"
none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel; as to curse
them
reproach them
and speak ill of them
for invading them
and using them
in the manner they did
such was the terror that was upon them. It may be
supplied
"not a dog moved" his tongue
as in Exodus 11:7; as it
was with them when they came out of Egypt
so it was when they entered the land
of Canaan. It seems to be a proverbial expression
as Ben Gersom observes
signifying that no harm was done to them by word or deed.
Joshua 10:22 22 Then Joshua said
“Open
the mouth of the cave
and bring out those five kings to me from the cave.”
YLT
22And Joshua saith
`Open ye
the mouth of the cave
and bring out unto me these five kings from the cave;'
Then said Joshua
open the mouth of the cave
.... That is
roll away the great stones that were laid at the mouth of it:
and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave; to receive
their sentence in a public manner
for the encouragement of his troops and the
terror of the Canaanites
particularly Makkedah
now besieged by him.
Joshua 10:23 23 And they did so
and
brought out those five kings to him from the cave: the king of Jerusalem
the
king of Hebron
the king of Jarmuth
the king of Lachish
and the king
of Eglon.
YLT
23and they do so
and bring
out unto him these five kings from the cave: the king of Jerusalem
the king of
Hebron
the king of Jarmuth
the king of Lachish
the king of Eglon.
And they did so
.... Opened the mouth "of" the
cave
by rolling away the stones:
and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave; who are next
mentioned by name
one by one
according to their dignity
and in the order
they were brought unto him:
the king of Jerusalem
the king of Hebron
the king of Jarmuth
the king of Lachish
and the king of Eglon; who are
particularly named for the greater glory of the conquest
and the triumph over
them.
Joshua 10:24 24 So it was
when they
brought out those kings to Joshua
that Joshua called for all the men of
Israel
and said to the captains of the men of war who went with him
“Come
near
put your feet on the necks of these kings.” And they drew near and put
their feet on their necks.
YLT
24And it cometh to pass
when
they bring out these kings unto Joshua
that Joshua calleth unto every man of
Israel
and saith unto the captains of the men of war
who have gone with him
`Draw near
set your feet on the necks of these kings;' and they draw near
and
set their feet on their necks.
And it came to pass
when they brought out these kings unto Joshua
.... And set
them before him
and he had passed sentence on them:
that he called for all the men of Israel; that is
for
the chief men
the principal officers of the army:
and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him; the
chiliarchs and centurions
the captains of thousands and hundreds
of the
several regiments in the army who went out to battle with him
and under him:
come near
put your feet on the necks of these kings; not in a
contemptuous and insulting manner
not through vanity and haughtiness
but for
the mortification of the kings; and as a token of their extreme subjection
and
as a proper punishment for their crimes of idolatry
tyranny
and cruelty; and
by way of terror to others of the kings of Canaan that should fight against
them
and as a pledge and confirmation of the subjection of the rest
as well
as to fulfil the promises and predictions of God
Deuteronomy 33:29;
and which was done not of himself
but by the order
and according to the will
of God:
and they came near
and put their feet upon the necks of them; as Joshua
ordered them
and in obedience to him their general.
Joshua 10:25 25 Then Joshua said to them
“Do not be afraid
nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage
for thus the
Lord will do to all
your enemies against whom you fight.”
YLT
25And Joshua saith unto them
`Fear not
nor be affrighted; be strong and courageous; for thus doth Jehovah
do to all your enemies with whom ye are fighting;'
And Joshua said
rest not
nor be dismayed
.... Not
meaning at the kings
who perhaps lay bound upon the ground
or however were
not in a condition to make any resistance
so that they had nothing to fear
from them; but this respects future time
and what other enemies they should
meet with; who would be brought into subjection to them as these were
and
therefore from hence should take heart:
be strong
and of good courage; and go on valiantly in
subduing the rest of their enemies
and not be afraid of them:
for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye
fight; put them into their hands
and give them power to tread on their
necks: this shows that what Joshua did
or ordered to be done
was of the Lord.
Joshua 10:26 26 And afterward Joshua
struck them and killed them
and hanged them on five trees; and they were
hanging on the trees until evening.
YLT
26and Joshua smiteth them
afterwards
and putteth them to death
and hangeth them on five trees; and they
are hanging on the trees till the evening.
And afterwards Joshua smote them and slew them
.... With the
sword; either by his own hands
or by others whom he ordered to slay them:
and hanged them on five trees; to their shame and
disgrace
and the terror of others:
and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening; by way of
contempt of them
and as a spectacle of terror to others
especially to the
inhabitants of Makkedah
and their king they were now besieging.
Joshua 10:27 27 So it was at the time of
the going down of the sun that Joshua commanded
and they took them down
from the trees
cast them into the cave where they had been hidden
and laid
large stones against the cave’s mouth
which remain until this very day.
YLT
27And it cometh to pass
at
the time of the going in of the sun
Joshua hath commanded
and they take them
down from off the trees
and cast them unto the cave where they had been hid
and put great stones on the mouth of the cave till this very day.
And it came to pass
at the time of the going down of the sun
.... Which was
the time fixed by the law of God for taking down bodies that were hanged
Deuteronomy 21:23
that Joshua
commanded
and they took them down off the trees; not from
any respect to
them
but that they might not defile the land
as dead bodies in a ceremonial
sense did
Deuteronomy 21:23;
and this Joshua was the more careful of
as they were just entered into it
and
were taking possession of it:
and they cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid; so that what
had been their hiding place now became their grave; and according to the
Samaritan ChronicleF17Apud Hottinger. Smegma. p. 511.
the trees
also on which they were hanged were cast in with them:
and laid great stones in the cave's mouth: not as a
monumental pile
as in the instances of Achan and the king of Ai
Joshua 7:26; but to
prevent their carcasses being dragged out
and eaten by wild beasts
as some
think; or that they might not be taken out
and buried in a more honourable
manner:
which remain until this
very day; when Joshua was grown old
the writer of this book.
Joshua 10:28 28 On that day Joshua took
Makkedah
and struck it and its king with the edge of the sword. He utterly
destroyed them[a]—all the
people who were in it. He let none remain. He also did to the king of
Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.
YLT
28And Makkedah hath Joshua
captured on that day
and he smiteth it by the mouth of the sword
and its king
he hath devoted
them and every person who [is] in it -- he hath not left a
remnant; and he doth to the king of Makkedah as he did to the king of Jericho.
And that day Joshua took Makkedah
.... Some say it was the
day on which the sun stood still; but it seems to mean the day in which the
five kings were hanged:
and smote it with the edge of the sword
and the king thereof; slew the
inhabitants of it and their king
after having entered and taken it:
he utterly destroyed them and all the souls that were
therein
he let none remain; that is
all human souls or persons; for
the cattle were taken for a prey:
and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of
Jericho; slew him with the sword
along with the inhabitants
but did not
hang him up
as he did the king of Ai and the five kings.
Joshua 10:29 29 Then Joshua passed from
Makkedah
and all Israel with him
to Libnah; and they fought against Libnah.
YLT
29And Joshua passeth over
and all Israel with him
from Makkedah [to] Libnah
and fighteth with Libnah;
And Joshua passed from Makkedah
.... After he had taken
it
and destroyed its inhabitants
and its king:
and all Israel with him; that is
all the men of
war he took with him from the camp at Gilgal
from whence he went to the relief
of Gibeon:
unto Libnah
and fought against Libnah; a city that
fell to the tribe of Judah
Joshua 15:42. JeromF18De
loc. Heb. fol. 92. M. says
in his time it was a village
in the region of
Eleutheropolis
and was called Libnah; according to BuntingF19Travels
of the Patriarchs
&c. p. 96. it was but two miles from Makkedah.
Joshua 10:30 30 And the Lord also delivered
it and its king into the hand of Israel; he struck it and all the people who were
in it with the edge of the sword. He let none remain in it
but did to its king
as he had done to the king of Jericho.
YLT
30and Jehovah giveth also it
into the hand of Israel
and its king
and it smiteth it by the mouth of the
sword
and every person who [is] in it -- it left not in it a remnant; and it
doth to its king as it did to the king of Jericho.
And the Lord delivered it also
and the king thereof
into the
hand of Israel
.... At once
no opposition being made that we read of:
and he smote it with the edge of the sword
and all the souls that
were therein
he let none remain in it; that is
Israel smote
it
or Joshua
and indeed both; and this was according to the orders given them
to be observed with respect to all the cities and nations of Canaan; and that
because of their abominable sins and wickedness
and to make way and room for
the people of Israel
Deuteronomy 7:1
but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho: slew him with
the inhabitants.
Joshua 10:31 31 Then Joshua passed from
Libnah
and all Israel with him
to Lachish; and they encamped against it and
fought against it.
YLT
31And Joshua passeth over
and all Israel with him
from Libnah to Lachish
and encampeth against it
and
fighteth against it;
And Joshua passed from Libnah
and all Israel with him
unto
Lachish
.... Which
according to BuntingF4Travels of the
Patriarchs
&c. p. 96.
was eight miles from Libnah
and twenty miles from
Jerusalem to the southwest of this city; see Joshua 10:5
and encamped against it
and fought against it; for it seems
this city stood out
and would not surrender at once
which obliged Joshua to
encamp about it
and besiege it.
Joshua 10:32 32 And the Lord delivered
Lachish into the hand of Israel
who took it on the second day
and struck it
and all the people who were in it with the edge of the sword
according
to all that he had done to Libnah.
YLT
32And Jehovah giveth Lachish
into the hand of Israel
and it captureth it on the second day
and smiteth it
by the mouth of the sword
and every person who [is] in it
according to all
that it did to Libnah.
And the Lord delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel
which he
took on the second day
.... Either the second day from the slaughter of the kings
or
rather the second day of the encampment or siege; so Kimchi: 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; no mention is
made of its king
because he was one of the five kings that had been hanged up;
so that at the taking of this city there was no king.
Joshua 10:33 33 Then Horam king of Gezer
came up to help Lachish; and Joshua struck him and his people
until he left
him none remaining.
YLT
33Than hath Horam king of
Gezer come up to help Lachish
and Joshua smiteth him and his people
till he
hath not left to him a remnant.
Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish
.... Perhaps
the rather induced to it
because it had no king to defend it. In Jerom'sF5De
loc. Heb. fol. 92. A. time it was a village called Gazera
four miles from
Nicopolis
or Emmaus
to the north: if this king came before the city was
taken
he was not able to raise the siege; and if he came after
and so too
late
he fell into the hands of Joshua:
and Joshua smote him
and his people
until he had left him none
remaining; destroyed him and all his army
so that there were none left to
return and relate their unhappy case.
Joshua 10:34 34 From Lachish Joshua passed
to Eglon
and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it and fought
against it.
YLT
34And Joshua passeth over
and all Israel with him
from Lachish to Eglon
and they encamp against it
and
fight against it
And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon
.... Which
according to BuntingF6Ut supra. (Travels of the Patriarchs
&c.
p. 96.)
was eight miles from Lachish
and twelve from Jerusalem southward
of
which see Joshua 10:5
and all Israel with him
and they encamped against it
and fought
against it; it not surrendering at once
but attempted to hold out a siege.
Joshua 10:35 35 They took it on that day
and struck it with the edge of the sword; all the people who were in it
he utterly destroyed that day
according to all that he had done to Lachish.
YLT
35and capture it on that day
and smite it by the mouth of the sword
and every person who [is] in it on that
day he hath devoted
according to all that he did to Lachish.
And they took it on that day
.... The same day they
encamped about it and besieged it; the besieged finding they were not able to
keep it:
and smote it with the edge of the sword
and all the souls that were
therein he utterly destroyed that day; made an utter
devastation of all its inhabitants:
according to all that he had done to Lachish; the last city
he took; this having no king as that had not
its king being one of the five
that had been hanged
Joshua 10:26.
Joshua 10:36 36 So Joshua went up from
Eglon
and all Israel with him
to Hebron; and they fought against it.
YLT
36And Joshua goeth up
and
all Israel with him
from Eglon to Hebron
and they fight against it
And Joshua went up from
Eglon
and all Israel with him
unto Hebron
.... Which lay in the
hill country
and therefore they are said to go up to it from Eglon
which lay
lower; and
according to BuntingF7Ibid. (Travels of the Patriarchs
&c. p. 96.)
it was sixteen miles from it:
and they fought against it; it making some
resistance at first
and did not surrender at once
as demanded.
Joshua 10:37 37 And they took it and
struck it with the edge of the sword—its king
all its cities
and all the
people who were in it; he left none remaining
according to all that he
had done to Eglon
but utterly destroyed it and all the people who were
in it.
YLT
37and capture it
and smite
it by the mouth of the sword
and its king
and all its cities
and every
person who [is] in it -- he hath not left a remnant -- according to all that he
did to Eglon -- and doth devote it
and every person who [is] in it.
And they took it
and
smote it with the edge of the sword
and the king thereof
.... For though the king
of Hebron was one of the kings that were taken in the cave of Makkedah
and
hanged; yet before Joshua came up to it
they had set up another king over them:
and all the cities thereof; for Hebron was a
metropolitan city
and had other cities dependent on it
and subject to it:
and all the souls that were therein; both in
Hebron
and in the cities subject to it:
he left none remaining; in any of them:
according to all that he had done to Eglon; the last
place he came from:
but destroyed it utterly
and all the souls that were
therein; but it seems that afterwards some that made their escape before
the taking of the city
and other Canaanites driven out of their habitations
repeopled it; so that after Joshua's death it was recovered again by the tribe
of Judah
Judges 1:10; unless
there is given in that place a more particular account of the taking of this
city
with others at this time; but the former seems most likely.
Joshua 10:38 38 Then Joshua returned
and
all Israel with him
to Debir; and they fought against it.
YLT
38And Joshua turneth back
and all Israel with him
to Debir
and fighteth against it
And Joshua returned
and
all Israel with him
to Debir
.... A city
according to Kimchi
which he
passed by when he went to Hebron
and did not fight against it; but
when he
had taken Hebron
returned and took it; and which BuntingF8Travels
of the Patriarchs
&c. p. 96. says was but a mile from it
and twenty two
miles from Jerusalem
towards the south; it is the same with Kirjathsepher and
Kirjathsannah
Joshua 15:15; the
city of a book or books; and the Rabbins sayF9T. Bab. Avodah Zarah
fol. 24. 2.
that with the Persians Debir signifies the same
and had its name
from a library which was here kept
or from the archives in which the most
memorable things since the flood were recorded; or from the making of paper or
parchment
or whatsoever was made use of for writing
and of which volumes of
books were made:
and fought against it; it refusing to submit to
him upon his summons.
Joshua 10:39 39 And he took it and its
king and all its cities; they struck them with the edge of the sword and
utterly destroyed all the people who were in it. He left none remaining;
as he had done to Hebron
so he did to Debir and its king
as he had done also
to Libnah and its king.
YLT
39and captureth it
and its
king
and all its cities
and they smite them by the mouth of the sword
and
devote every person who [is] in it -- he hath not left a remnant; as he did to
Hebron so he did to Debir
and to its king
and as he did to Libnah
and to its
king.
And he took it
and the
king thereof
and all the cities thereof
.... For this also was a
royal city
and had others dependent on it; and therefore must lie further from
Hebron than before suggested; and indeed BurchardF11Apud Masium in
loc. says it was five or six miles from it
and another writerF12Fuller's
Pisgah Sight of Palestine
B. 2. c. 13. p. 276. says ten miles:
and they smote them with the edge of the sword; the inhabitants
of Debir
and the other cities adjacent to it:
and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein
he
left none remaining; and yet it seems this city recovered again
and was reinhabited
and after the death of Joshua was taken by Othniel
Judges 1:11;
unless
as before observed
with respect to Hebron
there is there a more
particular account of the taking of it at this time:
as he had done to Hebron
so did he to Debir
and to the king
thereof
as he had done also to Libnah and her king; that is
slew
them.
Joshua 10:40 40 So Joshua conquered all
the land: the mountain country and the South[b] and the
lowland and the wilderness slopes
and all their kings; he left none remaining
but utterly destroyed all that breathed
as the Lord God of Israel
had commanded.
YLT
40And Joshua smiteth all the
land of the hill-country
and of the south
and of the low-country
and of the
springs
and all their kings -- he hath not left a remnant
and all that doth
breathe he hath devoted
as Jehovah
God of Israel
commanded.
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
.... That part of the land of Canaan which lay southward
and
consisted of hills and vales; which abounded with springs
and was a well
watered country
and agrees with the description Moses gives of it
though he
never saw it
Deuteronomy 8:7
he left none remaining
but utterly destroyed all that breathed; that is
all
human creatures; for as for the cattle
they were spared as a prey:
as the Lord God of Israel commanded; this law is extant
Deuteronomy 20:16;
and which is here observed to clear the Israelites from the charge of cruelty
and inhumanity; since what they did was not of themselves
nor from a private
spirit of revenge
nor a greedy desire after the substance of the inhabitants;
but in obedience to the command of God
and who ordered this as a righteous
punishment of those people for their gross abominations of idolatry
incest
&c. see Leviticus 18:1.
Joshua 10:41 41 And Joshua conquered them
from Kadesh Barnea as far as Gaza
and all the country of Goshen
even as far
as Gibeon.
YLT
41And Joshua smiteth them
from Kadesh-Barnea
even unto Gaza
and all the land of Goshen
even unto
Gibeon;
And Joshua smote them
from Kadeshbarnea
.... Which lay to the south of the land of Canaan
Numbers 13:17
even unto Gaza
which lay to the southwest
and was one of
the five principalities of the Philistines; of which city See Gill on Amos 1:7; and See
Gill on Acts 8:26
and all the country of Goshen
even unto Gibeon; to which he
returned back in his way to his camp at Gilgal
having conquered all the
southern part of the country. This country of Goshen is not that in the land of
Egypt
as Kimchi rightly remarks. Bishop CumberlandF13Remarks on the
History of Sanchoniatho
p. 380
381. is of opinion
that the Phoenician or
Canaanitish pastors
who were driven out of Egypt before their expulsion
inhabited that part of Egypt called Goshen
which the Israelites some years
after dwelt in; and when those shepherds were driven out
they came into this
part of the land of Canaan
and called it after the name of the country they
left in Egypt; and might perhaps the rather choose to give it this name
because
of the goodness and fruitfulness of it
in which it resembled the country they
had formerly dwelt in.
Joshua 10:42 42 All these kings and their
land Joshua took at one time
because the Lord God of Israel fought for
Israel.
YLT
42and all these kings and
their land hath Joshua captured [at] one time
for Jehovah
God of Israel
is
fighting for Israel.
And all these kings
and
their land
did Joshua take at one time
.... Not in one day
but
in a very short time
in a few days
as the history clearly shows:
because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel; which is the
true reason of such quick dispatch being made
otherwise in all probability
much longer time must have been consumed in subduing them. The Targum
is
"because the Lord God of Israel fought by his Word for Israel.'
Joshua 10:43 43 Then Joshua returned
and
all Israel with him
to the camp at Gilgal.
YLT
43and Joshua turneth back
and all Israel with him
unto the camp at Gilgal.
And Joshua returned
.... After all
these kings and their cities had been taken by him
and not before; though the
same is said
Joshua 10:15
before the history of those facts; See Gill on Joshua 10:15
and all Israel with him to the camp in Gilgal; where the
body of the people were left
and where was the tabernacle of the Lord; and no
doubt he and Israel with him gave public praise and thanksgiving there for the
signal victories they had obtained over the Canaanites.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)