Joshua 10: Sun Stands Still, Kings Defeated

Short answer: Joshua 10 tells how Joshua rescued Gibeon from five Amorite kings, and how Yahweh fought for Israel by confusing the enemy, hurling hailstones, and making the sun stand still. It then records Joshua's execution of the five kings and his swift conquest of Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, and Debir.

What Joshua 10 says

The chapter opens with Adoni-Zedek, king of Jerusalem, hearing how Joshua had destroyed Ai and how Gibeon had made peace with Israel. Because Gibeon was a great city with mighty men, he and four other Amorite kings formed an alliance to attack it. The men of Gibeon sent an urgent plea to Joshua at Gilgal, asking him not to abandon his servants but to come quickly and save them. Joshua responded immediately, marching up from Gilgal with his whole army, including all the mighty men of valor. Yahweh then spoke to Joshua, telling him not to fear, for the enemy was already delivered into his hands and not a man would stand before him. This opening movement sets the stage for a decisive battle, showing both the threat against Gibeon and Joshua's faithful response.

Joshua came upon the enemy suddenly, having marched all night from Gilgal. Yahweh confused them before Israel, and a great slaughter took place at Gibeon. The Israelites chased them along the ascent of Beth Horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. As the Amorites fled, Yahweh hurled great stones from the sky on them, and more died from the hailstones than from Israel's sword. Then Joshua spoke to Yahweh in the sight of Israel, commanding the sun to stand still over Gibeon and the moon over the valley of Aijalon. The sun stood still and the moon stayed until the nation had avenged themselves of their enemies. This event was recorded in the book of Jashar, and there was no day like it before or after, when Yahweh listened to the voice of a man, for Yahweh fought for Israel.

The five kings fled and hid in a cave at Makkedah. Joshua was told where they were, and he ordered large stones to be rolled over the cave's entrance with men set to guard them. He then instructed his troops not to stay there but to pursue the enemy and attack them from the rear, preventing them from entering their fortified cities, because Yahweh had delivered them into Israel's hand. After Joshua and the Israelites finished a very great slaughter, the remnant entered the fortified cities. All the people returned to Joshua at Makkedah in peace, and none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel. Joshua then commanded the cave to be opened and the five kings brought out. He called the men of Israel and told the chiefs of the men of war to put their feet on the kings' necks, and they did so. Joshua encouraged them not to be afraid or dismayed, but to be strong and courageous, for Yahweh would do the same to all their enemies.

Joshua struck the five kings, put them to death, and hanged them on five trees until evening. At sunset, he commanded that they be taken down and thrown into the cave where they had hidden, and great stones were laid on the cave's mouth, which remain to that day. Joshua then took Makkedah on that day, utterly destroying it and its king, leaving no one remaining. He passed from Makkedah to Libnah, then to Lachish, then to Eglon, then to Hebron, and then to Debir, fighting against each and striking them with the edge of the sword. Yahweh delivered each city and its king into Israel's hand, and Joshua left no one remaining, just as he had done to Jericho. Horam king of Gezer came to help Lachish, but Joshua struck him and his people until none remained. So Joshua struck all the land, the hill country, the South, the lowland, and the slopes, and all their kings, utterly destroying all that breathed, as Yahweh commanded. Joshua took all these kings and their land at one time because Yahweh, the God of Israel, fought for Israel. Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

Verses that carry the chapter

• “Yahweh said to Joshua, “Don’t fear them, for I have delivered them into your hands. Not a man of them will stand before you.” (Joshua 10:8)” (Joshua 10:8) — Yahweh directly assures Joshua of victory, saying not to fear because the enemy is already delivered into his hands. This divine promise fuels Joshua's bold night march and the subsequent rout.
• “As they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth Horon, Yahweh hurled down great stones from the sky on them to Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the children of Israel killed with the sword.” (Joshua 10:11) — Yahweh supernaturally intervenes by hurling great hailstones from the sky, killing more of the enemy than Israel's sword did. This shows that the battle belongs to Yahweh and that He fights for His people.
• “The sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the nation had avenged themselves of their enemies. Isn’t this written in the book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and didn’t hurry to go down about a whole day.” (Joshua 10:13) — The sun stands still and the moon stays until Israel avenges itself on its enemies. This miraculous sign demonstrates Yahweh's unique power over creation and His responsiveness to Joshua's voice.
• “Joshua said to them, “Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed. Be strong and courageous, for Yahweh will do this to all your enemies against whom you fight.” (Joshua 10:25)” (Joshua 10:25) — Joshua encourages the chiefs not to fear but to be strong and courageous, assuring them that Yahweh will do the same to all their enemies. This charge applies the victory to future battles and strengthens Israel's faith.

Gospel connection

Joshua 10 foreshadows the greater victory won by Jesus Christ. Just as Joshua led Israel to defeat the Amorite kings and rescue Gibeon, Jesus rescues His people from the bondage of sin and death. The sun standing still and the hailstones from heaven reveal Yahweh's sovereign power over creation, pointing to the authority Christ has over all things. Joshua's command for the chiefs to put their feet on the kings' necks echoes the promise that God will ultimately put all enemies under the feet of His Son. The total destruction of the Canaanite cities prefigures the final judgment, while the peace that followed the battle anticipates the peace believers have through Christ's finished work. Ultimately, the chapter shows that God fights for His people, a truth fulfilled in the gospel where Christ fights for us and secures our eternal inheritance.

Application

This chapter calls believers to trust God's promises even when facing overwhelming opposition. Like Joshua, we may receive an urgent plea for help or face a coalition of enemies, but we are to act in faith, knowing that God has already delivered the enemy into our hands. The night march from Gilgal reminds us that obedience often requires immediate and costly action. The miraculous hailstones and the sun standing still encourage us to pray boldly, believing that God hears and acts on behalf of His people. The execution of the kings and the conquest of the cities challenge us to deal decisively with sin in our lives, not leaving any stronghold intact. Finally, the peace that followed the battle points to the rest we find in Christ, who has defeated our greatest enemies and calls us to live courageously, not in fear.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not claim that Joshua's military strategy alone won the battle; it repeatedly attributes victory to Yahweh. It does not explain how the sun stood still or how the hailstones were formed, leaving the mechanism of the miracle unstated. It does not record any repentance or response from the Amorite kings, nor does it describe the reactions of the surrounding nations after the conquest. The text is silent on the exact location of the book of Jashar and on how the great stones remained to the day of the writer. It also does not mention any survivors among the cities that were utterly destroyed, nor does it give a reason why some cities were attacked in a specific order. The chapter does not claim that Israel's conquest was complete or that all Canaanites were eliminated, only that these specific kings and cities were defeated.

Questions for study

1. Why did the five Amorite kings decide to attack Gibeon, and what does this reveal about the political and spiritual dynamics of the region?
2. How does Joshua's response to the Gibeonites' plea demonstrate faith and obedience, and what can we learn from his immediate action?
3. What is the significance of Yahweh's direct assurance to Joshua in verse 8, and how does it shape the way Joshua leads the battle?
4. In what ways does the miracle of the sun standing still and the hailstones show Yahweh's involvement in the battle, and what does it teach about God's power over creation?
5. Why did Joshua command his chiefs to put their feet on the kings' necks, and how does this act connect to the encouragement he gives in verse 25?

Keep reading

Related studies: Joshua 11 Bible Study, Joshua 12 Bible Study, Joshua 13 Bible Study, Joshua 14 Bible Study.

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FAQ

What was the book of Jashar mentioned in verse 13?

The book of Jashar was an ancient collection of songs or records that included accounts of Israel's victories. The text cites it as the source for the account of the sun standing still, but the book itself is not preserved in Scripture.

Why did Joshua hang the five kings on trees and then throw them into a cave?

Hanging the kings on trees was a public display of their defeat and a sign of divine judgment, as seen in other ancient Near Eastern practices. Throwing them into the cave and sealing it with stones ensured that their bodies would not defile the land and served as a permanent memorial of God's victory.

Does the chapter claim that the sun literally stopped moving?

The text states that the sun stood still and the moon stayed, and that there was no day like it before or after. It does not explain how this occurred, but it presents it as a miraculous act of Yahweh in response to Joshua's command.