9:1-27. League With the Gibeonites.
(Introversion [Chiasmo] and Extended Alternation).
P c 1,2. What Joshua had done. Cause.
d e¹ 3-5. Deception proposed.
f¹ 6-8. League proposed.
e² 9-11-. Deception carried out.
f² -11. League proposed.
e³ 12,13. Deception succesful.
f³ 14,15. League made.
e4 16,17. Deception discovered.
f4 18. Legue questioned.
e5 19-21. Deception compounded.
c 22-27. What Joshua did. Consequences.
1451 B.C.
9)
1: And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;
2: That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord (Heb. "mouth", put for what is said by it: i.e. one consent).
3: And when the inhabitants (the Gibeonites were Hivites [v7], condemned to be extermiated as mixed with the descendandts of the Nephilim [see Gen.6:3]. Ex.23:32; 34:12-15. Num.33:51-56.Deut.7:1,2; 20:16. they were aware of this. Hence their mission; by which they exposed themselves to the emnity of the other nations [10:1-4]) of Gibeon (= High place. About 6 1/2 miles from Beth-el, 8 miles NNE of Jerusalem) heard all that Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,
4: They too did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors (some codices read "furnished themselves with provisions", as in vv.11,12), and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine-skins, old, and rent, and bound up;
5: And old shoes and clouted (= patched [Anglo-Saxon clút]) upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and had become crumbly.
6: And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said to him, and to the men of Israel, “We be come from a far country: now therefore make you all a league with us.”
7: And the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you all dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?”
8: And they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you all? and from which place come you all?”
9: And they said to him, “From a very far country your servants are come because of the name of the Lord (Yehovah) your God (Elohim): for we have heard the fame of Him, and all that He did in Egypt,
10: And all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.
11: Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take victuals with you (Heb. = in your hand) for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, ‘We are your servants:’’ therefore now make you all a league with us.
12: This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go to you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is crumbly:
13: And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.”
14: And the men took of their victuals (probably tasted, or partook of their food; or, ate with them = a token of friendship), and asked not counsel (i.e. by "Urim and Thummim". Cp. Ex.28:30) at the mouth of Yehovah (put for the counsel given by the mouth).
15: And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league (= solemnised a covenant) with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation swore to them.
16: And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had solemnised a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.
17: And the sons of Israel journeyed, and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah (Heb. = the hamlet), and Beeroth (= wells), and Kirjath-jearim(= the city of forests).
18: And the sons of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn to them by Yehovah Elohim of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
19: But all the princes said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord God (Yehovah Elohim) of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
20: This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware to them.”
21: And the princes said to them, “Let them live; but let them become hewers of wood and drawers of water to all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.” (cp. v.15)
22-27. What Joshua Did. Consequences.
(Alternation).
x 22. The question to Joshua.
y 23. The sentence to Joshua. “Now therefore”, &c.
x 24. Reply to question by Gibeonites.
y 25-27. The sentence submitted to. “Now behold”, &c.
22: And Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you all beguiled us, saying, ‘We are very far from you;’ when you all dwell among us?
23: Now therefore you all are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God (Elohim).”
24: And they answered Joshua, and said, “Because it was certainly told your servants, how that the Lord (Yehovah) your God (Elohim) commanded (cp. Deut.7:1-5) His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives (= our souls, Heb. nephesh) because of you, and have done this thing.
25: And now, behold, we are in your hand: as it seems good and right to you to do to us, do.”
26: And so did he to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the sons of Israel, that they slew them not.
27: And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the Lord (Yehovah) (ther is a Homœoteleuton [like endings] here, preserved in the Septuagint; a scribe going back to the former of the two words "Lord"; and reading "the altar of Yehovah and the inhabitants of Gibeon became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the altar of Yehovah", even to this day, &c.), even to this day, for the place which He should choose.
10:1–11:17. Confederacy Against Gibeonites.
(Extended Alternation).
N T 10:1,2. Confederacy against Gibeon, Adoni-zedec.
U 10:3-27. Kings.
V 10:28-39. Cities.
W 10:40-43. Territory.
N T 11:1-. Confederacy against Israel.
U 11:-1-9. Kings.
V 11:10-14. Cities.
W 11:15-17. Territory.
10)
1: Now it came to pass, when Adoni-zedek (= lord of justice) king (note lower case "k") of Jerusalem (= vision of peace. First occ. is connected with war, and next mention is seige and fire [Judg.1:8]; called Jebus [Judg.19:10-11]. Assigned by Joshua to Benjamis [Josh.18:28]) had heard how Joshua had taken Ai (cp. 8:23-29), and had utterly destroyed it; according 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.
3-27. Kings.
(Extended Alternation).
U g 3,4-. Message of Adoni-zedec to the kings.
h -4. Reason.
i 5. Enemies' assemblage for war.
g 6-. Message of Gibeonites to Joshua.
h -6. Reason.
i 7-27. Israel's assemblage for war.
3: Wherefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham (= whom Yehovah impels) king of Hebron, and to Piram (= like a wild ass; fleet) king of Jarmuth, and to Japhia (= splendid) king of Lachish, and to Debir (= a sanctuary) king of Eglon, saying,
4: “Come up to me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon:
for it has made peace with Joshua and with the sons 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 to Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, “Slack not your hands from your servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us:
for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill country are gathered together against us.”
7-27. Israel's Assemblage for War.
(Alternation).
i j 7. March.
k 8. Promise.
j 9. March.
k 10-27. Performance.
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 (Yehovah) said to Joshua, “Fear them not: for I have delivered them into your hand; and there shall not a man of them stand before thee.”
9: Joshua therefore came to them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.
10-27. Performance.
(Division).
k l¹ 10-14. By Yehovah before the Flight.
l² 15-27. By Joshua after the Flight.
10-14. By Yehovah Before the Flight.
(Division).
l¹ m¹ 10. By the sword of Israel.
m² 11. By the hailstones from the clouds.
m³ 12-14. By the sun in the heavens.
10: And the Lord (Yehovah) discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goes up to Beth-horon (= hose of caverns = the pper Beth-horon, which stood at the head of the Pass to the coast), and smote them to Azekah (= dug over. Near Shochoh, where Goliath afterwards opposed Israel [1 Sam.17:1]), and to Makkedah (= place of shepherds).
11: And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Beth-horon, that Yehovah cast down great stones from the heaven (i.e. the clouds) upon them to Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the sons of Israel slew with the sword.
12: Then spoke Joshua to the Lord (Yehovah) in the day when the Lord (Yehovah) delivered up the Amorites, when He destroyed them in Gibeon, and they were destroyed before the son of Israel (this is supplied in the Septuagint), and he said in the sight of Israel, “Sun (= the sun itself, because of what is said in the next vers), stand you still in Gibeon (Hab.3:11. This is not the only miracle in connection with the sun. See shadow going back [2 Kings 20:11. Isa.38:8]. Going down at noon [Amos 8:9]. No more going down [Isa.60:20]. Darkened [Isa.13:10. Ezek.32:7. Joel 2:10,31; 3:15. Matt.24:29. Rev.6:12; 8:12; 9:2; 16:8]. Miracle to be again performed [Luke 23:44,45]. His motion discribed [Ps.19:4-6); and you, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.” (= place of gazelles)
13: And the sun waited silently, and the moon stayed, until the People had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? (Why may not this be "the Book of the Uprght", another name for Israel, like Jesurun? See Deut.32:15. It is also Arabic and Syriac. It is mentioned in 2 Sam.1:18. In the Targum it is "the Book of the Law". Josephus appeals to it as a book in he temple, which probably perished with it. Two spurious books so called. A.D. 1394 and 1625) 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 Yehovah hearkened to the voice of a man: for the Lord (Yehovah) fought for Israel.
15-27. By Joshua Afer the Flight.
(Introversion [Chiasmo] and Alternation).
l² n p 15. Return to camp at Gilgal.
q 16-18. Five kings shut up.
o 19,20. Pursuit of host.
n p 21. Return to camp at Makkedah.
q 22-27. Five kings brought out.
15: And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to 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 you all not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the Lord (Yehovah) your God (Elohim) has delivered them into your hand.”
20: And it came to pass, when Joshua and the sons 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 to me out of the cave.”
23: And they did so, and brought forth those five kings to 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 to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war which went with him, “Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these five kings.” And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.
25: And Joshua said to them, “Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage (see Deut.31:6): for thus shall the Lord (Yehovah) do to all your enemies against whom you all 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 (cp. Deut.21:22,23), 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.
28-39. Cities of the Kings.
(Repeated Alternations).
V r¹ 28. Makkedah taken.
s¹ 29. Advance to Libnah.
r² 30. Libnah taken.
s² 31. Advance to Lachish.
r³ 32,33. Lachish taken.
s³ 34. Advace to Eglon.
r4 35. Eglon taken.
s4 36. Advance to Hebron.
r5 37. Hebron taken.
s5 38. Advance to Debir.
r6 39. Debir taken.
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 according as he did to the king of Jericho.
29: Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, to Libnah (= whiteness. Afterward one of the cities of the priests. Josh.21:13. See 2 Chron.21:10), and fought against Libnah:
30: And the Lord (Yehovah) delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge (= mouth) of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it; but did to the king thereof as he did to the king of Jericho.
31: And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to Lachish (= invincible. Destroyed and rebuilt 7 times. A strong city, as shown by recent escavations), and encamped against it, and fought against it:
32: And the Lord (Yehovah) delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the second day (A most significant statement. In 2 Kings 18:17. 2 Chron.32:9, Sennacherib besiege it; yet when Rabshakeh returned from Jerusalem he found the siege raised [2 Kings 19:8]. Similar proof of its strength given in Jer.34:7), 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 (= a precipice. See 1 Kings 9:16,17) 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 to Eglon (= calf-like. About 2 miles east of Lachish, now Ajlan), 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 mouth 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, to Hebron (= alliance. Before called Kirjath-arba, Judg.1:10. Some Canaanites afterwards returned here, Judg.1:9-11); and they fought against it:
37: And they took it, and smote it with the mouth 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 (= Oracle, a sanctuary: South of Hebron. Called Kirjath-sepher = Book Town [15:15. Judg.1:11], and Kirjath-sannah = Precept Town [15:49]); and fought against it:
39: And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the mouth 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 land of the hill country, 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 (= had soul, nephesh), as Yehovah Elohim of Israel commanded (cp. Deut.20:16,17).
41: And Joshua smote them from Kadesh-barnea (= holy desert of wanderings. This erse describes Joshua's conquests West, South, and North) even to Gaza (= the fortified, the strong), and all the country of Goshen, even to Gibeon.
42: And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the Lord God (Yehovah Elohim) of Israel fought for Israel (for reason, see Gen.6:2,4).
43: And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp to Gilgal.
11)
1: And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things (note the stages; #1. Jericho, unresisting; #2. Ai, a sortie; #3. Gibeon, confederacy; #4. Jabin, agressive. Hazor, celebrated in Judg.4:2,17),
11:-1-9. Kings.
(Extended Alternation).
U t u -1-5. Kings assembage.
v 6-. Promise of Yehovah. Given.
w -6. Command to Joshua.
t u 7. Kings smitten.
v 8. Promise of Yehovah. Fulfilled.
w 9. Obedience of Joshua.
that he sent to Jobab (= a desert) king of Madon (= strife), and to the king of Shimron (= watch-height), and to the king of Achshaph (= fascination),
2: And to the kings that were on the north in the hill country, and in the low country south of Chinneroth (= circuit. Cp. Num.34:11. Deut3:17. Afterward called Lake of Gennesareth, Sea of Galilee, and Sea of Tiberias [Matt.4:14-18,23), and in the uplands (Used only in connection with Dor. Heb. nåphåh. Cp. 12:23 "coast", and 1 Kings 4:11 "region"), and in the borders of Dor (= dwelling) on the sea (or coast),
3: And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon (= a peak, summit) in the land of Mizpeh (= Watch-tower).
1451 to 1444 B.C.
4: And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many (Cp. v.4 with Rev.20:8,9).
5: And when all these kings were met together (i.e. by appointment. Cp. Amos3:3), they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom (= high place), to fight against Israel.
6: And the Lord (Yehovah) said to Joshua, “Be not afraid because of them: for tomorrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel:
you shall hough their horses (= sever the hamstring), and burn their chariots with fire.”
7: So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.
8: And the Lord (Yehovah) delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them to great Zidon (= fishing, or fishery), and to Misrephoth-maim (= the flow of waters. Salt, or glass, works), and to the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.
9: And Joshua did to them according as Yehovah bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.
10-15. Cities.
(Involved Introversion [Chiasmo] and Alternation).
V X Y x 10. Hazor taken.
y 11-. Inhabitants slain.
z -11. Hazor burned.
Z 12. Moses's command.
z 13. Cities not burned.
X Y x 14-. spoil taken.
y -14. Inhabitants slain.
Z 15. Moses's command.
10: And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor (= castle), and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.
11: And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge (Heb. = mouth) of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe:
and he burnt Hazor with fire.
12: And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, according as Moses the servant of Yehovah commanded (Cp.Num.33:52. Deut.7:2; 20:16,17. See also Structure, v.15, &c.).
13: But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.
14: And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the sons of Israel took for a prey to themselves;
but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe.
15: According as the Lord (Yehovah) commanded Moses his servant (cp. Ex.34:11), Moses command Joshua (cp. Deut.7:2), and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that Yehovah commanded Moses.
16: So Joshua took all that land, the hill country, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the low country of the same;
17: Even from the mount Halak (= smooth), that goes up to Seir (= hairy, shaggy), even to Baal-gad (= lord of fortune) in the valley of Lebanon (= white) under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.
18: Joshua made war many days with all those kings.
19: There was not a city that made peace with the sons of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle.
20: For it was of the Lord (Yehovah) to harden their hearts (Because they were descendants of the Nephilim; and it was necessary for the Sword to destroy these, as the Flood those), that they should come against Israel in battle, that He might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that He might destroy them, according as the Lord (Yehovah) commanded Moses.
11:21–12:24. Conquest of Other Kings.
(Alternation).
L c¹ 11:21–12:1. General.
d 12:2-6. Particular (East of Jordan).
c² 12:7,8. General.
d 12:9-24-. Partcular (West of Jordan).
c³ 12:24. General.
21: And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains (= the escendants of the second incursion of evil angels [Gen.6:4] through one Anak. See also Num.13:22 and Deut.1:28), from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.
22: There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the sons of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.
23: So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that Yehovah said to Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes (cp. Num.26:53. Some codices read "in their portions"). And the land rested from war.
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