HarperCollins Study Bible

by Harold W. Attridge

  16But when three days had passed after they had made a treaty with them, they heard that they were their neighbors and were living among them. 17So the Israelites set out and reached their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. 18But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. Then all the congregation murmured against the leaders. 19But all the leaders said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we must not touch them. 20This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that wrath may not come upon us, because of the oath that we swore to them.” 21The leaders said to them, “Let them live.” So they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the leaders had decided concerning them.

  22Joshua summoned them, and said to them, “Why did you deceive us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ while in fact you are living among us? 23Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you shall always be slaves, hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.” 24They answered Joshua, “Because it was told to your servants for a certainty that the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you; so we were in great fear for our lives because of you, and did this thing. 25And now we are in your hand: do as it seems good and right in your sight to do to us.” 26This is what he did for them: he saved them from the Israelites; and they did not kill them. 27But on that day Joshua made them hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to continue to this day, in the place that he should choose.

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  a Cn: Meaning of Heb uncertain

  b Gk: Heb men

  9.1–27 An enemy alliance and special status for Gibeonites. News about Israel’s victories leads to contrasting reactions. The kings of various peoples gathered…to fight (v. 2), but the inhabitants of Gibeon acted with cunning (v. 4).

  9.1 Hittites…Jebusites. There is no direct correlation between this traditional list (cf. 3.10) and the account of six cities (and seven kings) defeated in 10.28–39.

  9.2 With one accord, under one command.

  9.3–27 The treaty with Gibeon. Vv. 3–15 deal with the protection of Gibeon and vv. 16–27 with the exploitation of Gibeon and its allied towns. This treaty was highly problematical from Israel’s side in view of the prohibitions set forth in Deut 20.10–18. The Gibeonites’ special status as a foreign enclave within Israel is presumed in the account of a famine during David’s reign that was traced to Saul’s bloodguilt “because he put the Gibeonites to death” (2 Sam 21.1–6).

  9.3 Deliberations are initiated by the inhabitants of Gibeon, perhaps indicating that it had no king. Gibeon (el-Jib, six miles [nine kilometers] north of Jerusalem) lies on an important east-west road from Jericho that descends to the coastal plain through the Valley of Aijalon. It was at most a small village in the twelfth century BCE, like Jericho, Ai, and the other three towns in this story (v. 17).

  9.6–7 This abrupt mention of Gilgal is jarring. The Gibeonites claim that they are from a far country (also v. 9), which, if true, would exempt them from the annihilation demanded by Deut 20.16–18, but in reality they are Hivites, one of the nations to be destroyed (9.1; Deut 20.17). A treaty with those who live among the Israelites would violate Deut 7.2.

  9.8 In calling themselves servants the Gibeonites are practicing respectful good manners, but their words foreshadow how things will turn out in vv. 21, 23, 27.

  9.9–10 The Gibeonites’ hypocritical argument echoes Rahab’s speech (2.10–11), based on Deut 2.26–3.17 (cf. Josh 12.1–6) and traditions reflected in Num 21.21–35.

  9.14–15 Did not ask LORD, perhaps a reference to the sacred lot used in 7.16–18. Joshua finds himself having to ratify an agreement undertaken by others for which he was not originally responsible.

  9.16 The fears of v. 7 are realized. The Gibeonites are indeed living among them.

  9.17 Mention of their cities is the first hint that more than one settlement might be involved. The four towns named controlled the entire northwest quadrant of approaches to Jerusalem.

  9.18–20 The phrase sworn to them by the LORD/swore to them is stated three times in quick succession, emphatically locating responsibility.

  9.20–21 Even though the Gibeonites’ deception has endangered the community and must be punished, the inviolability of the leaders’ oath must be protected. Hewers of wood and drawers of water refers to a subordinate class of servants who were part of Israel’s covenant assembly nonetheless (Deut 29.11).

  9.22 The Gibeonite deception is emphasized by a sharp contrast between very far (see vv. 6, 9) and living among us (see vv. 7, 16).

  9.23 Some Gibeonites are to be support staff for temple ritual as servants of the house of my God.

  9.27 The etiological formula to continue to this day legitimates the ongoing subjugation of the Gibeonites. The place that he should choose is how Deuteronomy designates the single, central sanctuary where Israel will offer sacrifice (e.g., Deut 12.5, 11, 14, 18, 21, 26).

  JOSHUA 10

  The Sun Stands Still

  1When King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, 2hea became greatly frightened, because Gibeon was a large city, like one of the royal cities, and was larger than Ai, and all its men were warriors. 3So King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem sent a message to King Hoham of Hebron, to King Piram of Jarmuth, to King Japhia of Lachish, and to King Debir of Eglon, saying, 4“Come up and help me, and let us attack Gibeon; for it has made peace with Joshua and with the Israelites.” 5Then 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 their forces, and went up with all their armies and camped against Gibeon, and made war against it.

  6And the Gibeonites sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, “Do not abandon your servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us; for all the kings of the Amorites who live in the hill country are gathered against us.” 7So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the fighting force with him, all the mighty warriors. 8The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have handed them over to you; not one of them shall stand before you.” 9So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal. 10And the LORD threw them into a panic before Israel, who inflicted a great slaughter on them at Gibeon, chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11As they fled before Israel, while they were going down the slope of Beth-horon, the LORD threw down huge stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died because of the hailstones than the Israelites killed with the sword.

  12On the day when the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD; and he said in the sight of Israel,

  “Sun, stand still at Gibeon,

  and Moon, in the valley of Aijalon.”

  13And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,

  until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.

  Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in midheaven, and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. 14There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD heeded a human voice; for the LORD fought for Israel.

  15Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

  Five Kings Defeated

  16Meanwhile, these five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah. 17And it was told Joshua, “The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.” 18Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to guard them; 19but do not stay there yourselves; pursue yo
ur enemies, and attack them from the rear. Do not let them enter their towns, for the LORD your God has given them into your hand.” 20When Joshua and the Israelites had finished inflicting a very great slaughter on them, until they were wiped out, and when the survivors had entered into the fortified towns, 21all the people returned safe to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah; no one dared to speakb against any of the Israelites.

  22Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave, and bring those five kings out to me from the cave.” 23They did so, and brought the five kings out 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. 24When they brought the kings out to Joshua, Joshua summoned all the Israelites, and said to the chiefs of the warriors who had gone with him, “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” Then they came near and put their feet on their necks. 25And Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous; for thus the LORD will do to all the enemies against whom you fight.” 26Afterward Joshua struck them down and put them to death, and he hung them on five trees. And they hung on the trees until evening. 27At sunset Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves; they set large stones against the mouth of the cave, which remain to this very day.

  28Joshua took Makkedah on that day, and struck it and its king with the edge of the sword; he utterly destroyed every person in it; he left no one remaining. And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.

  29Then Joshua passed on from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, to Libnah, and fought against Libnah. 30The LORD gave it also and its king into the hand of Israel; and he struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it; he left no one remaining in it; and he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.

  31Next Joshua passed on from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to Lachish, and laid siege to it, and assaulted it. 32The LORD gave Lachish into the hand of Israel, and he took it on the second day, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it, as he had done to Libnah.

  33Then King Horam of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua struck him and his people, leaving him no survivors.

  34From Lachish Joshua passed on with all Israel to Eglon; and they laid siege to it, and assaulted it; 35and they took it that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword; and every person in it he utterly destroyed that day, as he had done to Lachish.

  36Then Joshua went up with all Israel from Eglon to Hebron; they assaulted it, 37and took it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and its king and its towns, and every person in it; he left no one remaining, just as he had done to Eglon, and utterly destroyed it with every person in it.

  38Then Joshua, with all Israel, turned back to Debir and assaulted it, 39and he took it with its king and all its towns; they struck them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed every person in it; he left no one remaining; just as he had done to Hebron, and, as he had done to Libnah and its king, so he did to Debir and its king.

  40So Joshua defeated the whole land, the hill country and the Negeb and the lowland and the slopes, and all their kings; he left no one remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded. 41And Joshua defeated them from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, as far as Gibeon. 42Joshua took all these kings and their land at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel. 43Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

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  a Heb they…

  b Heb moved his tongue

  10.1–39 Defense of Gibeon and a southern campaign. Gibeon is faced with the threat of a coalition headed by the king of Jerusalem (vv. 1–5). Joshua and Israel fulfill their treaty obligation and repel the attackers thanks to another intervention by the Lord as Divine Warrior (vv. 6–11). The Lord’s miraculous intervention is emphasized by inclusion of an ancient, but misunderstood, poetic couplet (vv. 12–14). The story line then resumes, with the capture of the allied enemy kings (vv. 16–27). Then the focus shifts to towns destroyed in the south (vv. 28–39). The units have been strung together in sequence, without any attempt to harmonize differences.

  10.1–2 Reports of Israel’s victories provoke enemy response (cf. 5.1; 9.1–2; 11.1–3). Jerusalem is the only member of the enemy alliance to escape a raid, although its king is eliminated in the defeat of the coalition. Jerusalem remained a Canaanite town until its takeover by David.

  10.3 These four cities lay to the south and west of Jerusalem. Judg 1.10 credits the capture of Hebron to Judah. Hebron, twenty miles (thirty kilometers) south of Jerusalem, figures prominently in the stories of Israel’s ancestors, especially Abraham and Sarah (see Gen 13.18; 18.1; 23.19). After its capture it became the hub of the powerful tribe of Judah, the place where David was first anointed king (2 Sam 2.1–5). Jarmuth (Khirbet el-Yarmuk) is the first of three towns situated in a north-south line in the foothills separating the central mountain range from the coastal road. Lachish (Tell ed-Duweir) was a fortified town already half a millennium old when it was destroyed in the mid-twelfth century BCE. The notice regarding King Debir of Eglon may represent a garbled tradition. Debir is a place name in vv. 38–39; 15.7; 21.15. The location of Eglon is unknown, possibly Tell Aitun.

  10.5 Amorites, often a synonym for “Canaanites,” may here retain its etymological sense, “westerners.”

  10.6 All the kings of the Amorites is a rhetorical exaggeration on the part of the Gibeonites.

  10.8 The LORD said presupposes oracular consultation, presumably by some such means as the sacred dice, Urim and Thummim. The Israelites do not repeat the mistake for which they were faulted earlier (9.14).

  10.9 A forced march all night is plausible (as in the siege of Ai); the straight-line distance of about twenty miles (thirty kilometers) is a strenuous, twisting climb, mostly uphill, out of the Jordan Valley.

  10.10 The LORD threw…chased…and struck. This is the victory of the Divine Warrior, not of Joshua or Israel. Panic is the classic weapon of the Divine Warrior (Ex 14.24; Judg 7.21–22). The course of pursuit runs westward from Gibeon, through the pass at the ascent of Beth-horon, then southward. The ascent of Beth-horon, also known as Valley of Aijalon, was a major access route from the northern Shephelah to the hill country. Azekah is identified with Tell-Zakariyeh. Makkedah is probably Khirbet el-Qom.

  10.11 Stones from heaven are described in terms of a hailstorm. The Divine Warrior was thought to use weather as a weapon (Isa 30.30).

  10.12–14 A prose framework (vv. 12a, 13b–14) reinterprets an older poetic text (vv. 12b–13a) from the Book of Jashar (cf. 2 Sam 1.17). The poem addresses the moon and sun (not the Lord), calling upon these heavenly powers to freeze in amazement at Israel’s stunning victory (cf. Ex 15.16; Hab 3.11). The prose framework shifts the meaning so that Joshua’s request is directed to the LORD (v. 12) as an appeal for extended daylight. The sun stops at its noon position (in midheaven, v. 13) and postpones setting for about a whole day, while the moon is ignored. The conclusion of v. 14 is a perfect summary of the Divine Warrior tradition: the LORD fought for Israel.

  10.16–27 The sequel to the prose account of the rout of the southern confederacy. Emphasis shifts away from the Lord’s action and onto Israel’s own military achievement.

  10.16 Makkedah. The enemy escape route ended here (v. 10). This will also be the starting point for the campaign against southern towns (v. 28).

  10.17–21 With the five kings…hidden in…Makkedah, the opposing forces are in leaderless rout. In spite of relentless pursuit (v. 19), survivors escape to the fortified towns (v. 20), creating a literary bridge to the next series of attacks.

  10.24 Putting feet on their necks signifies a complete subjugation of the enemy (cf. Ps 110.1).

  10.26 This is not death by hanging, but public exposure of corpses after execution so as to i
nspire fear. Exposing enemy bodies was a way of humiliating them (8.29; 1 Sam 31.10; 2 Sam 4.12).

  10.27 Joshua obeys Deut 21.22–23. The large stones must have been a familiar landmark (cf. 7.26; 8.29).

  10.28–39 It is difficult to harmonize this campaign in the south with the description of the coalition in vv. 1–5, because the editorial process put together preformed literary units. Lachish, Eglon, and Hebron were part of the earlier coalition, yet its other two members, Jerusalem and Jarmuth, are not attacked. No kings are mentioned for Lachish or Eglon because they have already been dealt with (vv. 23, 26), but the presence of a king at Hebron seems to contradict v. 23.