Joshua 9 -- By this time, the various rulers in Palestine realized what Israel meant to do. There could be no surrender, since the aim was genocide. Whatever petty rivalries there may have been between the Canaanites were set aside as they allied to face this common threat. However, one city-state decided to capitulate, but deceptively, in hopes of surviving. They sent emissaries who would appear to have come from too far away to reside within the Promised Land (v. 3-14). Again, Joshua failed to consult Jehovah. He and the elders made treaty with these frauds, in terms that were absolute (v. 19). When the fraud was discovered, there was no legitimate way to back out. The Hivites ("Villagers") of Gibeon ("Hilly"), along with its dependent towns, thus survived to become virtual slaves of Israel (v. 27).
It must be borne in mind that an invading horde like Israel, while bringing their families, could not have moved far in one day. Research indicates that a large force, fully loaded with provisions and support people, seldom moved more than 5 miles (8km) per day. Consider that each day the routine was to tear down the camp, pack it up, form the various elements into marching order, and then move off. At the next site, there would be a reverse of the process. If they were security conscious, there would be an advance guard that would keep watch while everyone prepared to displace. The rear guard post security as the camp slowly emptied, then march out last. The advance guard would move out to secure a perimeter at the new site, followed by the lead elements. Late in the day they would be displaced again by the rear guard, which had held the line at the previous camp while the baggage elements moved out last. All the meal preparation would normally take place during the waning hours of the daylight at the new camp.
During the times that the nation of Israel was marching with families, there would be a good deal less of the full setup and takedown process each day. For example, the Tabernacle was erected only when the situation called for an extended stay. The text of Joshua indicates that the main body of Israel remained encamped at Gilgal for quite some months. Manna ceased falling because the found sufficient forage and grain crops there on the lush Jordan Valley floor. From this base of operations, most of the Conquest took place.
10:1-4 -- Whatever plans Joshua had will never be known, because the King of Jerusalem forced his hand. Upon learning that Gibeon, no small kingdom, had made peace with the invading Hebrews, Adoni-zedek ("Lord of Justice") called up his vassals to mobilize against the traitors. Hoham ("Lord of the Multitude") is named as the king of Hebron, which we noted was the name later given to the site. Apparently his city was Kiriath-arba ("City of Arba" named after a giant Anak) near the site of Hebron, on a hill just west of there now called Jebel er-Rumeidi. Piram ("Wild One") ruled Jarmuth ("High Place"), currently associated with modern Khirbet el Yarmuk, a very high hill in the rolling plains of southwest Palestine. However, the name probably had more to do with the pagan religious connotation of a "high place" as a shrine to various gods. Japhia ("Bright" or "Exalted") was lord over Lachish ("Impregnable"). This is one of the better-known sites, with evidence of a thriving community as far back as 3200 BC. Once established, the site was easily defended and controlled several major routes passing through the area. Debir ("Scribe") was the king of Eglon (place of the "Bull"), tentatively identified with modern Tell Nejilah.
10:5-9 -- These all converged on Gibeon, which stood on high ground on the eastern side of a valley occupied by smaller villages, essentially suburbs of Gibeon. The combined forces had encamped in siege within this valley. Hopelessly outmatched, the Gibeonites appealed to their new masters for protection. Joshua wasted no time in assembling his troops to relieve Gibeon. Apparently he had sought Jehovah's word on this, for he was assured of victory. The hasty night march would have been some 26 miles (42km); proceeding without the usual support train, they covered in one night what usually took three days. In the cool of darkness, such a march would be somewhat less exhausting. They surprised the besieging troops at dawn, attacking without delay. This was exceptionally rare in ancient warfare, when opposing armies seldom joined battle the same day they came within sight of each other. Each side would be hoping for at least one good meal and a night's rest to fortify them for the demands of fighting. Since this was during the warm season, when the heat of day sapped a man's strength quickly, it was all the more unlikely any battle-wise commander would attack without resting his troops.
10:10-15 -- As Jehovah had promised, the combined Amorite, Hittite and Jebusite army melted before Israel's assault. The siege troops immediately fled west toward Beth Horon ("House of Caves"), 10 miles (16km) away, on the last ridge before the coastal plain. Quite likely, the intent was to disperse across the foothills where there was more room to maneuver and plan the next move. It was to Israel's advantage to slaughter the bulk of these local troops while they were confined in the upper hill country. The approach to Beth Horon was a narrow twisting gorge. Once reaching Upper Beth Horon on the ridge, it was a mad dash at least two miles (3km) down the rugged slope, made passable only by local residents having cut steps into the rock. Hoping to take advantage of this bottleneck, Joshua prayed to Jehovah for help.
For the Creator of the Universe to stop or slow the spinning of the earth, prolonging the hours of daylight, without disrupting anything else, would be hardly a challenge. However, given the circumstances, this would not have been a wise request, nor is it likely what Joshua actually prayed. The Israeli troops were already tired and hot; the best hope was that it would stay cool, in order to press the tactical advantage. The ambiguous Hebrew phrase appearing to ask that the sun "stand still" could also mean to be "held back" from shining. That the greater slaughter came at the hand of Jehovah from a hailstorm -- totally out of season -- would indicate a very thick cloud cover that would indeed keep the ambient air temperature relatively low for that time of year. It's hardly less of a miracle that there was any cloud cover at all, much less a storm producing deadly hail at that time and place, leaving Israel's troops unscathed.
10:16-27 -- The text includes overlapping accounts of the same event told from different angles, rather than a single chronological account. The army of Israel finished an exhausting day pursuing surviving remnants of the enemy back to their fortified home cities. During the battle, the allied kings were found hiding in a cave at Makkedah, 14 miles (23km) from Lower Beth Horon, where it stood at the head of the Aijalon Valley. Stones were rolled up to block the door and guards were dispatched from the command element so that the forward troops were able to continue their pursuit. Whatever support Israel had, whether it was the grateful Gibeonites or a delayed contingent from Gilgal, would have caught up late that day or early the next. Before recovering with food and a well-deserved night's rest, the army assembled at the cave and the kings were brought out. Combat leaders performed a ritual of victory by placing their feet on the necks of the kings, indicating total dominance. Then Joshua himself executed them and hung their bodies until evening (i.e., the next day in Hebrew reckoning).
10:28-40 -- None of the symbolic meaning in this was lost on the inhabitants of Makkedah ("Sheepfold"), for they had provided the shelter for these kings. The city was captured and the people slaughtered for it. While the phrase in the text rendered in English indicates it was all the same day, "that day" was a figure of speech often meaning "during that time." Taking out Makkedah was probably over the next day, or even a week, depending on the degree of fortification. There is some uncertainty over the site's identification today, so the degree of fortification remains an unknown. The campaign for the other cities mentioned there in the southern half of Palestine probably occupied the rest of that summer. That the "whole army of Israel" participated indicates waiting for the rest of the army to join them from Gilgal, setting up a full siege encampment against several of the targets.
Here in the Land of Canaan, religion was politics. The Southern Campaign was primarily aimed at shutting down major religious centers. In a few cases, there was a pure tactical motive. There was no hope of a political conquest at first, in the sense of taking control of every acre of ground. It would have been an awesome task to occupy every town, village and hamlet and then defend them, too. However, what was clearly happening was a conquest of hearts. The Canaanites saw that none of their gods would or could keep them safe from the nation of Israel. Every major temple city fell. The God of Israel was supreme.
[Return to Lesson Index]
[<-- Previous Lesson] [Next Lesson -->]
Ed Hurst
02 March 2004, revised 12 January 2013
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: People of honor need no copyright laws; they are only too happy to give credit where credit is due. Others will ignore copyright laws whenever they please. If you are of the latter, please note what Moses said about dishonorable behavior -- "be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23)