Joshua LONG Day

Israel has made a covenant with Gibeon. They are called on to come to their rescue, but more time is needed. God gives Joshua a LONG day in which to complete the work.

This is another ONLY GOD can do this miracle. Let science try and explain this one away. I know that in Alaska they have six months of daylight and six months of darkness, but this is completely different. The earth didn’t tip, they didn’t get any closer to the poles, and people didn’t imagine it. The sun stood still in the sky for an extra day’s length of time. Let’s see Egypt’s sun god try that! He wouldn’t stand a chance.

Let’s join Joshua and the fighting men of Israel as they go on the offensive for Gibeon.

♥ ♦ ♥

The king of Jerusalem got word that the people of Gibeon made a treaty with Israel. Israel! Of all people. They are a terror to EVERYONE in the region. How could they have done that?! Some of them are even living among the Israelites!!!

Gibeon isn’t a small city. It’s not as big as Jericho was, but it is much bigger than Ai used to be. Gibeon is considered one of the “Royal Cities” in the land. Even the people of the city are well off. And their army is extremely well trained. What would happen if Gibeon decided to go to war on Israel’s side? The other cities wouldn’t stand a chance; not on their own at least.

“We cannot let this happen! Gibeon alone could do considerable damage to any of its neighbors. If they throw in with Israel, we are all doomed” the king raged.

“What can we do about it, my king” asked one of his generals.

“We can make an alliance of our own. Take a message to Hoham king of Hebron, to Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon. This is what it shall say. “’Come up to me and help me, and let us strike Gibeon. For it has made peace with Joshua and with the people of Israel.’ (Joshua 10:4)”

Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, felt he had the best chance with these other four kings, as they were all Amorite kings. And he was correct. The neighboring kings came as soon as they received the message. All their forces came with them to Jerusalem. There they would create their battle plan.

It took no time at all for the five kingdoms to hash out their strategy. It was pretty simple. Surround Gibeon on all sides and press her HARD. Israel would be alone again when Gibeon fell. Within two days of learning about Gibeon’s alliance, she was surrounded by THOUSANDS of troops.

One good thing about moving such a great army, is that they can’t be hidden very easily. Gibeon saw the forces advancing on them long before they reached their stations. The king of Gibeon was able to get a messenger out before they were surrounded.

“Take this message to Joshua, the leader of the Israelites in his camp at Gilgal. ‘Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us.’ (Joshua 10:6)”

Travel between Gibeon and Gilgal usually took three days. The runner was able to do it in two. When he was spotted by the sentry, he was taken immediately to Joshua. He bowed when he approached Joshua.

“What is it, my son” asked Joshua.

“My lord, the king of Gibeon has great need of your help. His words as your servant are thus; ‘Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us.’”

Joshua hurried to the Tabernacle and located the Levite on duty. Without waiting, Joshua approached him.

“Sound the alarm for battle. We must leave at once.”

The Levite blew the alarm that called the men to arm themselves for battle and to assemble in the center of the camp. Joshua was arrayed in his battle gear and waiting for them when they arrived.

“Our servants, the people of Gibeon, are in trouble. We have sworn to protect them against those who would come against them. They are currently surrounded by five of the Amorite kings. We will march all night to reach them.” Joshua looked around. No one dared offer resistance. “Form up and move out” called Joshua.

Israel didn’t just march all night, they nearly ran the whole distance to Gibeon. As they were traveling, the Lord spoke to Joshua.

“Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us.” (Joshua 10:8) This strengthened Joshua’s heart. The Lord would fight for them. He didn’t know what that would look like, but he KNEW that, with the Lord on their side, NOTHING could stand against them.

Israel burst over the last hill just after daybreak. Joshua had instructed them to shout, like they had done at Jericho, as soon as they made it to the top of the hill. They emerged very near where the battle was being waged against Gibeon.

And the Lord threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword” (Joshua 10:10-11)

It was almost comical to watch the hailstones. Not one of them struck a single man from Israel, but they pummeled the Amorites all around them. God was directing each stone.

As Israel was pursuing the fighting men, the five kings slipped away from the battle and went and hid together in a cave. Israel pressed on.

The day was slipping away quickly and Joshua knew that, when it got dark, the enemy would be able to slip away and regroup. Joshua called out to the Lord for help. “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” (Joshua 10:12b)

And that is EXACTLY what happened. The sun stood still in the sky while Israel pressed on in battle.

While pressing on, word reached Joshua that the five kings had been located. “The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.” (Joshua 10:18)

Joshua didn’t have time to deal with them at the moment, but neither did he want them to escape. “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave and set men by it to guard them, but do not stay there yourselves. Pursue your enemies; attack their rear guard. Do not let them enter their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.” (Joshua 10:18-19)

This was quickly done and some of the Gibeonite soldiers were left to guard the cave. Israel continued to press on in battle. When the last of the Amorite soldiers fell, Joshua turned his attention to the cave that held the five kings.

Israel regrouped at Makkedah. When they arrived, they found that not a single man of Israel had died in all the battle.

Joshua called for the kings. “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me from the cave.” (Joshua 10:22)

The Gibeonite soldiers quickly did as Joshua commanded. Joshua then turned to the men of Israel and called them to witness what was to come. He spoke directly to the chiefs of the men who had gone to war with him. “Come near; put your feet on the necks of these kings.” (Joshua 10:24b)

The chiefs came up without hesitation and did as Joshua had commanded. As they stood in this position, Joshua continued. “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. For thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.” (Joshua 10:25)

A whoop went up from all the Israelites. They recognized the hand of God in today’s battle. The stones from Heaven wee a dead giveaway. And God was promising this and MORE for the rest of their enemies!

After the excitement died down, Joshua ordered that the five kings be hanged on a tree. This was quickly accomplished.

The sun had resumed its movement across the sky. It had taken the timespan of another full day to reach this point. When evening finally came, Joshua had the kings taken down and thrown back into the cave where they had sought refuge. “Cover the mouth of the cave with stones. Let it be a memorial of this day” Joshua commanded the people.

The army of Israel stayed at the cave near Makkedah that night. Excited and emboldened by the words of the Lord, Israel pressed on. In the morning, they took the city of Makkedah. Everyone in it was put to death. They did with the king of Makkedah the same thing they had done with the kings from the night before. They hanged him on a tree while they gathered the spoils from his city and set it ablaze. At sunset, he was taken down and his body was thrown between the gates of his city.

It was time to clean house! Joshua and the fighting men of Israel marched on to the cities that had attacked Gibeon. Each of these cities were destroyed. Their people all devoted to destruction and their cities burned. Not one city remained in the hill country and the Negeb and the lowland and the slopes that Joshua and the men of Israel did not take and devote to destruction as the Lord had commanded. “And Joshua struck them from Kadesh-barnea as far as Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, as far as Gibeon. ⁴² And Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.” (Joshua 10:41-42)

Elated, but tired, Joshua and his forces began their march back to Gilgal. Gibeon was safe. None would dare attack them now. It was time to return home.

(to be continued)

This was Israel’s first protracted campaign in the land. I’m not certain if Joshua returned home before dealing with the kings or not. Timelines get a little muddied at times. I figured that, while he was out there in the thick of things, he would have dealt with the kings. This also meant that Israel continued its campaign from there. That was one LONG campaign!

Father God, You know that I still have a hard time with the wars that went on. I know You had Your reasons and I respect them. I have faith in Your plan.

You fought AMAZINGLY for Israel. Not every battle had Your hand as visibly as the one in the story today, but You were on Israel’s side throughout their campaign in the Promised Land; as long as they followed Your commands. I LOVE seeing You hand in motion; in my life too! I Love looking for Your fingerprints in my life. They are not as visible as the stones from Heaven, but they are there. And they give me faith to carry on.