Now, things were starting to get very interesting. The first 2 wars that Israel fought were with just one king and one city. This war was with 5 kings and 5 major cities!
These 5 kings decided that first hey would destroy the Gibeonites that had made peace with Israel. Their next stop would be to attack Israel directly.
Joshua 10:6-7- And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us. So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.
Joshua gathered all the Israelite warriors and headed for Gibeon.
Joshua 10:8-10- And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee. Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night. And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.
The Lord told Joshua that he would help them to defeat these great armies in battle. But, the Lord did more than just give them strength to conquer their enemies. He, also, helped them in the battle.
Joshua 10:11- And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.
God rained down huge stones on the enemy army. More of the enemy died from the stones that God rained from heaven than in the battle. But, that wasn't the only amazing thing God did that day!
This was the only time where God listened to a man and stopped the heavens!
Joshua 10:12-14- Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.
God allowed the sun and moon to stand still for around 10 hours! The Israelites had enough day light to finish the battle.
There is a curious statement in this part of the Bible. The Bible mentions the book of Jasher, which is not in our Bible. Jasher means "just man". There are some books that are called by this name, but they weren't written during Joshua's time. Whatever this book was, God thought that it was worth mentioning in His Holy Word.
Joshua 10:15-17- And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal. But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah. And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.
The five kings that led the army had hidden themselves in a cave. Someone found out and came and told Joshua.
Joshua 10:18-21- And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them: And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hand. And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children 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. 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.
Joshua sealed the wicked kings in the cave. Then he sent his army to the cities of those kings. Once they cities had been conquered, the army returned to deal with the kings.
Joshua 10:22-27- Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave. And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto 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. And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them. And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight. And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening. 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, 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.
Joshua killed the kings and hung them on a tree. Why would he do that?
Galatians 3:13b- Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Joshua was showing the Israelites that these men had been cursed by God. Anyone who goes after God's people will bring a curse on themselves.
Joshua didn't know it, but he was also showing the people that Christ would become cursed of God for their sakes when He died on Calvary. He was nailed to a tree, a cross, and took all our sins in His body. When He did that, He became cursed on God. When we accept His sacrifice for our sins, God removes the curse of death and we no longer have to pay for our own sins in hell.
Joshua had defeated all these kings and their kingdoms!
Joshua 10:40-43- So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, 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, as the LORD God of Israel commanded. And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon. And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel. And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.
