The sun stood still, the day the LORD listened to a human, Remarks on Joshua 10.

The book of Joshua teaches us that G-d offers second chances. The Israelites wandered the deserts of Egypt for 40 years unable to reach their homeland. G-d gave the next generation a second chance. This time the results were different. Joshua led this army to tumble the walls of Jericho and destroy the city of Ai. What was next?

The day the sun stood still

After Joshua destroyed Ai, Adoni-Zedek, the king of Jerusalem was frightened as was his people. His city was larger than Ai, and his army was comprised of remarkable warriors.

Still, the king Adoni-Zedek choose to appeal to the kings of the Amorites, king Hoham of Hebron, king Piram of Jarmuth, king Japhia of Lachish and king Debir of Eglon, requesting them to attack Gibeon, because Gibeon had brokered a peace treaty with the Israelites. 

The five kings of the Amorites, the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon, joined forces. They moved all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it.

The Gibeonites sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal, saying the 5 kings joined forces, they attacked us, and thet asked Joshua to rescue them. Joshua’s entire army marched to Gilgal.  The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”

After marching all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua’s army took armies of the 5 kings by surprise.  

On that day, Joshua had said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon. So, the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies.”

The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not go down until the next day. The Lord extended the hours of daylight for a full day to allow time for the Israelites to defeat the armies of the 5 kings. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being.

The Israelites completely overwhelmed them at Gibeon. Israel tracked them down as they fled, the Lord tossed large hailstones down on them, killing those that the sword had not finished off. 

The fate of the 5 kings of the Amorites

The five kings fled and hid in the cave at Makkedah. When Joshua was told that the five kings were hiding in the cave, he commanded his men to place large rocks up to seal off the mouth of the cave, and post men there.

He went on to say ^“don’t stop; pursue your enemies! Attack them from the rear and don’t let them reach their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.” Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely.

Joshua then commanded his men to open the mouth of the cave and bring the five kings out to face Joshua. They brought the five kings, the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon, out of the cave.  Joshua instructed his commanders to place their feet on their necks. Then Joshua put the kings to death and hung their bodies on poles until evening. At sunset Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the poles and threw them into the cave. They placed large rocks at the mouth of the cave, where they are to this day.

What followed after the 5 kings were killed

That day Joshua took Makkedah. He put the city and its king to the sword and killed everyone in it. He left no survivors. And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho. Now the Old Testament does not explicitly say what happened to the king of Jericho, but when the king of Ai was killed, his body was hung till sundown. Most pagan kings had suffered the same fate. It is assumed the king of Jericho was killed and hung on a pole. Thus, the king of Makkedah had suffered the same fate as well.

Then Joshua and all Israel moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it. He left no survivors there. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.

And the barrage continued.

Joshua and all Israel went from Libnah to Lachish; he put to the sword everyone in the city, just as he had done to Libnah. Then king Horam, king of Gezer had come up to help Lachish, and Joshua defeated him and his army as well.

Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Lachish to Eglon and then Eglon to Hebron. In both cities, Joshua’s armies put to the sword to everyone in those two cities.

Then Joshua and all Israel turned around and attacked Debir. They left no survivors.

Joshua had subdued the whole region and all their kings. He left no survivors and destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded. All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.