The Children of Israel; Led by Joshua
Gibeon had made Peace with Israel
The Enemy's People & Leaders
King of Jerusalem: Adonizedec; Amorites:
Hoham, King of Hebron
Piram, King of Jarmuth
Japhia, King of Lachish
Debir, King of Eglon
Object
Israel had to defeat Adonizedec of Jerusalem and the 5 allied Kings. After Israel defeated
AI, these kings were greatly afraid because Gibeon made peace with Israel and Gibeon was a rich and
defensed city. The Kings feared that Israel would march through taking all, and no one king could
defeat, thus the alliance.
Israel on the other hand, in order to take the land God had promised,
had to take the land, but God promised total victory: 10:8.
Strategies
Adonizedec and the 5 Kings, encamp against Gibeon, warring against it.(10:5)
Gibeon sends to Joshua for re-inforcement.(10:6)
Joshua ascends from Gilgal to Gibeon with entire army and leaders.
Lord affirms His will to Joshua of complete victory aforehand.
Joshua ascends suddenly, at night in surprise attack. Army continues to Gibeon all night.
Location
Israel encamped at Gilgal; Ascends to Gibeon.
Intelligence
Only Gibeon's information to Israel is mentioned before the assault; but
when Kings escape to Makkedah, a spy informs Joshua of their whereabouts. (10:17)
Outcome
King of Jerusalem and 5 allies are "discomfited them" and slew...with a great slaughter at Gibeon".
Chased them to Bethhoron
Smote them to Azekah & Makkedah
As they flee, the Lord casts down great stones on them, killing more than died in battle: described as 'hailstones'.
Total victory: Sun stands still as God commands through Joshua
Joshua returns to Israel, 5 Kings escape and flee to Cave of Makkedah.
Joshua rolls rock in front of cave imprisons kings.
Joshua instructs his forces to pursue the remnants of the cities left alive, and not to allow
them to re-enter their cities. Most of rest are slaim.
Israel in Peace
Joshua has his men place feet on necks of the kings, whom he slays, then hangs, then buries
in the cave of Makkedah. He continues to Lachish.
Spoils
Victory gave peace and safe passage in a large area, with one war instead of 6.
Spiritual Spoil: One of the great miracles of the Old Testament is given as an affirming sign:
as the sun and the moon stood still. in Ajalon (10:12) Stayed still a whole day, and until enemies were
defeated and spoiled. Noted as a day like no other.
Spiritual Spoil: Lord fought for Israel (10:14)
Spiritual Implications
Even though Gibeon had made a 'sneaky' contract with Israel, Israel honors it.
Their loyalty and reinforcement wins not only for Gibeon, but greatly reduces the number of wars
to be fought in the area.
War and victory are God-commanded. Joshua seeks the Lord in battle.
A Great Battle fought in obedience and honor resulted not only in a military victory, but
a mighty miracle. The affirmation to Israel was in full covenant: Through Abraham God had given
the land and seed: through Isaac and Jacob it had been confirmed, and now, in the return, Joshua,
whose name means salvation, takes literal hold of the promise.
Implications for Faith
Only go to wars that are ordained: with God's direction, victory is assured.
Loyalty and honor to an allie were confirmed by God's affirmation of His covenant.
The Sun and moon standing still was a one-time historical event. Only the God of Israel, the one
true God, could make the Sun and Moon stand still: it was sovereignty against belief or scientific
sense: the impossible happened: the issue was whether 1)Joshua could trust that far, or
2)Whether God was powerful or sovereign enough to have authority even over nature and the heavens:
a frightening issue for the natural mind. With the unspeakable confirmation of the sun and moon standing
still, not in metaphor but fact, the greater promise implicit was that God could deliver the entirity
of the Land!
Cross-references & Other Critical Facts
A note of interest: Scientist who calculate time and coordinate calendar artifacts, have
noted in Chronology, that a 24 hour period about that time in history, is inexplicable according
to their calculations1
Deliverance of Israel and taking of the Land beyond Gibeon & Makkedah
Strategies of the Battle
Frontal Attack
Place of the Battle
Libnah
Intelligence
none mentioned
Results of the Battle
"Smote it with the edge of the sword" (10:30)
Killed every one in Libnah: none left.
Compared total destruction to that of Jericho.
Reward
Safe passage through Land
Victory over Libnah
Taking of the Land
Spiritual Implications
This short mentioned battle is a complete victory following the
magnificent victory at Gibeon. The Covenant of Land confirmed, Israel lock-step takes
the land in total victory.
Implications for Faith
The total erasure of the enemy camp may seem cruel, but they were the ones
wrongfully occupying the land, and they were brutal, idolatrous and dangerous.
The taking of the land reflects that battles in obedience sometimes require a total laying aside
of the enemy: this is a difficult concept to reconcile with the admonished peace of the New Testament
in which we are to "resist not evil"; but it still has spiritual implications. There is a time,
in a God-ordained conflict, in which the enemies interests must be completely laid aside, and while
we are not to be merciless, the taking of the victory God commands through prayer and obedience
may be required.
Cross-references & Other Critical Facts
1Libnah is posited as due east from the Mediterranean, due west from the dead
Sea, near Gath. This would indicate a move south from Aijalon.
To take Lachish, as they had just taken the Amorites and the city of Libnah and their kings.x/LI>
Strategies of Battle
Encamped against Lachish directly after Libnah
Fought directly.
Location of Battle
Lachish
Outcome of the Battle
Took it on the Second Day
'Smote with the Sword"
Destroyed all the inhabitants
When Horam of Gezer comes to aid Lachish, conquers him too.
Spoils
Total Spoils of the City Lachish
End of the People and Reign of 2 Kings
Land and Peace for Israel
Spiritual Implications
Very Short mention: Joshua continues to reap victory after victory based upon one
great obedience.
Implications for Faith
"From victory unto Victory: Christ is our victory. "Greater is He who is in us, than
he who is in the World."
Do not be satisfied with one victory when God has given you all.
Perserverance takes the Promise
Even after Israel conquered the area, the strongholds and "themes' of some of these
cities continues. (Some would say these cities continue in a spiritual stronghold even after being
conquered in the natural. Lachish continued through its history as a military city, and a city of sin
(Micah 1:13). Amaziah was killed here. The nature of a city both spiritually and naturally often
lasts long beyond a change in power. Applications can be made for the Christian in their own 'strongholds'
and oppressions: even after conquering sins and habits, the essence of the thing may remain. For example
an alcoholic may quit drinking and take up another chronic habit, albeit neutral, such compulsive coffee drinking.
or excessive negative interest in another person's life.
Cross-references & Other Critical Facts
Lachish was one of the cities that fought against Gibeon.
The next war in the series of taking the Cities of Canaan which fought against Gibeon/LI>
Strategies of the Battle
As Horam and his army come to help Lachish, Joshua fights directly against them also, together.
Frontal Assault
'Smites' every soul. "None remaining" 10:33.
Location of the Battle
Lachish, right after battle with LIbnah
Results of the Battle
Every soul destroyed that fought against Israel
Spiritual Implications
Same as for Lachish
Implications for Faith
Same: Continue in victory in a right purpose.
Cross-references & Other Critical Facts
Gezer at a later point in history is burned by a Pharaoh and given to his daughter, one
of Solomon's wives. Solomon later rebuilds the city. I Kings 9. Near Aijalon and Ekron, it
is about half way between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea, towards the North. There is not mention
about why some of the non-military inhabitants (canaanites)are allowed to stay, but it appears
that it was troublesome even to the time of Kings.
Israel attacks Eglon after Gezer, but comes from Lachish
Encamps against the City of Eglon
.
Location of the Battle
Eglon
Results of the Battle
Takes the City in one Day
Destroys all the Inhabitants, as at Lachish 11:35
Spiritual Implications
Same as with the series: With the utter obedience, character and loyalty at
Gibeon: God gives victory after victory until the whole land is taken.
Perserverence is demonstrated in without wearying, taking every city that
a)stood in the way of Israel's Covenant and b) threatened the extinction of their allies
and those they had made covenant with.
Implications for Faith
Perservere until the whole of the Promise is given, under obedience.
Do not stop short of the Promise
Cross-references & Other Critical Facts
City of the Moabites: the King Eglon had the same name: Eglon was killed by Ehud right before
the slaughter of the Moabites (10,000) and the great war of Deborah.
Hebron figures prominently in Scripture. It is near Hebron in the plains of Mamre
where Abraham dwells. Isaac and Jacob spend time there; Caleb drives out the giants when given the
land, it is the original Capital city of David, Absalom rebels here. 1
To free Gibeon & Israel from all the Cities and Kings that threatened it;
To take more of the Land of Canaan God had given them in Covenant
To win the cities, spoil and peace for Israel
In all these cities, the victories were over brutal inhabitants. Israel knew they
must kill or be brutalized and killed.
Strategies of the Battle
frontal assault
Came up from Hebron with entire Army
"Smote with Sword"
Total annihilation of Citie(s) of Debir
Take the King
Location of the Battle
Debir, after Hebron
Results of the Battle
Destroyed every living soul
Took the City
Killed the King of Debir
Freed the area
Peace for Israel, freedom for Gibeon
Spiritual Implications
Debir is the last in the series of the smaller kingdoms that came up
against the ally of Gibeon. After the monumental battle at Gibeon, city after city
falls into Joshua's hands. The entire Land in that area is delivered to them by God
through commanded efforts. The brutal people of the Land, there by encampment and
not legal right, are not brought under captivity, or even expelled: they are erased.
While it may seem brutal, in return, it was commanded by God: if remnants of the people
had remained, they would have rearmed, and posed an eternal and continuous threat to
Israel. The leadership of these countries was erased, most of the people, and Israel and here
allies had rest and establishment after 400 years under similar tyranny in "Mizraim" or
Egypt.
The taking of the Land was not raw imperialism, it was obedience to God
The taking of the Land was required for the establishment of God's Messiah and Plan.
Implications for Faith
God-commanded wars are assured of victory
Adversity which opposes itself against God and his Plan must be totally driven out:
for a nation: its enemies; for an individual, no remnants of a sin or oppression must remain.
The people of God must have no other, and no competing leaders or masters, other than God
Complete obedience brings peace, rest and establishment
The removal of 'other masteries' other than Christ, must be complete.
Leader: Jobab, King of Madon; People: People of Madon
Leader: King of Shimron; People: People of Shimron
Leader: King of Achshaph; People: People of Achshaph
Leaders: Kings on North of Mountains
Leaders: Kings on Plains South of chineroth and in valley and borders of Dor; Attending Peoples
Peoples: Canaanites on the east and west
Peoples: Amorites & Hittites, Perezzites and mountain Jebusites
Hivites under Hermon in Mizpeh (11:1-3)
A multitude as great as "sand that is upon the sea shore...with horses and chariots very many.
Object of the Battle
To defend Israel against this multitude
To take the Promised Land in Northern Canaan against brutal enemies;
Strategies of the Battle
Jabin gathers Kings because he hears of Israel's Victories
Kings gather for war at Merom
Joshua confronts at the Lord's Command with Promise of total Victory
Commanded to 'hough horses'(make unusable for battle) & burn their chariots
Joshua & Israel attack suddenly, frontally
Kings and enemies chased to: Zidon, Misrephothmaim and Mizpeh. 11:8
Location of the Battle
Merom, where Kings of Canaanites gathered.
Results of the Battle
"Smote until none remained.
Chased out of area.
Joshua turns back & takes Hazor
Kills the King of Hazor: Hazor had been head of all the above Canaanites.
All inhabitants of Hazor killed: 'none left breathing'
City of Hazor burned with fire. Others left standing
Cattle and Goods taken by Israel as Spoils of War
Spiritual Implications
A Second Grand Complete Obedience by Joshua: he really did, "take
the Giants". He came against an enormous enemy with powerful allies in the
Spirit of the Lord. In one day, there was complete victory.
The houghing of horses and burning of chariots meant that in addition to winning the battle against the tyrannical Canaanites, Joshua was commanded to
render their instruments of war useless.
Commanded not to fear in the face of great fear: took total faith of the Abrahamic kind. Covenant of Land fulfulled: spiritually and physically: this passage may be used in a heavenly sense: the Covenant of Land was so fulfilled in the natural by faith, that it yields the eternal promise of a Covenant of eternal life. That LIfe still has to be owned and in belief by God's ensign of Christ, but it flies in the face of those who believe that the Jews are not inheritors of the very real promised land of Heaven. The names Joshua and Jesus are synonymous: Joshua is not an earthly version of Jesus inheriting an earthly land, but the shadow of Y'shua showing the inheritance is theirs.
Implications for Faith
Complete faith and obedience yields complete temporal victory, and eternal victory.
Refusing to Fear in Faith in the Face of Great Fear, brings Victory
The removal of all that opposes God's plan is required for total victory.
The Jews are the inheritors of Heaven by belief through God's ensign: it belongs to them, we are merely grafted in.
Canaan was taken by command: this is also true in our lives.
Cross-references & Other Critical Facts
Hazor is the army Deborah and Barak defeated. It is one of the towns captured in the Assyrian captivity. IT was the royal City of the Canaanites.
