ISRAEL DEFEATS FIVE KINGS
(vs.1-10)
The news of Gibeon's treaty with Israel greatly alarmed other nations in the land, for Gibeon was considered prominent and important, so that the king of Jerusalem took the lead in enlisting four other kings to attack Gibeon (vs.4:1-4).
These enemies have vital spiritual significance. Jerusalem means "the foundation of peace," and is the center God had purposed for Israel to place His name there. But it was held by Adoni-zedec (v.3) which means "lord of righteousness," just as satanic deceit puts on a show of righteousness to deceive people. "Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers transform themselves into ministers of righteousness" (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). Satan is determined, if he can, to prevent our laying hold of the truth of the Center of gathering, that is, the understanding that the Lord Jesus Himself is the one Center around whom His people are to gather, not a denominational name, not to a certain physical location or building, but to Him personally, as He says, "Where two or three are gathered together in, My name, I am there in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20). How good it is if faith can displace Satan's deception, just as Israel displaced Adoni-zedec and took possession of Jerusalem.
Hebron means "communion" or " fellowship" and its king, Hoham, means "corrupt confusion of sound," for the world's fellowship has no calm, quiet peace such as does true communion with God, for the world thinks of fellowship as every voice raised in confused discord. Peter sat with soldiers at the world's fire and their so-called fellowship proved to be only confusion to him (Luke 22:55-62). True communion is seen in Ephesians 3:17-19. Faith may take this city and deliver it from the confusion that Satan has introduced.
The third city armed against Gibeon was Jarmuth, meaning "elevation," and its king, Piram is defined as "the wild donkey." False religion likes to elevate itself, but is it becoming that a wild donkey be put in a place of elevation? The wild donkey pictures man in his rebellious, independent state, yet Piram had control of the elevated place. Such pride must be taken down. Israel must displace Piram by means of humbling themselves, depending on God to exalt them in due time, as He does for every true believer, giving them a heavenly inheritance in Christ (Ephesians 2:6).
The fourth city, Lachish, means "walk as men," and the meaning of its king, Japhia, is "shining -- resplendent." Others will judge a person by the way he walks and one's walk is an important matter. But again, false religion puts on a show that is dazzling so as to deceive. The Lord Jesus did not do this, but He walked as a true Man amongst men, with no ostentation, no pretense, but in perfect moral dignity. Thus, believers are to displace a mere fleshly display by a walk of humble consistency, a walk of faith. "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind" (Ephesians 4:17). In fact, Ephesians, the epistle of heavenly places, puts much emphasis on walk, for if we truly appreciate our position in heavenly places, this will have a very real effect on our earthly walk.
The last of these five cities is Eglon, meaning "round, as a wheel." Its king was Debir, meaning "speaker" or "an oracle." Eglon pictures God's government, which grinds slowly but surely, telling us that God will always have the last word, for Christ is "the Amen." People may feel they will get their own way, and exert every effort in this direction, but God's wheel turns in a complete circle to bring back the past and face people with all they hoped was forgotten. Eglon therefore pictures the field of prophecy. How badly this has been corrupted by false "speakers" claiming to be God's "oracle." A sad example of this is seen in 1 Kings 22:6,where Ahab's prophets told Ahab that the Lord would deliver Ramoth Gilead into Ahab's hand, -- a totally false prophecy. Today, in the professing church there are many false interpretations of the prophecies of scripture, and Debir, "the speaker" should be fully displaced by the faith of God's people in faithfully declaring the truth of God's Word as to the future. Well mightEphesians 6:14 tell us, "Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness."
When these five kings united together in proceeding to attack Gibeon, Gibeon sent a message to Joshua urging him to come to deliver them from these kings (v.8). It was certainly God who was behind all this, for in this way Joshua could accomplish the defeat of five kings at once. Let us observe that they ascended from Gilgal, the place of self-judgment (v.7). and the Lord gave His word to Joshua that He had delivered the enemies into Israel's hand, so that none could stand before them (v.8).
They marched all night from Gilgal and suddenly, unexpectedly, attacked the five kings and their armies. The enemy fled in confusion, for it was the Lord who fought for Israel and great numbers were slaughtered.
UNUSUAL SUPERNATURAL INTERVENTION
(vs.11-15)
It was not left only to Israel to kill the enemy The Lord sent a storm of large hailstones on them, so that more were killed by the hail than by Israel's army (v.11). Revelation 16:21 speaks of great hail, each stone being about a talent in weight, which is 129 pounds! Hailstones have been reported to weigh as much as 75 pounds when they fell in Arabia some years ago. But also, God answered the word of Joshua to him by an amazing miracle. It was the Lord who moved Joshua to speak as he did in verse 12 in the sight of all Israel, "Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and Moon, in the valley of Aijalon." This was done, so that the sun remained in the sky for about a whole day more than is normal. What an experience for Israel's enemies, who would be expecting darkness to hide them from further devastation. But the slaughter continued all that time, the power of the enemy being completely destroyed.
It is reported that a scientist at Yale University told another that he had discovered by scientific calculations that the earth had lost 24 hours in its course at some time in history. The other scientist knew his Bible and told the first to begin reading the Bible and he - would eventually find the answer to this. He did so and came toJoshua 10:1-43. But he returned to the second man and told him that now he knew the Bible was not true because he had calculated that at the time of Joshua the earth had lost only 23 hours and 20 minutes. He thought Joshua had known something of this and had resorted to deception in reporting his experience. However, he was instructed to notice that at this time in Joshua the sun and moon hasted not to go down for about a whole day. Told to resume his reading, he finally came to 2 Kings 20:9-11 and was astonished to find that Isaiah had given a sign to Hezekiah that the shadow on the sundial would return 10 degrees. This accounted for the 40 minutes that was short of a whole day. Thus the Word of God was proven true and the scientist was converted to Christ.
After the great victory over the five kings, Joshua returned with Israel to Gilgal. How important it is that we do the same thing when the Lord has enabled us to gain a victory. We deeply need the place of self-judgment then, to keep us from the pride that likes to glory in our accomplishments.
THE FIVE KINGS EXECUTED
(vs.16-27)
The kings of the five cities were evidently not in the forefront of the battle, but directing operations from a distance. They escaped together to a cave where they expected to be hidden (v.16). But they had been observed and the news was given to Joshua, who ordered his men to roll large stones to the mouth of the cave, with men kept on guard (vs.17-18).
These few were left while Israel continued to pursue their enemies and destroy them before they could enter their cities. Thus, the extra long day served to enable a sweeping victory, with only few escaping to seek refuge in fortified cities (v.20). Five of these cities were left without any king, however. The camp of Israel is now seen to be at Makkedah, farther west and south than Gibeon. Israel's army returned there, where the five kings were imprisoned in the cave.
When the stones were rolled away the kings were still there. Though they were alive they were not able to release themselves. In contrast to this, the Lord Jesus had died and His body put in a cave with a stone rolled over its mouth and soldiers guarding it. But when the stone was rolled away, His body was not there!
When the five kings were brought out Joshua told the captains of Israel's army to put their feet on the necks of these kings (v.24). For the stiff-necked, proud kings of the world must have their stubborn pride reduced to humiliation before the God of heaven and earth. Joshua told his men therefore not to fear, but be strong and courageous, for the Lord would in the same manner reduce all the pride of their enemies before them (v.25). The kings were then put to death and hanged on five trees until evening. Let us remember these were leaders in satanic worship, and when the day of God's judgment comes there will be no sparing those who have sold themselves to Satan. The sun finally went down on that long day, and the bodies were taken from the trees and returned to the cave with large stones again covering it permanently (v.27).
Verse 28 now adds that "on that day" (the long day of which we have read) Joshua took the city of Makkedah, completely destroying its king and its people. The meaning of Makkedah is "bowing the head." The five proud kings had been compelled to bow their heads there, but from Israel's viewpoint, when she took the city, is this not significant of learning the truth of willingly bowing our heads to the great God of creation?
FURTHER CONQUESTS OF CITIES
(vs.29-43)
These ensuing victories of Joshua evidently began the day following the long day. The second city that he conquers is Libnah, meaning "whiteness." False religion boasts in the claim of purity, but it is all on the surface, like whitewashed graves (Matthew 23:27), with the corruption of death underneath. But true purity involves separation from evil, no contamination being allowed. Thus, in picture, we conquer the city of Libnah by learning well the truth of sanctification
to God and therefore from all this contrary to Him. Libnah's inhabitants were also destroyed (v.30). Yet, let us observe that none of these cities were destroyed, as Jericho was, but captured.
From Libnah they passed to Lachish, which name we have noted as meaning "walk as men." Its army had already been defeated, now the inhabitants are killed and Israel captures the city (v.32). A true walk as men who honor God can only be the possession of those who are born again.
Another king, Horam, of Gezer, comes to the help of Lachish (v.33), Gezer means "isolated" or "cut off," and Horam "tumid or "swollen." Horam therefore speaks of the swollen pride that glories in its independence (isolation). The city itself is not spoken of as being taken by Joshua, for God is not seeking a place of isolation for any of His saints, but Joshua did destroy Horam and his people. However, we read in 1 Kings 9:16 that Pharaoh king of Egypt had taken Gezer, burned it with fire, had killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, then gave, the city to his daughter, Solomon's wife. Thus, it appears to be one of the cities that were not taken over by Israel, but indicates that there were still cases of independent isolationism in Israel after they had subdued their enemies. The same has been sadly true of the Church of God in her history.
Next, Joshua fought against Eglon (v.34) and took the city, destroying its inhabitants. We have seen that Eglon, meaning "round, as a wheel," signifies God's government, involving the field of prophecy. Israel therefore took possession of this, for prophecy can only be rightly possessed, understood and valued by faith in the Lord Jesus. Faith therefore overcomes the enmity of Debir, the king of Eglon and possesses his city.
Hebron was next attacked and taken by Israel (vs.36-37) on the day following the extended day. Evidently there were satelite cities connected with Hebron, and all the inhabitants were killed. Hebron means "communion" and only those who are of faith have any right to possess the place of true communion or fellowship. Satan expends every effort to keep us from this, but faith in the Son of God overcomes.
From Hebron Joshua and his army went to Debir, the name of this city being the same as the king of Eglon (v.3), meaning "speaker" or "oracle." This city too was captured and its king and inhabitants killed (vs.38-39). Those whom Satan uses effectively as speakers in his cause must be totally expelled and replaced by speakers for God. How good it is if we know how to silence the claims of false doctrine by means of the true doctrine of Christ. The establishing of Christianity in the world in the book of Acts answers to these great victories of Joshua, who is a type of "Christ in you."
In this great campaign of chapter 10 Joshua completely conquered all the Southland, the mountain country and the lowland, from Kadesh Barnea as far as Gaza and all the country of Goshen (vs.40-41). All of this he took at one time, but nothing could account for this except that the Lord God fought for Israel. This is likely the most amazing and decisive military engagement that history has ever seen.
At the end of this, which took so short a time, Joshua and all Israel returned to the camp at Gilgal (v.43). Military wisdom certainly did not decide this for him, but God's leading. The backbone of all Canaan's resistance had been broken, but instead of exploiting his advantage, Joshua sought the presence of God in the place of self -judgment. Here he would find renewed strength for future warfare.