Joshua 10:1 - Meaning and Application

Joshua and Israel had now been in the land of Canaan for some time, yet little had been done. They had taken Jericho by a miracle, Ai by a trick, and Gibeon by surrender, and that was all so far. To some, their victories may have looked far too small compared with the glory of their first entrance into the land.

Those who hated delays may have complained about Joshua’s pace. They may have asked why Israel did not move straight into the heart of the country before the enemy could gather strength. Joshua’s carefulness may even have been mocked as slowness, fear, or lack of courage. But Canaan was not meant to be conquered in a single day. God had said he would drive out the Canaanites little by little (Exodus 23:30). Faith does not panic because a promise is not fulfilled as quickly as expected.

Joshua also waited for the Canaanites to begin the fight. He let them strike first, so their defeat would be more clearly just and easier to defend before others. He already had enough right to attack them, but he held back until they acted against him. This would also make the Canaanites more guilty, since they had now seen the favor Gibeon received from Israel.

There was also wisdom in waiting. It was better for the little kings of Canaan to gather their strength into one army, because then they could be cut down together. God was guiding this, even though they thought they were helping themselves by joining forces. He meant to gather them like sheaves on the threshing floor, so they would fall together under the flail (Micah 4:12). What seems like delay is often the best way to move forward.

After Israel had waited, a good chance to fight finally came. Five kings joined together against Gibeon. Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, was the first to lead this alliance. His name means “lord of righteousness,” and he may have come from the line of Melchizedek, king of righteousness, yet he appears to have been a wicked man. He was an enemy of Abraham’s descendants, even though Melchizedek had once been a faithful friend to Abraham.

Adoni-zedek called on his neighbors to join him against Israel. He may have done this because he was the most honored among them, or because he first saw how serious the danger was. Jericho and Ai had already fallen, but Gibeon’s surrender seems to have alarmed him most, since it was one of their important border cities. So he focused his attack on Gibeon and said, “Come up to me and help me attack Gibeon.” He may have wanted to retake a strong and important city, or he may have acted out of anger because the Gibeonites had made peace with Joshua. He may have accused them of betraying their country, though in truth they had done great good by giving their neighbors a clear example of peace.

In this way, Satan and his agents often attack those who make peace with God. We should not be surprised if the world hates us and treats converts to Christ as traitors.

The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua about the danger they faced (Joshua 10:6). Now they hoped to benefit from the agreement they had made with Israel. Even though that covenant had first been gained by deceit, it was later confirmed once the truth came out. They believed Joshua was bound to help them.

He was bound to help them, first in duty, because they had become his servants. That was no mere polite phrase anymore, but a real service to the whole congregation of Israel. Masters should protect even the poorest and weakest among their servants, and not stand by while they are wronged if they can help them. Those who owe loyalty may fairly expect protection. So David could pray, “I am yours, save me” (Psalm 119:94), and so may we, if we truly belong to God.

Joshua was also bound to help them in honor, because their enemies were attacking them for the kindness they had shown to Israel and for their trust in Israel’s covenant. Joshua could not refuse to defend them when they were being punished for their affection toward him and toward the name of his God. David uses a similar appeal when he says, “For your sake I bear reproach” (Psalm 69:7).

When our spiritual enemies gather against us and threaten to overwhelm us, let us go by faith and prayer to Christ, our Joshua, for strength and help, as Paul did. We will receive the same peaceful answer: “My grace is enough for you” (2 Corinthians 12:8, 2 Corinthians 12:9).