Amorites Join Forces Against Israel

Joshua 10:1-14 (KJV)

Adoni-zedek, the king of Jerusalem, heard of all that had taken place from Jericho to Gibeon. Particularly disturbing to him was the news of how the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and joined them. For Gibeon was a great royal city with mighty men. As a result of the report on Gibeon, Adoni-zedek sent word to kings of surrounding cities to join forces with him to defeat Gibeon. "Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it" (v. 5).

"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. 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" (vs. 6-9).

The Amorites fled from Israel. "[T]he Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them [to the city of Azekah], and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

"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" (vs. 12-14).