The Staying of the Sun
Joshua 10:1-43
INTRODUCTION: After the trouble with Ai, Israel needed confirmation that the Lord would fight for them when they were right with Him. This chapter shows God pulling out all the stops to show His support for Israel. Look at these statements:
q Verse 8 – the Lord tells Joshua, “Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand”
q Verse 10 – “And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon”
q Verse 11 – “the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died”
q Verse 12 – “Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites” – This is where Joshua commands the sun and moon to stand still. God had already bombed them with hailstones. Now, He keeps the light on so the Israelites can catch up with the rest of them.
q Verse 14 – “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.”
q Verse 19 – “for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hand.”
q Verse 25 – Joshua tells his captains, “Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.”
q Verse 30 – “And the LORD delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it;” – Notice who gets the credit.
q Verse 32 – “And the LORD delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel”
q Verse 42 – “And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.”
Ten times this chapter declares that the victory was given by the Lord. We should learn the same lesson in our lives. The “battle is the LORD’S” (1 Samuel 17:47).
I. ADONIZEDEK GATHERS THE FIVE KINGS (10:1-5)
A. The Leadership of Adonizedek (v.1)
1. King of Jerusalem
2. Name means lord of righteousness
a. Compare to Melchizedek which means king of righteousness (Hebrews 7:1-2)
b. Satan’s ministers come as “ministers of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
3. Motivated by fear (v.2)
a. Christians are not to be motivated by fear (2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 4:17-18)
b. Unless it be the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7; Hebrews 11:7).
B. The Loss of Gibeon (v.1-2)
1. A great city
2. Full of mighty men
C. The Five Kings of the Amorites (v.3-5); compare with the five kings of the cities of the plain – Sodom, Gomorrah, etc. (Genesis 14:2-3)
1. King of Jerusalem
2. King of Hebron
3. King of Jarmuth
4. King of Lachish
5. King of Eglon
D. Their Encampment Before Gibeon (v.5); as against betrayers
II. JOSHUA FIGHTS AGAINST THE FIVE KINGS (10:6-14)
A. Joshua Comes to the Aid of the Gibeonites (v.6-7)
1. The men of Gibeon send to Joshua for help (v.6)
2. Joshua comes with the army of Israel (v.7)
B. The Lord Wins the Battle for the Israelites (v.8-11)
1. The Lord assures Joshua of victory (v.8)
2. Joshua transports his troops by night (v.9)
3. The Lord wins the battle for Israel (v.10-11)
a. He discomfits the Amorites (v.10)
b. He sends hailstones to slay them (v.11)
C. The Sun Stood Still So That the Victory Might be Complete (v.12-14)
1. Joshua prays for the sun and moon to stand still (v.12)
2. The prayer was answered for about a whole day (v.13)
3. There was no day like that before or after (v.14)
4. NOTE: Many Bible-deniers have scoffed at this miracle because (according to them) it is not possible. But that is the very essence of what a miracle is. “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27).
5. Compare this with the going back of the shadow on the sundial by ten degrees (2 Kings 20:8-11)
III. JOSHUA SLAYS THE FIVE KINGS (10:15-27)
A. The Five Kings are Captured (v.15-20)
1. The kings hid in a cave at Makkedah (v.15-16)
2. Joshua instructs the Israelites (v.17-19)
a. Cover the mouth of the cave (v.17-18)
b. Pursue after your enemies (v.19)
3. Israel slaughters their enemies (v.20)
B. The Five Kings are Displayed (v.21-25)
1. Israel returned to the camp in peace (v.21)
2. The kings were brought out of the cave (v.22-23)
3. Joshua had the captains put their feet on the necks of the five kings (v.24-25)
C. The Five Kings are Killed (v.26-27)
1. Slain (v.26)
2. Hanged on five trees (v.26)
3. Cast into the cave (v.27; see Deuteronomy 21:22-23))
IV. JOSHUA CONQUERS THE SOUTHERN STRONGHOLDS (10:28-43)
A. Makkedah (v.28)
B. Libnah (v.29-30)
C. Lachish (v.31-33)
D. Eglon (v.34-35)
E. Hebron (v.36-37)
F. Debir (v.38-39)
G. From Kadeshbarnea to Gaza (v.40-43)
CONCLUSION: Remember, the battle is the Lord’s.
Copyright © 2002
Antioch Baptist Church Knoxville, Tennessee