Bible Commentaries

This action of the Gibeonites in securing their own safety aroused the anger of the confederate kings and they proceeded to act against Gibeon in order to punish it. In their peril the men of Gibeon appealed to Joshua He instantly responded, for the gathering together of these kings created his opportunity. By forced marches he reached the scene of action. The rout of the kings was complete and was made more terrible by the storm of hail which swept upon them as they fled, killing more than were slain by the Israelitish hosts.

It was in connection with this defeat of the five kings that the day was lengthened for Joshua in answer to his prayer, sun and moon alike standing still at his command. To make this story a merely poetic description of a day not longer but fuller than usual is to declare it untrue, for the method of its telling leaves no doubt that the chronicler intended to record it as supernatural.

This decisive victory broke the ground for fresh triumphs. With the skill of a true general, Joshua followed up his advantage immediately. How long a period is covered by the events recorded, we have no means of knowing. That which is revealed is the determined and victorious movement ever onward until the whole of southern Canaan was in the possession of Israel.

Swiftly and surely the divine judgment was falling on the corrupt peoples, and the possibility of a new era in the history of humanity was being created by the coming of the chosen people into possession of the land.