Charles Ellicott Commentary Joshua 10
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Joshua 10
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Joshua 10
"Now it came to pass, when Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;" — Joshua 10:1 (ASV)
CONQUEST OF THE SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY OF THE NATIONS OF CANAAN.
Adoni-zedec king of Jerusalem. —We may compare this name (Lord of Righteousness) with Melchizedek (King of Righteousness). (See Genesis 14:18 and Hebrews 7:1.) The similarity of the names makes it probable that the Salem of Genesis 14:18 is Jerusalem (see Notes). The title Lord or King of Righteousness may have belonged to the king of Jerusalem, not only as a local title, but also in relation to the surrounding tribes, over whom he may have been a suzerain. But we know nothing of the matter beyond what we find in the sacred text.
"that they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty." — Joshua 10:2 (ASV)
As one of the royal cities. —One of the cities of the kingdom. Gibeon was later the city of the first king of Israel, Saul (1 Chronicles 8:29–30; 1 Chronicles 8:33).
"Wherefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying," — Joshua 10:3 (ASV)
Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.
- —Hebron, i.e., el-Khalil.
- Jarmuth is identified as el-Yarmûk.
- Lachish is still uncertain; but see Note on verse 32.
- Eglon is identified as Aglân in Philistia.
"Come up unto me, and help me, and let us smite Gibeon; for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel." — Joshua 10:4 (ASV)
Come up ... that we may smite Gibeon. — It is remarkable that we do not read of one direct attack upon Joshua and his army in all the wars of Canaan. The Canaanites seem to have acted strictly upon the defensive: and this fact tallies with what we read of the alarm and depression that spread among them at the passage of Jordan by Israel. And the armies which did take the field were attacked by Joshua in each instance before they had ventured to attack him.
In the present instance it was thought necessary to smite Gibeon, not only to make an example of the inhabitants, but also because of its importance as a stronghold in the hands of Israel. The position of the Hivite tetrapolis was strong enough to command the country. The fact that a man of Gibeon was afterwards selected to reign over Israel, and that the tabernacle was stationed there, so that Gibeon became a sort of metropolis during the latter portion of Saul’s reign, is a significant comment upon this.
"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 hill-country are gathered together against us." — Joshua 10:6 (ASV)
The Amorites that dwell in the mountains —that is, in the mountainous district lying south of Jerusalem.
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