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SUN, STAND STILL

Joshua 10:1-43

Key Verse 12

On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:“Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”

Introduction

In this passage the five kings of the Amorites attacked the Gibeonites because of their treaty with Israelite. Joshua and the army of Israel defeated them completely by God’s help. Joshua commanded the sun and moon to stand still and the Lord listened to him. And Joshua and his army conquered many cities in just one campaign. Through all this victory and the miracle, God showed that He was fighting for the Israelites for His own glory.

1. Read verses 1-6. Why was the king of Jerusalem alarmed? (1-2) What did he do? (3-5) When the five kings of the Amorites attacked Gibeon, what did they do? (6)

1-1. Read verses 1-6.

Now Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and totally destroyed^[a] it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon had made a treaty of peace with Israel and had become their allies. ² He and his people were very much alarmed at this, because Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters. ³ So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem appealed to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish and Debir king of Eglon. ⁴ “Come up and help me attack Gibeon,” he said, “because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.”⁵ Then the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon—joined forces. They moved up with all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it.⁶ The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: “Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us.”

1-2. Why was the king of Jerusalem alarmed? (1-2)

· He heard that Joshua had taken Ai and totally destroyed it and that the people of Gibeon had made a treaty of peace with Israel and had become their allies.

· Gibeon was an important city with larger size than Ai and all its men were good fighters. It was big loss to the king and his people.

1-3. What did he do? (3-5)

· He appealed to other four Amorite kings to attack Gibeon. Then all of the five kings allied and attacked Gibeon together.

1-4. When the five kings of the Amorites attacked Gibeon, what did they do? (6)

· The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: “Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us.”

· They asked Joshua to come up quickly and save them from the five kings. Through the treaty Gibeonite became the part of Israelite. Now they asked Joshua to protect them based on the relationship.

2. Read verses 7-15. How did Joshua respond to the Gibeonites' plea?(7) How did God assure Joshua? (8) Describe how the Lord engaged in the war. (9-11) What did Joshua do by faith? (12) What happened? (13) What does this event reveal about the Lord God? (14-15)

2-1. Read verses 7-15.

So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. ⁸ The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.” ⁹ After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. ¹⁰ The Lord threw them into confusion before Israel, so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. ¹¹ As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites. ¹² On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:

“Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”

¹³ So the sun stood still,

and the moon stopped,

till the nation avenged itself on^[b] its enemies,

as it is written in the Book of Jashar.

The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. ¹⁴ There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel! ¹⁵ Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

2-2. How did Joshua respond to the Gibeonites' plea?(7)

· So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men.

· Joshua was faithful to the Gibeonites based on the treaty. Even though they deceived him, Joshua marched up to protect them based on the treaty.

· Joshua was not afraid of the allied five kings. Each of the king’s army was more powerful than the army of Ai and the five kings came up together to fight, but Joshua marched up boldly from Gilgal with his entire army.

· In fact, it was the first big battle with big number enemy in a large scale.

2-3. How did God assure Joshua? (8)

· The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”

· God told him not to afraid of them even though the enemy had big number.

· God ensured him that he would win the victory saying he had already given them into his hand and that not one of them would be able to withstand him.

· Once God is with us, not one of enemies could withstand us.

2-4. Describe how the Lord engaged in the war. (9-11)

· After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. It was sudden attack that the enemy couldn’t expect.

· The Lord threw them into confusion before Israel. God helped Israelite fought for them in the battle. Israelite didn’t fight alone. God was with them and fought together with them.

· Israelites defeated the enemy completely at Gibeon. The enemy was well trained army but Israelite defeated them completely with God’s help. It was perfect victory.

· Israel pursed the enemies and the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them.

· More of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.

- It clearly shows that God is the one who brought victory to Israel not Israel’s power.

- The Israelites were just participating in the war that God was fighting.

· When we fight for God, God helps us and fights together with us. It is God who brings victory to us even though we fight. When we fight to serve God’s will obeying his command, God fights for us and gives us victory.

- When we win the victory we should remember it is God who gave us the victory not us.

2-5. What did Joshua do by faith? (12)

· On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”

· Israel needed more time to destroy the enemies completely according to God’s command.

· Joshua commanded the Sun and moon to stand still by faith in God.

- No one can dare to command the Sun and moon to stand still. No one can imagine that the Sun and moon stand still.

- Joshua was able to command the Sun because of faith in God. He believed that God can let even the Sun and moon stand still.

- He really believed ‘the God in heaven above, the God on earth below’, the almighty God who created all things in the universe, Sun, moon and stars and controls all of them.

· ‘He said to the Lord’- It was Joshua’s prayer to God. In his prayer Joshua commanded the Sun and moon.

- Joshua didn’t have power to control Sun and moon but he prayed and commanded by faith.

2-6. What happened? (13)

· The sun stood still, and the moon stopped until the Israelite destroyed the enemies completely. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a fully day.

· It happened just as Joshua commanded. Joshua’s faith stopped even sun and moon. It shows the power of one man’s faith.

· God stopped the sun and moon that Joshua and the Israelites might complete their mission not for their glory.

2-7. What does this event reveal about the Lord God? (14-15)

· There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!

- God performed the biggest miracle through Joshua. It was even greater than dividing red sea.

- God even stopped the sun and mood hearing mere human’s prayer. God hears prayer that is offered by faith and does great thing according to the faith.

- Joshua’ faith pleased God.

- Something that we can hardly imagine could happen when we pray by faith in God.

· The Lord was fighting for Israel! – By stopping the sun and moon God clearly showed that he was fighting for Israel with his almighty power.

- Once God fights for us no one can withstand us and the victory is guaranteed.

· Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

- Joshua and his people returned to Gilgal all the time after battle. Gilgal was their worshipping place. They were recharged at the Gilgal.

3. Read verses 16-28. How did Joshua and the Israelites completely defeat their enemies? (16-21) What did Joshua do with the five kings and why (22-27)? What did he do with Makkedah? (28)

3-1. Read verses 16-28.

Now the five kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah. ¹⁷ When Joshua was told that the five kings had been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah, ¹⁸ he said, “Roll large rocks up to the mouth of the cave, and post some men there to guard it. ¹⁹ But don’t stop; pursue your enemies! Attack them from the rear and don’t let them reach their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.”

²⁰ So Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely, but a few survivors managed to reach their fortified cities. ²¹ The whole army then returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one uttered a word against the Israelites.

²² Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.” ²³ So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. ²⁴ When they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks.

²⁵ Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.” ²⁶ Then Joshua put the kings to death and exposed their bodies on five poles, and they were left hanging on the poles until evening. ²⁷ At sunset Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the poles and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large rocks, which are there to this day. ²⁸ That day Joshua took Makkedah. He put the city and its king to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it. He left no survivors. And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.

3-2. How did Joshua and the Israelites completely defeat their enemies? (16-21)

· The five kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah and Joshua command soldiers to block the cave with large rocks.

· He commanded people to pursue the enemies and attack them to the end so that no one might survive.

· Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely. They won the complete victory. Only few survivors remained. And whole army returned safely.

3-3. What did Joshua do with the five kings and why (22-27)?

· Joshua commanded people to bring the five kings out of the cave and summoned all the men of Israel and told army commanders to put their feet on the necks of the kings. So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks.

· “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.”

- Joshua commanded his people to put their feet on the necks of the king so that they might have confidence of their victory and not be afraid of their enemies.

- He ensured them that God would put their enemies under their feet.

- Joshua wanted his people to fight the battle with absolute confidence of their victory.

· Then Joshua put the kings to death and exposed their bodies on five poles until evening. And the bodies were thrown into the cave and the cave was covered with large rocks.

3-4. What did he do with Makkedah? (28)

· He put the city and its king to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it. He left no survivors. And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.

· Joshua obeyed God fully by doing what God commanded him. He carried out God’s command fully by totally destroying everyone in the city.

· It was God’s judgment. God also wanted remove all sins of Canaan completely.

4. Read verses 29-43. How did Joshua deal with the southern cities? (29-39) What made Joshua subdue the whole region in one campaign? (40-43)

4-1. Read verses 29-43.

Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it. ³⁰ The Lord also gave that city and its king into Israel’s hand. The city and everyone in it Joshua put to the sword. He left no survivors there. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho. ³¹ Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish; he took up positions against it and attacked it. ³² The Lord gave Lachish into Israel’s hands, and Joshua took it on the second day. The city and everyone in it he put to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah. ³³ Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezer had come up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army—until no survivors were left. ³⁴ Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Lachish to Eglon; they took up positions against it and attacked it. ³⁵ They captured it that same day and put it to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it, just as they had done to Lachish.

³⁶ Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron and attacked it. ³⁷ They took the city and put it to the sword, together with its king, its villages and everyone in it. They left no survivors. Just as at Eglon, they totally destroyed it and everyone in it.

³⁸ Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned around and attacked Debir. ³⁹ They took the city, its king and its villages, and put them to the sword. Everyone in it they totally destroyed. They left no survivors. They did to Debir and its king as they had done to Libnah and its king and to Hebron.

⁴⁰ So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded. ⁴¹ Joshua subdued them from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from the whole region of Goshen to Gibeon. ⁴² All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel. ⁴³ Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

4-2. How did Joshua deal with the southern cities? (29-39)

· Joshua and his people attacked Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, Debit and they totally destroyed all people in the cities just as they had done to other previous cities. - They fully obeyed God.

4-3. What made Joshua subdue the whole region in one campaign? (40-43)

· Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings.

· He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as God had commanded.

· Joshua subdued them from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from the whole region of Goshen to Gibeon.

· All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign- Joshua and his people conquered vast area of the land in one campaign.

· because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.- He and his people won all the victories because God fought for them.

- They won the victory not because of their power or strength only because God fought for them.

- Once God fought for them they won the victory wherever they went.

· Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

Conclusion

Joshua and the Israelites defeated all their enemies and conquered cities because God fought for them with his almighty power. God stopped even sun and moon for Israelite when Joshua commanded by faith. God is fighting for us. The only thing we need to do is to fight good fight by faith not being afraid of any enemies. Once God fights for us no enemies can withstand us.

One word: “Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!”