MPV Commentary

Joshua Rescues Gibeon.

The men of Gibeon sent an urgent appeal to Joshua, claiming protection based on kindness, sympathy, and justice. They pointed out that when Joshua attacked the Canaanites, God had given him a general assurance of success (Jos 1:5). However, the intelligence about this formidable alliance among native princes seemed to depress Joshua's mind with the anxious idea that it was a chastisement for his hasty and inconsiderate alliance with the Gibeonites. It appeared to be a struggle for life and death not only for Gibeon but also for the Israelites. In this view, the divine communication made to him was timely and encouraging.

Joshua sought God's counsel and received an answer before setting out on the expedition.

Joshua therefore launched a surprise attack on them suddenly. He accomplished this by leading a forced march of picked men over a distance of twenty-six miles in one night, which had previously taken three days (Jos 9:17).

The Lord Discomfits Them with Hailstones.

The Lord terrified and confounded the Amorite allies, probably by a fearful storm of lightning and thunder. This is evident from the word used to describe God's action (1Sa 7:10; Ps 18:13; 144:6).

He slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon. The Israelites had been fighting hard around the heights of Gibeon, and it was late in the day before the enemy took flight.

The Israelites chased them along the way that leads up to Beth-horon, also known as "the House of Caves." This refers to two contiguous villages with this name, upper and nether. Upper Beth-horon is about ten miles from Gibeon and can be approached by a gradual ascent through a long and precipitous ravine. The fugitives had crossed the high ridge of Upper Beth-horon and were fleeing down the descent to Beth-horon the Nether.

The road between the two places is rocky and rugged, with steps cut into the rock [Robinson]. Down this pass Joshua continued his victorious pursuit. Here, the Lord intervened, assisting His people by means of a storm that had probably been gathering all day. The storm burst with such fury that "they were more who died from hailstones than those whom the children of Israel slew with the sword."