Gibeon, for it is probable it was before he stirred a step that God spake to him to encourage him. It was generous and just in Joshua to help his new allies, though perhaps the king of Jerusalem, when he attacked them, little thought that Joshua would have been so ready to help them, but expected he would abandon them as Canaanites, the rather because they had obtained their league with him by fraud; therefore he speaks with assurance, v. 4. of smiting Gibeon. But Joshua knew that his promise to let them live, obliged him, not only not to slay them himself, but not to stand by and see them slain, when it was in the power of his hand to prevent it, Prov. 24. 11, 12. He knew that when they embraced the faith and worship of the God of Israel, they came to trust under the shadow of his wings, (Ruth 2. 12.) and therefore, as his servants, he was bound to protect them. 2. God animated him for his undertaking, v. 8. Fear not, that is, (l.) "Doubt not of the goodness of thy cause, and the clearness of thy call; though it be to assist Gibeonites, thou art in the way of duty, and God is with thee of a truth." (2.) "Dread not the power of the enemy; though so many enemies are confederate against thee, and are resolved to make their utmost efforts for the reduction of Gibeon, and, it may be, will fight desperately in a desperate cause; yet let not that discourage thee, I have delivered them into thine hand;" and those can make neither resistance, nor escape, whom God has marked for destruction.
II. Joshua applies himself to execute this resolve, and God assists him in the execution. Here we have,
1. The great industry of Joshua, and the power of God working with that for the defeat of the enemy. In this action,
(1.) Joshua showed his good-will in the haste he made for the relief of Gibeon, v. 9, He came unto them suddenly; for the extremity was such as would not admit delay. If one of the tribes of Israel had been in danger, he could not have showed more care or zeal for its relief than here for Gibeon, remembering in this, as in other cases, there must be one law for the stranger that was proselyted, and for him that was born in the land. Scarcely had the confederate princes got their forces together, and sat down before Gibeon, when Joshua was upon them, the surprise of which would put them into the greatest confusion. Now that the enemy were actually drawn up into a body, which had all as it were but one neck, despatch was as serviceable to his cause, as before delay was, while he waited for this general rendezvous; and now that things were ripe for execution, no man more expeditious than Joshua who before had seemed slow. Now, it shall never be said, He left that to do to-morrow which he could do to-day. When Joshua found he could not reach Gibeon in a day, lest he should lose any real advantages against the enemy, or so much as seem to come short, or to neglect his new allies, he marched all night, resolving not to give sleep to his eyes, nor slumber to his eye-lids, till he had accomplished this enterprise. It was well the forces he took with him were mighty men of valour, not only able-bodied men, but men of spirit and resolution, and hearty in the cause, else they neither could nor would have borne this fatigue, but would have murmured at their leader, and would have asked, "Is this the rest we were promised in Canaan?" But they well considered that the present toil was in order to a happy settlement, and therefore were reconciled to it. Let the good soldiers of Jesus Christ learn from hence to endure hardness, in following the Lamb whithersoever he goes, and not think themselves undone, if their religion lose them now and then a night's sleep; it will be enough to rest, when we come to heaven.
But why needed Joshua to put himself and his men so much to the stretch? Had not God promised him, that without fail he would deliver the enemies into his hand? It is true he had; but God's promises are intended, not to slacken and supersede, but to quicken and encourage our endeavours. He that believeth, doth not make haste to anticipate providence, but doth make haste to attend it, with a diligent, not a distrustful speed.
(2.) God showed his great power in defeating the enemies which Joshua so vigorously attacked, v. 10, 11. Joshua had a very numerous and powerful army with him, hands enough to despatch a dispirited enemy, so that the enemy might have been scattered by the ordinary fate of war; but God himself would appear in this great and decisive battle, and draw up the artillery of heaven against the Canaanites, to demonstrate to his people, that they got not this land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them, but God's right hand and his arm, Ps. 44. 3. The Lord discomfited them before Israel; Israel did what they could, and yet God did all. [1.] It must needs be a very great terror and confusion to the enemy, to perceive that heaven itself fought against them; for who can contest with, flee from, or fence against the powers of heaven? They had affronted the true God, and robbed him of his honour, by worshipping the host of heaven, giving that worship to the creature which is due to the Creator only; and now the host of heaven fights against them, and even that part of the creation which they had idolized, is at war with them, and even triumphs in their ruin, Jer. 8. 2. There is no way of making any creature propitious to us, no not by sacrifice or offering, but only by making our peace with God, and keeping ourselves in his love. This had beeh enough to make them an easy prey to the victorious Israelites, yet this was not all. [2.] Beside the terror struck upon them, there was a great slaughter made of them by hail-stones, which were so large, and came down with such a force, that more were killed by the hail-stones than by the sword of the Israelites, though no doubt, they were busy. God himself speaks to Job of treasures, or magazines, of snow and hail, which he has reserved for the day of battle and war, Job 38. 22, 23. and here they are made use of to destroy the Canaanites. Here was hail shot from God's great ordinance, that, against whomsoever it was directed, was sure to hit, (and never glanced upon the Israelites mixed with them,) and whenever it hit was sure to kill. See here how miserable they are, that have God for their enemy, and how sure to perish; it is a fearful thing to fall into his hands, for there is no fleeing out of them. Some observe, that Beth-horon lay north of Gibeon, Azekah and Makkedah lay south, so that they fled each way; by which way soever they fled, the hail-stones pursued them, and met them at every turn.
2. The great faith of Joshua, and the power of God crowning that with the miraculous arrest of the sun, that the day of Israel's victories might be prolonged, and so the enemy totally defeated. The hail-stones had their rise no higher than the clouds, but, to show that Israel's help came from above the clouds, the sun itself, who by his constant motion serves the whole earth, by halting when there was occasion, served the Israelites, and did them a kindness; the sun and moon stood still in their habitation, at the light of thine arrows which gave the signal, Hab. 3. 11.
(1.) Here is the prayer of Joshua that the sun might stand still. I call it his prayer, because it is said, v. 12, he spake to the Lord; as Elijah, though we read, 1 Kings 17. 1. only by his prophesying of the drought, yet is said, James 5. 17, to pray for it.
