“The Longest Day”

 “Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had 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)

The King of Jerusalem knew he was in danger. He knew that not only would he lose his kingdom, he would lose his life. The King of Jerusalem created a coalition with the Kings of Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. Their first target is Gibeon.

Gibeon was a “Royal City”. It would have mighty walls and defensive works. The Five Kings began the attack with a siege camp. A siege allows for an attacking force to reduce the enemy through lack of food and water. The camp itself will need to provide its own food and water. Given enough time a siege can allow you to defeat a larger force and still maintain your own forces. That is not going to be.

Gibeon was not locked down. They were able to send a message to Joshua to help them. Joshua gathered his forces and went to their aid by night.

“And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.” (Joshua 10:8)

God could have evaporated the Five Kings, but that was not God’s plan. God had an audience. Not just Israel, but everyone on or near the battlefield. God rained stones down upon the enemy. Not accidental stones, but stones guided from heaven to only hit the enemy. God followed that up with hailstones. The number of dead by stones and hail was more than by the sword of Israel.

God wanted everyone to see the power of God, and the wages of sin. “Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.” (Joshua 10:12)

The Five Kings ran from the field and ended up hiding in a cave. Joshua ordered large rocks be used to seal the Kings in until later.

“And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities.” (Joshua 10:20)

Now that the battle has ended, Joshua has his commanders execute the Five Kings and place their bodies in the trees. A message to Israel and Canaan. When the sun sets, Joshua has their bodies entombed in the cave.

Stay Tuned…