Joshua 10 2

Joshua 10:2 kjv

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 nkjv

that they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.

Joshua 10:2 niv

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.

Joshua 10:2 esv

he feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were warriors.

Joshua 10:2 nlt

He and his people became very afraid when they heard all this because Gibeon was a large town ? as large as the royal cities and larger than Ai. And the Gibeonite men were strong warriors.

Joshua 10 verses

Joshua 10 2 Meaning

This verse describes the immediate and profound fear that gripped the king of Jerusalem and other Canaanite rulers upon hearing about Gibeon's treaty with Israel. This fear stemmed from Gibeon's significant size and power, its strategic importance comparable to major royal cities, and the fact that its military strength surpassed even that of Ai, a city recently conquered by Joshua's army. The immense fear indicated the impact of Israel's military successes and the defection of a prominent city like Gibeon from the Canaanite alliance.

Joshua 10 2 Context

Joshua 10:2 falls within the narrative of the Israelite conquest of Canaan, immediately following the Gibeonites' cunning treaty with Joshua (Joshua 9). This alliance between Israel and Gibeon was a major strategic upset for the southern Canaanite kingdoms. The preceding chapter detailed how the Gibeonites, through deception, secured a peace treaty with Israel, preventing their destruction. Adoni-zedek, the king of Jerusalem, represents a significant Canaanite power, and his alarm is understandable given the recent swift and decisive victories of Israel over heavily fortified cities like Jericho (Joshua 6) and Ai (Joshua 8). Gibeon was not just any city; it was large, strong, and militarily formidable, making its "defection" to Israel's side a critical shift in the power dynamics of the region and a direct threat to the other Amorite kings who were coalescing to resist Israel.

Joshua 10 2 Word analysis

• that they were greatly afraid (וַיִּֽירְאוּ מְאֹד - wayyîr'û mᵉʾōd):
  • וַיִּֽירְאוּ (wayyîr'û): From the root יָרֵא (yārē'), "to fear, be afraid." The "wayyiqtol" imperfect consecutive form signifies immediate consequence. This isn't just slight apprehension, but a profound and overwhelming fear. This term often describes a reverential fear of God, but here it describes terror in the face of an adversary.
  • מְאֹד (mᵉʾōd): An adverb meaning "very, exceedingly, greatly." Emphasizes the intensity of the fear. It's not mere concern but panic and dread, acknowledging a powerful threat beyond their usual scope. This level of fear implies a sense of impending doom and recognition of Israel's supernatural power.
• because Gibeon was a great city (כִּֽי־גִבְעוֹן עִיר גְּדוֹלָה - kî-Giv'ôn 'îr gᵉdōlâ):
  • כִּֽי (kî): Conjunction meaning "because, for." Introduces the reason for their fear.
  • גִבְעוֹן (Giv'ôn): Gibeon. A significant city northwest of Jerusalem, known for its strategic location, natural spring, and later for its "high place" (1 Kgs 3:4). Its size and resources made it an important player among the Canaanite city-states.
  • עִיר גְּדוֹלָה ('îr gᵉdōlâ): "Great city." Not just large in physical size, but "great" implying importance, prominence, and perhaps considerable population and influence. This signifies its status within the Canaanite urban network.
• like one of the royal cities (כְּאַחַת עָרֵי הַמַּמְלָכָה - kᵉ'achaṯ 'ārê hammamlākâ):
  • כְּאַחַת (kᵉ'achaṯ): "Like one of." A comparative particle, showing Gibeon's standing.
  • עָרֵי הַמַּמְלָכָה ('ārê hammamlākâ): "Cities of the kingdom" or "royal cities." This indicates cities that serve as centers of kingship or administration, often heavily fortified, well-resourced, and strategically vital. Comparing Gibeon to such cities underscores its significance and the weight of its defection. Its fall or alliance represented a major blow to regional unity.
• and because it was greater than Ai (וְכִֽי־הִיא רַבָּה מֵֽעַי - wᵉkhî-hî' rabbâ mê'ay):
  • וְכִֽי (wᵉkhî): "And because." Adds another reason for their fear.
  • רַבָּה (rabbâ): "Greater." From the root רַב (rav), meaning "much, great, numerous." Here, it signifies greater in terms of size, population, and resources compared to Ai.
  • מֵֽעַי (mê'ay): "Than Ai." This direct comparison is crucial. Ai had already fallen decisively to Joshua. For Gibeon to be described as "greater than Ai" amplifies the magnitude of Israel's power and Gibeon's strategic loss. The victory over Ai, though preceded by a setback, was proof of Israel's military effectiveness.
• and all its men were mighty (וְכָל־אֲנָשֶׁיהָ גִּבּוֹרִֽים - wᵉkhōl-'ănāsheyhā gibbôrîm):
  • וְכָל־אֲנָשֶׁיהָ (wᵉkhōl-'ănāsheyhā): "And all its men." Refers to its entire male population capable of fighting.
  • גִּבּוֹרִֽים (gibbôrîm): Plural of גִּבּוֹר (gibbōr), "mighty, valiant, warrior, strong." This term denotes strength, bravery, and military prowess. The Gibeonites were not weak; they were formidable warriors. This fact heightened the kings' fear: if such a powerful city could not stand against Israel or chose to align with them, what hope was there for others? It highlighted that Israel's success was not against weak opponents, further underscoring the divine intervention.

Joshua 10 2 Bonus section

The panic among the Amorite kings after Gibeon's peace treaty with Israel directly reflects the fulfillment of God's promise to Israel that He would cast dread and fear upon their enemies (Exod 23:27, Deut 2:25, 11:25). Gibeon's geographical position was critical; it lay squarely within central Canaan, threatening communication lines between the northern and southern city-states and disrupting any united Canaanite front. The term "royal cities" might also imply tribute-paying cities to a regional overlord or merely centers of local rulers, further emphasizing Gibeon's prominence. The "great fear" was thus rooted in a pragmatic assessment of Israel's supernatural success and the political isolation Gibeon's move created for the remaining kingdoms. This verse illustrates that God's work extended beyond direct military engagement, strategically using political realignments and the psychological impact of His power to prepare the way for His people.

Joshua 10 2 Commentary

Joshua 10:2 explains the Canaanite kings' strong reaction to Gibeon's treaty with Israel, grounding their fear in specific, tangible realities. Their fear was "greatly" intensified not merely by the fact of an alliance, but by understanding Gibeon's exceptional status. Gibeon's size and "great" influence, being on par with "royal cities," indicated its military strength and strategic importance. Its military power, being explicitly "greater than Ai"—a city that had recently experienced the devastating force of Israel's God-backed conquest—served as a stark and terrifying reminder of what Israel could do. Furthermore, the knowledge that Gibeon's "men were mighty" highlighted that Israel's victories were not against feeble opponents, but against well-armed and capable warriors. This implied a recognition of a superior, possibly divine, force operating with Israel, instilling deep dread that led to their formation of a defensive alliance against Joshua, thus setting the stage for the significant Battle of Gibeon. This verse underscores God's method of using the fear He placed upon the surrounding nations as a means of aiding Israel's conquest.