Joshua 10 5

Joshua 10:5 kjv

Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.

Joshua 10:5 nkjv

Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered together and went up, they and all their armies, and camped before Gibeon and made war against it.

Joshua 10:5 niv

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.

Joshua 10:5 esv

Then the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered their forces and went up with all their armies and encamped against Gibeon and made war against it.

Joshua 10:5 nlt

So these five Amorite kings combined their armies for a united attack. They moved all their troops into place and attacked Gibeon.

Joshua 10 verses

Joshua 10 5 Meaning

Joshua 10:5 details the formation of a significant coalition of five Amorite kings in southern Canaan. These kings, led by Adoni-Zedek of Jerusalem, unified their military forces and launched a joint attack on Gibeon. This act of war was a direct consequence of Gibeon's treaty with Israel, which these Amorite kings perceived as an act of betrayal and a serious threat to their collective defense against the encroaching Israelites. The verse sets the stage for a major military engagement that would test Israel's divine commission to dispossess the inhabitants of Canaan.

Joshua 10 5 Context

Joshua chapter 10 marks a pivotal phase in Israel's conquest of Canaan, shifting the focus from the central to the southern part of the land. This specific verse (10:5) is the immediate consequence of the Gibeonite deception and the subsequent treaty Joshua made with them, detailed in Joshua chapter 9. Adoni-Zedek, the king of Jerusalem (mentioned in Josh 10:1), was alarmed by Gibeon's strategic alliance with Israel. He saw this as a profound weakness in the collective Canaanite defense, creating a 'breach' that Israel could exploit.

Historically, Canaan at this time was not a unified kingdom but a collection of independent city-states, each with its own king, army, and often rivalries. However, faced with an external threat like Israel, these city-states often formed temporary defensive alliances or coalitions. The "Amorites" are frequently used as a broad term for the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan, though also referring to a specific group within them. This coalition's action against Gibeon was an attempt to punish perceived treachery and re-establish a unified front against the invading Israelites, ensuring no other city-states would defect. This verse initiates the Southern Campaign, leading directly into the famous Battle of Gibeon where divine intervention plays a significant role.

Joshua 10 5 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן - lakhen): This conjunction signifies a direct consequence or result. It explicitly links this verse to the preceding actions, particularly Adoni-Zedek's alarm (Josh 10:1) over Gibeon's peace treaty with Israel (Josh 9). It underscores the reactive nature of the kings' decision to attack.

• the five kings of the Amorites: This specifies the exact number and identification of the attacking leadership.

  • five kings: Indicates a powerful, united front, contrasting with potentially isolated defenses. Their unity highlights the perceived urgency and magnitude of the threat.
  • Amorites (אֱמֹרִי - ’Emori): A significant ethnonym in the Old Testament. While sometimes referring to a specific tribal group, it is often used as a general term for the inhabitants of Canaan before the Israelite conquest (e.g., Gen 15:16; Deut 7:1). Their iniquity was the basis for God giving their land to Israel. The name itself possibly derives from "westerners."

• the king of Jerusalem (מֶלֶךְ יְרוּשָׁלַ֫יִם - melek Yerushaláyim): Adoni-Zedek, introduced in Josh 10:1 as the instigator of this coalition.

  • Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַ֫יִם - Yerushaláyim): One of the oldest cities, then a Jebusite stronghold (hence "Jebusite Jerusalem" before David conquered it, 2 Sam 5). Its inclusion indicates its strategic importance as a powerful regional capital even then.

• the king of Hebron: King Hoham (Josh 10:3). Hebron (חֶבְרוֹן - Ḥevaron), south of Jerusalem, was a very ancient and prominent city, associated with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Gen 23:2). Later, it would be Caleb's inheritance (Josh 14:13-14) and briefly David's capital (2 Sam 2:1-4).

• the king of Jarmuth: King Piram (Josh 10:3). Jarmuth, south-west of Jerusalem, strategically positioned to monitor routes.

• the king of Lachish: King Japhia (Josh 10:3). Lachish (לָכִישׁ - Lakhish) was a major fortified city in the Shephelah, a key defensive point controlling vital communication routes between the coast and the hill country. Its prominence is further seen in later biblical history (2 Kgs 18:13-14; Isa 36:1).

• and the king of Eglon: King Debir (Josh 10:3). Eglon was another fortified city in the western lowlands, near Lachish, crucial for controlling regional access.

• gathered themselves together (וַיֵּאָסְפוּ - vayye’asfu): Denotes a concerted, unified assembly for a specific purpose. This was a deliberate military alliance, not a haphazard encounter. It implies an act of formal coalition building among these independent entities.

• and went up (וַיַּעֲלוּ - vayya‘alu): Indicates geographical ascent. Gibeon was located on an elevated plateau, northeast of Jerusalem. This movement also signifies an aggressive, offensive march towards their target.

• they and all their armies: Emphasizes the full military might and unified commitment of the alliance. It highlights the serious nature of their intention to subdue Gibeon completely.

• and encamped before Gibeon: A standard military tactic involving surrounding and besieging a city. It indicates their intent to cut off Gibeon and commence a sustained attack.

• and made war against it: The direct statement of their hostile objective. This was not merely a show of force but a genuine act of aggression with intent to conquer.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Therefore the five kings of the Amorites": Establishes the core identity and motivation for the aggression, directly linking it to the immediate political landscape shaped by Israel's movements. This group represents the collective pagan opposition to God's chosen people.
  • "the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon": A specific listing of formidable cities and their leaders. This detailed enumeration lends historical verisimilitude and emphasizes the formidable combined might that Israel would face. It delineates the heart of the southern Canaanite resistance.
  • "gathered themselves together and went up, they and all their armies, and encamped before Gibeon and made war against it": Describes the synchronized military action. This detailed action sequence portrays their resolve and the grave danger Gibeon (and by extension, Israel's treaty obligation) was in. It sets the scene for a confrontation on a grand scale, driven by political alarm and a unified intention to eliminate a perceived weakness in their defense.

Joshua 10 5 Bonus section

The "Amorites" are sometimes understood as descendants of Canaan, son of Ham (Gen 10:15-16), indicating a common ancestral link among many pre-Israelite inhabitants of the land. Their prominence here as the leading coalition reinforces the Old Testament's repeated mention of their wickedness as a key reason for their dispossession, even dating back to God's promise to Abraham (Gen 15:16, where God delays giving the land to Israel until the iniquity of the Amorites "is complete"). This collective military action against Gibeon, therefore, becomes not merely a political skirmish, but a moment for God's long-ordained judgment to manifest through His chosen instrument, Israel. The strategic importance of the listed cities, such as Jerusalem and Lachish, foreshadows their recurring roles in later Israelite and Judahite history, often as strongholds contested by various powers. This alliance was a pre-emptive strike by the Amorite kings against Israel through its new ally, Gibeon, believing that if they could nullify the Gibeonite treaty, it might discourage other cities from following suit.

Joshua 10 5 Commentary

Joshua 10:5 captures a crucial turning point in the Israelite conquest, showcasing the direct, coordinated resistance from the southern Canaanite powers. The "therefore" establishes a clear causal link to the Gibeonite alliance, revealing the profound alarm this political shift caused among the regional rulers. The explicit naming of the five Amorite kings, originating from key strategic cities like Jerusalem, Hebron, and Lachish, emphasizes the significant military coalition formed. Their decision to "gather themselves together" and "make war against" Gibeon demonstrates their intent to punish perceived defection and consolidate their opposition to Israel. This was a defensive reaction, born out of fear that Gibeon's treaty with Israel would serve as a template for others or expose their flank.

From a biblical perspective, this formidable human alliance against a seemingly small tribe (Gibeonites, allied with Israel) paradoxically sets the stage for God's power to be magnified. The strength of the unified Amorite forces highlights the need for divine intervention, preparing the reader for the miraculous events that follow in the chapter, such as the hailstones and the sun standing still. It reaffirms that the battle belongs to the Lord, demonstrating that even the most organized and powerful human efforts cannot thwart God's sovereign plan for His people to inherit the promised land.