Joshua 10:6 kjv
And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.
Joshua 10:6 nkjv
And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, "Do not forsake your servants; come up to us quickly, save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the mountains have gathered together against us."
Joshua 10:6 niv
The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: "Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us."
Joshua 10:6 esv
And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, "Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us."
Joshua 10:6 nlt
The men of Gibeon quickly sent messengers to Joshua at his camp in Gilgal. "Don't abandon your servants now!" they pleaded. "Come at once! Save us! Help us! For all the Amorite kings who live in the hill country have joined forces to attack us."
Joshua 10 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Josh 9:15 | "So Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them...and swore an oath to them." | The oath binding Israel to protect Gibeon. |
| Josh 9:19-20 | "We have sworn to them by the LORD...now we may not touch them lest wrath be on us." | The sanctity of oaths sworn before the LORD. |
| Josh 10:1-2 | "Now when Adoni-Zedek...heard that Joshua had taken Ai...and that Gibeon had made peace...greatly alarmed." | Context of the Amorite fear and coalition forming. |
| Josh 10:7 | "So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him..." | Joshua's immediate response to the Gibeonites' plea. |
| Josh 10:11-14 | Describes the miraculous divine intervention with hailstones and sun standing still. | God's direct intervention in response to Israel's covenant duty. |
| Deut 7:1-2 | "You shall make no covenant with them...but you shall utterly destroy them." | Original command contrasting with the Gibeonite treaty. |
| Ps 15:4 | "...who swears to his own hurt and does not change." | High value of upholding sworn promises, even if difficult. |
| Judg 10:13-14 | "Go and cry out to the gods whom you have chosen; let them save you." | Contrast with Gibeon's wise appeal to the rightful protector. |
| 1 Sam 30:8 | "And David inquired of the LORD, 'Shall I pursue...? He answered him, 'Pursue, for you shall surely recover all.'" | Seeking God's guidance for urgent rescue missions. |
| 2 Chr 20:3-4 | "Jehoshaphat was afraid...and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast." | Seeking God's help in times of dire threat. |
| Ps 3:7 | "Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek." | Direct plea for swift divine deliverance. |
| Ps 6:4 | "Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love!" | An urgent prayer for God's saving intervention. |
| Ps 18:6 | "In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice." | God hears and responds to cries of distress. |
| Ps 20:5 | "May the LORD fulfill all your petitions!" | The desire for God to answer fervent prayers. |
| Ps 105:38 | "Egypt was glad when they departed, for terror of them had fallen upon it." | God's terror (dread) on Israel's enemies foreshadowed. |
| Isa 41:10 | "fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you..." | God's promise to strengthen and help His people. |
| Jer 33:3 | "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you do not know." | Encouragement to call upon God for help and revelation. |
| Exod 17:9-13 | Joshua leads battle against Amalek, demonstrating dependence on divine aid (Moses' staff). | Early example of Joshua's leadership and reliance on God. |
| Heb 4:16 | "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." | Believer's access to God's grace and help in urgency. |
| Phil 4:6 | "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." | Practical application of urgent, believing prayer. |
| Eph 6:18 | "praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication." | Encouragement for continuous, urgent prayer for all needs. |
| Matt 7:7 | "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." | Principles of prayer and seeking God's help. |
Joshua 10 verses
Joshua 10 6 Meaning
Joshua 10:6 records the desperate appeal of the Gibeonite people to Joshua, based at Gilgal, seeking immediate military aid against a formidable coalition of Amorite kings. The Gibeonites urgently requested Joshua to honor the recently made covenant, not to abandon them, but to ascend swiftly, save, and assist them in the face of this united threat gathered in the mountainous regions of Canaan.
Joshua 10 6 Context
Joshua 10:6 is situated immediately after the revelation of the Gibeonites' deceptive treaty with Israel (Joshua 9). This chapter begins by describing the fear and strategic response of Adoni-Zedek, king of Jerusalem, upon learning that Gibeon, a major and militarily capable city, had made peace with Israel. From the perspective of the Canaanite kings, this was a betrayal that shattered their unified front against the invading Israelites. Therefore, Adoni-Zedek formed a formidable coalition with four other Amorite kings (from Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon) to attack Gibeon and punish its perceived defection. This verse, then, records Gibeon's urgent appeal to Joshua for immediate military assistance, a direct call to fulfill the terms of the solemn covenant Israel had sworn to them, despite the circumstances of its initiation. Historically, Israel had just secured their initial foothold in central Canaan; this subsequent battle would strategically draw them into the southern highlands, significantly expanding their conquest into the Promised Land.
Joshua 10 6 Word analysis
And the men of Gibeon: Refers to the official delegation sent by the Gibeonite city. Gibeon was identified as a Hivite city (Josh 9:7), one of the inhabitants of Canaan whom Israel was commanded to dispossess.sent(שָׁלַח, shalach): A common Hebrew verb meaning "to send," indicating a formal dispatch of messengers carrying a vital message.unto Joshua: The direct recipient of the plea, recognized as Israel's military and spiritual leader, who was personally party to the covenant.to the camp to Gilgal: Specifies Israel's central military and logistical base in the Jordan Valley, west of the river. Gilgal served as the primary encampment for Israel following their entry into Canaan and before their dispersed conquests.saying, Slack not thy hand from us: (אַל תֶּרֶף יָדְךָ מִמֶּנּוּ, 'al teref yadkā mimmennū) A forceful and vivid Hebrew idiom meaning "do not abandon us," "do not withdraw your help," or "do not cease from helping us." It implies an urgent call for active and sustained intervention, warning against inaction or desertion in their hour of need.come up to us quickly: (עֲלֵה אֵלֵינוּ מְהֵרָה, 'aleh 'eleinū m'herah) "Ascend to us quickly." "Come up" accurately describes the geographical reality, as Gibeon was located in the central highlands, a higher elevation compared to Gilgal in the valley. "Quickly" (מְהֵרָה, m'herah) stresses the extreme urgency, indicating imminent danger and the need for immediate, decisive action.and save us, and help us: (וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ וַעֲזֹר־לָנוּ, v'hoshi'enu va'azor-lanu) Two potent, parallel verbs: "save" (from yasha', often referring to liberation or salvation, frequently used for God's deliverance) and "help" (from 'azar, implying immediate practical assistance or support). The combination emphasizes their profound and dire need for rescue and aid.for all the kings of the Amorites: Designates a formidable and organized military alliance. The Amorites were a powerful, idolatrous people group prevalent in Canaan before Israel's conquest. "Kings" suggests a unified command and a significant military threat.that dwell in the mountains: Identifies their stronghold and strategic position in the central highlands of Canaan. This detail helps locate the battle and emphasizes the defensive advantage of the enemy.are gathered together against us: Conveys the imminent and overwhelming nature of the threat. The enemy is unified, prepared, and poised for attack.
Words-group by words-group analysis
"sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying": This opening phrase precisely pinpoints the intended recipient and location of the desperate plea, demonstrating Gibeon's strategic awareness of Israel's base of operations."Slack not thy hand from us; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us": This segment escalates the urgency and emotional intensity. It begins with a negative injunction against abandonment, transitioning into a sequence of increasingly strong and positive demands for immediate action, deliverance, and sustained assistance. The progression from warning to direct commands underscores their utter desperation and reliance."for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us": This clause serves as the compelling justification for the plea. It articulates the nature, scope, and strategic position of the threat, painting a clear picture of the formidable and unified enemy that necessitated such a desperate call for intervention.
Joshua 10 6 Bonus section
The Gibeonites' choice to appeal to Joshua, rather than fighting their former Canaanite allies or any other local power, reveals their astute understanding of Israel's might, which they attributed to the power of Israel's God. Their prior deception, rooted in fear (Josh 9:24), transformed into an urgent appeal for deliverance, demonstrating a pragmatic reliance on the one entity capable of saving them. This episode emphasizes the unique theological significance of oaths in ancient Israel: a covenant, once sworn in the Lord's name, was inviolable, even when circumstances made it burdensome or strategically inconvenient. This divine adherence to promises, even those made to deceitful parties, underscores God's faithfulness and His working through unexpected means to fulfill His overall plan for His people and the promised land.
Joshua 10 6 Commentary
Joshua 10:6 is a pivotal verse that highlights the consequences of Israel's oath to the Gibeonites and initiates a significant phase of the conquest. It powerfully portrays the Gibeonites' extreme desperation, their plea rooted in the sanctity of a covenant sworn before the LORD, even though formed by deception. The gravity of their request reflects their recognition of Joshua's (and therefore Israel's God's) military prowess, seeing Israel as their only hope against a formidable, united Amorite alliance determined to annihilate them. Joshua's subsequent swift and decisive action (Josh 10:7) underscores the importance of upholding oaths in the Israelite understanding of covenant integrity. More profoundly, this crisis providentially served God's larger plan, drawing Israel into the heart of the southern highlands, setting the stage for a miraculous divine intervention that extended God's fame and further secured the land for His people. It ultimately showcases Joshua's role as a faithful deliverer under divine direction, responding to the cry for help even from unexpected beneficiaries.