Joshua 10:7 kjv
So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor.
Joshua 10:7 nkjv
So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor.
Joshua 10:7 niv
So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men.
Joshua 10:7 esv
So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor.
Joshua 10:7 nlt
So Joshua and his entire army, including his best warriors, left Gilgal and set out for Gibeon.
Joshua 10 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Josh 10:8 | And the Lord said to Joshua, "Do not fear them... | God's prior assurance of victory. |
| Josh 1:5-9 | No man shall be able to stand before you... Be strong and courageous... | God's foundational promise of Joshua's success. |
| Deut 3:22 | You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you. | God fights for His people. |
| Deut 20:4 | For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you. | God's presence in battle. |
| Deut 31:6 | Be strong and courageous... the Lord your God goes with you. | Encouragement for divine backing. |
| Judg 4:14 | Deborah said to Barak, "Up! For this is the day the Lord has given Sisera. | God commands decisive action in battle. |
| Josh 4:19-20 | And the people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped in Gilgal... These stones shall be a memorial forever. | Gilgal as Israel's initial sacred camp. |
| Josh 5:9-10 | And the Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." ... And the people of Israel encamped at Gilgal, and they kept the Passover. | Gilgal as a place of covenant renewal. |
| 1 Sam 7:16 | And Samuel went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah... | Gilgal as a significant national/religious site. |
| Josh 11:15 | Just as the Lord had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. | Joshua's consistent obedience to divine commands. |
| Num 32:20-22 | So Moses said to them, "If you do this... then afterward you may return. | Requirement for all men of war to cross Jordan. |
| 1 Chr 7:5 | Their kinsmen among all the clans of Issachar were mighty men of valor... | "Mighty men of valor" as an elite designation. |
| 1 Sam 14:52 | There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man or any valiant man, he took him. | Value of strong/valiant men in Israel's army. |
| Ps 20:7 | Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. | Trusting God, not just military strength. |
| Ps 44:5 | Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down those who rise against us. | Divine empowerment for victory. |
| 2 Chr 20:15-17 | The battle is not yours but God's... stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord. | God fights the battles for His people. |
| Eph 6:10-17 | Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God. | Spiritual application of God's provision in battle. |
| Heb 11:32-34 | By faith, Gideon, Barak, Samson... put foreign armies to flight. | Faith enabling military success. |
| 2 Sam 5:17 | But when the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. | Strategic military movements. |
| Isa 40:29 | He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. | God's empowering of His people for their tasks. |
| 1 Sam 17:47 | And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's. | Emphasizing divine victory. |
Joshua 10 verses
Joshua 10 7 Meaning
Joshua 10:7 describes Joshua's immediate and comprehensive military response to the distress call from Gibeon. Having received a divine assurance of victory, Joshua assembled the entire Israelite fighting force, including his most skilled warriors, and promptly marched from their base camp at Gilgal towards Gibeon, ready for battle. It signifies decisive obedience, military readiness, and trust in God's promised deliverance, setting the stage for one of Israel's most miraculous military victories.
Joshua 10 7 Context
Joshua 10 opens with King Adoni-Zedek of Jerusalem forming a confederation with four other Amorite kings (Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon) to attack Gibeon. This coalition arose in reaction to Gibeon's cunning peace treaty with Israel (Joshua 9), which they saw as a significant threat to their power and the collective resistance against the Israelites. Gibeon, now under an oath of protection from Israel, sent an urgent appeal to Joshua for rescue. Upon receiving this plea, the Lord immediately commanded Joshua in Joshua 10:8 not to fear, promising them victory. Joshua 10:7 describes Joshua's direct and vigorous response to both Gibeon's distress and God's divine assurance, showcasing Israel's military readiness and commitment to their covenant, launching one of the most remarkable campaigns of the conquest from their spiritual and military headquarters at Gilgal.
Joshua 10 7 Word analysis
- So Joshua: Indicates immediate and direct consequence following Gibeon's appeal (10:6) and the Lord's assurance to Joshua (10:8). It highlights Joshua's central role as the appointed leader, exercising decisive and obedient action.
- ascended: The Hebrew word is עָלָה (`alah`). While literally meaning "went up" (Gilgal was in the Jordan Valley, lower than Gibeon/Jerusalem area), in a military context, `alah` often denotes going up to battle or a strategic ascent. It conveys purposeful movement and initiation of an aggressive action.
- from Gilgal: The Hebrew is הַגִּלְגָּל (`ha-Gilgal`), literally "the Gilgal." Gilgal served as Israel's main camp after crossing the Jordan. It was a site of profound covenant renewal (circumcision, Passover – Josh 5:9-10) and a base for their conquest campaigns (Josh 4:19-20). Launching the military operation from Gilgal imbued it with spiritual significance, indicating God's presence and blessing upon the marching army.
- he, and all the people of war with him: This phrase (הוּא וְכָל עַם הַמִּלְחָמָה אִמּוֹ - `hu v'khol `am ha-milchamah `immo`) emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the mobilization. It was not a detachment, but the entire military contingent – "people of war" refers to the full fighting force – signifying the seriousness of the threat and Israel's united, full-scale response.
- and all the mighty men of valor: The Hebrew is וְכָל גִּבּוֹרֵי הַחַיִל (`v'khol gibborei ha-chayil`). "Gibborei ha-chayil" literally means "heroes of strength" or "men of power/might." This refers to the elite, courageous, and highly skilled warriors within the Israelite army. Their inclusion signifies that Joshua deployed his very best, demonstrating absolute commitment and underscoring the formidable challenge posed by the Amorite kings. It also implicitly highlights the human element of strength empowered by divine backing.
- Words-group Analysis:
- "Joshua ascended from Gilgal": This short phrase communicates immediate and strategic leadership. Joshua's departure from Gilgal—a place representing Israel's foundational covenant and initial base in Canaan—underscores that their military actions were rooted in divine commission and national identity, not merely secular warfare.
- "he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor": This expansive description conveys total commitment and unity of purpose. It was not just Joshua, nor just a small unit, but the full might of Israel's military, including its most skilled fighters. This unified force, mobilized promptly and completely, indicates a strong, well-ordered, and obedient army trusting in its God and its leader.
Joshua 10 7 Bonus section
The speed and nocturnal nature of Joshua's ascent are implicitly emphasized by the distance covered and their timely arrival in Gibeon, often involving forced marches to achieve tactical surprise. The act of "going up" from Gilgal (near Jericho in the Jordan Valley) to the highlands of Gibeon (approx. 20 miles distance with significant elevation gain) was a strenuous and swift overnight journey. This swift response highlights military discipline and urgency. The decision to commit "all" fighting forces, rather than a contingent, further underscores that this was a national effort undertaken with full confidence in God's assurance for victory, reflecting the nature of the herem or "holy war" where the entire nation acts as an instrument of divine judgment. This verse shows Gibeon that the covenant they made with Israel was honored seriously, fulfilling the obligations of both sides, driven by divine mandate.
Joshua 10 7 Commentary
Joshua 10:7 describes the decisive and immediate action taken by Joshua following Gibeon's desperate plea and, crucially, God's prior reassurance of victory in Joshua 10:8. The departure "from Gilgal" underscores the spiritual foundation of Israel's campaigns, as Gilgal was their sacred base camp and the site of covenant renewal. Joshua's decision to bring "all the people of war" and "all the mighty men of valor" signifies a full military commitment. This reflects not only the severity of the threat posed by the Amorite coalition but also Israel's complete obedience to God's command and confidence in His promised triumph. It showcases Joshua's leadership and the nation's readiness to execute God's will swiftly and wholeheartedly, setting the stage for a dramatic display of divine intervention in the battle to come.