Joshua 10:9 kjv
Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.
Joshua 10:9 nkjv
Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly, having marched all night from Gilgal.
Joshua 10:9 niv
After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise.
Joshua 10:9 esv
So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal.
Joshua 10:9 nlt
Joshua traveled all night from Gilgal and took the Amorite armies by surprise.
Joshua 10 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 20:4 | "For the LORD your God is He who goes with you to fight...to save." | God fights alongside His people |
| Josh 1:5 | "No man will be able to stand before you...I will be with you." | Divine promise of unfailing presence |
| Josh 1:9 | "Have I not commanded you? Be strong...for the LORD your God is with you." | Command for courage in obedience |
| Josh 9:18-20 | "And the sons of Israel did not strike them...they honored the oath..." | Fidelity to sworn covenants/oaths |
| Josh 21:43-45 | "So the LORD gave Israel all the land which He had sworn...not one word failed." | God fulfills His promises perfectly |
| Judg 7:19-22 | "Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outposts... broke the pitchers..." | Night attack, surprise, and divine aid |
| 1 Sam 7:10 | "the LORD thundered with a loud thunder...confused them so they were routed..." | Divine intervention in battle |
| Ps 18:32-34 | "It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way blameless..." | God empowers His servants for their tasks |
| Ps 44:3 | "For not by their own sword did they win the land...but by Your right hand..." | Victory comes from God, not human strength |
| Ps 121:1-2 | "I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD..." | Source of ultimate help is the Lord |
| Prov 21:31 | "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the LORD." | Human preparation, divine ultimate success |
| Isa 28:21 | "For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim...He will be stirred up as in the valley of Gibeon..." | God's sudden and unique intervention |
| Isa 30:31-32 | "For through the voice of the LORD Assyria will be terrified...the striking staff will be on him..." | God's judgment and intervention on enemies |
| Isa 40:31 | "Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up..." | Endurance for those who trust God |
| Matt 24:42-44 | "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming." | Readiness for sudden divine moments |
| Rom 8:31 | "If God is for us, who is against us?" | Assurance of divine backing |
| 1 Cor 15:10 | "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace...was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly..." | Human effort energized by divine grace |
| Phil 2:12-13 | "work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you..." | Human effort empowered by God |
| Heb 12:1 | "let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" | Endurance in the pursuit of divine purpose |
| Zech 8:16-17 | "Speak truth each to his neighbor...Do not devise evil...Love no false oath." | Emphasis on integrity and true dealings |
| 2 Cor 11:27 | "in toil and hardship, in sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food..." | Cost of faithful service, endurance |
Joshua 10 verses
Joshua 10 9 Meaning
Joshua 10:9 depicts Joshua's immediate, demanding, and strategic response to the call for help from Gibeon. Having received the Lord's assurance of victory, Joshua led the Israelite army on an arduous, continuous overnight march from their base camp at Gilgal, resulting in a sudden and unexpected attack on the Amorite coalition besieging Gibeon. This act of swift obedience and military discipline set the stage for the decisive battle where God himself fought for Israel.
Joshua 10 9 Context
Joshua 10:9 is a pivotal verse describing Joshua's proactive obedience following an appeal for help from the Gibeonites. After being deceived into a treaty with Gibeon (Joshua 9), Israel was bound by oath when five Amorite kings (of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon) formed an alliance and attacked Gibeon. The Gibeonites urgently sent word to Joshua at Gilgal requesting assistance. Crucially, prior to Joshua's march, the Lord assured him, "Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hand; not one of them shall stand before you" (Josh 10:8). This divine promise energized Joshua's immediate and extraordinary physical effort. Historically, Gilgal served as Israel's primary camp and spiritual center near the Jordan River, while Gibeon was a prominent Hivite city located in the central hill country. The march required traversing significant uphill terrain (an elevation gain of approximately 3,000 feet) over a considerable distance (around 15-20 miles), underscoring the intensity and strategic importance of the operation.
Joshua 10 9 Word analysis
- "So" (Hebrew: וַיָּבֹא - Vayavo): This is a "Waw consecutive imperfect" in Hebrew, which often indicates a sequential action or immediate consequence. Here, it highlights the swift and decisive nature of Joshua's response, directly following God's reassurance in the preceding verse. It implies that Joshua's action was a direct, obedient outcome of God's promise.
- "Joshua" (Hebrew: יְהוֹשֻׁעַ - Yehoshua): The leader of Israel, whose name means "The Lord is salvation" or "The Lord saves." His actions throughout the conquest often reflect this meaning, demonstrating that Israel's victories ultimately came from the Lord through his empowered leadership.
- "came upon them" (Hebrew: אֲלֵיהֶם - aleihem): Signifies a direct, aggressive confrontation "to them" (referring to the Amorite kings and their armies). This phrase indicates that Joshua launched an offensive rather than a defensive posture.
- "suddenly" (Hebrew: פִּתְאֹם - pit'om): This word conveys surprise, unawares, or unexpectedly. It underscores the strategic brilliance of the attack. The element of surprise was a critical factor in disorienting the enemy, demonstrating effective military execution.
- "having marched" (Hebrew: כִּי עָלָה - ki alah): Literally translates to "for he went up" or "because he went up." The conjunction ki explains why the attack was sudden—it was a result of this demanding journey. The verb alah means "to go up" or "ascend," indicating the considerable uphill climb from the Jordan Valley where Gilgal was located to the hill country of Gibeon. This highlights the strenuous physical effort involved.
- "all night" (Hebrew: כָל הַלַּיְלָה - kol halailah): Emphasizes the continuous, unrelenting nature of the march. It signifies extreme urgency, discipline, and endurance, with no time for rest. This demonstrates the Israelite army's complete dedication and obedience under Joshua's leadership.
- "from Gilgal" (Hebrew: מִן הַגִּלְגָּל - min HaGilgal): Gilgal served as the primary encampment for Israel after crossing the Jordan. It was a site of spiritual renewal (circumcision) and military operations. Its location near the Jordan valley provides context for the geographical challenge of the "all night" march up to Gibeon, which was in the higher central hill country.
- Words-Group analysis:
- "So Joshua came upon them suddenly": This phrase combines human initiative with military shrewdness. It signifies a decisive move orchestrated by Joshua to achieve maximum impact through an unexpected assault, capitalizing on the element of surprise against an unsuspecting enemy.
- "having marched all night from Gilgal": This passage highlights the incredible physical endurance, discipline, and commitment of the Israelite army and its leader. It points to a profound obedience to the divine command and a willingness to exert extreme effort, emphasizing that God's deliverance often works through diligent human participation. The geographical distance and ascent from Gilgal underscore the arduous nature of this military undertaking.
Joshua 10 9 Bonus section
- The demanding march from Gilgal to Gibeon highlights the physical and spiritual readiness of the Israelite army. It was not merely a tactical maneuver but an expression of their absolute trust in God's earlier promise to deliver the Amorites into their hands (Josh 10:8).
- The unexpected arrival created psychological terror among the Amorite coalition, contributing significantly to their rout even before the direct divine intervention. The "suddenness" deprived the enemy of time to strategize or defend effectively.
- This verse undergirds the principle that divine intervention often complements, rather than bypasses, human responsibility and diligent effort. Joshua's arduous march set the stage for God's dramatic, supernatural assistance later in the battle.
- The commitment shown in this march reinforced the unity and discipline within the Israelite forces, crucial elements for continuing the conquest of Canaan.
Joshua 10 9 Commentary
Joshua 10:9 is a succinct yet powerful verse illustrating the critical interplay between divine promise and human diligence. Upon hearing God's assurance of victory, Joshua did not idly wait for a miracle, but immediately launched a formidable military operation. The "sudden" attack, executed by an "all night" forced march from Gilgal to Gibeon, was a testament to Joshua's exemplary leadership, the army's unwavering discipline, and their deep commitment to uphold their covenant, even with the Gibeonites. This strenuous effort demonstrates that while God guarantees the outcome, human obedience and labor are often the channels through which His divine power manifests. It was this active faith and strenuous effort that prepared the ground for the dramatic miracles that followed, such as the hailstones and the standing still of the sun. The verse reminds believers that true faith empowers and necessitates earnest endeavor in God's service.