Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 10:2
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.
2. as one of the royal cities ] See above, Jos 9:3.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
2. When Sennacherib invaded Judah, he attacked and took “the fenced cities,” but Lachish appears to have foiled him, and he was constrained to raise the siege (2Ki 19:8; 2Ch 32:9).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 2. As one of the royal cities] Not a regal city, but great, well inhabited and well fortified, as those cities which served for the royal residence generally were. It does not appear that the Gibeonites had any king-they seem to have been a small but powerful republic, all the men thereof were mighty, merely governed by their elders: for in their address to Joshua, Jos 9:11, they mention no king, but simply state that they were sent by their elders and the inhabitants of their country; nor do we any where read of their king; and therefore we may naturally suppose that they had none.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
They feared, i.e. he and his people, the king being spoken of Jos 10:1, as a public person representing all his people. Or, he and the following kings, Jos 10:3. But this fear is mentioned, Jos 10:2, as the cause why he sent to those kings.
As one of the royal cities; either,
1. Really a royal city, the Hebrew particle caph oft signifying the truth of a thing, as Hos 4:4; 5:10, and oft elsewhere. Or,
2. Equal to one of the royal cities, though it had no king, but seems to be governed aristocratically by their elders, Jos 9:11.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. they feared greatlyThedread inspired by the rapid conquests of the Israelites had beenimmensely increased by the fact of a state so populous and so strongas Gibeon having found it expedient to submit to the power and theterms of the invaders.
as one of the royalcitiesAlthough itself a republic (Jos9:3), it was large and well-fortified, like those places in whichthe chiefs of the country usually established their residence.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
That they feared greatly,…. The king of Jerusalem and his people, lest they should fall into the hands of the Israelites, and be used as Jericho and Ai, and the kings and inhabitants of them were, and that they would be the next that should fall a sacrifice to them; for Gibeon was fifty furlongs from Jerusalem, as Josephus says a; and in another place he says b but forty, which were but five miles; and if fifty, but little more than six miles; according to Bunting c, it was but four miles: and what added to their terror was,
because Gibeon [was] a great city; being a metropolitan city, and having others subject to it; therefore the surrender of that to the Israelites might intimidate other cities, and lead them by example to do the like, and so of bad consequence:
as one of the royal cities; the Vulgate Latin version omits the note of similitude, and reads, “and one of the royal cities”; and sometimes “caph” or “as” is not a note of likeness, but of reality; yet as we nowhere read of a king of Gibeon, the sense may be, that though it was not a royal seat, it was equal to those that were, and like one, being a metropolitan city: and
because it [was] greater than Ai: had more inhabitants in it, and perhaps better fortified:
and all the men thereof [were] mighty; men of strength, courage, and valour, warlike men, and therefore for such a city to yield so easily, and in such a base, mean, and cowardly way, was setting a very bad example.
a De Bello Jud. l. 2. c. 19. sect. 1. b Antiqu. l. 7. c. 11. sect. 7. c Travels of the Patriarchs, &c. p. 98.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2) As one of the royal cities.One of the cities of the kingdom. Gibeon was afterwards the city of the first king of Israel, Saul (1Ch. 8:29-30; 1Ch. 8:33).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. They feared greatly The loss to the Amorites of so powerful a commonwealth as Gibeon, and its alliance with Joshua, was a sufficient cause of fear, aside from the fact that Joshua, now securely established in this central position, had completely cut off northern from southern Palestine, so that he could conquer each in detail.
As one of the royal cities It was not a royal capital, but as important. The fact that so large a city, in their immediate vicinity, renowned for bravery, had submitted to the invader without striking a blow, was indeed appalling.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ That they were deeply afraid, for Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai and all its men were mighty men.’
The shock of the capitulation of Gibeon was greater than that of the defeat of Jericho and Ai. The latter were only relatively small, but Gibeon and her confederacy were seen as powerful and militarily effective. Yet they had surrendered without a fight. It provided even greater reason to fear Israel. ‘A great city’, that is one with other cities under it and in confederacy with it. ‘As one of the royal cities’ may refer to the fact that Gibeon, which was ruled by its elders, was as great as the royal cities which had kings. Indeed there was a feeling that Gibeon had betrayed them by joining with Israel.
“They were deeply afraid.” ‘They’, that is Adoni-zedek and his advisers. Terror struck them for they recognised the fate that awaited them and the calibre of the forces they faced.
“All its men were mighty men.” Its army had a reputation for being good fighters. Gibeon is often depicted as cowardly, but some might feel that they were wise. They were right in the path of the victorious Israelite army.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
If Gibeon was so much greater than Ai, and yet had found it necessary to make peace with Israel, had Adonizedek been equally wise, would he not have followed the example? See, Reader, the difference between nations as, well as persons. And is it not grace which maketh men to differ? 1Co 4:7 . Observe, moreover, that as Joshua, after the treaty with Gibeon, did not immediately penetrate into the country of Canaan, and space was left for other nations to follow their example, doth it not serve to manifest the long-suffering of the Lord? Jesus speaks of this space given to sinners to repent, in the case of Jezebel, as among the just arguments of condemnation. Rev 2:20-21 . Observe yet further, Reader, that Gibeon calls forth the displeasure of Adonizedek, because of its amity with Israel. Yes! no sooner is a soul converted to Jesus, but the devil takes alarm, and will stir up his agents to persecute. Hence our dear Lord saith, if the world hate you ye know it hated me, before it hated you. Joh 15:18-19 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jos 10:2 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.
Ver. 2. That they feared greatly. ] And great cause they had, considering what supply and shelter the Israelites might have from thence, and how other cities might revolt by their example.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
men. Hebrew, plural of ish or ‘enosh. App-14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
they feared: Jos 2:9-13, Jos 2:24, Exo 15:14-16, Deu 11:25, Deu 28:10, Psa 48:4-6, Pro 1:26, Pro 1:27, Pro 10:24, Heb 10:27, Heb 10:31, Rev 6:15-17
Gibeon: Gibeon was situated on an eminence, as its name imports, 40 furlongs north from Jerusalem, according to Josephus.
the royal cities: Heb. cities of the kingdom, 1Sa 27:5, 2Sa 12:26
Reciprocal: Jos 9:1 – all the kings Jos 9:3 – Gibeon Jos 9:17 – Gibeon Jos 10:41 – Gibeon Jos 18:25 – Gibeon 2Sa 2:12 – Gibeon 1Ki 3:4 – Gibeon 1Ch 6:60 – thirteen cities
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jos 10:2-3. They feared greatly Namely, Adoni-zedek and his people, he being spoken of (Jos 10:1) as a public person, representing all his people. Gibeon was as one of the royal cities Either really a royal city, and having a king, or equal to one of the royal cities, though it had not a king.
It seems indeed to have been governed by elders, Jos 9:11. Adoni- zedek sent Either because he was superior to them, or because he was nearest the danger, and most forward in the work.