Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 10:8
And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.
8. Fear them not ] Comp. Jos 11:6; Jdg 4:14.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And the Lord said unto Joshua,…. Either when upon the march, and while he was proceeding on in his journey to the assistance of the Gibeonites, or rather before he set out; and it is highly probable he consulted the Lord on this occasion, having, it may be, some doubt on his mind, whether he should go to their assistance, since the league between them was obtained by fraud; and the words may be rendered, “and the Lord hath said” n: before he set forward with his men of war:
fear them not; the five kings, and their combined army:
for I have delivered them into thine hand; had determined to do it, and which was as certain as if it had been actually done:
there shall not a man of them stand before thee; but be either cut off, or obliged to flee.
n “et dixerat”, Masius, Drusius, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
A Unique Day, vs. 8-14
It appears that Joshua has learned at least one lesson from his mistakes, for he sought the will of the Lord before going to the relief of besieged Gibeon.
The Lord sent him with the admonition that he is to have no fear of failure this time and with the assurance that they will surely be delivered into his hands, not a man of them being able to withstand him. So Joshua made an all-night march to the aid of Gibeon.
The onset of the battle is not revealed, but the result soon became apparent, and the alliance of pagan kings fled in defeat from Joshua and the Israelites. There was a great slaughter of them at Gibeon, and the battle continued along the path of their flight. It proceeded along the road to Beth-horon, west of Gibeon, then turned southwestward to Azekah and Makkedah.
The Lord’s hand in the victory was very apparent, to both the fleeing Canaanites and the pursuing Israelites, for He rained great stones out of the heavens upon Israel’s enemies. Many more were slain by the great stones than by the swords of the warriors.
The five kings appear to have placed their hope in escaping to a walled city, which they may have done had it not been for the prayer of Joshua. He prayed the Lord to postpone the night that they might not escape undercover of darkness.
Joshua foresaw the need of this about mid-day and prayed the Lord to keep the sun at its zenith and to stay the moon where it hung in the western sky over the valley Ajalon. The scripture account emphasizes that this is not just a claim of Joshua, or whoever was the writer, for the request was heard and the event observed by the men of Israel.
So the day light hours were almost doubled, so that Israel could vanquish her enemies. the account was written in the book of Jasher, an uninspired volume referred to in the Bible several times, of which there is no present knowledge. This event was possible through the mighty power and restraint of God who created the universe and set its universal order in the first place, (Psa 90:1).
It is preposterous to the modern skeptic, but easily acceptable by those who believe in the all-powerful God of heaven, (Rev 19:6). Never again did the Lord so hearken to the voice of a man. The reason He did so on this occasion is stated, “for the Lord fought for Israel.”
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
8 . And the Lord discomfited them, etc It is uncertain whether the Lord anticipated the movement, and armed Joshua by his oracle, drawing him forth from Gilgal before he had taken any step, or whether he only confirmed him after he had made his preparations for setting out. It seems to me more likely that Joshua did not rush forth as soon as he was asked without consulting God, but at length, after being informed of his will, took up arms boldly and speedily. As he had lately been chastised for excessive facility, it is at least a probable conjecture that in this case of difficulty, he attempted nothing except in so far as he had a divine command. The Lord, therefore, had respect to the wretched Gibeonites when he did not allow them to remain destitute without the assistance of his people.
Joshua is made confident of victory in order that he may succor them; for God stimulates us more powerfully to the performance of duty by promising than by ordering. That which is here promised to one belongs to all, but for the sake of honoring Joshua, it is specially deposited with him that he may afterwards be the bearer of it to his army. For God does not speak from heaven indiscriminately to all sorts of persons, but confers the honor only on excellent servants and chosen prophets.
It is moreover worthy of notice that Joshua did not abuse the divine promise by making it an excuse for sluggishness, but felt the more vehemently inflamed after he was assured of a happy issue. Many, while they ostentatiously express their faith, become lazy and slothful from perverse security. Joshua hears that victory is in his hand, and that he may gain it, runs swiftly to battle. For he knew that the happy issue was revealed, not for the purpose of slackening his pace or making him more remiss, but of making him exert himself with greater zeal. Hence it was that he took the enemy by surprise.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(8) And the Lord said unto Joshua.A distinct command is given for the commencement of this attack, as for all the important steps in the conquest of Canaan.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. Fear them not He was constrained to aid Gibeon not only by military necessity, but also by the encouraging assurance of the Lord that he should be victorious. As Joshua up to this time had fought only single cities, he needed additional assurance when he was about to meet for the first time the allied armies of Canaan.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And YHWH said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them for I have delivered them into your hands. There shall not a man of them stand before you.” ’
This time Joshua did not fail to consult YHWH and he received assurance from Him of complete victory with the help of YHWH. YHWH was assuring him that He would be active on his behalf. The whole of the enemy forces would be put to flight.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Observe the constant presence, and as constant assurance of the protection of God. Mat 28:20 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jos 10:8 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.
Ver. 8. Fear them not, &c. ] Joshua, though valiant, had his fears and frailties. Of Charles V, emperor, it is storied, that while he was putting on his armour to go into the battle, his countenance was pale and perplexed: but when the battle was once begun, he was bold as a lion, and did great exploits.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
said. See note on Jos 3:7.
hand. Written plural, but read singular in Hebrew text. In some codices and six early printed editions, “hand” both written and read. Other codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read “hands”.
there. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read “and not”, i.e. “and there shall not”, &c., or “and not a man”.
man. Hebrew. ish App-14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Jos 1:5-9, Jos 8:1, Jos 11:6, Deu 3:2, Deu 20:1-4, Jdg 4:14, Jdg 4:15, Psa 27:1, Psa 27:2, Isa 41:10-15, Rom 8:31
Reciprocal: Exo 23:31 – deliver the Num 21:34 – Fear him Deu 7:24 – there shall Jdg 1:4 – Lord Jdg 4:7 – deliver 1Sa 17:46 – will the Lord Psa 44:7 – But
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
10:8 And the LORD said unto Joshua, {c} Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.
(c) Lest Joshua should have thought that God had sent this great power against him for his unlawful league with the Gibeonites, the Lord here strengthens him.