God Goes to War

Perhaps Adoni-Zedek, king of Jerusalem, thinks that he and his Canaanite allies can attack Gibeon without fear of Israelite intervention. Perhaps he believes the Israelites will not feel bound by their treaty with the Gibeonites, especially since it came about by the Gibeonites’ fraud, and will be glad to let the southern Canaanite kings rid them of their “Gibeonite problem.” But he fails to reckon with the values of a man who serves a covenant-making, covenant-keeping God. Joshua already has shown that he regards Israel’s oath to the Gibeonites as sacred and binding; he understands that he is to emulate God in keeping his promises. Furthermore, “Joshua knew that his promise to let them live obliged him, not only not to slay them himself, but not to stand by and see them slain when it was in the power of his hand to prevent it,” Matthew Henry writes. Joshua is clear as to his duty, so when the Gibeonites appeal to him for help he immediately orders his forces to prepare to march.

At this point, God graciously speaks to Joshua and assures him that this campaign is proper. There is no reason to fear, God declares, for He has determined that Israel will prevail. Joshua does not take this assurance to mean that there is no need for haste; rather, he presses his mission with all possible speed, understanding that he and his men must do their part to claim the victory. Henry writes, “God’s promises are intended, not to slacken and supercede, but to quicken and encourage our endeavors. He that believeth doth not make haste to anticipate providence, but doth make haste to attend it, with a diligent, not a distrustful, speed.” Thus, the Israelites march through the night, surprising the unprepared Canaanites as morning dawns.

God had told Joshua, “ ‘I have delivered them into your hand.’ ” He had said much the same before Israel’s earlier battles (6:2, 8:1). But God’s role as Israel’s warring ally is highlighted in this instance. The author of the book of Joshua tells us that “the LORD routed them … killed them with a great slaughter … chased them along the road … and struck them down.” He even rains hailstones—“the artillery of heaven,” as Henry calls it—that take more Canaanite lives than the Israelites’ swords. As God had said, not one of the soldiers in this powerful coalition can stand before Israel and its unstoppable ally.