Why did the kings fear Israel as described in Joshua 10:2? Setting the Scene “Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem…feared greatly” (Joshua 10:2). The word behind “feared” means to tremble with an overwhelming sense of danger. What had happened to make seasoned Canaanite rulers panic? What the Kings Knew - Jericho’s walls had collapsed without a battering ram (Joshua 6:20). - Ai, once considered impregnable, lay “devoted to destruction” (Joshua 8:28). - Israel’s army crossed the Jordan at flood stage on dry ground (Joshua 3:15-17). - Two Amorite kings east of the Jordan—Sihon and Og—had already fallen (Numbers 21:21-35). Why Gibeon’s Surrender Raised the Stakes Joshua 10:2 pinpoints the spark: - “Gibeon was a large city, like one of the royal cities—larger than Ai—and all its men were mighty warriors”. - If such a fortified, warrior-rich city capitulated, the remaining kings reasoned, no alliance or wall could stand against Israel. - Gibeon’s treaty gave Israel a strategic foothold in central Canaan, slicing communication lines between the southern and northern coalitions. God’s Reputation Preceding Israel - Rahab had testified, “We have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Sea…our hearts melted” (Joshua 2:10-11). - Moses had foretold this very reaction: “This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the peoples…they will tremble” (Deuteronomy 2:25). - The pattern continued: “Nations heard and trembled; anguish gripped the inhabitants of Philistia” (Exodus 15:14). Prophetic Promises Coming True - God had pledged, “I will send My terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter” (Exodus 23:27). - Joshua 10 fulfills that promise—fear unites five Amorite kings, yet the LORD confounds them with hailstones and a sun-stopped sky (Joshua 10:11-13). - The episode showcases the unbreakable link between God’s word and historical events. Takeaway Truths - God’s past victories generate present confidence for His people and present dread for His opponents. - When the strongest earthly defenses collapse, it is clear that “the battle belongs to the LORD” (1 Samuel 17:47). - The kings’ fear underscores the literal fulfillment of God’s promises—assurance that every word He speaks stands firm. |
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