And the LORD threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easily missed here is that the "discomfiting" and the "great slaughter" were not just the Israelites wielding their swords. The text emphasizes that the LORD initiated the panic and the slaughter, showing His direct power at work behind the scenes to secure victory for His people.
And the LORD threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Fearing Joshua's growing power after the fall of Jericho and Ai, five Amorite kings, led by the king of Jerusalem, formed an alliance to attack Gibeon for making peace with Israel. Joshua, alerted by the Gibeonites, launched a surprise night attack, and the LORD threw the enemy into a panic, allowing Israel to strike them down and pursue them for miles. This pursuit stretched all the way to Azekah and Makkedah, a relentless chase that culminated in a miraculous intervention by God.
Imagine facing an enemy not just with swords and spears, but with their own minds turned against them. Joshua 10:10 reveals a powerful, unseen force at play.
The verse states, 'And the LORD threw them into a panic before Israel.' This wasn't just a natural fear that gripped the enemy; it was a direct act of God.
Divine Disruption
This shows that God's involvement in the battles of His people wasn't limited to physical strength or strategy; He actively worked to disorient and defeat their enemies.
The battle wasn't won and over in an instant. God's victory extended far beyond the initial encounter, pursuing the enemy relentlessly.
Joshua 10:10 details a pursuit that stretched across miles, highlighting the thoroughness of God's judgment and the extent of His protection for Israel.
Extended Pursuit and Smiting
Ask a follow-up
This illustrates that when God intervenes, His victory is comprehensive, extending His judgment and protection as far as needed to fulfill His purposes.
Understand the original words
hamam · Hebrew Verb
A state of sudden, overwhelming terror or confusion, often divinely induced to bring about the defeat of enemies. It represents the psychological manifestation of God’s judgment.
makkah gedolah · Hebrew Noun phrase
Used in the context of divine judgment; signifies a lethal, crushing blow dealt to enemies in the pursuit of God's purposes.
This battle wasn't just a military engagement; it was a divine intervention showcasing God's power to defend His people and bring swift, decisive victory against overwhelming odds.
c. 1400 BC
Israel Enters Canaan
Following their exodus from Egypt and 40 years in the desert, the Israelites, led by Joshua, cross the Jordan River and begin their conquest of the Promised Land.
c. 1400 BC
Fall of Jericho and Ai
The Israelites achieve stunning early victories by conquering Jericho and Ai, striking fear into the surrounding Canaanite kingdoms.
c. 1400 BC
Gibeonites' Deception and Alliance
The people of Gibeon cleverly deceive Joshua into making a treaty with them, leading to their integration among the Israelite tribes.
c. 1400 BC
Confederacy of Five Amorite Kings
Alarmed by Israel's conquests and Gibeon's alliance, five Amorite kings, led by the king of Jerusalem, unite their forces to attack Gibeon.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Battle of Gibeon and Hailstorm
Joshua, alerted by Gibeon, leads a swift night march to surprise the attacking Amorite army. The LORD throws the enemy into confusion, causing a great slaughter and a miraculous hailstorm.
c. 1400 BC
The Sun Stands Still
To allow Israel complete victory, Joshua famously prays, and the sun and moon stand still over Gibeon and the valley of Ajalon for an extended period.
c. 1400 BC
Pursuit and Defeat of Kings
The Israelite army pursues the routed enemy, defeating them further and capturing the five kings who are later executed.
This verse highlights God fighting for His people, just as He did for Israel in Joshua 10:10. The phrase 'The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace' echoes the divine intervention described in Joshua's victory.
1 Samuel 7:10This passage shows God's intervention through thunder to confuse and defeat enemies. It parallels the 'LORD threw them into a panic' in Joshua 10:10, demonstrating God's active role in disrupting enemy forces.
Psalm 18:14This psalm speaks of God sending 'thunder from heaven' and 'hailstones' against enemies, mirroring the supernatural intervention that aided Israel in Joshua 10:11, which followed the panic described in verse 10.
Isaiah 28:21This verse describes God performing 'his strange work' and bringing about 'his alien act' of destruction against His enemies. This aligns with the extraordinary nature of the battle at Gibeon where God’s power was uniquely displayed.
2 Chronicles 8:5This verse mentions the fortification of Upper and Lower Beth-horon. It provides geographical context to the pursuit described in Joshua 10:10, showing the strategic importance of this region where a significant part of the battle took place.
calvinJoshua 10:1-14: "Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;"
- Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and h…
pulpitJoshua 10:10: "And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah."
Verse 10. - Discomfited. The original meaning of the word is to disturb, put in motion. Hence, as here, to throw into con. fusion, put to rout. Going up to Beth-horon. Beth-horon, or the house of the hollow, consisted of two towns. The one is now called Belt Ur el Foka, or Upper Belt…
What's easily missed here is that the "discomfiting" and the "great slaughter" were not just the Israelites wielding their swords. The text emphasizes that the LORD initiated the panic and the slaughter, showing His direct power at work behind the scenes to secure victory for His people.
Fearing Joshua's growing power after the fall of Jericho and Ai, five Amorite kings, led by the king of Jerusalem, formed an alliance to attack Gibeon for making peace with Israel. Joshua, alerted by the Gibeonites, launched a surprise night attack, and the LORD threw the enemy into a panic, allowing Israel to strike them down and pursue them for miles. This pursuit stretched all the way to Azekah and Makkedah, a relentless chase that culminated in a miraculous intervention by God.
Fearing Joshua's growing power after the fall of Jericho and Ai, five Amorite kings, led by the king of Jerusalem, formed an alliance to attack Gibeon for making peace with Israel. Joshua, alerted by the Gibeonites, launched a surprise night attack, and the LORD threw the enemy into a panic, allowing Israel to strike them down and pursue them for miles. This pursuit stretched all the way to Azekah and Makkedah, a relentless chase that culminated in a miraculous intervention by God.
"And the LORD threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah." — What's easily missed here is that the "discomfiting" and the "great slaughter" were not just the Israelites wielding their swords. The text emphasizes that the LORD initiated the panic and the slau…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026