It's easy to read this as just a divine hail storm, but notice the verse emphasizes that more died from the hailstones than from the swords of Israel. This isn't just about an extraordinary weather event; it's a stark reminder that God's power can bring about destruction in ways far beyond human capability, ensuring that the victory was undeniably His.
And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the LORD threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following Joshua's victory at Gibeon, five Amorite kings formed an alliance to attack the city for surrendering to Israel. Joshua, after being alerted by the Gibeonites, rapidly marched his army to their defense. As the united kings fled from Joshua's pursuing forces down the pass of Beth-horon, God intervened with a supernatural hailstorm, causing more enemy deaths than the Israelite army inflicted.
When the enemy is fleeing, the battle seems won. But what if the real judgment hasn't even begun?
In this pivotal moment, God doesn't just let Israel win; He actively intervenes. The verse describes 'great stones from heaven' that struck down the fleeing enemy. While the original language can be translated as 'hailstones,' the effect was devastating and clearly supernatural.
A Heavenly Barrage
This wasn't ordinary weather. These 'stones' were far more deadly than the swords of Israel's soldiers. It's a powerful reminder that God's judgment can come from unexpected sources and with overwhelming force.
Turning the Tables
Notice how the hail struck as they fled. Their attempt to escape Israel's pursuit only led them into God's direct judgment. This highlights that no matter how you try to run, you cannot outrun divine justice when it's unleashed.
Victory in battle is often attributed to human strength. But here, the victory is unmistakably God's.
Joshua 10:11 isn't just about a battle; it's about God's active involvement in the lives of His people. The phrase 'the LORD cast down great stones' is crucial. This wasn't Israel's army doing the work; it was the Lord Himself.
Divine Power Unleashed
The text emphasizes that more died from the hailstones than from the sword. This stark comparison serves to magnify God's power and to ensure that Israel (and we) wouldn't take credit for the victory. It was a divine intervention, a clear sign that God was fighting for them.
Ask a follow-up
The King of Kings in Action
This event underscores a core truth of the Bible: God is not a distant, uninvolved deity. He cares deeply about His people and intervenes on their behalf, especially when they are facing overwhelming odds or fighting for His purposes. The victory here is a testament to His faithfulness and power.
Understand the original words
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal name of the God of Israel, revealed to Moses, emphasizing His covenant faithfulness and His identity as the self-existent Creator.
shalak · Hebrew Verb
A term often used in military or judicial contexts for the exertion of force or power; in this context, it represents divine intervention through catastrophic atmospheric phenomena.
chereb · Hebrew Noun
A weapon of war symbolizing human conflict and judgment; frequently used in the Old Testament to describe the means of military conquest or divine retribution.
This incredible event wasn't just a battle; it was a divine intervention demonstrating God's power over the elements and time itself to secure victory for His people and fulfill His promises.
c. 1400 BC
Israelites Enter Canaan
Led by Joshua, the Israelites cross the Jordan River and begin their conquest of the land of Canaan.
c. 1400 BC
Fall of Jericho and Ai
Joshua leads the Israelites in the destruction of Jericho and Ai, establishing Israelite control in the region.
c. 1400 BC
Gibeonite Deception and Alliance
The Gibeonites deceive Joshua into making a peace treaty with them, leading to their integration among the Israelite territories.
c. 1400 BC
Confederation of Amorite Kings
Five Amorite kings, led by Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem, form an alliance to attack Gibeon for its treaty with Israel.
c. 1400 BC
Joshua Marches to Gibeon's Aid
Joshua and the Israelite army march rapidly from Gilgal to relieve the besieged Gibeonites.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Miraculous Hailstorm and Delayed Sun
As the Amorite forces flee down the ascent of Beth-horon, God sends a devastating hailstorm. Joshua famously prays, and the sun and moon stand still, allowing Israel complete victory.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Southern Cities
Following the battle, Joshua continues his campaign, conquering key cities in southern Canaan, including Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, and Debir.
This passage describes a devastating hailstorm in Egypt, showing God's power to use natural phenomena as judgment against His enemies, similar to the stones that fell on the fleeing Amorites.
1 Samuel 7:10Here, God sends thunder to discomfit the Philistines, demonstrating His ability to intervene supernaturally in battle, just as He sent stones from heaven to aid Israel against the Amorites.
Psalm 18:12-13This psalm speaks of God manifesting His presence with thunder and lightning, and hailstones and coals of fire, echoing the terrifying and destructive display of divine power seen in Joshua's battle.
Habakkuk 3:10-11The prophet describes God's majestic and fearsome appearance in battle, with hailstones and burning coals going before Him, mirroring the supernatural elements that aided Joshua's victory.
This apocryphal text specifically recalls the event in Joshua 10, mentioning God sending stones from heaven, reinforcing the miraculous nature of the divine intervention and its significance.
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…
bensonJoshua 10:11: "And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword."
Joshua 10:11 . The Lord cast down great stones — That is, hail-stones of an extraordinary greatness, cast down with that certainty as to hit the Canaanites, and not their pursuers the Israelites. Jose…
It's easy to read this as just a divine hail storm, but notice the verse emphasizes that more died from the hailstones than from the swords of Israel. This isn't just about an extraordinary weather event; it's a stark reminder that God's power can bring about destruction in ways far beyond human capability, ensuring that the victory was undeniably His.
Following Joshua's victory at Gibeon, five Amorite kings formed an alliance to attack the city for surrendering to Israel. Joshua, after being alerted by the Gibeonites, rapidly marched his army to their defense. As the united kings fled from Joshua's pursuing forces down the pass of Beth-horon, God intervened with a supernatural hailstorm, causing more enemy deaths than the Israelite army inflicted.
Following Joshua's victory at Gibeon, five Amorite kings formed an alliance to attack the city for surrendering to Israel. Joshua, after being alerted by the Gibeonites, rapidly marched his army to their defense. As the united kings fled from Joshua's pursuing forces down the pass of Beth-horon, God intervened with a supernatural hailstorm, causing more enemy deaths than the Israelite army inflicted.
"And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the LORD threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of…" — It's easy to read this as just a divine hail storm, but notice the verse emphasizes that more died from the hailstones than from the swords of Israel. This isn't just about an extraordinary weather…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
