Josué 10

Josué 10

Clarke says there is now an Arab village called Bethoor, or as Prof. Robinson writes it Beit’ Ur. Azekah. A city of Judah, situated about twelve miles west from Jerusalem. Eusebius and Jerome inform us that there was a town in their time about this place named Ezeca, which was probably the same with the ancient Azekah here mentioned. On referring to the map it will be seen that the conquered kings fled to the northwest of Gibeon, while the residue of their army wheeled off more southerly, flying towards Azekah. Makkedah. This place was also in the tribe of Judah, about fourteen miles southwest of Jerusalem. Beth-Horon - The upper and nether, two towns represented by the villages Beit ‘Ur el-foka and Beit ‘Ur et-tahta , said to have been built by Sheerah ( 1 Chronicles 7:24 ). Their position, as commanding the ancient great highroad from the maritime plain into the heart of the mountains of Benjamin, made these places of great importance, and several celebrated battles occurred in their neighbourhood. Here Joshua defeated the Canaanites ( Joshua 10:10-14 ). Solomon fortified both these cities ( 2 Chronicles 8:5 , 1 Kings 9:17 ). By this road Shishak, king of Egypt, invaded Judah. Here Judas Maccabæus defeated the Syrian general Seron ( 1Ma 3:13-24 ) and five years afterwards Nicanor ( 1 Chronicles 7:39-40 ); more than 200 years later the Jews at the same place beat back the Roman army under Cestius Gallus (see note). In few places in Palestine can we with greater precision set history in its geographical setting; the whole ancient road, with abundant traces of Roman work, can be followed throughout, and the two Beit ‘Urs , less than two miles apart, stand sentinel above the road as the two Beth-horons did in ancient times. The Beth-horons were on the frontier between Benjamin and Ephraim ( Joshua 16:3-5; Joshua 18:13-14 ). They belonged to the latter ( Joshua 21:22 ), and followed the Northern Kingdom. Possibly Sanballat the Horonite ( Nehemiah 2:10 ) was from here. (Hastings Bible Dictionary) Beth-Horon - Used 14x in 13v - Jos. 10:10; Jos. 10:11; Jos. 16:3; Jos. 16:5; Jos. 18:13; Jos. 18:14; Jos. 21:22; 1 Sam. 13:18; 1 Ki. 9:17; 1 Chr. 6:68; 1 Chr. 7:24; 2 Chr. 8:5; 2 Chr. 25:13 Related Resources International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Beth-Horon Beth-Horon, the Battle of McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia Beth-Horon The Jewish Encyclopedia Beth-Horon Easton's Bible Dictionary Beth-Horon Holman Bible Dictionary Beth-Horon Joshua 10:11 And it came about as they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, that the LORD threw large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword. the LORD threw large stones from heaven on them: Ge 19:24 Ex 9:22-26 Jdg 5:20 Ps 11:6 18:12-14 77:17,18 Isa 28:2 30:30 Eze 13:11 Rev 11:19 16:21 Joshua 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Exodus 9:22-26+ Now the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that hail may fall on all the land of Egypt, on man and on beast and on every plant of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.” 23 Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt. 24 So there was hail, and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very severe, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 The hail struck all that was in the field through all the land of Egypt, both man and beast; the hail also struck every plant of the field and shattered every tree of the field. 26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the sons of Israel were, there was no hail. Judges 5:20 “The stars fought from heaven, From their courses they fought against Sisera. Revelation 16:21+ (A FINAL FUTURE HAILSTORM OF EPIC PROPORTIONS) - And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, *came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague *was extremely severe. Gustave Dore's Woodcut of "Heavenly Hailstones" As the Amorites Descend from Upper Beth-horon ARTILLERY FROM HEAVEN: HOLY HAIL! And it came about as they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, that the LORD threw large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword - Keep the context in mind as Beth-horon was actually "Twin cities, one higher than the other, and so called Upper and Lower Beth Horon. An important road here dominates the path to the Shephelah, the plain between the Judean hills and the Mediterranean coast." (Holman Bible Dictionary) The position of Upper and Lower Beth Horon commanded "the ancient great highroad from the maritime plain into the heart of the mountains of Benjamin (which), made these places of great importance, and several celebrated battles occurred in their neighbourhood." (Hastings Bible Dictionary) And so the Amorite forces fled descending from Upper Beth-horon to Lower Beth-horon along the route that connected these towns, which the LORD threw large stones!. Yahweh was fighting for Israel. Some would argue that this was not a fair fight, but to say that indicates they do not understand the depth of depravity of those killed and their danger of polluting Israel's moral purity if they were allowed to live. As we see frequently in these battles there is a juxtaposition of God's sovereignty (omnipotence) and Israel's (man's) responsibility.