Jos 10: "Joshua's military campaigns against the powers of
Canaan take a new line in this chapter. His associated Gibeonites are attacked
by a Canaanite confederacy. It is a dramatic outline, as God's people are
challenged by the power of the Flesh. So the record provides a type of the
greater contest ahead. The record shows:  The confederacy is formed: vv 1-4.
 Gibeon is attacked: v 5.  An appeal to Joshua for assistance: vv 6,7. 
Joshua attacks suddenly at dawn: vv 8-15.  Destruction of the enemy: vv
16-21.  Execution of the kings: vv 22-27.  Makkedah and Libnah fall to
Joshua: vv 18-30.  Siege of Lachish: vv 31,32.  Horam defeated: v 33. 
Eglon falls: vv 34,35.  Hebron is taken: vv 36,37.  Debir conquered: vv
38,39.  Summary of the campaign: vv 40-43.
"The battle of Beth-horon was one of the world's decisive
battles. Joshua's success against the confederacy which attacked Gibeon laid
open the whole land to the nation of Israel -- ensuring the success of the
campaign. On the basis of that success Jews claim the right to return to the
Land today. 'Yahweh brought the counsel of the heathen to nought' (Psa 33:10)"
From Gilgal to Gibeon, 18 mi and 3,400 ft climb.
BETH HORON: "House of caverns".
LARGE HAILSTONES: In midwinter hail is most common on
the coastal plain. 5/23/57: Hail size of small apples fell on this region (Baly
THE SUN STOOD STILL: The Book of Jashar is, of course,
poetry (cp 2Sa 1:18-27), and -- like any poetic expression -- this need not be
taken in a perfectly literal manner. There are plenty of other examples of Bible
poetry, not necessarily interpreted literally: Isa 55:12; Psa 98:8;
So what happened?: Did the time of "daylight" simply appear to
be extended, as measured by the work that was accomplished that day under the
influence of God's Spirit?
"The only way in which lengthening of the day could be
measured would be by the amount of useful work the men of Israel were able to
put into it. Consider Jos 10:9,11,15,17,28, etc. Joshua's army covered 50 miles
in one day, fighting all the way, through mountainous terrain" (WBS
"The history of Israel is not only as strictly lit as any
other histories, and truer too than those of the nations contemporary with their
prophetic times, but it is also allegorical, which theirs are not. Joshua and
his captains were like Joshua, the High Priest and his companions, 'men of
sign'; and represented Messiah and his Captains in their future wars with 'the
Kings of the earth, and of the whole Habitable' (Rev 16) whom they are to tread
down as ashes under the soles of their feet" (Phan 136,137).