Bible Strands
Joshua 10:5
So the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon—joined forces and advanced with all their armies. They camped before Gibeon and made war against it.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The five Amorite kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon mobilize their combined armies in direct response to Gibeon’s treaty with Israel. They encamp at Gibeon to launch a coordinated assault against the city.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיֵּאָסְפוּ (va.ye'asefu) translates literally as "and they gathered," describing the formation of a military coalition, while מַלְכֵי הָאֱמֹרִי (malke ha'Emori) identifies the leaders specifically as "kings of the Amorite."
The thread — This coordinated movement repeats the pattern of kings gathering west of the Jordan recorded in Joshua 9:1 and aligns with the Amorite territorial presence noted in Numbers 13:29. The coalition also illustrates the delayed judgment on the Amorites mentioned in Genesis 15:16.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to observe how opposing political forces naturally consolidate when a covenant community secures an alliance. It demands attention to the factual sequence of human military preparation before evaluating divine intervention.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.
Cross-references
- Genesis 15:16 In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
- Numbers 13:29 The Amalekites live in the land of the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.”
- Joshua 9:1 Now when news of this reached all the kings west of the Jordan—those in the hill country, the foothills, and all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon (the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites)—
- Joshua 10:6 Then the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: “Do not abandon your servants. Come quickly and save us! Help us, because all the kings of the Amorites from the hill country have joined forces against us.”
- Isaiah 8:9 Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered!