Bible Strands
Joshua 10:9
After marching all night from Gilgal, Joshua caught them by surprise.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative records Joshua’s military movement immediately after receiving God’s assurance in Joshua 10:8 that the enemy would be delivered into his hands. Joshua leads his forces from Gilgal to intercept the Amorite coalition at Gibeon during a single night march.
The words — The Hebrew פִּתְאֹם (pit’om) translates literally to "suddenly," marking the unexpected timing of the approach. The phrase כָּל־הַלַּיְלָה (kol-halaylah) means "all night," detailing the continuous movement from Gilgal.
The thread — The text explicitly notes Joshua's rapid movement in Joshua 10:9, which precedes the divine confusion described in Joshua 10:10. The emphasis on seizing the moment aligns with Ecclesiastes 9:10, which commands doing whatever one finds to do with all one's strength.
Why it lands — The verse states that Joshua caught the enemy by surprise after a night march, establishing a direct link between sustained effort and tactical advantage. It requires a reader to treat divine promises as immediate operational directives rather than passive assurances.
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
Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 22:29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
- Proverbs 24:11 Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.
- Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
- 2 Timothy 2:3 Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
- 1 Samuel 11:9 So they said to the messengers who had come, “Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.’” And when the messengers relayed this to the men of Jabesh, they rejoiced.
- 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.