Joshua 10:2
New International Version
He and his people were very much alarmed at this, because Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters.

New Living Translation
He and his people became very afraid when they heard all this because Gibeon was a large town—as large as the royal cities and larger than Ai. And the Gibeonite men were strong warriors.

English Standard Version
he feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were warriors.

Berean Standard Bible
So Adoni-zedek and his people were greatly alarmed, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were mighty.

King James Bible
That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.

New King James Version
that they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.

New American Standard Bible
that he feared greatly because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.

NASB 1995
that he feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.

NASB 1977
that he feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.

Legacy Standard Bible
they feared exceedingly because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.

Amplified Bible
he [and his people] feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.

Christian Standard Bible
So Adoni-zedek and his people were greatly alarmed because Gibeon was a large city like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were warriors.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Adoni-zedek and his people were greatly alarmed because Gibeon was a large city like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were warriors.

American Standard Version
that they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.

Contemporary English Version
This frightened Adonizedek and his people. They knew that Gibeon was a large town, as big as the towns that had kings, and even bigger than the town of Ai had been. And all of the men of Gibeon were warriors.

English Revised Version
that they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He and his people were terribly afraid because Gibeon was a large city. It was like one of the royal cities, larger than Ai. All its men were warriors.

Good News Translation
The people of Jerusalem were greatly alarmed at this because Gibeon was as large as any of the cities that had a king; it was larger than Ai, and its men were good fighters.

International Standard Version
So they were terrified, since Gibeon was a large city, comparable to one of the royal cities, was larger than Ai, and all of its men had been warriors.

Majority Standard Bible
So Adoni-zedek and his people were greatly alarmed, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were mighty.

NET Bible
All Jerusalem was terrified because Gibeon was a large city, like one of the royal cities. It was larger than Ai and all its men were warriors.

New Heart English Bible
that they were very afraid, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.

Webster's Bible Translation
That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men of it were mighty.

World English Bible
they were very afraid, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
that they are greatly afraid, because Gibeon [is] a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it [is] greater than Ai, and all its men [are] heroes.

Young's Literal Translation
that they are greatly afraid, because Gibeon is a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it is greater than Ai, and all its men -- heroes.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will fear greatly, for a great city was Gibeon, as one of the cities of the kingdom, and that it was great above Ai, and all her men mighty.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He was exceedingly afraid. For Gabaon was a great city, and one of the royal cities, and greater than the town of Hai, and all its fighting men were most valiant.

Catholic Public Domain Version
he was very afraid. For Gibeon was a great city, and was one of the royal cities, and was greater than the town of Ai, and all its warriors were very strong.

New American Bible
there was great fear abroad, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, greater even than Ai, and all its men were warriors.

New Revised Standard Version
he became greatly frightened, because Gibeon was a large city, like one of the royal cities, and was larger than Ai, and all its men were warriors.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He feared greatly, because Gibeon was a large city, like one of the royal cities, and it was larger than Ai, and all its men were mighty.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
They were very afraid because the city Gebuun was great as one of the cities of the kingdom and was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty men
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
that they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
then they were greatly terrified by them, for the king knew that Gabaon was a great city, as one of the chief cities, and all its men were mighty.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Day the Sun Stood Still
1Now Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and devoted it to destruction—doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king—and that the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were living near them. 2So Adoni-zedek and his people were greatly alarmed, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were mighty. 3Therefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent word to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying,…

Cross References
Joshua 9:1-2
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)— / they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

Joshua 11:1-5
Now when Jabin king of Hazor heard about these things, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon; to the kings of Shimron and Achshaph; / to the kings of the north in the mountains, in the Arabah south of Chinnereth, in the foothills, and in Naphoth-dor to the west; / to the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, and Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites at the foot of Hermon in the land of Mizpah. ...

Judges 1:7
Then Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have gathered the scraps under my table. As I have done to them, so God has repaid me.” And they brought him to Jerusalem, where he died.

2 Samuel 10:6
When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zoba, as well as a thousand men from the king of Maacah and twelve thousand men from Tob.

1 Kings 20:1
Now Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he marched up, besieged Samaria, and waged war against it.

2 Kings 3:9
So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out, and after they had traveled a roundabout route for seven days, they had no water for their army or for their animals.

Psalm 2:1-2
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? / The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One:

Isaiah 8:9-10
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! / Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us.”

Isaiah 41:5-6
The islands see and fear; the ends of the earth tremble. They approach and come forward. / Each one helps the other and says to his brother, “Be strong!”

Jeremiah 50:9
For behold, I stir up and bring against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the land of the north. They will line up against her; from the north she will be captured. Their arrows will be like skilled warriors who do not return empty-handed.

Ezekiel 38:7-9
Get ready; prepare yourself, you and all your company gathered around you; you will be their guard. / After a long time you will be summoned. In the latter years you will enter a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and all now dwell securely. / You and all your troops, and many peoples with you will go up, advancing like a thunderstorm; you will be like a cloud covering the land.

Matthew 2:3
When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

Matthew 26:3-4
At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, / and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him.

Luke 22:2
and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they feared the people.

John 11:47-53
Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. / If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” / But one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! ...


Treasury of Scripture

That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.

they feared

Joshua 2:9-13,24
And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you…

Exodus 15:14-16
The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina…

Deuteronomy 11:25
There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you.

Joshua 10:40
So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded.

1 Samuel 27:5
And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?

2 Samuel 12:26
And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

Jump to Previous
Afraid Ai Alarmed Cities City Heroes Important King's Larger Mighty Royal Thereof Towns
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Afraid Ai Alarmed Cities City Heroes Important King's Larger Mighty Royal Thereof Towns
Joshua 10
1. Five kings war against Gibeon
6. Joshua rescues it
10. God fights against them with hailstones
12. The sun and moon stand still at the word of Joshua
16. The five kings are murdered in a cave
22. They are brought forth
24. scornfully used
26. and hanged
28. Seven kings more are conquered
43. Joshua returns to Gilgal














He and his people were greatly alarmed
The phrase "He and his people were greatly alarmed" refers to Adoni-Zedek, king of Jerusalem, and his people. The Hebrew root for "alarmed" is "yare," which conveys a deep sense of fear or dread. This fear was not just a passing concern but a profound realization of the threat posed by Israel's alliance with Gibeon. Historically, this alarm reflects the political and military tensions of the time, as the Canaanite kings recognized the growing power of Israel under Joshua's leadership. The fear was compounded by the divine favor that Israel seemed to enjoy, as evidenced by their previous victories.

because Gibeon was an important city
The phrase "because Gibeon was an important city" highlights the strategic significance of Gibeon. The Hebrew word for "important" here is "gadol," meaning great or significant. Gibeon's importance was not only due to its size but also its strategic location and influence. Archaeological findings suggest that Gibeon was a well-fortified city with a substantial population, making it a valuable ally or a formidable foe. Its alliance with Israel was a significant blow to the Canaanite coalition, as it shifted the balance of power in the region.

like one of the royal cities
The comparison "like one of the royal cities" indicates that Gibeon was comparable in stature and influence to the major city-states of the region. The term "royal cities" suggests cities that were centers of power and governance, often ruled by kings. This phrase underscores the political and military clout of Gibeon, making its alliance with Israel even more alarming to the surrounding Canaanite kings. Historically, royal cities were often well-defended and economically prosperous, further emphasizing the strategic loss to the Canaanite coalition.

greater than Ai
The phrase "greater than Ai" provides a comparative measure of Gibeon's significance. Ai was a city that had already been conquered by Israel, and its defeat was a notable victory. By stating that Gibeon was "greater than Ai," the text emphasizes the magnitude of the alliance and the potential threat it posed to the Canaanite kings. The Hebrew word "gadol" is again used here, reinforcing the idea of greatness in terms of size, strength, or influence. This comparison serves to highlight the escalating challenge faced by the Canaanite coalition.

and all its men were mighty
The phrase "and all its men were mighty" speaks to the military prowess of Gibeon's inhabitants. The Hebrew word for "mighty" is "gibbor," which denotes strength, valor, and heroism. This description suggests that Gibeon was not only strategically important but also had a formidable fighting force. The presence of mighty warriors would have made Gibeon a valuable ally and a significant threat to its enemies. This detail underscores the seriousness of the situation for the Canaanite kings, as they faced a coalition of Israel and a city known for its strong warriors.

(2) As one of the royal cities.--One of the cities of the kingdom. Gibeon was afterwards the city of the first king of Israel, Saul (1Chronicles 8:29-30; 1Chronicles 8:33).

Verse 2. - That they feared greatly. Joshua had certainly obtained an excellent strategic position in the heart of the country; but it was not this which apparently most alarmed the kings who constituted the confederacy, though they did not fail to observe that, as the words "and were among them" show. It was the weight and importance of Gibeon itself, and the fact that its inhabitants were now enlisted, not on the side of the Canaanites, but against them. As one of the royal cities. Observe the minute accuracy of the historian. No king is mentioned in the narrative in ch. 9. We now earn indirectly that they had none. The Vulgate misses the point of the historian by leaving out "as" altogether.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So [Adoni-zedek and his people] were greatly
מְאֹ֔ד (mə·’ōḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 3966: Vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily

alarmed,
וַיִּֽירְא֣וּ (way·yî·rə·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

because
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

Gibeon
גִּבְע֔וֹן (giḇ·‘ō·wn)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1391: Gibeon -- a Levitical city in Benjamin

[was] a great
גְּדוֹלָה֙ (gə·ḏō·w·lāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

city,
עִ֤יר (‘îr)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

like one
כְּאַחַ֖ת (kə·’a·ḥaṯ)
Preposition-k | Number - feminine singular construct
Strong's 259: United, one, first

of the royal
הַמַּמְלָכָ֑ה (ham·mam·lā·ḵāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4467: Kingdom, sovereignty, dominion, reign

cities;
עָרֵ֣י (‘ā·rê)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 5892: Excitement

it
הִ֤יא (hî)
Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

was larger
גְדוֹלָה֙ (ḡə·ḏō·w·lāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

than
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

Ai,
הָעַ֔י (hā·‘ay)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5857: Ai -- a Canaanite city

and all
וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

its men
אֲנָשֶׁ֖יהָ (’ă·nā·še·hā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

were warriors.
גִּבֹּרִֽים׃ (gib·bō·rîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 1368: Powerful, warrior, tyrant


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OT History: Joshua 10:2 That they were very afraid because Gibeon (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 10:1
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