Joshua 10:9
New International Version
After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise.

New Living Translation
Joshua traveled all night from Gilgal and took the Amorite armies by surprise.

English Standard Version
So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal.

Berean Standard Bible
After marching all night from Gilgal, Joshua caught them by surprise.

Berean Literal Bible
And Joshua came upon them suddenly, having gone up all the night from Gilgal.

King James Bible
Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.

New King James Version
Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly, having marched all night from Gilgal.

New American Standard Bible
So Joshua came upon them suddenly by marching all night from Gilgal.

NASB 1995
So Joshua came upon them suddenly by marching all night from Gilgal.

NASB 1977
So Joshua came upon them suddenly by marching all night from Gilgal.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Joshua came upon them suddenly—he had gone up, marching all night from Gilgal.

Amplified Bible
So Joshua came upon them suddenly, [surprising them] by marching [uphill] all night from Gilgal.

Berean Annotated Bible
After marching all night from Gilgal (a wheel), Joshua (YHWH saves) caught them by surprise.

Christian Standard Bible
So Joshua caught them by surprise, after marching all night from Gilgal.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Joshua caught them by surprise, after marching all night from Gilgal.

American Standard Version
Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly; for he went up from Gilgal all the night.

Contemporary English Version
Joshua marched all night from Gilgal to Gibeon and made a surprise attack on the Amorite camp.

English Revised Version
Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly; for he went up from Gilgal all the night.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So Joshua marched all night from Gilgal and took them by surprise.

Good News Translation
All night Joshua and his army marched from Gilgal to Gibeon, and they made a surprise attack on the Amorites.

International Standard Version
So after an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua attacked them by surprise.

NET Bible
Joshua attacked them by surprise after marching all night from Gilgal.

New Heart English Bible
Joshua therefore came on them suddenly. He went up from Gilgal all night.

Webster's Bible Translation
Joshua therefore came to them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
After marching all night from Gilgal, Joshua caught them by surprise.

World English Bible
Joshua therefore came to them suddenly. He marched from Gilgal all night.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Joshua comes to them suddenly (all the night he has gone up from Gilgal),

Berean Literal Bible
And Joshua came upon them suddenly, having gone up all the night from Gilgal.

Young's Literal Translation
And Joshua cometh in unto them suddenly (all the night he hath gone up from Gilgal),

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joshua will come to them suddenly, all night he went up from Gilgal.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
So Josue going up from Galgal all the night, came upon them suddenly.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so Joshua, ascending from Gilgal throughout the night, rushed upon them suddenly.

New American Bible
After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua made a surprise attack upon them,

New Revised Standard Version
So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Joshua therefore came to them suddenly, going up all night from Gilgal.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yeshua came to them from the stillness. All night he was going up from Galgala
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly; for he went up from Gilgal all the night.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And when Joshua came suddenly upon them, he had advanced all the night out of Galgala.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Day the Sun Stood Still
8The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for I have delivered them into your hand. Not one of them shall stand against you.” 9After marching all night from Gilgal, Joshua caught them by surprise. 10And the LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great slaughter at Gibeon, pursued them along the ascent to Beth-horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah.…

Cross References
After marching all night from Gilgal,

Joshua 4:19
On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho.

Joshua 5:9-10
Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So that place has been called Gilgal to this day. / On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while the Israelites were camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they kept the Passover.
Joshua caught them by surprise.

1 Samuel 14:13-15
So Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. And the Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and finished them off. / In that first assault, Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men in about half an acre of land. / Then panic struck the Philistines in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even those in the outposts and raiding parties trembled. Indeed, the earth quaked, and panic spread from God.

Judges 7:19-22
Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the changing of the guard. They blew their horns and broke the jars that were in their hands. / The three companies blew their horns and shattered their jars. Holding the torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, they shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” / Each Israelite took his position around the camp, and the entire Midianite army fled, crying out as they ran. …

2 Kings 7:6-7
For the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel must have hired the kings of the Hittites and Egyptians to attack us.” / Thus the Arameans had arisen and fled at twilight, abandoning their tents and horses and donkeys. The camp was intact, and they had run for their lives.
Exodus 14:24-25
At morning watch, however, the LORD looked down on the army of the Egyptians from the pillar of fire and cloud, and He threw their camp into confusion. / He caused their chariot wheels to wobble, so that they had difficulty driving. “Let us flee from the Israelites,” said the Egyptians, “for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt!”

Judges 4:15
And in front of him the LORD routed with the sword Sisera, all his charioteers, and all his army. Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled on foot.

1 Samuel 7:10
As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was offering up the burnt offering. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel.

2 Chronicles 20:22-23
The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated. / The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction. And when they had finished off the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

Psalm 18:14
He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them.

Psalm 68:1-2
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A song. God arises. His enemies are scattered, and those who hate Him flee His presence. / As smoke is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts before the fire, the wicked will perish in the presence of God.

Isaiah 28:21
For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim. He will rouse Himself as in the Valley of Gibeon, to do His work, His strange work, and to perform His task, His disturbing task.

Isaiah 30:30
And the LORD will cause His majestic voice to be heard and His mighty arm to be revealed, striking in angry wrath with a flame of consuming fire, and with cloudburst, storm, and hailstones.

Habakkuk 3:11-13
Sun and moon stood still in their places at the flash of Your flying arrows, at the brightness of Your shining spear. / You marched across the earth with fury; You threshed the nations in wrath. / You went forth for the salvation of Your people, to save Your anointed. You crushed the head of the house of the wicked and stripped him from head to toe. Selah

Zechariah 14:3
Then the LORD will go out to fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle.

Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. / Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, / and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”


Treasury of Scripture

Joshua therefore came to them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.

all night

1 Samuel 11:9-11
And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad…

Proverbs 22:29
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

Proverbs 24:11,12
If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; …

Jump to Previous
Attack Joshua March Marched Marching Night Sudden Suddenly Surprise
Jump to Next
Attack Joshua March Marched Marching Night Sudden Suddenly Surprise
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












After marching all night from Gilgal
Joshua's leadership and commitment are evident as he leads the Israelites on an all-night march. Gilgal, located near the Jordan River, served as the Israelites' base camp after crossing into the Promised Land. This location is significant as it was the first place they camped after the miraculous crossing of the Jordan, symbolizing a new beginning and God's faithfulness. The march demonstrates strategic military planning and reliance on God's guidance, as Joshua responds to the Gibeonites' plea for help. The all-night journey reflects the urgency and dedication required to fulfill God's commands, reminiscent of the Israelites' previous experiences of divine intervention and guidance.

Joshua caught them by surprise
The element of surprise was crucial in ancient warfare, and Joshua's ability to catch the Amorite coalition off guard highlights his tactical acumen. This surprise attack underscores the theme of divine assistance, as God had promised Joshua victory over his enemies. The Amorites, confident in their alliance and fortified positions, were unprepared for such a swift and decisive move. This event parallels other biblical accounts where God grants victory to His people against overwhelming odds, such as Gideon's victory over the Midianites. It also foreshadows the ultimate victory of Christ over sin and death, achieved through unexpected means.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Joshua
The leader of the Israelites, successor to Moses, and a faithful servant of God. He is known for his military leadership and his role in leading the Israelites into the Promised Land.

2. Gilgal
A significant location for the Israelites, serving as their base camp after crossing the Jordan River. It was a place of renewal and commitment to God.

3. The Amorite Kings
The coalition of five Amorite kings who opposed Israel. They represent the opposition to God's people and His plans.

4. The All-Night March
A strategic military maneuver by Joshua and the Israelite army, demonstrating their commitment and readiness to follow God's guidance.

5. The Surprise Attack
The result of Joshua's obedience and strategic planning, leading to a decisive victory over the Amorite coalition.
Teaching Points
Obedience and Faithfulness
Joshua's actions demonstrate the importance of obedience to God's commands and faithfulness in leadership. We are called to trust and obey God, even when the path is challenging.

Strategic Planning and Divine Guidance
While Joshua planned strategically, he relied on God's guidance. In our lives, we should balance planning with seeking God's direction.

God's Timing and Surprise
God's timing can lead to unexpected victories. We should remain vigilant and ready for God's intervention in our lives.

Perseverance in Challenges
The all-night march signifies perseverance. We are encouraged to endure and remain steadfast in our faith, even when the journey is long and tiring.

Victory through God's Power
The victory over the Amorites was ultimately due to God's power. We should remember that our successes are by God's grace and strength.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Joshua 10:9?

2. How does Joshua 10:9 demonstrate God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises?

3. What can we learn from Joshua's obedience and trust in God's timing?

4. How does Joshua 10:9 connect with God's command in Deuteronomy 31:6?

5. In what ways can we apply Joshua's courage in our daily challenges?

6. How does Joshua's leadership in Joshua 10:9 inspire us to lead with faith?

7. How did Joshua travel all night from Gilgal without rest?

8. Does Joshua 10:9 suggest divine intervention in military strategy?

9. What archaeological evidence supports the events described in Joshua 10:9?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 10?

11. What is Gilgal's significance in the Bible?

12. How could David and his men realistically fight from dusk until the following evening without rest (1 Samuel 30:17)?

13. How does Joshua 23:5’s promise of complete conquest align with later biblical texts showing ongoing battles and incomplete occupation of Canaan?

14. In Hosea 9:15, how do we reconcile an 'all-loving' God with the statement that God hates His people in Gilgal?
What Does Joshua 10:9 Mean
After marching all night

Joshua’s forces cover roughly twenty miles of rugged ascent in the dark.

• Faith‐driven endurance: “Let us run with endurance the race set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

• Obedience in motion: when God said, “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand” (Joshua 10:8), Joshua moved immediately, much like Gideon’s night advance (Judges 7:19).

• Readiness for God’s timing: Israel’s trek parallels Israel’s earlier night crossing of the Red Sea when “the LORD looked down on the camp of the Egyptians in the morning watch” (Exodus 14:24). Action in the night positions God’s people for daylight victory.


from Gilgal

Gilgal is more than a campsite; it is a place of covenant memory.

• Stones of remembrance were set up there after the Jordan crossing (Joshua 4:19–24).

• Circumcision and Passover renewed Israel’s identity at Gilgal (Joshua 5:2–10).

• Every campaign so far has begun here (Joshua 9:6; 10:6–7), reminding Israel that military movements flow out of spiritual foundations.


Joshua caught them

Leadership that trusts God takes initiative.

• Joshua’s sudden appearance mirrors David’s swift strike when “David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day” (1 Samuel 30:17).

• God had already guaranteed victory (Joshua 10:8); Joshua acts as though the promise is present reality, fulfilling “Be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:9).

• Verse 10 follows: “The LORD threw them into confusion before Israel”, underlining that human initiative and divine intervention operate together.


by surprise

Surprise is God’s strategic gift, disorienting His enemies.

• Barak’s charge sent Sisera’s army into panic (Judges 4:15).

• Jehoshaphat’s singers triggered ambushes that “the LORD set” (2 Chronicles 20:22).

Proverbs 21:31 reminds us, “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD”. God turns faithful planning into unexpected breakthrough.


summary

Joshua 10:9 shows faith in action: anchored at Gilgal’s covenant, willing to endure an all-night march, led by a decisive commander, and granted God-given surprise. The verse invites believers to trust God’s promises, move promptly in obedience, and expect Him to orchestrate victory beyond human calculation.

(9) And went up.--Better thus, And Joshua came upon them suddenly; (for) all the night he had marched (come up) from Gilgal. The expression "went up" is geographically correct, because the line of march from Gilgal to Gibeon is an ascent the whole way.

Verse 9. - Suddenly. By a night march, so that he might surprise the confederates at the dawn of day. One of Joshua's chief characteristics as a general was celerity (see Joshua 11:7). Masius praises Joshua for his prudence and diligence, and adds, "Qua arte Julium Caesarem tot victoriis clarum fuisse ne ipse quidem dissimulavit." And went up. There is no "and" in the original. It runs thus: "All the night he went (or had gone) up from Gilgal."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
After marching
עָלָ֖ה (‘ā·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

night
הַלַּ֕יְלָה (hal·lay·lāh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3915: A twist, night, adversity

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

Gilgal,
הַגִּלְגָּֽל׃ (hag·gil·gāl)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1537: Gilgal -- 'circle (of stones)', the name of several places in Palestine

Joshua
יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3091: Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites

caught
וַיָּבֹ֧א (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

them by surprise.
פִּתְאֹ֑ם (piṯ·’ōm)
Adverb
Strong's 6597: Suddenness, suddenly


Links
Joshua 10:9 NIV
Joshua 10:9 NLT
Joshua 10:9 ESV
Joshua 10:9 NASB
Joshua 10:9 KJV

Joshua 10:9 BibleApps.com
Joshua 10:9 Biblia Paralela
Joshua 10:9 Chinese Bible
Joshua 10:9 French Bible
Joshua 10:9 Catholic Bible

OT History: Joshua 10:9 Joshua therefore came on them suddenly (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 10:8
Top of Page
Top of Page