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.

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.

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.

Majority Standard Bible
After marching all night from Gilgal, Joshua caught 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.

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),

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
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.”

Mark 16:15-18
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. / Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. / And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ...

Luke 10:19
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.

John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”

Acts 4:29-31
And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness, / as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” / After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.


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; …

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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
This phrase highlights the strategic and relentless nature of Joshua's leadership. The Hebrew root for "marching" (נָסַע, nasa) implies a purposeful journey or departure. Joshua's decision to march all night demonstrates his commitment and the urgency of the mission. Historically, night marches were rare due to the dangers and difficulties of traveling in darkness, yet Joshua's faith in God's promise emboldened him to take this bold step. This reflects the Christian call to perseverance and trust in divine guidance, even when the path is fraught with challenges.

from Gilgal
Gilgal holds significant historical and spiritual importance as the first campsite of the Israelites after crossing the Jordan River. It was here that the Israelites renewed their covenant with God through circumcision and celebrated the Passover (Joshua 5:2-12). The name "Gilgal" is derived from the Hebrew word "galal" (גָּלַל), meaning "to roll." This symbolizes the rolling away of the reproach of Egypt from the Israelites. Thus, Gilgal represents a place of new beginnings and divine favor, serving as a spiritual launching point for Joshua's campaign.

Joshua caught them by surprise
The element of surprise was a critical factor in Joshua's military strategy. The Hebrew word for "surprise" (בָּהַל, bahal) conveys a sense of sudden alarm or panic. This unexpected attack reflects the wisdom and cunning that God granted Joshua. In a broader scriptural context, this surprise victory underscores the theme of divine intervention and the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel. It serves as a reminder that God often works in unexpected ways to achieve His purposes, encouraging believers to remain vigilant and ready for His leading.

(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


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