Joshua 10:9

• Joshua’s army marched all night to travel the 24 kilometers (15 miles) up difficult passes and steep slopes to reach the plateau. When the sun came up, they attacked the Amorite armies from the east. This meant the sun shone bright towards the Amorites as they faced east to fight.

• Israel's covenant required the nation to help Gibeon when it asked for help. However, Joshua acted even faster than the treaty required. By defeating the Canaanite army with a quick attack, Israel gained a strong military advantage.

Gibeon and its neighboring cities were on a plateau (high flat place) north of Jerusalem (see study note on 7:2). With Gibeon now as an ally with Israel, Israel controlled the plateau and the central hill country near Gibeon. Historically, controlling the plateau often meant controlling the hill country. The kings of Canaan had to conquer Gibeon, or they would fail.

This second major section of the book records Joshua's southern and northern campaigns against two coalitions of kings from Canaan. Joshua's victories allowed Israel to settle the hill country from Galilee in the north to the Negev in the south.