Joshua 10:2
“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.”
What does Joshua 10:2 mean?
The people of Ai and their allies had just learned that Gibeon, one of the strongest cities in the region, had made peace with Joshua and the Israelites instead of fighting them. This news terrified them because they suddenly faced a much larger military threat than they had anticipated. Gibeon wasn't a small settlement they could easily dismiss, but a powerhouse city with skilled warriors, which meant the Israelites' growing alliance was becoming formidable. Their fear came from seeing the odds shift dramatically in a single moment, a very human response when an enemy gains unexpected strength and strategic advantage.