Joshua 10:5
“Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together and went up, they and all their armies, and encamped against Gibeon, and made war against it.”
What does Joshua 10:5 mean?
When the Gibeonites made a peace treaty with Joshua and Israel, the neighboring kings saw this as a threat to their own power and territory. These five local rulers decided to band together and attack Gibeon before the Israelites could grow stronger in the region. It's a moment that shows how fear and self-interest can push leaders toward conflict, even when working together might have served them better. What happens next in Joshua's account reveals that standing against God's purposes, no matter how formidable your alliance, ultimately doesn't succeed.