Joshua 10:11 As they fled before Israel along the descent from Beth-horon to Azekah, the LORD cast down on them large hailstones from the sky, and more of them were killed by the hailstones than by the swords of the Israelites.

◄ Joshua 10:11 ►

New International Version
As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.

New Living Translation
As the Amorites retreated down the road from Beth-horon, the LORD destroyed them with a terrible hailstorm from heaven that continued until they reached Azekah. The hail killed more of the enemy than the Israelites killed with the sword.

English Standard Version
And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the LORD threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.

Berean Standard Bible
As they fled before Israel along the descent from Beth-horon to Azekah, the LORD cast down on them large hailstones from the sky, and more of them were killed by the hailstones than by the swords of the Israelites.

King James Bible
And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

New King James Version
And it happened, as they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the LORD cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword.

New American Standard Bible
And as they fled from Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, the LORD hurled large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword.

NASB 1995
As they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, the LORD threw large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword.

NASB 1977
And it came about as they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, that the LORD threw large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened as they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, that Yahweh threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword.

Amplified Bible
As they fled before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, the LORD threw down large stones [of hail] from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. More [Amorites] died because of the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword.

Christian Standard Bible
As they fled before Israel, the LORD threw large hailstones on them from the sky along the descent of Beth-horon all the way to Azekah, and they died. More of them died from the hail than the Israelites killed with the sword.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
As they fled before Israel, the LORD threw large hailstones on them from the sky along the descent of Beth-horon all the way to Azekah, and they died. More of them died from the hail than the Israelites killed with the sword.

American Standard Version
And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, that Jehovah cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more who died with the hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

Contemporary English Version
And while these troops were going down through Beth-Horon Pass, the LORD made huge hailstones fall on them all the way to Azekah. More of the enemy soldiers died from the hail than from the Israelite weapons.

English Revised Version
And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, while they were in the going down of Beth-horon, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with the hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
As they fled from the Israelites down the slope of Beth Horon toward Azekah, the LORD threw huge hailstones on them. More died from the hailstones than from Israelite swords.

Good News Translation
While the Amorites were running down the pass from the Israelite army, the LORD made large hailstones fall down on them all the way to Azekah. More were killed by the hailstones than by the Israelites.

International Standard Version
While they were fleeing in front of Israel and descending the slope of Beth-horon, the LORD rained down huge hailstones on them as far as Azekah, and they died. More died because of the hailstones than were killed by the Israelis in battle.

Majority Standard Bible
As they fled before Israel along the descent from Beth-horon to Azekah, the LORD cast down on them large hailstones from the sky, and more of them were killed by the hailstones than by the swords of the Israelites.

NET Bible
As they fled from Israel on the slope leading down from Beth Horon, the LORD threw down on them large hailstones from the sky, all the way to Azekah. They died--in fact, more died from the hailstones than the Israelites killed with the sword.

New Heart English Bible
And it happened, as they fled from before the children of Israel while they were at the descent of Beth Horon, that the LORD cast down stones from the sky on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than who the children of Israel killed with the sword.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass as they fled from before Israel, and were in the descent to Beth-horon, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them to Azekah, and they died: they were more who died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

World English Bible
As they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth Horon, Yahweh hurled down great stones from the sky on them to Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the children of Israel killed with the sword.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And it comes to pass, in their fleeing from the face of Israel—they [are] in the descent of Beth-Horon—and YHWH has cast great stones on them out of the heavens, to Azekah, and they die; more are they who have died by the hailstones than they whom the sons of Israel have slain by the sword.

Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, in their fleeing from the face of Israel -- they are in the descent of Beth-Horon -- and Jehovah hath cast upon them great stones out of the heavens, unto Azekah, and they die; more are they who have died by the hailstones than they whom the sons of Israel have slain by the sword.

Smith's Literal Translation
And it will be in their fleeing from before Israel, they in the descent of the house of Horon, and Jehovah cast down upon them great stones from the heavens, even to Azekah; and more will die who died by the stones of hail than whom the sons of Israel slew with the sword.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when they were fleeing from the children of Israel, and were in the descent of Beth-horon, the Lord cast down upon them great stones from heaven as far as Azeca: and many more were killed with the hailstones than were slain by the swords of the children of Israel.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And while they were fleeing from the sons of Israel, and were on the descent of Beth-horon, the Lord cast great stones from heaven upon them, as far as Azekah. And many more were killed by the hailstones, than were struck down by the swords of the sons of Israel.

New American Bible
While they fled before Israel along the descent of Beth-horon, the LORD hurled great stones from the heavens above them all the way to Azekah, killing many. More died from these hailstones than the Israelites killed with the sword.

New Revised Standard Version
As they fled before Israel, while they were going down the slope of Beth-horon, the LORD threw down huge stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died because of the hailstones than the Israelites killed with the sword.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And as they fled from before Israel, and were going down in the descent of Beth-hauran, the LORD cast down great hailstones from heaven upon them as far as Akkar, and they died; and there were more that died from the hailstones than the children of Israel slew with the sword.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And when they fled from before Israel and they were coming down at the descent of Bayth Khuran, LORD JEHOVAH cast great stones upon them from the sky as far as Akar, and they died, and there were more who died by the hail stones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died; they were more who died with the hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And when they fled from the face of the children of Israel at the descent of Oronin, then the Lord cast upon them hailstones from heaven to Azeca; and they were more that died by the hailstones, than those whom the children of Israel slew with the sword in the battle.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Day the Sun Stood Still
…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. 11 As they fled before Israel along the descent from Beth-horon to Azekah, the LORD cast down on them large hailstones from the sky, and more of them were killed by the hailstones than by the swords of the Israelites. 12On the day that the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Exodus 9:23-26
So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt. / The hail fell and the lightning continued flashing through it. The hail was so severe that nothing like it had ever been seen in all the land of Egypt from the time it became a nation. / Throughout the land of Egypt, the hail struck down everything in the field, both man and beast; it beat down every plant of the field and stripped every tree. ...

Psalm 18:12-14
From the brightness of His presence His clouds advanced—hailstones and coals of fire. / The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded—hailstones and coals of fire. / He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them.

Revelation 16:21
And great hailstones weighing almost a hundred pounds each rained down on them from above. And men cursed God for the plague of hail, because it was so horrendous.

Job 38:22-23
Have you entered the storehouses of snow or observed the storehouses of hail, / which I hold in reserve for times of trouble, for the day of war and battle?

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.

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.

Psalm 77:17-18
The clouds poured down water; the skies resounded with thunder; Your arrows flashed back and forth. / Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.

Ezekiel 38:22
I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour out torrents of rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.

Judges 5:20
From the heavens the stars fought; from their courses they fought against Sisera.

2 Samuel 22:14-15
The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. / He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them.

Habakkuk 3:11
Sun and moon stood still in their places at the flash of Your flying arrows, at the brightness of Your shining spear.

Psalm 144:6
Flash forth Your lightning and scatter them; shoot Your arrows and rout them.

Isaiah 28:2
Behold, the Lord has one who is strong and mighty. Like a hailstorm or destructive tempest, like a driving rain or flooding downpour, he will smash that crown to the ground.

Revelation 11:19
Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple. And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.

2 Kings 1:10-12
Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men. / So the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. And the captain said to Elijah, “Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down at once!’” / Again Elijah replied, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men.

Treasury of Scripture

And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven on them to Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

the Lord

Genesis 19:24
Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

Exodus 9:22-26
And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt…

Judges 5:20
They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.

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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

Berean Study Bible

As they fled before Israel
This phrase captures the panic and retreat of the Amorite coalition before the advancing Israelite forces. The Hebrew root for "fled" (נָסוּ, nasu) conveys a sense of hurried escape, indicating the overwhelming fear and disarray among the enemy. Historically, this reflects the divine favor upon Israel, as their enemies are not just defeated but are driven into a chaotic retreat, showcasing God's power and the fulfillment of His promises to Israel.

on the road down from Beth-horon to Azekah
Beth-horon and Azekah are significant locations in the ancient landscape of Canaan. Beth-horon, meaning "house of hollowness," was a strategic pass, and Azekah was a fortified city. The road between these locations was a critical route, and the mention of this path highlights the tactical advantage and divine guidance given to Israel. Archaeological findings have confirmed the existence of these sites, providing a tangible connection to the biblical narrative.

the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky
The phrase emphasizes the direct intervention of God in the battle. The Hebrew word for "hurled" (וַיְשַׁלֵּךְ, vayshalekh) suggests a deliberate and forceful action, underscoring God's active role in securing victory for Israel. The "large hailstones" are a miraculous element, reminiscent of the plagues in Egypt, demonstrating God's control over nature. This divine act serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and His ability to fight for His people in supernatural ways.

and more of them died from the hail
This part of the verse highlights the extent of the divine intervention. The fact that more enemies perished from the hailstones than by the sword underscores the supremacy of God's power over human efforts. It serves as a testament to the Israelites that their victories are not by their might alone but by the hand of God. This miraculous event would have reinforced the faith of the Israelites and the fear of God among the surrounding nations.

than were killed by the swords of the Israelites
The comparison here between the casualties caused by the hailstones and those by the sword emphasizes the miraculous nature of the victory. It illustrates that while the Israelites were active participants in the battle, the ultimate victory was orchestrated by God. This serves as a powerful reminder of the partnership between divine providence and human action, where God calls His people to act in faith while He provides the decisive power for victory.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - Great stones from heaven. Calmet has taken great trouble to collect evidence for showers of actual stones from heaven upon the enemies of Israel. But the next sentence of the verse states that they were hailstones, אַבְנֵי בָרָד. And even if there were not sufficient evidence of the fall of hailstones large enough to do great destruction to man and beast, we might fall back upon the theory that this was a miraculous hailstorm, since the whole history teems with miraculous intervention. But in point of fact this is unnecessary. We need not go further back than the famous storm of August 2nd, 1879, for an account of hailstones of enormous size falling within fifty miles of London. And in tropical climates still more destructive storms are of no infrequent occurrence. Every treatise on physical geography teems with instances. Masius refers to the well known story of the relief afforded by a sudden shower to Marcus Aurelius and his army, which he follows Eusebius in thinking attributable to Christian prayers, but which the emperor, in a medal struck on the occasion, attributed to Jupiter Pluvius (see Neander, 'Hist. of Christian Church,' vol. 1.). He also fcites the verses of Claudian on a similar victory of Theodosius:

"O nimium dilecte Deo, tibi militat aether
Et conjurati veniunt ad praelia venti." They were more which died with hailstones. A conclusive proof, both to the Israelites and their antagonists, that the victory was owing rather to the favour of God than to the power of man, and suggesting the exclamation of the Psalmist, "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Thy Name give glory" (Psalm 115:1). See also Deuteronomy 9:4, 5. It is, perhaps, worth while to remark that the printers have modernized this passage. For more the original edition has moe; cf. Shakspeare's ' Lover's Complaint,' line 47 - "Found yet mo letters sadly penned in blood." "Faith and troth they would no mo" (Greene, 'Shepherd's Ode ').

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

As they fled
בְּנֻסָ֣ם ׀ (bə·nu·sām)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5127: To flit, vanish away

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

Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

along the descent
בְּמוֹרַ֤ד (bə·mō·w·raḏ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4174: A descent, an ornamental appendage, a festoon

from Beth-horon
חוֹרֹן֙ (ḥō·w·rōn)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1032: Beth-horon -- 'place of a hollow', two adjoining cities in Palestine

to
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

Azekah,
עֲזֵקָ֖ה (‘ă·zê·qāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5825: Azekah -- a place in Judah

the LORD
וַֽיהוָ֡ה (Yah·weh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

cast down
הִשְׁלִ֣יךְ (hiš·lîḵ)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7993: To throw out, down, away

on them
עֲלֵיהֶם֩ (‘ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

large
גְּדֹל֧וֹת (gə·ḏō·lō·wṯ)
Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

hailstones
אֲבָנִ֨ים (’ă·ḇā·nîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 68: A stone

from the sky,
הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם (haš·šā·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

and more
רַבִּ֗ים (rab·bîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

of them
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

were killed
מֵ֙תוּ֙ (mê·ṯū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

by
בְּאַבְנֵ֣י (bə·’aḇ·nê)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 68: A stone

the hailstones
הַבָּרָ֔ד (hab·bā·rāḏ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1259: Hail

than
מֵאֲשֶׁ֥ר (mê·’ă·šer)
Preposition-m | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

by the swords
בֶּחָֽרֶב׃ (be·ḥā·reḇ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

of the Israelites.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

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OT History: Joshua 10:11 It happened as they fled from before (Josh. Jos)