Joshua, being made more certain of the siege and danger of the Gabaonites (verse 6), at once — “having made ready,” says Josephus — that is, with all his forces, hastened up (verse 7). Where two things are to be considered. First, that he left a garrison in Gilgal, [the camp] fortified with that defense by which there was need against sudden incursions and mishaps. Secondly, that he employed great speed in bringing help to the Gabaonites. For at once he set out on the road toward Gabaon: he marched the whole night, and “at dawn,” says Josephus, he suddenly rushed upon the besieging enemies (verse 9). He did not think that, after the day’s labors, sleep should be taken by him in the night; he did not despise the Gabaonites — either as slaves and bondmen, or as impostors (men who, not long before, had deceived him and the other princes by fraud, and had cast [him] into great danger among the seditious common people); he did not permit himself to be affected by any annoyance; he did not, in his own eyes, make light of the danger, and of [the harm] of delay…
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…and [the harm] of delay — the [excuses] which were not lacking — he did not weave together. For could he have said: “Gabaon is a great city; can it not bear a siege [for] some few days? It is one of the royal cities; does it tremble so quickly at the camp of Kings? It is greater than the town of Ai; and yet the men of Ai dared to join battle with the Israelites. All the inhabitants of Gabaon are said [to be] most valiant — let them give some specimen of this their valor; let us see what they can [do] by themselves.” None of these things did Joshua either say or think; but, in order that he might drive off altogether every injury from those whom he had once received into [his] protection, with no reckoning had of himself or of human petty calculations, [being] summoned, he at once flew [to them]: he brought aid, he raised the siege. A speed worthy everywhere [to be imitated], which princes should imitate toward [their] subjects, allies, and confederates. [That is] that known [saying] of Hesiod: μηδ’ ἀναβάλλεσθαι [“put it not off”]. We have sometimes seen — and lamented — many notable cities, very faithful subjects, the best and most constant allies, deserted through I know not what trifling delays, and [so] wretchedly, [and] often, come into the power of [their] enemies. But let us truly, and with great Joshua, say: “O Lord, make haste to help me” — He will make haste, He will run up, He will fly [to us] most swiftly, most speedily.
And Joshua was confirmed by the Lord for this war (verse 8), when the Lord, of His own accord, addressed him in that way which was expounded [in] chapter 8, question 7: “And the Lord said to him: ‘Fear them not’” — or, as others prefer, [it was] an inquiry by the Urim oracle. For Joshua, remembering how greatly it had cost him not long before — and indeed in the very cause of these same Gabaonites — not to have consulted the mouth of the Lord, by no means now omits this very thing; but, as soon as he hears of the siege of Gabaon, he refers the whole matter to the Lord, and asks the oracle.