V.1-1.4 Many nations now hear of this strange invading army with super human things happening — like the sun and moon stopping in the sky for a whole day. So one king persuades them to join forces to get rid of this strange army. But they didn’t know that the Lord was directing the sea invaders! The Lord is mentioned four times. Notice (v. 12) they were doing exactly what Moses had been commanded to tell Joshua (Deut. 20:17).
V.15 What a grand thing to be able to say! Are we faithfully following God’s Word? (Acts 2:42; 2 Tim. 2:2).
V.16-23 Faithfulness in following the Lord’s directions brings victory after victory over the “long time” (v. 18), and leads to rest from war when God’s purposes are done. We Christians know from Hebrews 4:9-10 that our “rest from spiritual” battles will only be when we are taken to be with Christ in heaven.
V.20 This is because these enemies would not submit to God Who owns the whole world and all in it. (Read Dan. 4:17; Acts 17:26). Notice well the last sentence. This chapter is the end of the first section of the whole book. Joshua, up to this point has been a picture, for us believers, of Christ winning the great victory over Satan at the cross and bring us into ALL our blessings. Peace follows victories. What depends on Christ always succeeds; what depends on us shows us our weakness.