Joshua prepared to go at once to the relief of Gibeon. The inhabitants of the besieged city had feared that he would reject 508 their appeal, because of the fraud which they had practiced; but since they had submitted to the control of Israel, and had accepted the worship of God, he felt himself under obligation to protect them. He did not this time move without divine counsel, and the Lord encouraged him in the undertaking. "Fear them not," was the divine message; "for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee." "So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor."

Josua traf straks forberedelser til at komme Gibeon til hjælp. Indbyggerne i den belejrede by var bange for, at han ville nægte at hjælpe dem, fordi de havde bedraget israelitterne, men Josua følte sig forpligtet til at beskytte dem, fordi de havde underkastet sig Israels herredømme og var begyndt at tjene Gud. Denne gang drog han ikke af sted uden at søge råd hos Herren, og Herren opmuntrede ham med disse ord: "Frygt ikke for dem, thi jeg giver dem i din hånd; ikke een af dem skal kunne holde stand imod dig!" "Da drog Josua op fra Gilgal med alle krigerne, alle de kampdygtige mænd."