יהושע, פרק י׳, פסוק י׳

The downfall of the enemy forces in this battle begins with direct divine intervention, setting off a rapid chain of defeat, flight, and relentless pursuit. God strikes the opposing camp with sudden panic, confusion, and chaos [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This divine disruption leads directly to their first major defeat, as the Israelites deliver a heavy blow against them in Gibeon [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Broken by the initial attack, the enemy forces turn and run. Joshua and his army chase after them along the mountainous road leading up to Beth-horon [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The pursuit continues along the escape route all the way to Azekah and Makkedah, with the Israelites constantly striking down the fleeing soldiers [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Alongside the physical combat, a highly targeted, supernatural event unfolds. Heavy hailstones fall from the sky, striking the enemies as far as Azekah. This phenomenon operates in a completely miraculous way. The falling stones hit only the fleeing enemy soldiers, actively avoiding any area reached by the Israelites. As a result, the Israelite soldiers step into the exact spots where their enemies stood just moments before, yet they remain completely unharmed. The deadly stones simply bypass them, continuing to track and strike only the fleeing forces from above [מלבי״ם].