יהושע, פרק י׳, פסוק ו׳

Facing an imminent threat from a coalition of Amorite kings, the people of Gibeon send an urgent plea for rescue to Joshua at his camp in Gilgal [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. They plead with Joshua not to let his hands go slack, which is a direct appeal for him to maintain his commitment. They are begging him not to weaken his resolve or abandon them to the mercy of their enemies [מצודת ציון, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Their cry includes a dual request for both salvation and help. This distinction highlights two different types of rescue. Salvation implies that the rescuer takes full control of the situation and performs the entire act of deliverance alone. Help is a form of partial support where those being attacked remain the active fighters. The Gibeonites ask Joshua to step in and completely save them, but if that is not possible, they beg for at least a measure of military assistance so they can fight back themselves [מלבי״ם].

To emphasize the urgency of their situation, the Gibeonites stress that the enemy has now gathered specifically against them. These five Amorite kings rule over neighboring cities in the Judean mountains [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Although the kings had already assembled earlier for a broader military campaign, the Gibeonites view this specific attack as the true start of a direct alliance aimed at their destruction [מלבי״ם].