And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal,.... Which some think they did when besieged, and not before, which showed their faith in the power of God, whom they now professed; but it is not likely that they should defer sending for help so long, since it is reasonable to suppose they might have heard of the design of the five kings against them; or that they should be able to send out messengers when surrounded on all sides; it may be better therefore to render the words, "had sent" , which they did as soon as they heard of the preparations made by the five kings to war with them, and of their rendezvous at Jerusalem, and especially as soon as they had information of their march towards them:saying, slack not thine hands from thy servants; they entreat that he would not neglect them, be indifferent to them, and delay to assist them, since they were his subjects; and were entitled to his protection:come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us; they did not doubt, if he made haste and helped them, but they should be saved by him:for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.
Jerusalem lay among mountains, and Hebron was in the hill country in Judea, see Ps 125:2; and the other cities were doubtless in a like situation.