Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 10:28
And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed them, and all the souls that [were] therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho.
28 39. The Conquest of Southern Palestine
28. And that day ] The victory of Beth-horon did not stand alone. It involved other consequences in its train. It inaugurated a campaign, which may have lasted some weeks or even months, during which the whole of southern Canaan was swept into the hands of Israel.
took Makkedah ] The cities distinctly specified as now subdued are Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, Debir.
and smote it with the edge of the sword ] As before at Ai (Jos 8:24). Four times does this expression occur in the present section.
he let none remain ] This expression also occurs four times in the section.
as he did ] See chap. Jos 6:21.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Jos 10:28-43
All these kings and their laud did Joshua take at one time, because the Lord . . . fought for Israel.
Divine sovereignty
I. God has an indisputable right to dispense his favours to what persons and in what proportions he pleases. As the sole proprietor, it is His to dispose of.
1. Worldly goods. One is accordingly born to affluence, while another is cradled in poverty. Before they existed they could, of course, have no claims or demerits; and therefore the difference in their tot must be owing to His sovereign disposal of events.
2. Bodily constitution and health. As variety marks all other of Gods works, so here it happens that one is naturally robust, another sickly, a third deformed, &c. Who is it that maketh the strong, the beautiful, &c., to differ? The answer may be found in 2Sa 22:30; 2Sa 22:35.
3. Mental qualifications. The inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding. Much, it is true, depends on personal application. But much depends on natural capacity; given to one five talents, to another two, and to another one; and much on the opportunities, instructors, &c., which God either gives or withholds.
4. Spiritual privileges. Mankind soon began to have greater or smaller advantages in this respect, as they descended from families more or less holy; and the case is the same to the present day. Instance the Israelites and heathens formerly; Christians and pagans now.
II. God has an equal right to resume or to transfer his favours.
1. We have seen that whatever we possess is of free favour at first, from the original proprietor of all. Such the acknowledgment of the psalmist, Of Thine own have I given Thee.
2. No person becomes a proprietor of his possessions merely because he has long enjoyed them. Every blessing is a loan resumable at pleasure; and instead of gaining a right by holding it, the holder is becoming more and more indebted. The property is still Gods (Psa 24:1; Psa 24:10; Psa 12:1-8.
3. On this ground He took His own land of promise from the Canaanites and transferred it to Israel. And He still puts down one and raises up another as it pleases Him.
III. God may justly punish every voluntary transgression of his righteous and equitable laws. Here we remark–
1. That His intelligent and moral creatures are what they are is owing to His sovereign pleasure. Thus Elihu (Job 35:10-11).
2. Since they are such, and capable of moral government, their nature requires a law, as a test of their obedience and for the exercise of their capabilities; and it is His prerogative, who is not only the sovereign Lord, but infinitely wise, to say what is right, to enact such law.
3. In order to make the law efficient it was necessary it should be guarded and enforced by penal sanctions. Whence it follows–
4. That truth requires, while sovereignty authorises, the just punishment of disobedience to His righteous and equitable commands.
IV. In executing his righteous purposes God may employ what agency or instrumentality he pleases. He doubtless can and may work immediately on any and every part of His creation. Yet He seldom does so. Oftentimes He employs angels, as in the case of Sennacherib or Herod. And oftentimes storm, pestilence, earthquake, &c. Deists do not object to these. Yet they cavil at Gods employing the sword of Israel; a difference merely in the circumstance of instrumentality. Let the subject teach us–
1. Reverence. Forasmuch as there is none like unto Thee, O Lord, &c. (Jer 10:6-7). The opposite disposition is reproved (Rom 9:20), and threatened (Isa 45:9-10).
2. Dependence. We enjoy no more or longer than He blesses us, and live no longer than He sustains (Psa 90:3; Psa 09:14; Psa 104:27-29).
3. Humility. Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, &c. (Jer 9:23-24; 1Co 4:7).
4. Gratitude. Who maketh thee to differ? (Sketches of Sermons.)
Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal—
The old camp and the new foe
It must have been a great rest and refreshment for the weary warriors to come to such a camp from time to time. It would be to them a Sabbath amid their arduous labours. From this place they would after each visit go more boldly out to deal harder blows against the uncircumcised Canaanites. And it is the same with us in the war which we wage against the inner and the outer foe. We have our headquarters too, a visit to which should stimulate us even more than a visit to Gilgal did the Israelites. What is our Gilgal? The Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. That remains always our centre. We should come back to it at all times; not only when driven there by defeat, in order to have shelter, but also after every victory, in order to give thanks. Thus shall we maintain faith and a good conscience. Then issuing from such headquarters, so safe, so restful, so hallowed, so purifying, we shall be filled with a holy enthusiasm and unconquerable strength, and march like Israel from victory to victory. When Joshua had come back to the old headquarters word was brought to him of the gathering of a new foe. This was the most numerous army that had as yet been gathered against him. And it was the most powerful, as well as the most numerous army which Joshua had encountered. For the first time in this campaign we hear of war-horses being used, and the war-chariots of iron which were such a terror to the ancient infantry. This army is also better led than any other that had taken the field. Jabin was the commander-in-chief. One of his successors is called king of Canaan (Jdg 4:2-24), and therefore he would in all likelihood have been the head of the great confederacy. The word Jabin is not a name, but a title borne by the kings of Hazor, and signifies The Wise, just as Adoni-zedek means Lord of Righteousness. Therefore, as we have seen the religious head of the Canaanites marshalling the southern army, so here we see the wise head of the Canaanites marshalling the northern army. The southern might be called the coalition of the priest; the northern the coalition of the sage. How graphically is the spiritual experience of the Christian depicted by these conflicts! No sooner is one set of foes subdued than another arises. There is no rest here. There is also a similarity in the kind of opposition which we have to encounter. As the advance of Israel was opposed now by Adoni-zedek and now by Jabin, so the advance of truth is opposed now by apostate Christianity and now by pompous philosophy. As it is with the Church collectively so is it with the individual. He may lay his account sooner or later to face these two, often in the same order. First comes superstition, with its high-sounding titles, its endless genealogies, its imperious claims, its elaborate ritual, its sensuous will-worship, its irrational bondage. It is resisted, it is overcome. Then comes rationalism, and it cries, Well done. You have routed these infernal hosts. Now come with us. Finish the work you have so well begun. Cast from you the remaining rags of superstition. Follow the light of Reason. Shake off the remaining fetters and be free. Then the sage who argues thus will, like Jabin, muster whole hosts of imposing arguments. How quickly they come at his bidding: from north, south, east, and west, like the sand that is on the seashore for multitude. And when he reviews them, how imposing is their array I It is a critical time for the soul when he stands gazing on that imposing array, if he is not assured that the Lord is on his side; if he hears not, as did Joshua, the words, Be not afraid because of them, to-morrow will I deliver them up all slain before Israel. But for faith in the Divine presence and this sure word the soul is in a sad case, and with quaking heart and tottering knees will quit the high places of the field. Alas! alas! how many in our day are dazed by the hosts of unsanctified science! The Christian soldier is not worthy of his name who is not ready with unfeigned faith in the truth of God to proclaim it boldly, whether men hear or forbear, to oppose all the glittering phalanxes of false philosophy with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. As we look at this new army mustered to oppose Joshua, we cannot but renew our wonder at the infatuation of the Canaanites. What a solemn thought it is that the greatest miracles will not in themselves lead the heart of man to subjection! Yet, after all, why should we wonder at these Canaanites, when we have greater cause for wonder in the unbelief of many around us? What were all the miracles of which these Canaanites were cognisant compared with those with which we have been familiar since our childhood? (A. B. Mackay.)
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Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 28. That day Joshua took Makkedah] It is very possible that Makkedah was taken on the evening of the same day in which the miraculous solstice took place; but as to the other cities mentioned in this chapter, they certainly were subdued some days after, as it is not possible that an army, exhausted as this must have been with a whole night’s march, and two days’ hard fighting, could have proceeded farther than Makkedah that night; the other cities were successively taken in the following days.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
That day, on which the sun stood still, or on which the five kings were hanged. Nor is it strange that so much work was done, and places so far distant taken, in one day, when the day was so long, and the Canaanites struck with such a terror. The king of Jericho was hanged, or otherwise killed, as appears from Jos 6:2.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
28-42. that day Joshua tookMakkedahIn this and the following verses is described therapid succession of victory and extermination which swept the wholeof southern Palestine into the hands of Israel. “All these kingsand their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LordGod of Israel fought for Israel. And Joshua returned, and all Israelwith him, unto the camp to Gilgal.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And that day Joshua took Makkedah,…. Some say it was the day on which the sun stood still; but it seems to mean the day in which the five kings were hanged:
and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof; slew the inhabitants of it and their king, after having entered and taken it:
he utterly destroyed them and all the souls that [were] therein, he let none remain; that is, all human souls or persons; for the cattle were taken for a prey:
and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho; slew him with the sword, along with the inhabitants, but did not hang him up, as he did the king of Ai and the five kings.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Further prosecution of the victory, by the conquest of the fortified towns of the south, into which those who escaped the sword of the Israelites had thrown themselves.
Jos 10:28 On the same day on which the five kings were impaled, Joshua took Makkedah (see at Jos 10:10), and smote the town and its king with the edge of the sword, banning the town and all the persons in it, i.e., putting all the inhabitants to death (many MSS and some editions adopt the reading for , as in Jos 10:37), taking the cattle and the property in the town as booty, as in the case of Ai (Jos 8:27-28), and treating its king like the king of Jericho, who was suspended upon a stake, to judge from Jos 8:2, Jos 8:29, although this is not stated in Josh 6.
Jos 10:29-30 From Makkedah he went with all Israel, i.e., all the men of war, against Libnah, and after effecting the conquest of it, did just the same as he had done to Makkedah. Libnah was one of the towns of the plain or of the hill-country of Judah (Jos 15:42); it was allotted to the priests (Jos 21:13), revolted from Judah in the reign of Joram (2Ki 8:22), and was besieged by Sennacherib (Isa 37:8). It is to be sought on the north-west of Lachish, not on the south as Knobel erroneously infers from Isa 37:8. According to the Onom. ( s. v. Lebna), it was at that time villa in regione Eleutheropolitana, quae appellatur Lobna . It has not been discovered yet; but according to the very probable conjecture of V. de Velde (Mem. p. 330), the ruins of it may perhaps be seen upon the hill called Ark el Menshiyeh, about two hours to the wets of Beit Jibrin.
(Note: Knobel is decidedly wrong in his supposition, that Libnah is to be seen in the considerable ruins called Hora, which lie in the plain ( Seetzen and V. de Velde) and are called Hawara by Robinson. He founds his conjecture upon the fact that the name signifies white, and is the Arabic translation of the Hebrew name. But Hora is only two hours and a half to the north of Beersheba, and is not in the plain at all, but in the Negeb.)
Jos 10:31-32 Lachish, i.e., Um Lakis (see at Jos 10:3), shared the same fate.
Jos 10:33 Joshua also smote the king of Gezer, who had come with his people to help of Lachish, and left no one remaining. Nothing is said about the capture of the town of Gezer. According to Jos 16:10 and Jdg 1:29, it was still in the possession of the Canaanites when the land was divided, though this alone is not sufficient to prove that Joshua did not conquer it, as so many of the conquered towns were occupied by the Canaanites again after the Israelites had withdrawn. But its situation makes it very probable that Joshua did not conquer it at that time, as it was too much out of his road, and too far from Lachish. Gezer (lxx , in 1Ch 14:16 , in 1 Macc. or plur., in Josephus , Ant. vii. 4, 1, viii. 6, 1, and also , v. 1, 22, xii. 7, 4) was on the southern boundary of Ephraim (Jos 16:3), and was given up by that tribe to the Levites (Jos 16:9-10; Jos 21:20-21. It is very frequently mentioned. David pursued the Philistines to Gezer (Gazer), after they had been defeated at Gibeon or Geba (2Sa 5:25; 1Ch 14:16). At a later period it was conquered by Pharaoh, and presented to his daughter, who was married to Solomon; and Solomon built, i.e., fortified it (1Ki 9:16-17). It was an important fortress in the wars of the Maccabees (1 Macc. 9:52; 2 Macc. 10:32; cf. 1 Macc. 4:15; 7:45; 13:53; 14:34; 15:28, 35). According to the Onom. ( s. v. Gazer), it was four Roman miles to the north of Nicopolis, i.e., Anwas, and was called . This is not only in harmony with Jos 16:3, according to which the southern border of Ephraim ran from Lower Bethhoron to Gezer, and then on to the sea, but also with all the other passages in which Gezer is mentioned,
(Note: The statement in 1 Macc. 7:45, that Judas Maccabaeus pursued the army of Nicanor, which had been beaten at Adasa, for a day’s journey, as far as Gazera (“a day’s journey from Adasa into Gazera”), is perfectly reconcilable with the situation of el Kubab; for, according to Josephus (Ant. xii. 10, 5), Adasa was thirty stadia from Bethhoron, and Bethhoron is ten miles to the west of Jubab (measuring in a straight line upon the map); so that Judas pursued the enemy fifteen miles – a distance which might very well be called “a day’s journey,” if we consider that the enemy, when flying, would not always take the straightest road, and might even make a stand at intervals, and so delay their pursuers. Still less do the statement in 1 Macc. 14:34, that Simon fortified Joppa on the sea, and Gazara on the border of Ashdod, the combination of Joppa, Gazara, and the tower that is in Jerusalem (1 Macc. 15:28, 35), and the fact that the country of Gadaris, with the town of Gadara, occurs between Joppa and Jamnia in Strabo xvi. 759, warrant us in making a distinction between Gazara (Gezer) and the place mentioned in the Onom., as Grimm does (on 1 Macc. 4:15), and identifying it with the village of Jazr, an hour and a half from Jaffa, although Arvieux calls this village Gesser. The objections of Van de Velde against the identity of Jubab and Gazer are without any force. It does not necessarily follow from the expression “went up,” that Lachish stood on higher ground than Gezer, as going up often signifies nothing more than making a hostile attack upon a fortification. And no importance can be attached to the conjecture, that with the great distance of Jubab from Um Lakis, the king of Gezer would have come to the help of the kings of Makkedah and Libnah, who were much nearer and were attacked first, as the circumstances which determined his conduct are too thoroughly unknown to us, for it to be possible to pronounce an opinion upon the subject with any certainty.)
and answers very well to the situation of El Kubab, a village of considerable size on a steep hill at the extreme north of the mountain chain which runs to the north-west of Zorea, and slopes off towards the north into the broad plain of Merj el Omeir, almost in the middle of the road from Ramleh to Yalo. For this village, with which Van Semden identifies Gezer ( Van de Velde, Mem. p. 315), was exactly four Roman miles north by west of Anwas, according to Robinson’s map, and not quite four hours from Akir (Ekron), the most northerly city of the Philistines; so that Josephus (Ant. vii. 4, 1) could very properly describe Gazara as the frontier of the territory of the Philistines. Robinson discovered no signs of antiquity, it is true, on his journey through Kubab, but in all probability he did not look for them, as he did not regard the village as a place of any importance in connection with ancient history (Bibl. Res. pp. 143-4).
Jos 10:34-35 From Lachish Joshua proceeded eastwards against Eglon (Ajlan, see Jos 10:3), took the town, and did to it as he had done to Lachish.
Jos 10:36-37 From Eglon he went up from the lowland to the mountains, attacked Hebron and took it, and did to this town and its king, and the towns belonging to it, as he had already done to the others. The king of Hebron cannot of course be the one who was taken in the cave of Makkedah and put to death there, but his successor, who had entered upon the government while Joshua was occupied with the conquest of the towns mentioned in Jos 10:28-35, which may possibly have taken more than a year. “All the cities thereof” are the towns dependent upon Hebron as the capital of the kingdom.
Jos 10:38-39 Joshua then turned southwards with all Israel (i.e., all the army), attacked Debir and took it, and the towns dependent upon it, in the same manner as those mentioned before. Debir, formerly called Kirjath-sepher, i.e., book town, (lxx Jos 15:15; Jdg 1:11), and Kirjath-sanna, i.e., in all probability the city of palm branches (Jos 15:49), was given up by Judah to the priests (Jos 21:15). It stood upon the mountains of Judah (Jos 15:49), to the south of Hebron, but has not yet been certainly discovered, though V. de Velde is probably correct in his supposition that it is to be seen in the ruins of Dilbeh, on the peak of a hill to the north of Wady Dilbeh, and on the road from Dhoberiyeh to Hebron, about two hours to the south-west of the latter. For, according to Dr. Stewart, there is a spring at Dilbeh, the water of which is conducted by an aqueduct into the Birket el Dilbeh, at the foot of the said hill, which would answer very well to the upper and lower springs at Debir, if only Debir might be placed, according to Jos 15:49, so far towards the north.
(Note: Knobel imagines that Debir is to be found in the modern village of Dhoberiyeh ( Dhabarije), five hours to the south-west of Hebron, on the south-west border of the mountains of Judah, upon the top of a mountain, because, in addition to the situation of this village, which is perfectly reconcilable with Jos 15:49, there are remains of a square tower there (according to Krafft, a Roman tower), which point to an ancient fortification (vid., Rob. Pal. i. pp. 308ff.; Ritter, Erdk. xvi. pp. 202ff.), and because the name, which signifies “placed behind the back,” agrees with Debir, the hinder part or back (?), and Kirjath-sepher, if interpreted by the Arabic words, which signify “ extremitas, margo, ora .” But both reasons prove very little. The meanings assigned to Debir and Kirjath-sepher are improbable and arbitrary. Moreover, it has not been shown that there are any springs near Dhoberiyeh, such as there were in the neighbourhood of Debir (Jos 15:19.). The view held by Rosenmller, and adopted by Bunsen, with regard to the situation of Debir, – namely, that it was the same as the modern Idwirbn or Dewirbn, an hour and a quarter to the west of Hebron, because there is a large spring there with an abundant supply of excellent water, which goes by the name of Ain Nunkr, – is also quite untenable; for it is entirely at variance with Jos 15:49, according to which Debir was not on the west of Hebron, but upon the mountains to the south, and rests entirely upon the erroneous assumption that, according to Jos 10:38 ( , he turned round), as Joshua came from Eglon, he conquered Hebron first, and after the conquest of this town turned back to Debir, to take it also. But , does not mean only to turn round or turn back: it signifies turning generally; and it is very evident that this is the sense in which it is used in Jos 10:38, since, according to Jos 15:49, Debir was on the south of Hebron.)
Moreover, not very long afterwards, probably during the time when the Israelites were occupied with the subjugation of northern Canaan, Hebron and Debir were taken again by the Canaanites, particularly the Anakites, as Joshua had not entirely destroyed them, although he had thoroughly cleared the mountains of Judah of them, but had left them still in the towns of the Philistines (Jos 11:21-22). Consequently, when the land was divided, there were Anakites living in both Hebron and Debir; so that Caleb, to whom these towns were given as his inheritance, had first of all to conquer them again, and to exterminate the Anakites (Jos 14:12; Jos 15:13-17: cf. Jdg 1:10-13).
(Note: By this simple assumption we get rid of the pretended contradictions, which neological critics have discovered between Jos 10:36-39 on the one hand, and Jos 11:21-22, and Jos 14:12; Jos 15:13-17 on the other, and on account of which Knobel would assign the passages last named to a different document. On the first conquest of the land by Joshua, Masius observes that “in this expedition Joshua ran through the southern region with an armed band, in too hurried a manner to depopulate it entirely. All that he needed was to strike such terror into the hearts of all through his victories, that no one should henceforth offer any resistance to himself and to the people of God. Those whom he pursued, therefore, he destroyed according to the commands of God, not sparing a single one, but he did not search out every possible hiding-place in which any could be concealed. This was left as a gleaning to the valour of each particular tribe, when it should take possession of its own inheritance.”)
Seven Kings Defeated and Slain. B. C. 1450. 28 And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho. 29 Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah: 30 And the LORD delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho. 31 And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it: 32 And the LORD delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah. 33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining. 34 And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it, and fought against it: 35 And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish. 36 And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron; and they fought against it: 37 And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein. 38 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it: 39 And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king. 40 So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded. 41 And Joshua smote them from Kadesh-barnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon. 42 And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel. 43 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal. We are here informed how Joshua improved the late glorious victory he had obtained and the advantages he had gained by it, and to do this well is a general’s praise. I. Here is a particular account of the several cities which he immediately made himself master of. 1. The cities of three of the kings whom he had conquered in the field he went and took possession of, Lachish (Jos 10:31; Jos 10:32), Eglon (Jos 10:34; Jos 10:35), and Hebron, Jos 10:36; Jos 10:37. The other two, Jerusalem and Jarmuth, were not taken at this time; perhaps his forces were either so much fatigued with what they had done or so well content with what they had got that they had no mind to attack those places, and so they let slip the fairest opportunity they could ever expect of reducing them with ease, which afterwards was not done without difficulty, Jdg 1:8; 2Sa 5:6. 2. Three other cities, and royal cities too, he took: Makkedah, into the neighbourhood of which the five kings had fled, which brought Joshua and his forces thither in pursuit of them, and so hastened its ruin (v. 28), Libnah (Jos 10:29; Jos 10:30), and Debir, Jos 10:38; Jos 10:39. 3. One king that brought in his forces for the relief of Lachish, that had lost its king, proved to meddle to his own hurt; it was Horam king of Gezer, who, either in friendship to his neighbours or for his own security, offered to stop the progress of Joshua’s arms, and was cut off with all his forces, v. 33. Thus wicked men are often snared in their counsels, and, by opposing God in the way of his judgments, bring them the sooner on their own heads. II. A general account of the country which was hereby reduced and brought into Israel’s hands (v. 40-42), that part of the land of Canaan of which they first got possession, which lay south of Jerusalem, and afterwards fell, for the most part, to the lot of the tribe of Judah. Observe in this narrative, 1. The great speed Joshua made in taking these cities, which, some think, is intimated in the manner of relating it, which is quick and concise. He flew like lightning from place to place; and though they all stood it out to the last extremity, and none of these cities opened their gates to him, yet in a little time he got them all into his hands, summoned them, and seized them, the same day (v. 28), or in two days, v. 32. Now that they were struck with fear, by the defeat of their armies and the death of their kings, Joshua prudently followed his blow. See what a great deal of work may be done in a little time, if we will but be busy and improve our opportunities. 2. The great severity Joshua used towards those he conquered. He gave no quarter to man, woman, nor child, put to the sword all the souls (Jos 10:28; Jos 10:30; Jos 10:32; Jos 10:35, c.), utterly destroyed all that breathed (<i>v. 40), and left none remaining. Nothing could justify this military execution but that herein they did as the Lord God of Israel commanded (v. 40), which was sufficient not only to bear them out, and save them for the imputation of cruelty, but to sanctify what they did, and make it an acceptable piece of service to his justice. God would hereby, (1.) Manifest his hatred of the idolatries and other abominations which the Canaanites had been guilty of, and leave us to judge how great the provocation was which they had given him by the greatness of the destruction which was brought upon them when the measure of their iniquity was full. (2.) He would hereby magnify his love to his people Israel, in giving so many men for them, and people for their life, Isa. xliii. 4. When the heathen are to be cast out to make room for this vine (Ps. lxxx. 8) divine justice appears more prodigal than ever of human blood, that the Israelites might find themselves for ever obliged to spend their lives to the glory of that God who had sacrificed so many of the lives of his creatures to their interest. (3.) Hereby was typified the final and eternal destruction of all the impenitent implacable enemies of the Lord Jesus, who, having slighted the riches of his grace, must for ever feel the weight of his wrath, and shall have judgment without mercy. Nations that forget God shall be turned into hell, and no reproach at all to God’s infinite goodness. 3. The great success of this expedition. The spoil of these cities was now divided among the men of war that plundered them; and the cities themselves, with the land about them, were shortly to be divided among the tribes, for the Lord fought for Israel, v. 42. They could not have gotten the victory if God had not undertaken the battle; then we conquer when God fights for us; and, if he be for us, who can be against us? Mopping Up, vs. 28-39
After the battle of the very long day all the pagan soldiers who had not been killed had found refuge in their towns. Therefore it was necessary for Joshua and Israel to assault the towns. When Joshua had dealt with the kings at Makkedah he and the army began a campaign to conquer the walled towns. In this passage are named six notable cities of Canaan, the remnants of whose inhabitants are now seeking to protect themselves from Israel inside their walls.
But Joshua attacked each one in turn with the same result, that it was taken and destroyed. Here again, is seen the portrayal of justice to befall all in the end-time, (Rev 11:15). These cities are all in the bounds of the tribes of Judah and Simeon, in southern Canaan.
A city would be taken and destroyed, and its king would be executed. God gave them swift victory everywhere. Lachish fell on the second day, Eglon on the first.
The Summary of the Conquest Jos. 10:28-43
28 And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho. 17.
Where was Libnah? Jos. 10:29
Libnah was one of the towns of the plain of the hill-country of Judah. It was allotted to the priests (Jos. 21:13). The people revolted from Judah in the reign of Joram (2Ki. 8:22). Later, it was besieged by Sennacherib Isa. 37:8). It is in the South, but on the northeast of Lachish.
18.
Where was Gezer? Jos. 10:33
Gezer was on the southern boundary of Ephraim (Jos. 16:3) and was given up by that tribe to the Levites (Jos. 16:9-10; Jos. 21:20-21). David pursued the Philistines to Gezer after they had been defeated at Gibeon (2Sa. 5:25; 1Ch. 14:16). At a later period it was conquered by Pharaoh and presented to his daughter who was married to Solomon. Solomon built, i.e., fortified, it (1Ki. 9:16-17). The site has been excavated in modern times and has yielded many striking examples of artifacts in burial customs. Gates and walls dating from the time of Solomon have been uncovered, and the massive fortifications found there attest the strategic military importance of this site which overlooks the maritime plain of the Mediterranean and guards the ascent to the hill country of Judah.
19.
Where was Debir? Jos. 10:38-39
This town was formerly called Kirjath-sepher, i.e., book town (Jdg. 1:11), and Kirjath-sannah, i.e., in all probability the city of palm branches (Jos. 15:49). It was given up by Judah to the Levites (Jos. 21:15). It stood upon the mountains of Judah (Jos. 15:49), to the south of Hebron, but has not been certainly discovered.
20.
Where was Goshen? Jos. 10:41
This is a different place from the Goshen of Egypt, deriving its name in all probability from the town of Goshen on the southern portion of the mountains (Jos. 15:51). As the line from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza defines the extent of the conquered country from south to north on the western side, so the parallel clause, all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon, probably defines the extent from south to north on the eastern side. Therefore, we should look for Goshen in the South near the Dead Sea.
(28) Joshua took Makkedah.Perhaps better. had takeni.e., before the execution of the five kings.
CONQUEST OF SOUTHERN PALESTINE, Jos 10:28-43.
28. That day Joshua and a part of the host took Makkedah while the rest were pursuing the flying foe.
Destroyed all the souls All the human beings. For considerations justifying this indiscriminate extermination of the Canaanites, see note, Jos 6:21.
‘ And Joshua took Makkedah on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and its king. He utterly destroyed (devoted) them and all the souls who were in it. He left none remaining. And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.’
The same day as he executed the kings, Makkedah capitulated. It may well have been unwalled. Its site is unknown. ‘He utterly devoted them’ i.e. the city, its inhabitants and their king. All in it was ‘devoted to YHWH’ (destroyed), apart probably from the cattle and the spoils (compare Jos 11:14). The king was slain with the sword, and hung up as the king of Jericho had been (Jos 6:21 and Jos 8:2 with Jos 8:29).
What follows from here to Jos 10:43 is a summary of the overall attack on the southern hill country and Shephelah. This refers to the initial defeat of these cities and a limiting thereby of their ability to prevent Israelite settlement and to resist later. Once Joshua had passed on to other battles the cities would be reoccupied by those who had fled and taken refuge in the forests and hills, and would have to be reduced again. But from now on they would be more vulnerable and far less strong. There was little that Joshua could do about occupying them. He could not afford to leave forces behind in order to occupy each city that he conquered.
The Conquest of Southern Canaan
v. 28. And that day, v. 29. Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, v. 30. and the Lord delivered it also and the king thereof into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it, but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho.
v. 31. And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, v. 32. And the Lord delivered Lachish, v. 33. Then Horam, king of Gezer, v. 34. And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, v. 35. and they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.
v. 36. And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron, v. 37. and they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, v. 38. And Joshua returned, v. 39. And he took it and the king thereof and all the cities thereof, v. 40. So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, v. 41. And Joshua smote them from Kadesh-barnea even unto Gaza, v. 42. And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, v. 43. And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp, to Gilgal, Ver. 28. And that day Joshua took Makkedah Usher, by that day, understands, the day of hanging the five kings; and he is of opinion, that it was the morning after the victory: but it seems more easy and plain to conceive, that Joshua carried the assault of Makkedah on the very day in which he defeated the confederate army, and immediately after he had executed the unfortunate princes who commanded it. We are not to be surprised that so many things should be done in one day, so long protracted as this was by the suspension of the sun’s course. The king of Makkedah was not taken alive, like him of Ai, but put to the sword with all the inhabitants who had rejected peace; only the city, the cattle, and the spoil, were spared.
And he did to the king of Makkedah, as he did unto the king of Jericho The Scripture does not say how the king of Jericho was treated; but it is presumed, from what is said of the other kings, that his body was hanged up. The first verse of this chapter supports the conjecture.
4. The Conquest of Southern Palestine
Jos 10:28-43
28And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed [devoted], them and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain [left none remaining, as in Jos 10:33; Jos 10:37; Jos 10:39, Jos 11:8, etc.]: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did [had done] unto the king of Jericho.
29Then [And] Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah: 30and the Lord [Jehovah] delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let [left] none remain [remaining] in it; but [and, comp. Jos 10:28] did unto the king thereof as he did [had done] unto the king of Jericho.
31And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it: 32And the Lord [Jehovah] delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which [who] took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah.
33Then [At that time] Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had [omit: had] left him none, remaining.
34And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him: and they encamped against it, and fought against it. 35And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed [devoted] that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.
36And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron; and they fought against it: 37And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities, thereof, and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon, but [and] destroyed it utterly [devoted it], and all the souls that were therein.
38And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it: 39And he took it and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed [devoted] all the souls that were therein: he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof, [and] as he had done also [omit: also] to Libnah, and to her king.
40So [And] Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs,13 and all their kings: he left none remaining, but [and] utterly destroyed [devoted] all that breathed, as the Lord [Jehovah] God of Israel commanded. 41And Joshua smote them from Kadesh-barnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon. 42And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time; because the Lord [Jehovah] God of Israel fought for Israel. 43And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.
EXEGETICAL AND CRITICAL
After the brilliant victory at Gibeon, Joshua, without special difficulty, conquered the whole of southern Palestine west of the Jordan. Particularly named are the cities Makkedah (Jos 10:28), Libnah (Jos 10:29), Lachish (Jos 10:31), Eglon (Jos 10:34), Hebron (Jos 10:36), and Debir (Jos 10:38-39). With Jos 10:40 the special enumeration of conquered cities ceases. We are then summarily informed that Joshua smote the whole land, the mountains, the south-land, the lowlands, and the foot-hills, from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, and the whole land of Goshen unto Gibeon (Jos 10:40-41). This success attended him because God fought for Israel Jos 10:42). After completing the campaign Joshua returned to the camp at Gilgal on the Jordan (Jos 10:43). At this point, perhaps, we may most conveniently remark that when Hitzig (ubi sup. p. 103) holds all Joshuas professed activity, after Gibeon, to be mere romance and no history, we, for reasons developed in the Introd. 3, must decidedly differ with him.
Jos 10:28. Capture of Makkedah (Jos 10:10; Jos 10:16; Jos 10:21; Jos 15:41). Instead of , according to many Codd. and various editions, as well as the analogy of Jos 10:37, should be read.
He smote them with the edge of the sword, as previously Ai (Jos 8:24), as afterwards the other cities. This phrase occurs in the present section four times (Jos 10:28; Jos 10:30; Jos 10:32; Jos 10:35).
He left none remaining, likewise used four times (Jos 10:28; Jos 10:30; Jos 10:33; Jos 10:40). A complete destruction was effected, for Joshua devoted all that had breath (Jos 10:40).
Jos 10:29-32. Joshua turned from Makkedah, (which is possibly to be sought for in the region of the present Terkumia (Tricomias)), westward toward Libnah, and then from there southeastwardly toward Lachish, both which places are found, though with the mark of interrogation, on Kieperts map, but not on that of Van de Velde. [On Menkes Map (III.) Lachish is placed slightly N. of W. from Libna.Tr.]
Jos 10:33. According to the previous agreement (Jos 9:2) the king of Gezer, later (2Ma 10:32, Joseph. Ant. viii. 6, 1,) and (Joseph. Ant. v. 1, 22; xii. 7, 4) and (Strabo, 16, p. 759), now goes up to help Lachish. The city has not yet been discovered. Kiepert suspects that it lay northwest of Beth-horon, and so likewise Knobel on Jos 16:3; Van de Velde has no statement. This king too is destroyed.
Jos 10:34. Joshua now marches westward [eastward?] from Lachish to Eglon (), now Adjlan, on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza; invests, takes, and destroys Eglon with all its inhabitants, like Lachish, Libnah, and Makkedah.
Jos 10:36-39. Eglon [Lachish?] was the westernmost point of which the bold leader of Israel obtained possession. In a tolerably direct line he marched next upon Hebron, the seat of the patriarchs, familiar in the history of Abraham, and which still lies in a charming region. This, city also he captures like the rest. The fate of Hebron is the same as that of the other Canaanite cities.
Jos 10:38. Joshua now turned, as Exo 5:22; Num 18:9. He turns towards Debir (Jos 15:15; Jos 15:49). This Debir, earlier called Kirjath-sepher (Jos 15:15; Jdg 1:11) or Kirjath-sanno (Jos 15:49), is either, as Rosen supposes (Zeitschrift der D. M. G. xi. p. 50 ff.), followed by von Raumer (p. 184), the same as Idwirban, or Dewirban, three fourths of an hour west of Hebron, or, according to the view of Knobel (p. 435), Thaharijeh, or Dhoherijeh, as Kiepert and Van de Velde write it, an important place, inhabited down even to the present time, the first on the mountain of Judah as one goes toward Hebron from the south, and distant from the latter about five hours,or, according to Van de Velde (Mem. p. 307), with whom Keil agrees = Dilbeh, on the top of a hill north of the Wady Dilbeh, about two hours south-west of Hebron. It is in favor of one of the two last conjectures that all the cities mentioned Jos 15:48-49, among which Debir also stands, lie entirely in the south, while Idwirban or Dewirban is west of Hebron and quite too far north for that group of cities to which it belongs. If we follow Rosens opinion as Bunsen has done, must be translated returned, as it is by Bunsen. On the position of Thaharijeh, particularly, cf. Rob. i. 311, 12 (edh Dhoherijeh), Ritter, Erdkunde, xvi. [Gages Trans, iii. 193, 288, 289, 202, and Jos 15:15.] To this we shall recur in connection with the conquests which are referred to Caleb, Jos 14:6 ff; Jos 15:14 ff. According to Jdg 1:10 ff. the city of Hebron and even Debir was captured not until a later period.
Jos 10:40-43. No further statement of special conquests is made; there follows rather a comprehensive survey of Joshuas successes at that time. Joshua smote the whole land. This is then more definitely specialized: (1) , the mountain, i.e. the mountain of Judah, which extends southward from Jerusalem. It consists of calcareous limestone, and forms the watershed between the Mediterranean and Dead Seas, rising to the height of three thousand feet; in general an uneven and rocky district, especially in the southern portion, yet not without fruitful and inviting spots. (2.) , the land of the south, prop., from , which in the Syr., Chald., and Sam. signifies to be dry, the dry, parched land, where the mountain brooks fail in the summer, so that in Psa 126:4, God is invoked to let them return again (vide Hitzig on this passage). It is the steppe which forms the southern portion of Juda, a land intermediate between wilderness and cultivated land, precisely as the steppes of southern Russia, or the heath-land of North Germany. Because this steppe, this parched and sun-burnt land, lay in the south of Palestine (cf. Jos 15:2-4; Jos 15:21), comes to mean generally, south, and southward, Num 35:5; Exo 40:24; Jos 17:9-10. (3.) The low-lands (Jos 11:16; Jos 15:33) from to be low, the strip of land in southern Palestine accurately indicated on Kieperts map as stretching along the sea from Joppa to Gaza (Jer 32:44; Jer 33:13). Much more populous, fertile, and beautiful than the Negeb. (4.) The declivities , out of which the LXX. and Vulg. make a proper name: , Asedoth. Luther translates, on the brooks, [Eng. vers. the springs], in accordance with Num 21:15, where he renders source of the brooks. The explanation is this: like is to be derived from , according to the Syriac, to pour, to rush down, = (1.) outpouring; (2.) place upon which something pours out, e.g. (Deu 3:17; Deu 4:49), the place whither the brooks of Mount Pisgah issue, the declivities of Pisgah.14 In our passage the declivities or foot-hills are those of the mountain of Judah, which slopes off gradually to the low-land:the land of Goshen (Jos 10:41). This is to be carefully distinguished from Goshen in the land of Egypt (Gen 45:10; Gen 46:28 and often). Again Jos 11:16; Jos 15:51, a city of the same name is mentioned, perhaps the chief city of this region. Knobel derives the name from the Arabic, making it = pectus, lorica. Calmet maintains that the land of Goshen here mentioned is the same as the Egyptian. This needs no refutation.
Jos 10:41. From Kadesh-barnea unto Gaza,i.e. from the wilderness in which Kadesh-barnea lay (Num 13:3; Num 13:26; Num 20:1; Num 27:14, and often) to Gaza in the Shephelah, which is only about one hour from the Mediterranean Sea,and the whole land of Goshen unto Gibeon, i.e. all the country between Gaza and Gibeon which lay on a line directly northeast from Gaza. Thus Joshua had become master of all southern Palestine between the Jordan valley and the Mediterranean Sea in one direction, and between the heights of Gibeon and the wilderness in the other. Jericho, Ai, Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, Debir, had one after the other fallen and been destroyed, and whole districts, like Goshen, had submitted themselves. With the ruins of broken cities, and the bodies of their inhabitants, the land was covered on the mountains, as well as on the slopes, in the lowland, in the desert, on the border of the wilderness as well as on the banks of the Jordan. A divine judgment had fallen on the Canaanites. Jehovah, God of Israel, had Himself fought for his chosen people (Jos 10:42; Jos 10:14). And Joshua marches back, to find rest after such mighty exploits, in the camp at Gilgal (Jos 10:43).
DOCTRINAL AND ETHICAL
Of the extermination of the Canaanites, as well as of the idea of the devotement (), we have already treated, and do not, therefore, here enter again on the subject. Cf. the Exegetical and Critical on Jos 2:11; Jos 6:17; also the Doctrinal and Ethical on Jos 6:15-27 [Introd. 5, p. 21].
HOMILETICAL AND PRACTICAL
The section before us being no more than several of the following (chaps. 12, 13, 15, etc.), suited for texts of sermons, while for Bible-classes the exegetical notes will furnish the necessary explanations, we remark here once for all, that on this description of passages in our Book, the Homiletical and Practical comments will be omitted.
Footnotes:
[13][Jos 10:40.The geographical definiteness of this statement might be indicated thus: And Joshua smote all the land: the mountain, and the south-country (the Negeb), and the low-land (the Shephelah), and the foot-hills, etc. See Exegetical note.Tr.]
[14][We have proposed in the amended translation of this verse to render , by foot-hills which, although not suggested by the etymology of the Hebrew word, seems to convey nearly the intended signification.Tr.]
I bring all these into one point of view for the sake of shortness. They only serve to illustrate the astonishing victory of Joshua. But the grand point I wish to interest the Reader to attend to in this history is, the glorious victory of Jesus, over all the enemies of our salvation, which are here most beautifully represented in type and figure. As Joshua utterly destroyed all and everything which belonged to the enemy: so our glorious Joshua will eternally destroy all that oppose his finished salvation. Of them it is most positively said, they shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all that believe. 2Th 1:9-10 .
Jos 10:28 And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that [were] therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho.
Ver. 28. And the king thereof he utterly destroyed. ] Because his sins had done much harm: (1.) By imitation, for Magnates magnetes; ( 2.) By imputation, for plectunter Achivi.
NASB (UPDATED TEXT): Jos 10:28
28Now Joshua captured Makkedah on that day, and struck it and its king with the edge of the sword; he utterly destroyed it and every person who was in it. He left no survivor. Thus he did to the king of Makkedah just as he had done to the king of Jericho.
Jos 10:28 Makkedah was also under the herem (BDB 355, KB 353, Hiphil PERFECT) as Jericho and Ai (good article in NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 368-369) had been. Libnah would be also (cf. Jos 10:29-39), as well as Lachish (good article in NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 862-864), Gezer, Eglon, Hebron (good article in NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 698-700), and Debir.
he utterly destroyed it and every person who was in it. He left no survivor The holy war (herem, cf. Jos 8:8) judgment is repeated several times (Hiphil, cf. Jos 8:22; Jos 10:28; Jos 10:30; Jos 10:33; Jos 10:39-40; Jos 11:8; Jos 11:14; Num 21:35; Deu 2:34; Deu 3:3).
souls. Plural of nephesh. App-14. Seven times in this chapter: Jos 10:40 puts “all that breathed” instead.
as = according as.
Makkedah: Situated, according to Eusebius, 8 miles east from Eleutheropolis. It was afterwards assigned to the tribe of Judah. Jos 15:41
them: Jos 10:32, Jos 10:35, Jos 10:37, Jos 10:39, Jos 6:21, Deu 7:2, Deu 7:16, Deu 20:16, Deu 20:17, Psa 21:8, Psa 21:9, Psa 110:1, Luk 19:27, 1Co 15:25
and he did: Jos 10:30, Jos 8:2
Reciprocal: Gen 37:21 – not kill him Exo 17:13 – General Jos 8:22 – let none Jos 9:1 – all the kings Jos 10:10 – Makkedah Jos 10:29 – Libnah Jos 11:12 – all the Jos 12:16 – Makkedah
Jos 10:28-40. Conquest of S. Canaan.This section is late and is from the hand of the Deuteronomist. Well-known passages in this and other books show it to be quite unhistorical. In 33 the king of Gezer (Jdg 1:29*, 1Ki 9:16*,) is said to have been slain with all his people, though from Jos 16:10 we know that Gezer maintained its independence, and from Kings it appears that it did so till the time of Solomon. In Jos 10:36-39 Hebron and Debir are taken, and all the inhabitants destroyed, though later on, in Jos 15:13, we read that Caleb goes up against these towns and takes possession of them. According to the tradition in Judges 1 this happened after the death of Joshua.
7. Other conquests in southern Canaan 10:28-43
To this point Israel’s victories had taken place in central Canaan. God’s strategy was to give His people a base of operation in the middle part of the land first. From there they could then advance to the South and then to the North. The writer summarized the southern campaign in this section of verses.
Seven other victories followed the battle at Gibeon. In the record of these encounters the writer highlighted two important facts. Israel was obedient to God’s command to exterminate the Canaanites in these cities. Second, it was Yahweh who gave Israel’s enemies into her hands (Jos 10:30; Jos 10:32).
". . . Yahweh has shown himself to be a God who accepts a people who follow him despite their past mistakes." [Note: Ibid., p. 119.]
The purpose of Joshua’s raids was to destroy the military capability of these city-states and to instill fear and confusion in the remaining Canaanites. Archaeology has confirmed that many of these cities did not suffer violent destruction at this time.
"Joshua, at this stage of the campaign, did not seem to be interested in completely destroying each one of the sites, or in occupying them." [Note: Davis and Whitcomb, p. 70.]
"But beyond inflicting immediate loss, this campaign achieved little else by itself-it was a sweep, not an occupation: ’Joshua returned and all Israel with him, to the camp, to Gilgal’ (Jos 10:15; Jos 10:43). Occupation of the land, to live in it, keep livestock and cultivate crops in it, etc., was a far slower process, visible in part later in Joshua and in Judges." [Note: Kitchen, p. 89.]
According to Carl von Clausewitz (1780-1831), a philosopher of war, there are three principle military objectives in any war. First, the aggressor must destroy the military power of the enemy so he cannot continue or resume war. Second, he must conquer the land of the enemy so a new military force cannot arise from it. Third, he must subdue the will of the enemy. [Note: Carl von Clausewitz, On War, p. 101, cited by Craigie, The Problem of War . . ., p. 46.] Joshua accomplished all three of these basic objectives. [Note: See David Ussishkin, "Lachish-Key to the Israelite Conquest of Canaan?" Biblical Archaeology Review 13:1 (January-February 1987):18-39.]
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
29 Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah:
30 And the Lord delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho.
31 And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it:
32 And the Lord delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah.
33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.
34 And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it, and fought against it:
35 And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.
36 And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron; and they fought against it:
37 And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein.
38 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it:
39 And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.
40 So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel commanded.
41 And Joshua smote them from Kadesh-barnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.
42 And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.
43 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Fuente: A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, Critical, Doctrinal, and Homiletical by Lange
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)