Joshua 10:33
At that time Horam king of Gezer went to help Lachish, but Joshua struck him down along with his people, leaving no survivors.
At that time
This phrase situates the event within the broader narrative of Joshua's conquest of Canaan. It follows the miraculous victory at Gibeon, where God intervened with hailstones and extended daylight. The timing underscores the swift and decisive nature of Israel's campaign.

Horam king of Gezer
Gezer was a significant Canaanite city-state located in the Shephelah region. Archaeological evidence suggests it was a fortified city, indicating its strategic importance. Horam's involvement shows the interconnectedness of Canaanite cities and their alliances against Israel.

went to help Lachish
Lachish was another major city in the Shephelah, known for its strong fortifications. The alliance between Gezer and Lachish highlights the Canaanite resistance to Israel's advance. This cooperation among city-states was common in ancient warfare, as they sought to defend against a common enemy.

but Joshua struck him down
Joshua's military leadership is emphasized here. His ability to defeat a coalition of kings demonstrates his role as God's chosen leader for Israel. This victory is part of the fulfillment of God's promise to give the land to the Israelites.

along with his people
The complete defeat of Horam and his forces reflects the totality of the conquest. It aligns with the divine command to eliminate the Canaanite inhabitants, which was intended to prevent Israel from adopting their idolatrous practices.

leaving no survivors
This phrase underscores the thoroughness of the victory. It reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of herem, or devotion to destruction, which was commanded by God for the Canaanite cities. This action was meant to purify the land and establish Israel as a holy nation.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Horam
King of Gezer, who attempted to aid Lachish against the Israelites.

2. Gezer
A Canaanite city-state whose king, Horam, sought to assist Lachish.

3. Lachish
A city in the southern part of Canaan, under attack by Joshua and the Israelites.

4. Joshua
The leader of the Israelites, who led the conquest of Canaan.

5. The Israelites
The people of God, following Joshua in the conquest of the Promised Land.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty in Battle
The defeat of Horam and his people demonstrates God's control over the outcomes of battles. Believers can trust in God's sovereignty in their own struggles.

Obedience to God's Commands
Joshua's actions reflect obedience to God's command to conquer the land. Christians are called to obey God's Word, even when it requires difficult decisions.

The Consequences of Opposing God's People
Horam's defeat serves as a warning about the consequences of opposing God's plans and His people. It reminds believers of the importance of aligning with God's purposes.

The Importance of Community Support
Horam's attempt to support Lachish highlights the importance of alliances. In the Christian life, believers are encouraged to support one another in spiritual battles.

The Fulfillment of God's Promises
The conquest of Canaan, including the defeat of Gezer, is part of the fulfillment of God's promise to give the land to Israel. This encourages believers to trust in God's faithfulness to His promises.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the defeat of Horam and Gezer teach us about God's sovereignty in our personal battles?

2. How can we apply Joshua's obedience to God's commands in our daily lives?

3. In what ways does the account of Horam and Lachish serve as a warning against opposing God's plans?

4. How can we, as a Christian community, better support each other in our spiritual battles?

5. What are some promises of God that you are holding onto, and how does this passage encourage you to trust in their fulfillment?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Joshua 10:5-11
Provides context for the battle at Lachish, where a coalition of Amorite kings, including the king of Lachish, fought against Israel.

Exodus 23:31-33
God's command to Israel to drive out the inhabitants of the land, which Joshua is fulfilling.

Deuteronomy 20:16-18
Instructions given to Israel regarding the complete destruction of certain Canaanite cities, which is relevant to the actions taken by Joshua.

1 Kings 9:15-17
Mentions Gezer again, showing its continued significance in Israel's history.
Divine SovereigntySketches of SermonsJoshua 10:28-43
The Old Camp and the New FoeA. B. Mackay.Joshua 10:28-43
People
Adonizedec, Amorites, Debir, Eglon, Gibeon, Hoham, Horam, Israelites, Japhia, Jasher, Joshua, Piram
Places
Ai, Azekah, Beth-horon, Debir, Eglon, Gaza, Gezer, Gibeon, Gilgal, Hebron, Jarmuth, Jericho, Jerusalem, Kadesh-barnea, Lachish, Libnah, Makkedah, Negeb, Valley of Aijalon
Topics
Army, Death, Defeated, Gezer, Horam, Joshua, Lachish, None, Overcame, Putting, Remaining, Remnant, Smiteth, Smote, Struck, Survivor, Survivors, Till
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Joshua 10:33

     5290   defeat

Joshua 10:29-42

     5214   attack

Joshua 10:29-43

     5354   invasions

Library
Five Kings in a Cave
TEXT: "And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them. And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight."--Joshua 10:24-25. The history of the
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas Iscariot

Praying Saints of the Old Testaments
The Holy Spirit will give to the praying saint the brightness of an immortal hope, the music of a deathless song, in His baptism and communion with the heart, He will give sweeter and more enlarged visions of heaven until the taste for other things will pall, and other visions will grow dim and distant. He will put notes of other worlds in human hearts until all earth's music is discord and songless.--Rev. E. M. Bounds Old Testament history is filled with accounts of praying saints. The leaders of
Edward M. Bounds—Prayer and Praying Men

Gibeon. Josh 10:06

John Newton—Olney Hymns

The Northern Coast of Judea. Beth-Horon.
This coast is marked out Joshua 18:12; where, at verse 14, are very many versions to be corrected, which render the sea; such are, the Syriac, the Seventy, the Vulgar, the Italian, ours, &c.: whence ariseth a sense of insuperable difficulty to a chorographical eye: when it should, indeed, be rendered of the west, as the Chaldee, Arabic, R. Solomon, &c. rightly do. We read of a double Beth-horon in the Old Testament, but one only under the second Temple... At that place that great Canaanitish army
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Subterraneous Places. Mines. Caves.
Thus having taken some notice of the superficies of the land, let us a little search into its bowels. You may divide the subterraneous country into three parts: the metal mines, the caves, and the places of burial. This land was eminently noted for metal mines, so that "its stones," in very many places, "were iron, and out of its hills was digged brass," Deuteronomy 8:9. From these gain accrued to the Jews: but to the Christians, not seldom slavery and misery; being frequently condemned hither by
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Sign Seekers, and the Enthusiast Reproved.
(Galilee on the Same Day as the Last Section.) ^A Matt. XII. 38-45; ^C Luke XI. 24-36. ^c 29 And when the multitudes were gathering together unto him, ^a 38 Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee. [Having been severely rebuked by Jesus, it is likely that the scribes and Pharisees asked for a sign that they might appear to the multitude more fair-minded and open to conviction than Jesus had represented them to be. Jesus had just wrought
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Subjects of Study. Home Education in Israel; Female Education. Elementary Schools, Schoolmasters, and School Arrangements.
If a faithful picture of society in ancient Greece or Rome were to be presented to view, it is not easy to believe that even they who now most oppose the Bible could wish their aims success. For this, at any rate, may be asserted, without fear of gainsaying, that no other religion than that of the Bible has proved competent to control an advanced, or even an advancing, state of civilisation. Every other bound has been successively passed and submerged by the rising tide; how deep only the student
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines,
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6

Meditations of the True Manner of Practising Piety on the Sabbath-Day.
Almighty God will have himself worshipped, not only in a private manner by private persons and families, but also in a more public sort, of all the godly joined together in a visible church; that by this means he may be known not only to be the God and Lord of every Singular person, but also of the creatures of the whole universal world. Question--But why do not we Christians under the New, keep the Sabbath on the same seventh day on which it was kept under the Old Testament? I answer--Because our
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Divine Support and Protection
[What shall we say then to these things?] If God be for us, who can be against us? T he passions of joy or grief, of admiration or gratitude, are moderate when we are able to find words which fully describe their emotions. When they rise very high, language is too faint to express them; and the person is either lost in silence, or feels something which, after his most laboured efforts, is too big for utterance. We may often observe the Apostle Paul under this difficulty, when attempting to excite
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Joshua
The book of Joshua is the natural complement of the Pentateuch. Moses is dead, but the people are on the verge of the promised land, and the story of early Israel would be incomplete, did it not record the conquest of that land and her establishment upon it. The divine purpose moves restlessly on, until it is accomplished; so "after the death of Moses, Jehovah spake to Joshua," i. 1. The book falls naturally into three divisions: (a) the conquest of Canaan (i.-xii.), (b) the settlement of the
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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