So Joshua conquered the whole region--the hill country, the Negev, the foothills, and the slopes, together with all their kings--leaving no survivors. He devoted to destruction everything that breathed, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded. So Joshua conquered the whole region—Joshua's conquest of the land is a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham regarding the land of Canaan. This phrase indicates the comprehensive nature of Joshua's military campaign, emphasizing the totality of the victory. The conquest is not just a series of isolated battles but a strategic and divinely guided campaign to establish Israel in the Promised Land. the hill country, the Negev, the foothills, and the slopes,
These geographical areas represent the diverse topography of Canaan. The hill country refers to the central mountainous region, the Negev is the arid southern desert, the foothills (or Shephelah) are the lowlands between the mountains and the coastal plain, and the slopes likely refer to the transitional areas. Each area had its own strategic and economic significance, and conquering them demonstrated Israel's control over the entire land. together with all their kings—
The mention of kings highlights the political structure of Canaan, which was composed of city-states each ruled by its own king. Defeating these kings was crucial for dismantling the existing power structures and establishing Israelite dominance. This also underscores the divine assistance Joshua received, as these kings were formidable opponents. leaving no survivors.
This phrase reflects the concept of herem, or the ban, which was a command to completely destroy certain peoples and their possessions. This was not merely a military strategy but a theological act of judgment against the Canaanites for their idolatry and wickedness. It also served to protect Israel from the influence of pagan practices. He devoted to destruction everything that breathed,
The phrase indicates the totality of the destruction, emphasizing the complete eradication of the Canaanite presence. This was intended to purify the land and prevent the Israelites from being led astray by Canaanite religious practices. It also serves as a sobering reminder of God's holiness and the seriousness of sin. just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded.
This underscores the divine mandate behind Joshua's actions. The conquest was not merely a human endeavor but an act of obedience to God's specific instructions. It reflects the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where obedience to God's commands was paramount. This obedience is a type of Christ, who perfectly fulfilled the will of the Father. Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of Israel, successor to Moses, who led the Israelites in the conquest of Canaan. 2. The Hill Country, Negev, Foothills, and SlopesThese are geographical regions in Canaan that Joshua and the Israelites conquered. 3. The Kings of CanaanLocal rulers who opposed Israel and were defeated by Joshua. 4. The LORD, the God of IsraelThe divine commander who instructed Joshua to carry out the conquest. 5. Devoted to DestructionA term indicating the complete destruction of the inhabitants and their possessions as an act of divine judgment. Teaching Points Obedience to God's CommandsJoshua's actions demonstrate the importance of following God's instructions completely, even when they are difficult or challenging. Divine Judgment and MercyThe destruction of the Canaanites serves as a reminder of God's judgment against sin, but also His mercy in providing a way for salvation through faith. Spiritual WarfareThe physical battles in Joshua's time can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual battles Christians face today, emphasizing the need for reliance on God's strength. Holiness and SeparationThe command to destroy the Canaanites underscores the call for believers to live holy lives, separate from the sinful practices of the world. Faith and ActionJoshua's leadership exemplifies the balance of faith in God's promises and the action required to see those promises fulfilled. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Joshua's obedience to God's command in Joshua 10:40 challenge us in our own walk with God today? 2. In what ways can the concept of "devoted to destruction" be understood in the context of spiritual warfare and personal holiness? 3. How do the events in Joshua 10:40 relate to the broader account of God's covenant with Israel? 4. What lessons can we learn from Joshua's leadership that can be applied to our roles in our communities and churches? 5. How do the themes of judgment and mercy in Joshua 10:40 connect with the message of the Gospel in the New Testament? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 7:1-2This passage provides the original command from God to Israel to destroy the nations in Canaan, emphasizing the need to avoid idolatry and maintain purity. 1 Samuel 15:3Similar instructions are given to King Saul regarding the Amalekites, highlighting the theme of obedience to God's commands. Hebrews 11:30-31These verses mention the faith of Joshua and the Israelites in the conquest of Jericho, illustrating the role of faith in fulfilling God's promises. People Adonizedec, Amorites, Debir, Eglon, Gibeon, Hoham, Horam, Israelites, Japhia, Jasher, Joshua, PiramPlaces Ai, Azekah, Beth-horon, Debir, Eglon, Gaza, Gezer, Gibeon, Gilgal, Hebron, Jarmuth, Jericho, Jerusalem, Kadesh-barnea, Lachish, Libnah, Makkedah, Negeb, Valley of AijalonTopics Breathe, Breathed, Commanded, Curse, Death, Defeated, Destroyed, Devoted, Foothills, Hill, Hill-country, Hills, Hill-slopes, Including, Joshua, Kings, Low-country, Lowland, Mountain, Negeb, Negev, None, Orders, Overcame, Region, Remaining, Remnant, Slopes, Smiteth, Smote, South, Springs, Struck, Subdued, Survivor, Survivors, Thus, Totally, Utterly, Vale, WesternDictionary of Bible Themes Joshua 10:40 5606 warfare, nature of Joshua 10:29-42 5214 attack Joshua 10:29-43 5354 invasions Joshua 10:40-42 5607 warfare, examples 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 IscariotPraying 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
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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 Links Joshua 10:40 NIVJoshua 10:40 NLTJoshua 10:40 ESVJoshua 10:40 NASBJoshua 10:40 KJV
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