Joshua 10:43
Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.
Then Joshua returned
This phrase indicates a conclusion to a series of military campaigns. Joshua, as the leader of Israel, often led the people into battle and then returned to their base. This reflects the cyclical nature of conquest and rest in the narrative of the Israelites' journey into the Promised Land. It also highlights Joshua's role as a type of Christ, leading his people to victory and rest.

with all Israel
The inclusion of "all Israel" emphasizes the unity and collective effort of the tribes in the conquest of Canaan. It underscores the importance of communal participation in God's promises and commands. This unity is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, reflecting the covenant relationship between God and His people.

to the camp at Gilgal
Gilgal served as the base of operations for the Israelites during their conquest of Canaan. It was the first campsite after crossing the Jordan River and held significant religious and historical importance. Gilgal was the site of the Israelites' first Passover in the Promised Land and where the covenant of circumcision was renewed. This location symbolizes new beginnings and the fulfillment of God's promises.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Joshua
The central figure in this passage, Joshua is the leader of the Israelites, succeeding Moses. He is known for his military leadership and faithfulness to God's commands.

2. Israel
Refers to the nation of Israel, God's chosen people, who are under Joshua's leadership during the conquest of Canaan.

3. Gilgal
A significant location for the Israelites, Gilgal served as a base camp during their conquest of Canaan. It was the first campsite after crossing the Jordan River and a place of renewal and covenant.

4. The Conquest of Canaan
This event involves the Israelites' military campaigns to take possession of the land promised to them by God. Joshua 10 describes a series of victories over various Canaanite kings.

5. The Return to Camp
This event signifies a moment of rest and regrouping after a series of battles, highlighting the importance of returning to a place of spiritual and physical renewal.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Spiritual Renewal
Just as Joshua and the Israelites returned to Gilgal, Christians need regular times of spiritual renewal and reflection. This can be through prayer, Bible study, and fellowship.

Leadership and Obedience
Joshua's leadership exemplifies obedience to God's commands. Believers are called to lead with integrity and faithfulness, following God's guidance in all aspects of life.

The Role of Community
The return to camp with "all Israel" underscores the importance of community in the Christian journey. Believers are encouraged to support and uplift one another in faith.

Rest After Victory
After spiritual or personal victories, it is crucial to take time to rest and recharge, acknowledging God's role in the success and preparing for future challenges.

Remembering God's Promises
Gilgal was a place of remembrance for the Israelites. Christians are encouraged to remember God's promises and faithfulness in their lives, using them as a foundation for trust and hope.
Bible Study Questions
1. What significance does the location of Gilgal hold for the Israelites, and how can we find our own "Gilgal" for spiritual renewal today?

2. How does Joshua's leadership in returning to Gilgal after battle reflect the importance of obedience and rest in our spiritual lives?

3. In what ways can we, as a community of believers, support each other in times of spiritual warfare and rest?

4. How can the concept of rest, as seen in Joshua 10:43 and Hebrews 4, be applied to our modern lives amidst constant busyness?

5. Reflect on a time when you experienced a "victory" in your life. How did you acknowledge God's role in it, and what steps did you take to rest and prepare for future challenges?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Joshua 4
Describes the initial encampment at Gilgal after crossing the Jordan River, establishing it as a place of remembrance and covenant renewal.

Exodus 17
Highlights the importance of returning to a place of rest and seeking God's guidance after battles, similar to Moses' leadership during the battle against the Amalekites.

Hebrews 4
Discusses the concept of rest for God's people, drawing a parallel to the physical rest at Gilgal and the spiritual rest found in Christ.
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
Camp, Gilgal, Joshua, Returned, Tents, Turneth
Dictionary of Bible Themes
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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