But you, do not stop there. Pursue your enemies and attack them from behind. Do not let them reach their cities, for the LORD your God has delivered them into your hand." But do not stay there yourselvesThis phrase is a direct command from Joshua to the Israelites, emphasizing the urgency and importance of their mission. The Hebrew root for "stay" is "amad," which often implies standing still or remaining in place. In the context of battle, this command underscores the need for proactive engagement rather than passivity. Historically, this reflects the strategic military mindset of the Israelites under Joshua's leadership, who understood the necessity of momentum in warfare. Pursue your enemies
The word "pursue" comes from the Hebrew "radaph," which means to chase or follow with the intent to overtake. This is not merely a physical pursuit but also a spiritual one, symbolizing the relentless pursuit of righteousness and the eradication of evil. The Israelites were called to actively engage in God's mission, reflecting the broader biblical theme of God's people being called to pursue holiness and justice. Attack them from the rear
This tactical instruction highlights the strategic acumen of Joshua. The phrase suggests a surprise attack, which would have been a common military strategy in ancient warfare. The Hebrew word for "attack" is "naga," meaning to strike or touch. This reflects the need for decisive action in the face of opposition, a principle that resonates with the Christian call to confront sin and evil with courage and determination. Do not let them enter their cities
Preventing the enemies from reaching their fortified cities was crucial, as it would deny them the opportunity to regroup and fortify themselves. The Hebrew word for "enter" is "bo," which means to come in or go into. This command underscores the importance of cutting off the enemy's retreat and ensuring a complete victory. Spiritually, it can be seen as a metaphor for not allowing sin to find refuge in our lives. for the LORD your God has delivered them into your hand
This phrase is a powerful reminder of divine intervention and assurance. The Hebrew word for "delivered" is "nathan," meaning to give or hand over. It emphasizes that the victory is not by human strength alone but by God's providence. This assurance of God's sovereignty and faithfulness is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, encouraging believers to trust in God's promises and His ultimate control over all circumstances. Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of Israel, successor to Moses, who is leading the Israelites in the conquest of Canaan. 2. The IsraelitesThe people of God, following Joshua's leadership in the conquest of the Promised Land. 3. The AmoritesA coalition of five Amorite kings who have come against Gibeon, an ally of Israel. 4. GibeonA city that made a treaty with Israel and is under attack by the Amorite kings. 5. The LORD (Yahweh)The God of Israel, who is actively involved in delivering the enemies into the hands of the Israelites. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in BattleRecognize that God is the ultimate deliverer in our battles, both physical and spiritual. Trust in His power and guidance. Active Participation in God's PlanWhile God delivers the enemies, Joshua and the Israelites are called to actively pursue and attack. We must be willing participants in God's work, not passive observers. Strategic ObedienceJoshua's command to attack from behind shows the importance of strategy and obedience in fulfilling God's directives. We should seek wisdom and discernment in our actions. Faith in God's PromisesThe assurance that "the LORD your God has delivered them into your hand" encourages us to have faith in God's promises, even when the outcome is not yet visible. Community and AlliancesThe defense of Gibeon highlights the importance of alliances and community support in facing challenges. We should value and uphold our commitments to others. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Joshua 10:19 demonstrate the balance between divine intervention and human responsibility in achieving victory? 2. In what ways can we apply the principle of "pursuing our enemies" in our spiritual battles today? 3. How does the assurance of God's deliverance in Joshua 10:19 encourage us in facing our own challenges? 4. What strategic actions can we take in our lives to align with God's plans, as seen in Joshua's command to attack from behind? 5. How can we strengthen our alliances and community support, similar to Israel's defense of Gibeon, in our spiritual journey? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 14:14This verse highlights God's role in fighting for Israel, similar to how He delivers the enemies into their hands in Joshua 10:19. Deuteronomy 20:4This passage reassures Israel of God's presence and support in battle, echoing the divine assistance seen in Joshua 10:19. Psalm 18:37-40David's psalm of victory over his enemies parallels the pursuit and defeat of enemies described in Joshua 10:19. Romans 8:31This New Testament verse reflects the assurance of God's support, akin to the confidence Joshua and the Israelites have in God's deliverance. 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 Allow, Army, Attack, Attacking, Cities, Delivered, Enemies, Enter, Fall, Hands, Hindmost, Pursue, Reach, Rear, Smite, Smitten, Stand, Stay, Suffer, Towns, Waiting, YourselvesDictionary of Bible Themes Joshua 10:19 8728 enemies, of Israel and Judah 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 10:19 NIVJoshua 10:19 NLTJoshua 10:19 ESVJoshua 10:19 NASBJoshua 10:19 KJV
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