So Joshua and the Israelites continued to inflict a terrible slaughter until they had finished them off, and the remaining survivors retreated to the fortified cities. So Joshua and the IsraelitesThis phrase highlights the leadership of Joshua and the unity of the Israelites. Joshua, whose name means "Yahweh is salvation," is a type of Christ, leading God's people into the Promised Land. The Israelites, as God's chosen people, are acting in obedience to God's command to conquer the land. This unity and obedience are crucial themes throughout the book of Joshua, emphasizing the importance of following God's guidance as a community. finished inflicting a great slaughter
The phrase underscores the completeness of the victory. The Hebrew root for "finished" (כָּלָה, kalah) implies a sense of completion or fulfillment. This reflects God's promise to give the land to the Israelites and His faithfulness in fulfilling His word. The "great slaughter" indicates the severity of the battle and the decisive nature of God's intervention on behalf of His people. It serves as a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the judgment that comes upon those who oppose God's will. until they had destroyed the remaining survivors
This part of the verse speaks to the thoroughness of the Israelites' conquest. The Hebrew word for "destroyed" (שָׁמַד, shamad) often implies a complete and utter destruction, leaving nothing behind. This reflects the divine mandate given to the Israelites to remove all influences that could lead them away from God. It serves as a metaphor for the Christian life, where believers are called to remove sin and anything that hinders their relationship with God. who retreated to the fortified cities
The retreat to "fortified cities" indicates the strategic nature of ancient warfare. These cities were often heavily defended and served as places of refuge. Historically, fortified cities were common in the ancient Near East, providing protection against invaders. Spiritually, this can be seen as a representation of the false security that people seek apart from God. Despite their defenses, these cities could not withstand the power of God working through His people, illustrating the futility of relying on worldly strength instead of divine protection. Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of the Israelites, who succeeded Moses and led the Israelites into the Promised Land. In this chapter, he is leading the Israelites in battle against the Amorite kings. 2. IsraelitesThe people of God, chosen to inherit the Promised Land. They are engaged in battle under Joshua's leadership. 3. AmoritesA group of Canaanite people who opposed the Israelites. In this chapter, they are defeated by Joshua and the Israelites. 4. GibeonA city that made a treaty with Israel and was under attack by the Amorite kings, prompting Joshua to come to their aid. 5. The LORDThe God of Israel, who intervenes on behalf of His people, ensuring their victory over their enemies. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in BattleGod is sovereign over all circumstances, including battles. Just as He fought for Israel, He is involved in the battles we face today, whether spiritual, emotional, or physical. Faithfulness to God's PromisesJoshua's victory is a testament to God's faithfulness to His promises. Believers can trust that God will fulfill His promises in their lives. The Importance of ObedienceJoshua's success was tied to his obedience to God's commands. Obedience to God is crucial for experiencing His blessings and victories. Divine InterventionThe miraculous nature of Israel's victory reminds us that God can intervene in our lives in unexpected and powerful ways. Community and SupportThe Israelites fought together as a community. Believers are called to support one another in spiritual battles, reflecting the unity and strength found in the body of Christ. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Joshua 10:20 demonstrate God's faithfulness to His promises, and how can this encourage us in our personal battles today? 2. In what ways does the account of Joshua and the Israelites' victory over the Amorites parallel the spiritual battles we face as Christians? 3. How can we apply the principle of obedience seen in Joshua's leadership to our own lives and decision-making processes? 4. What role does community play in overcoming challenges, and how can we foster a supportive Christian community in our own lives? 5. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's intervention in your life. How did it strengthen your faith, and how can you share this testimony with others to encourage them? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 17:8-16This passage describes another battle where God intervenes for Israel, showing His faithfulness and power in delivering His people. Deuteronomy 20:1-4These verses provide God's instructions for warfare, emphasizing that He fights for Israel, which is evident in Joshua 10. Psalm 18:37-42David's psalm of victory over his enemies echoes the themes of divine intervention and victory found in Joshua 10. 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 Almost, Band, Cities, Complete, Completely, Consumed, Death, Destroyed, Destruction, Ended, Entered, Fenced, Finish, Finished, Fortified, Got, Israelites, Joshua, Killing, Pass, Reached, Remnant, Rest, Safely, Slaughter, Slaying, Smite, Smiting, Sons, Survivors, Till, Towns, Walled, War, WipedDictionary of Bible Themes Joshua 10:20 5256 city 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 10:20 NIVJoshua 10:20 NLTJoshua 10:20 ESVJoshua 10:20 NASBJoshua 10:20 KJV
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