They captured it and put to the sword its king, all its villages, and all the people. Joshua left no survivors, just as he had done at Eglon; he devoted to destruction Hebron and everyone in it. They captured itThe phrase "They captured it" refers to the Israelites' conquest of the city of Debir. The Hebrew root for "captured" is "לָכַד" (lakad), which means to seize or take by force. This action signifies the fulfillment of God's promise to give the Israelites victory over their enemies. Historically, capturing a city involved strategic military tactics and divine intervention, as the Israelites were often outnumbered or faced fortified cities. This victory underscores the theme of divine assistance in the conquest of Canaan. and struck down its king
The phrase "and struck down its king" highlights the complete overthrow of Debir's leadership. In ancient Near Eastern warfare, the king represented the city's strength and authority. By defeating the king, the Israelites dismantled the political and military power of Debir. This act is consistent with God's command to eliminate the Canaanite kings, who were often seen as corrupt and idolatrous, opposing God's covenant with Israel. its villages
The mention of "its villages" indicates that the conquest extended beyond the city itself to the surrounding settlements. The Hebrew word for "villages" is "חַצֵּר" (chatser), which can refer to smaller, rural communities. This comprehensive victory ensured that no pockets of resistance remained, allowing the Israelites to establish control over the entire region. It reflects the thoroughness of God's judgment against the Canaanites and the establishment of Israelite presence in the land. and every soul within
The phrase "and every soul within" emphasizes the totality of the destruction. The Hebrew word for "soul" is "נֶפֶשׁ" (nephesh), which can mean life or person. This phrase indicates that the conquest was complete, with no survivors left. From a theological perspective, this reflects the severity of God's judgment against the Canaanite practices, which were seen as abominable and deserving of divine wrath. leaving no survivors
"Leaving no survivors" reiterates the total destruction of Debir. This phrase underscores the completeness of the Israelites' obedience to God's command to eradicate the Canaanite influence. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and the holiness of God, who cannot tolerate idolatry and immorality. just as they had done to Eglon
The comparison "just as they had done to Eglon" provides a historical context, linking the conquest of Debir to previous victories. Eglon was another city that faced similar destruction, demonstrating a pattern of divine judgment and fulfillment of God's promises. This consistency in the Israelites' conquests reinforces the reliability of God's word and His unwavering support for His people. They completely destroyed Debir
The phrase "They completely destroyed Debir" highlights the finality of the conquest. The Hebrew term for "completely destroyed" is "חָרַם" (charam), which means to devote to destruction. This act of total destruction was a form of offering to God, signifying the removal of anything that could lead Israel astray. It reflects the seriousness with which God viewed the Canaanite threat to Israel's spiritual purity. and everyone in it
The concluding phrase "and everyone in it" confirms the totality of the destruction. It serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of living in opposition to God's will. From a conservative Christian perspective, this passage challenges believers to consider the seriousness of sin and the importance of living in obedience to God's commands, trusting in His promises and His power to deliver. Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of the Israelites, who succeeded Moses and led the conquest of Canaan. He is a central figure in this passage, executing God's command to conquer the land. 2. HazorA significant Canaanite city that was captured and destroyed by Joshua. It was a strategic location in the northern part of Canaan. 3. The King of HazorThe ruler of Hazor, who was defeated and killed by Joshua and the Israelites. 4. The IsraelitesThe people of God, chosen to inherit the Promised Land. They are the ones carrying out the conquest under Joshua's leadership. 5. EglonAnother city previously conquered by Joshua, mentioned here to draw a parallel to the destruction of Hazor. 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. God's Sovereignty and JudgmentThe destruction of Hazor serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and His right to judge nations according to His will. Spiritual WarfareJust as Joshua fought physical battles, Christians are called to engage in spiritual warfare, standing firm in faith and obedience. Trust in God's PromisesJoshua's success in battle underscores the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises to His people. The Consequences of SinThe destruction of Hazor is a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and rebellion against God. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Joshua's obedience in this passage challenge us to obey God's commands in our own lives, even when they are difficult? 2. In what ways does the destruction of Hazor reflect God's judgment, and how can this understanding shape our view of God's character? 3. How can the concept of spiritual warfare, as seen in Joshua's physical battles, be applied to the challenges we face in our Christian walk today? 4. What promises of God can we hold onto when facing our own "battles," and how does Joshua's example encourage us to trust in those promises? 5. How does the account of Hazor's destruction serve as a warning about the consequences of sin, and how can we apply this lesson to our personal lives and communities? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 7:1-2This passage provides the command from God to the Israelites to utterly destroy the nations in Canaan, which is being fulfilled in Joshua 10:37. Joshua 6:21The destruction of Jericho is similar to the destruction of Hazor, showing a pattern of obedience to God's commands in the conquest. 1 Samuel 15:3God's command to Saul to destroy the Amalekites parallels the command given to Joshua, highlighting the theme of complete obedience to God's instructions. 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 Capture, Captured, Cities, Curse, Death, Destroyed, Devote, Edge, Eglon, Mouth, None, Overcoming, Persons, Putting, Remaining, Remnant, Smite, Smote, Souls, Struck, Survivor, Survivors, Sword, Therein, Thereof, Totally, Towns, Utterly, VillagesDictionary of Bible Themes Joshua 10:37 5601 village 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 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 10:37 NIVJoshua 10:37 NLTJoshua 10:37 ESVJoshua 10:37 NASBJoshua 10:37 KJV
Joshua 10:37 Commentaries
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