What is the meaning of Joshua 10:30? And the LORD also delivered that city and its king into the hand of Israel • The victory at Libnah is attributed first and foremost to God, echoing His promise in Joshua 1:3–5 that every place Joshua set foot would be given to Israel. • This pattern of divine initiative—God handing over kings and cities—repeats throughout the conquest (Joshua 6:2; 8:1; 10:8; 24:12), underscoring that Israel’s success rests on covenant faithfulness, not military prowess. • The phrase “also delivered” links Libnah to the earlier towns already conquered, showing a steady fulfillment of Deuteronomy 7:24, where God vowed to “deliver their kings into your hand, and you will wipe out their names from under heaven.” and Joshua put all the people to the sword, leaving no survivors • Joshua obeys the command first given in Deuteronomy 20:16–18 to devote Canaanite cities to destruction so Israel would remain undefiled by idolatry. • Similar total destruction occurred at Jericho (Joshua 6:21) and Ai (8:24–26), highlighting consistent obedience. • The complete removal of inhabitants mirrored God’s earlier judgments in Genesis 15:16 and Leviticus 18:24–25, where the sin of the Amorites reached full measure. And he did to the king of Libnah as he had done to the king of Jericho • Executing the king (cf. Joshua 10:26–27) publicly demonstrated that no earthly authority could stand against the Lord (Psalm 2:2–9). • Jericho’s king had been similarly dealt with (Joshua 6:21, 24), setting a precedent of decisive justice against persistent rebellion (Numbers 33:55–56). • The chaining of victories—Jericho, Ai, the five Amorite kings, and now Libnah—illustrates the momentum of God’s judgment and Israel’s obedience (Joshua 12:7–24). summary Joshua 10:30 records another step in God’s unstoppable campaign to give Israel the land. God delivers; Joshua obeys; judgment falls; and the land is steadily cleared of idolatry. The pattern encourages believers today to trust God’s promises, act in full obedience, and remember that every victory ultimately belongs to the Lord. |
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