What is the meaning of Joshua 10:40? So Joshua conquered the whole region Joshua 10:40 opens by confirming, “So Joshua conquered the whole region”. • The victory fulfills the promise first given in Joshua 1:3-5 that every place the soles of Israel’s feet touched would become theirs. • God had already assured Moses of this territory (Deuteronomy 11:24); Joshua now experiences that pledge firsthand. • The verb “conquered” underscores a completed action—mirroring Joshua 10:42, which says he “captured all these kings and their land at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.” The text stresses that triumph stems not from Israel’s military prowess but from divine intervention. —the hill country, the Negev, the foothills, and the slopes Listing the hill country, the Negev (southern desert), the foothills (Shephelah), and the slopes (western escarpments) paints a picture of total geographic coverage: • Each zone had been described in Numbers 34:2-4 and Deuteronomy 1:7 as part of Israel’s inheritance. • By naming every region, Scripture highlights the thoroughness of God’s faithfulness (Joshua 21:43-45). • The variety of terrain signals that no environment is beyond God’s reach—whether rugged hills or arid deserts, He secures victory for His people. together with all their kings The conquest included “all their kings,” eliminating political resistance. • Earlier in the chapter, five Amorite kings were routed (Joshua 10:24-26); chapter 12 later catalogs thirty-one defeated kings, confirming wide-ranging success. • Deuteronomy 7:24 had promised that the LORD would “deliver their kings into your hand, and you will wipe out their names from under heaven.” • Removing the kings prevented any future coalition from threatening Israel’s covenant mission (Psalm 2:2-6 reminds us that earthly rulers cannot thwart God’s plans). leaving no survivors “Leaving no survivors” confronts modern readers, yet the narrative frames it as covenant obedience: • Deuteronomy 20:16-18 commanded Israel to “not leave alive anything that breathes” in specific Canaanite cities so that idolatry would not corrupt the nation. • Joshua 6:21 echoes the same language at Jericho, showing consistency in the pattern of obedience. • The severity underscores the holiness of God and the seriousness of preserving a people set apart for His redemptive purposes (cf. Exodus 34:12-16). He devoted to destruction everything that breathed The phrase reflects the practice of herem, total consecration of people and goods to the LORD: • Deuteronomy 7:2 required Israel to “utterly destroy” the nations, an act of judgment and devotion. • 1 Samuel 15:3 later shows Saul’s downfall for failing to practice herem fully, contrasting Joshua’s thorough obedience. • By devoting the spoils, Israel acknowledged that victory and possessions alike belonged to God (Joshua 6:17-19). just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded The verse closes by attributing every action to God’s explicit directive: • Joshua’s success lies in unwavering conformity to divine instruction, echoing Joshua 1:7, “Be careful to do according to all the law.” • Exodus 23:20-33 had laid out the conquest plan; Numbers 33:50-56 repeated the mandate to drive out the inhabitants. • The repetition of “the LORD, the God of Israel” centers the narrative on covenant relationship—He commands, His people obey, and His purposes advance. summary Joshua 10:40 celebrates the complete, God-empowered conquest of southern Canaan. Naming each region, mentioning every king, and noting the absence of survivors all emphasize total obedience to God’s command. The verse showcases a faithful leader following divine directions exactly, resulting in the fulfillment of promises made to the patriarchs and Moses. God’s sovereignty, holiness, and covenant faithfulness shine through a passage that, while sobering, reminds us that His purposes prevail when His people trust and obey. |
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