Joshua 10:28-43

The Summary of the Conquest Joshua 10:28-43

28 And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho.
29 Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah:
30 And the Lord delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho.
31 And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it:
32 And the Lord delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah.
33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.
34 And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it, and fought against it:
35 And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.
36 And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron; and they fought against it:
37 And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein.
38 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it:
39 And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.
40 So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel commanded.
41 And Joshua smote them from Kadesh-barnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.
42 And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.
43 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.

17.

Where was Libnah? Joshua 10:29

Libnah was one of the towns of the plain of the hill-country of Judah. It was allotted to the priests (Joshua 21:13). The people revolted from Judah in the reign of Joram (2 Kings 8:22). Later, it was besieged by Sennacherib Isaiah 37:8). It is in the South, but on the northeast of Lachish.

18.

Where was Gezer? Joshua 10:33

Gezer was on the southern boundary of Ephraim (Joshua 16:3) and was given up by that tribe to the Levites (Joshua 16:9-10; Joshua 21:20-21). David pursued the Philistines to Gezer after they had been defeated at Gibeon (2 Samuel 5:25; 1 Chronicles 14:16). At a later period it was conquered by Pharaoh and presented to his daughter who was married to Solomon. Solomon built, i.e., fortified, it (1 Kings 9:16-17). The site has been excavated in modern times and has yielded many striking examples of artifacts in burial customs. Gates and walls dating from the time of Solomon have been uncovered, and the massive fortifications found there attest the strategic military importance of this site which overlooks the maritime plain of the Mediterranean and guards the ascent to the hill country of Judah.

19.

Where was Debir? Joshua 10:38-39

This town was formerly called Kirjath-sepher, i.e., book town (Judges 1:11), and Kirjath-sannah, i.e., in all probability the city of palm branches (Joshua 15:49). It was given up by Judah to the Levites (Joshua 21:15). It stood upon the mountains of Judah (Joshua 15:49), to the south of Hebron, but has not been certainly discovered.

20.

Where was Goshen? Joshua 10:41

This is a different place from the Goshen of Egypt, deriving its name in all probability from the town of Goshen on the southern portion of the mountains (Joshua 15:51). As the line from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza defines the extent of the conquered country from south to north on the western side, so the parallel clause, all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon, probably defines the extent from south to north on the eastern side. Therefore, we should look for Goshen in the South near the Dead Sea.