Joshua 10:31-33 shows how the LORD allowed the Israelites to conquer the city of Lachish, about 30 miles southwest of Jerusalem. They destroy all its inhabitants, including the king of Gezer (Horam) and his army, who came to the aid of the people of Lachish.
In Joshua 10:31-33, the Israelites conquer the city of Lachish.
The Israelite military operations to conquer the Promised Land became easier after their victory over Jericho, Ai, and the coalition of southern Amorite armies ⎯Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon (Joshua 6, 8, 10:1-27). Following these battles, God’s chosen people defeated Makkedah and Libnah, two cities in the Shephelah foothills of Judah (Joshua 10:28-30). Next, Joshua and all of Israel with him passed on from Libnah to Lachish (v. 31). The army of Israel continues its campaign.
The city of Lachish was about 30 miles southwest of Jerusalem, near the southwestern edge of the Shephelah. It lies on a 50-foot-high, steep-sided tel covering approximately 20 acres. Its king and army participated in the coalition that sought to defeat Gibeon for allying with Israel (Joshua 10:1-5). The Gibeonites requested Joshua’s help, and he and the Israelite army rescued them from their adversaries (vv. 6-11).
Having defeated the confederate Amorite army, Makkedah, and Libnah, the Israelites turned to Lachish. They camped by it and fought against it. Lachish would succumb to Israel's army because it lost its best soldiers during the battle of Gibeon. More importantly, however, the LORD was the one who continued to ensure the Israelites were successful in each battle: He gave Lachish into the hands of Israel (v. 32).
The all-powerful God weakened the enemy while strengthening His covenant people as they fought against Lachish. As a result, he [Joshua] captured it on the second day. Having seized the city, he struck it and every person who was in it with the edge of the sword.
The sword was a military weapon used by soldiers to thrust and slash their opponents in armed conflicts. Joshua and the Israelites utilized it against the town of Lachish. The picture of striking the city and every person who was in it with the edge of the sword connotes total destruction of the enemy. With God's help, they defeated all its inhabitants, according to all that he had done to Libnah. In other words, they killed everyone in Lachish just as they had done to Libnah.
While the Israelite warriors were on the battlefield, King Horam of Gezer came up to help Lachish (v. 33). Gezer [modern Tel Jezer] was a site in the foothills of the Judean range, about 18 miles northwest of Jerusalem. Its king, Horam, was friendly to King Japhia of Lachish. Thus, he thought he and his army could rescue their allies from the Israelite invasion. However, his efforts were unsuccessful because Joshua defeated him and his people until he had left him no survivor. The Israelite victory over Lachish was complete because the LORD their God was with them (Isaiah 8:9-10).
Joshua 10:31-32
31 And Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Libnah to Lachish, and they camped by it and fought against it.
32 The LORD gave Lachish into the hands of Israel; and he captured it on the second day, and struck it and every person who was in it with the edge of the sword, according to all that he had done to Libnah.
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Joshua 10:31-33 meaning
In Joshua 10:31-33, the Israelites conquer the city of Lachish.
The Israelite military operations to conquer the Promised Land became easier after their victory over Jericho, Ai, and the coalition of southern Amorite armies ⎯Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon (Joshua 6, 8, 10:1-27). Following these battles, God’s chosen people defeated Makkedah and Libnah, two cities in the Shephelah foothills of Judah (Joshua 10:28-30). Next, Joshua and all of Israel with him passed on from Libnah to Lachish (v. 31). The army of Israel continues its campaign.
The city of Lachish was about 30 miles southwest of Jerusalem, near the southwestern edge of the Shephelah. It lies on a 50-foot-high, steep-sided tel covering approximately 20 acres. Its king and army participated in the coalition that sought to defeat Gibeon for allying with Israel (Joshua 10:1-5). The Gibeonites requested Joshua’s help, and he and the Israelite army rescued them from their adversaries (vv. 6-11).
Having defeated the confederate Amorite army, Makkedah, and Libnah, the Israelites turned to Lachish. They camped by it and fought against it. Lachish would succumb to Israel's army because it lost its best soldiers during the battle of Gibeon. More importantly, however, the LORD was the one who continued to ensure the Israelites were successful in each battle: He gave Lachish into the hands of Israel (v. 32).
The all-powerful God weakened the enemy while strengthening His covenant people as they fought against Lachish. As a result, he [Joshua] captured it on the second day. Having seized the city, he struck it and every person who was in it with the edge of the sword.
The sword was a military weapon used by soldiers to thrust and slash their opponents in armed conflicts. Joshua and the Israelites utilized it against the town of Lachish. The picture of striking the city and every person who was in it with the edge of the sword connotes total destruction of the enemy. With God's help, they defeated all its inhabitants, according to all that he had done to Libnah. In other words, they killed everyone in Lachish just as they had done to Libnah.
While the Israelite warriors were on the battlefield, King Horam of Gezer came up to help Lachish (v. 33). Gezer [modern Tel Jezer] was a site in the foothills of the Judean range, about 18 miles northwest of Jerusalem. Its king, Horam, was friendly to King Japhia of Lachish. Thus, he thought he and his army could rescue their allies from the Israelite invasion. However, his efforts were unsuccessful because Joshua defeated him and his people until he had left him no survivor. The Israelite victory over Lachish was complete because the LORD their God was with them (Isaiah 8:9-10).