Joshua 10:34-35 describes how the LORD allowed the Israelites to conquer the city of Eglon, about 35 miles southwest of Jerusalem.
In Joshua 10:34-35, the Israelites conquer the city of Eglon.
The LORD continually gave Joshua and the Israelites victory over their enemies. At this point, the greatest danger lay behind them since they had defeated Jericho, Ai, and the coalition of southern Amorite armies ⎯Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon (Joshua 6, 8, 10:1-27). Moreover, their victory over Makkedah, Libnah, and Lachish showed that the remaining battles were only finishing touches (vv. 28-33). Thus, with great encouragement, Joshua andall of Israelwith him passed on from Lachishto Eglon, a town about 10 miles west of Lachish (v. 34). They camped by it and fought against it.
The Israelite leader was courageous because the LORD had confirmed His presence with him. In the first chapter of the book, God encouraged Joshua not to faint because he would be victorious: “No one will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you. I will not fail you or forsake you” (Joshua 1:5). Later, God reiterated this truth several times to strengthen Joshua (Joshua 1:9, 3:7, 8:1, 10:8). Therefore, the Israelites marched toward Eglon and waged war against it. They captured it on that day and struck it with the edge of the sword (v. 35).
The sword was a symbol of war and victory. If something is described as struck with the edge of the sword, it indicates destruction to the object being struck and triumph to the one wielding the sword. With God’s help, Joshua (and his army) captured Eglon. He utterly destroyed every person in it, according to all he had done to Lachish. In other words, they killed everyone in Eglon just as they had done to Lachish.
The description that they had captured the city on that day demonstrates how quickly the Israelites are taking over these areas. God is not making Israel wait out long sieges. Israel's role was to show up and obey. God handed over victory after victory so that Israel could inherit the Promised Land at last.
The LORD kept His promises, as He always does. He told Joshua He would deliver the Canaanite nations into his hands. The Israelite leader needed to walk in God’s path, obeying all the divine stipulations of the treaty to be successful in all his endeavors (Joshua 1:8). He was to take God’s word at face value and act upon it to lead the chosen people to the land of Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey (Deuteronomy 11:9, 26:9, 31:20), promised centuries ago to the father of this nation, Abraham (Genesis 12:7, 15:18, 17:8).
Joshua 10:34-35
34 And Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Lachish to Eglon, and they camped by it and fought against it.
35 They captured it on that day and struck it with the edge of the sword; and he utterly destroyed that day every person who was in it, according to all that he had done to Lachish.
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Joshua 10:34-35 meaning
In Joshua 10:34-35, the Israelites conquer the city of Eglon.
The LORD continually gave Joshua and the Israelites victory over their enemies. At this point, the greatest danger lay behind them since they had defeated Jericho, Ai, and the coalition of southern Amorite armies ⎯Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon (Joshua 6, 8, 10:1-27). Moreover, their victory over Makkedah, Libnah, and Lachish showed that the remaining battles were only finishing touches (vv. 28-33). Thus, with great encouragement, Joshua and all of Israel with him passed on from Lachish to Eglon, a town about 10 miles west of Lachish (v. 34). They camped by it and fought against it.
The Israelite leader was courageous because the LORD had confirmed His presence with him. In the first chapter of the book, God encouraged Joshua not to faint because he would be victorious: “No one will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you. I will not fail you or forsake you” (Joshua 1:5). Later, God reiterated this truth several times to strengthen Joshua (Joshua 1:9, 3:7, 8:1, 10:8). Therefore, the Israelites marched toward Eglon and waged war against it. They captured it on that day and struck it with the edge of the sword (v. 35).
The sword was a symbol of war and victory. If something is described as struck with the edge of the sword, it indicates destruction to the object being struck and triumph to the one wielding the sword. With God’s help, Joshua (and his army) captured Eglon. He utterly destroyed every person in it, according to all he had done to Lachish. In other words, they killed everyone in Eglon just as they had done to Lachish.
The description that they had captured the city on that day demonstrates how quickly the Israelites are taking over these areas. God is not making Israel wait out long sieges. Israel's role was to show up and obey. God handed over victory after victory so that Israel could inherit the Promised Land at last.
The LORD kept His promises, as He always does. He told Joshua He would deliver the Canaanite nations into his hands. The Israelite leader needed to walk in God’s path, obeying all the divine stipulations of the treaty to be successful in all his endeavors (Joshua 1:8). He was to take God’s word at face value and act upon it to lead the chosen people to the land of Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey (Deuteronomy 11:9, 26:9, 31:20), promised centuries ago to the father of this nation, Abraham (Genesis 12:7, 15:18, 17:8).