Joshua 10:36-37 records how the LORD allowed the Israelites to conquer the city of Hebron, about 20 miles south of Jerusalem. They destroy all its inhabitants.
In Joshua 10:36-37, the Israelites defeat the city of Hebron.
The account of Israel's conquest of the Promised Land repeatedly shows that the LORD was the one who fought for them and granted them victory. It also demonstrates Israel’s obedience in actively participating in the battles to accomplish God's plan. The people entered Canaan in the middle and moved southward. 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, they attacked Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, and Eglon, and defeated them all (vv. 28-35). Then, Joshua and all of Israel went up from Eglon to Hebron (v. 36).
The city of Hebron was on the crest of the Judean mountain ridge, about 20 miles south of Jerusalem and less than two miles from Mamre, where Abraham dwelt for many years (Genesis 23:2). Its king was among the five leaders who plotted against Gibeon for allying with Israel (Joshua 10:1-5). The Israelites had killed the king along with the other four and laid their corpses in the cave where they had hidden during the battle (vv. 26-27).
In our passage, the people of God condemned the town of Hebron to destruction. They captured it and struck it and its king and all its cities and all the persons who were in it (v. 37). The text probably mentions Hebron's king again to show that the whole city surrendered to the Israelite army. But the Israelites had already killed him and buried him in the cave at Makkedah with the four Amorite kings. It is also possible that a second king was slain in this capture—whoever ascended the throne after King Hoham of Hebron (Joshua 10:3) was slain in the earlier battle. God's people also took captive the small towns around Hebron. They slaughtered the enemy with the edge of the sword, an offensive weapon of war designed to inflict wounds on the opponents, and a symbol of defeat of enemies and victory for the wielder of the sword.
Joshua's subjugation of Hebron was complete: He left no survivor, according to all he had done to Eglon. The Israelite leader followed the military tactics he used for Eglon to defeat Hebron. Thus, he utterly destroyed it and every person who was in it because the LORD was with Joshua (Joshua 6:27). He is a "rewarder of those who seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). He strengthened His covenant people and delivered the enemy into their hands. Victory belongs to Him.
Hebron appears several times in the Old Testament as a place of significance. Abraham had lived near it and buried Sarah there (Genesis 23:2). It was the city the ten fearful spies pointed to when they reported the sons of Anak—giants so imposing that the spies said they felt like grasshoppers by comparison (Numbers 13:22, 28, 33). That fear kept an entire generation from entering the land (Numbers 14:1-4). But Hebron falls in a day. What once seemed impossible becomes just another city on the route of conquest, because of the faith and obedience of the Israelites as they inherited what God promised them (Hebrews 11:32-34).
Joshua 10:36-37
36 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron, and they fought against it.
37 They captured it and struck it and its king and all its cities and all the persons who were in it with the edge of the sword. He left no survivor, according to all that he had done to Eglon. And he utterly destroyed it and every person who was in it.
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Joshua 10:36-37 meaning
In Joshua 10:36-37, the Israelites defeat the city of Hebron.
The account of Israel's conquest of the Promised Land repeatedly shows that the LORD was the one who fought for them and granted them victory. It also demonstrates Israel’s obedience in actively participating in the battles to accomplish God's plan. The people entered Canaan in the middle and moved southward. 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, they attacked Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, and Eglon, and defeated them all (vv. 28-35). Then, Joshua and all of Israel went up from Eglon to Hebron (v. 36).
The city of Hebron was on the crest of the Judean mountain ridge, about 20 miles south of Jerusalem and less than two miles from Mamre, where Abraham dwelt for many years (Genesis 23:2). Its king was among the five leaders who plotted against Gibeon for allying with Israel (Joshua 10:1-5). The Israelites had killed the king along with the other four and laid their corpses in the cave where they had hidden during the battle (vv. 26-27).
In our passage, the people of God condemned the town of Hebron to destruction. They captured it and struck it and its king and all its cities and all the persons who were in it (v. 37). The text probably mentions Hebron's king again to show that the whole city surrendered to the Israelite army. But the Israelites had already killed him and buried him in the cave at Makkedah with the four Amorite kings. It is also possible that a second king was slain in this capture—whoever ascended the throne after King Hoham of Hebron (Joshua 10:3) was slain in the earlier battle. God's people also took captive the small towns around Hebron. They slaughtered the enemy with the edge of the sword, an offensive weapon of war designed to inflict wounds on the opponents, and a symbol of defeat of enemies and victory for the wielder of the sword.
Joshua's subjugation of Hebron was complete: He left no survivor, according to all he had done to Eglon. The Israelite leader followed the military tactics he used for Eglon to defeat Hebron. Thus, he utterly destroyed it and every person who was in it because the LORD was with Joshua (Joshua 6:27). He is a "rewarder of those who seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). He strengthened His covenant people and delivered the enemy into their hands. Victory belongs to Him.
Hebron appears several times in the Old Testament as a place of significance. Abraham had lived near it and buried Sarah there (Genesis 23:2). It was the city the ten fearful spies pointed to when they reported the sons of Anak—giants so imposing that the spies said they felt like grasshoppers by comparison (Numbers 13:22, 28, 33). That fear kept an entire generation from entering the land (Numbers 14:1-4). But Hebron falls in a day. What once seemed impossible becomes just another city on the route of conquest, because of the faith and obedience of the Israelites as they inherited what God promised them (Hebrews 11:32-34).