Joshua 10:38-39 meaning

In Joshua 10:38-39, the Israelites finish their campaign in southern Canaan, conquering the city of Debir.

During the Israelite conquest of the Promised Land, they faithfully obeyed God’s instructions to devote the enemy to destruction and eradicate their idolatry to prevent them from falling into apostasy (Deuteronomy 7:1-6). In the previous campaigns, the Israelites had defeated Jericho, Ai, and the coalition of five southern Amorite armies ⎯Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon (Joshua 6, 8, 10:1-27). Furthermore, they destroyed Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, and Hebron (Joshua 10:28-37). Israel’s final battle in southern Canaan ended positively: Joshua and all of Israel with him returned to Debir, a fortified city about eight miles southwest of Hebron (v. 38).

That the text says the Israelite troops returned to Debir does not necessarily mean they had been there before because it was farther south. It means they turned their attention to the city. Having focused on Debir, Joshua fought against it. His attack was again victorious; he captured the town, its king, and all its cities (v. 39). The phrase all its cities means Debir had small towns around it and under its control. None of them remained intact during Israel's attack. God’s people struck them with the edge of the sword, an offensive weapon of war and a symbol of death. As a result, they utterly destroyed every person who was in it [Debir].

Joshua's victory over Debir was so complete that he left no survivor. God had weakened the enemy to allow His covenant people to triumph over them. The Israelite leader followed God's lead and direction as he fought the battles. Therefore, just as he had done to Hebron, thus he did to Debir and its king, as he had done to Libnah and its king. This battle did not require much time. He merely followed the military tactics he employed for Hebron and Libnah to defeat Debir. More importantly, he trusted the LORD that victory belonged to God’s people (Joshua 1:1-9).

The defeat of Debir closes the southern campaign the same way Jericho opened the entire conquest: complete obedience, complete victory.

Joshua entered Canaan at Jericho trusting a promise he had not seen fulfilled yet. He ends the southern sweep at Debir having seen that promise fulfilled city by city, king by king. Faith that looks back at what God has done becomes the fuel for the next step forward, just as Joshua illustrated when he had his captains put their feet on the necks of the defeated Amorite kings, showing their present victory and assuring them of future victory given to them by the LORD (Joshua 10:24-25).