Joshua 10 19

Joshua 10:19 kjv

And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hand.

Joshua 10:19 nkjv

And do not stay there yourselves, but pursue your enemies, and attack their rear guard. Do not allow them to enter their cities, for the LORD your God has delivered them into your hand."

Joshua 10:19 niv

But don't stop; pursue your enemies! Attack them from the rear and don't let them reach their cities, for the LORD your God has given them into your hand."

Joshua 10:19 esv

but do not stay there yourselves. Pursue your enemies; attack their rear guard. Do not let them enter their cities, for the LORD your God has given them into your hand."

Joshua 10:19 nlt

The rest of you continue chasing the enemy and cut them down from the rear. Don't give them a chance to get back to their towns, for the LORD your God has given you victory over them."

Joshua 10 verses

Joshua 10 19 Meaning

Joshua 10:19 commands the Israelite soldiers to continue their pursuit of the fleeing Amorite kings and their armies without delay. The instruction is to press the advantage gained, strike down the enemy's rear, and prevent them from reaching the safety of their fortified cities. The imperative is underpinned by a divine assurance that the Lord their God has already delivered the enemies into their hands, guaranteeing the victory.

Joshua 10 19 Context

This verse is part of the account of a pivotal battle during Israel's conquest of Canaan. Immediately prior, Joshua and the Israelites had come to the aid of the Gibeonites, who had tricked them into a treaty but were now attacked by a coalition of five Amorite kings. The battle involved miraculous divine intervention, with large hailstones thrown by God and the sun standing still at Joshua's command, resulting in a decisive rout of the Amorite forces. Joshua 10:19 captures the moment of relentless pursuit following this miraculous victory, emphasizing the need to completely eliminate the threat, prevent any regrouping, and secure total dominance, aligning with God's command for the utter destruction of certain Canaanite peoples due to their extreme wickedness and idolatry, to preserve Israel's purity and commitment to Yahweh.

Joshua 10 19 Word analysis

• And do not stay there (וְלֹא תַּעֲמֹדוּ שָׁם, v'lo ta'amodu sham):
  • "do not stay": A direct imperative forbidding any pause or hesitation.
  • "there": Refers to the immediate battlefield where the Amorites are fleeing, signifying not wasting a single moment in exploiting the victory.
  • Significance: This emphasizes the critical nature of capitalizing on divine empowerment, not resting until the commanded work is complete.
• but pursue your enemies (כִּי־תִרְדְּפוּ אַחֲרֵי אֹיְבֵיכֶם, ki-tirdephu acharei oyvechem):
  • "pursue" (רדף, radap): To chase, to follow vigorously, to hunt. It denotes an active, relentless, and determined pursuit, giving no quarter.
  • "enemies" (אֹיְבֵיכֶם, oyvechem): Refers to the adversaries, the hostile forces challenging God's people and His purposes.
  • Significance: Highlights the obligation to completely neutralize the threat, consistent with the nature of the holy war in Canaan.
• and attack their rear (וְהִכִּיתֶם אוֹתָם מֵאָחוֹר, v'hikkitem otam me'achor):
  • "attack" (הך, hak, root נכה nakah): To strike, to hit, to smite, often implying to kill or defeat decisively.
  • "their rear" (מֵאָחוֹר, me'achor): From behind, referring to their retreating forces.
  • Significance: This tactical command targets the vulnerable point of a fleeing army, preventing an organized retreat and maximizing casualties. It demonstrates a strategy for total rout, leaving no opportunity for rally or defense.
• do not let them enter their cities (אַל־תַּנִּיחוּ אוֹתָם לָבוֹא אֶל־עָרֵיהֶם, al-tannichu otam lavo el-'arechem):
  • "do not let them" (אַל־תַּנִּיחוּ, al-tannichu): A strong negation, forbidding them from finding safety.
  • "enter their cities": Refers to their fortified strongholds.
  • Significance: Prevents the enemies from re-fortifying, regrouping, or finding refuge. This ensures their total exposure and utter destruction, preventing them from posing a future threat to Israel. It reflects the principle of cherem (devotion to destruction) for the idolatrous peoples.
• for the LORD your God has given them into your hand (כִּי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם נְתָנָם בְּיֶדְכֶם, ki Yahweh Eloheichem netanam b'yedchem):
  • "for" (כִּי, ki): Introduces the divine justification and certainty of victory.
  • "the LORD your God" (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, Yahweh Eloheichem): Emphasizes God's covenant relationship with Israel and His divine agency in the battle. This is the source of Israel's strength and success.
  • "has given" (נְתָנָם, netanam, root נתן nathan): Perfect tense, indicating a completed action, an already settled reality. The victory is already a divine fait accompli.
  • "into your hand" (בְּיֶדְכֶם, b'yedchem): A common biblical idiom signifying control, possession, or victory.
  • Significance: This phrase is the theological foundation for the preceding commands. It shifts the focus from human effort to divine empowerment and sovereignty. It reinforces that the battle's success is not due to Israel's might but God's gracious and powerful intervention, and thus, obedience to His precise instructions is paramount for the completion of the divine purpose. It serves as an encouragement to press on, knowing victory is assured by God Himself.

Joshua 10 19 Bonus section

The divine assurance, "for the LORD your God has given them into your hand," is not merely encouragement; it is the fundamental theological basis that transforms the human military action into a direct response to God's completed work. This verse demonstrates a core tenet of covenant theology where Israel's military might and strategic prowess were secondary to God's promise and active involvement. Their action was a derivative of God's pre-given victory. This concept contrasts sharply with the polytheistic views of the Canaanites who believed in multiple gods or localized deities that needed appeasement or whose support was uncertain. Joshua 10:19 implicitly affirms the singular, omnipotent God of Israel who unilaterally decides and executes victory, placing the outcome beyond doubt and calling for unwavering obedience in kind. This obedience, marked by relentlessness, served to cleanse the land as God intended.

Joshua 10 19 Commentary

Joshua 10:19 is a concise yet powerful command given by Joshua following a miraculous victory, revealing crucial aspects of God's warfare and His relationship with His people. It stresses the imperative for total and unrelenting commitment in fulfilling God's purposes. The directive "do not stay there, but pursue" signifies that divine help does not negate human effort; rather, it empowers and obliges Israel to complete the work God initiates. The instructions to "attack their rear" and "do not let them enter their cities" underscore a strategy of decisive victory, preventing any resurgence of the enemy's threat. This was not mere military pragmatism but an obedience to God's broader command to eliminate the idolatrous and morally corrupt Canaanite nations. The core theological motivation, "for the LORD your God has given them into your hand," highlights God's sovereignty and faithfulness as the ultimate guarantee of Israel's success. It means the victory is divinely ordained, requiring absolute obedience and thoroughness from Israel.

This principle resonates beyond physical battle, illustrating the need for thoroughness in dealing with evil and spiritual opposition. When the Lord grants a victory, we are called to pursue its implications fully, ensuring that no ground is left for the adversary to regain influence.