Joshua 10:30 kjv
And the LORD delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho.
Joshua 10:30 nkjv
And the LORD also delivered it and its king into the hand of Israel; he struck it and all the people who were in it with the edge of the sword. He let none remain in it, but did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.
Joshua 10:30 niv
The LORD also gave that city and its king into Israel's hand. The city and everyone in it Joshua put to the sword. He left no survivors there. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.
Joshua 10:30 esv
And the LORD gave it also and its king into the hand of Israel. And he struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it; he left none remaining in it. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.
Joshua 10:30 nlt
There, too, the LORD gave them the town and its king. He killed everyone in it, leaving no survivors. Then Joshua killed the king of Libnah as he had killed the king of Jericho.
Joshua 10 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 15:18 | On that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land..." | Covenant promise of land. |
| Exod 23:23 | "When My angel goes before you and brings you to the Amorites and the Hittites... and I cut them off..." | God's leading in driving out inhabitants. |
| Deut 7:2 | "When Yahweh your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction." | Divine command for herem (devotion to destruction). |
| Deut 31:8 | "It is Yahweh Who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you." | God's presence assuring victory. |
| Josh 1:5 | "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you..." | Divine promise of Joshua's invincibility. |
| Josh 1:9 | "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous... for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go." | Emphasis on strength and God's unwavering support. |
| Josh 10:28 | "Joshua captured Makkedah that day and struck it with the edge of the sword... he left no survivor." | Preceding victory and policy of total destruction. |
| Josh 10:29 | "Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against Libnah." | Immediate previous battle; progression of conquest. |
| Josh 10:31 | "Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Lachish to Eglon..." | Subsequent battle, showing continued campaign. |
| Josh 10:40 | "So Joshua struck the whole land... and utterly destroyed all who breathed, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, had commanded." | Summarizing the full extent of the southern conquest. |
| Josh 11:15 | "Just as Yahweh had commanded Moses His servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did." | Joshua's complete obedience to God's command. |
| Num 33:53 | "And you shall take possession of the land and dwell in it, for I have given the land to you to possess." | Affirmation of the land as God-given possession. |
| Deut 9:3 | "Understand, therefore, today that Yahweh your God is He Who goes over before you as a consuming fire..." | God as the One fighting Israel's battles. |
| Judg 20:1 | "Then all the people of Israel came out... from Dan to Beersheba, and the land of Gilead..." | Demonstrates instances of Israel's unity in action. |
| 1 Sam 15:3 | "Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have..." | Later instance of divine command for herem. |
| 2 Cor 10:4 | "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." | New Covenant analogy to spiritual warfare. |
| Eph 6:12 | "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities..." | New Covenant spiritual conquest context. |
| Heb 4:8 | "For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on." | Joshua as a type, providing temporary rest. |
| Ps 44:3 | "For not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm bring them victory..." | God's sovereign power, not human strength. |
| Amos 2:10 | "Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt and led you forty years in the wilderness to possess the land of the Amorite." | God's long-standing plan to give them the land. |
| Josh 8:1 | "Then Yahweh said to Joshua, 'Do not fear... I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people...'" | God initiating and assuring specific battle outcomes. |
Joshua 10 verses
Joshua 10 30 Meaning
Joshua 10:30 describes the continuation of Israel's military campaign in the southern region of Canaan. After successfully taking Libnah, Joshua, leading a united Israelite force, moves decisively to Lachish, another strategically important fortified city. The verse notes their arrival, encampment, and immediate engagement in battle, signifying the relentless execution of the divine command to conquer the land.
Joshua 10 30 Context
Joshua 10:30 is set amidst the "Southern Campaign" of the Israelite conquest of Canaan. The chapter begins with the confederation of five Amorite kings, led by Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem, forming an alliance to attack Gibeon, which had made peace with Israel. Joshua, honoring the covenant with Gibeon, responds swiftly with a forced march and a miraculous victory aided by divine hailstones and the prolonging of the day (the "long day of Joshua"). Following this decisive defeat of the Amorite kings at Gibeon and their execution at Makkedah, Joshua proceeds systematically to conquer the key city-states of the southern alliance. Libnah (mentioned in Josh 10:29) has just fallen. Lachish, the subject of this verse, was a formidable fortress, a major economic and strategic center in the Shephelah (foothills) of Judah. Its capture was crucial for Israel to secure control over the southern region and prevent further consolidation of Canaanite resistance. The systematic progression from one city to the next demonstrates Joshua's unswerving obedience to God's command to possess the land entirely, leaving no significant stronghold unconquered. The rapid sequence of these victories highlights God's active involvement in the conquest and Israel's unified action under divine direction.
Joshua 10 30 Word analysis
- Then Joshua (וַיַּעֲבֹר יְהוֹשֻׁעַ - vayya‘avor Yehoshu‘a):
- וַיַּעֲבֹר (vayya‘avor): Literally "and he passed over" or "crossed over." Implies decisive movement, not hesitant travel. It signifies a transition from one objective (Libnah) to the next (Lachish). It reflects an ongoing, unstoppable advance of God's people under His appointed leader.
- Joshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ - Yehoshu‘a): The leader divinely chosen by Yahweh (Num 27:18-23). His name means "Yahweh is salvation" or "Yahweh saves," foreshadowing his role as God's instrument in bringing His people into the promised land. His personal involvement underscores divine leading in the military operations.
- and all Israel with him (וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל עִמּוֹ - veḵol Yiśraʾēl ‘immô):
- all Israel (כָל יִשְׂרָאֵל - kol Yiśraʾēl): Emphasizes the corporate, unified nature of the conquest. This was not a skirmish by a small detachment, but the entire fighting force of the nation under God's banner. It highlights collective obedience and participation in the divine mandate. This collective action stands in contrast to the disunity of the Canaanite kings, showcasing Yahweh's organizing power against their fragmented polytheism.
- passed on from Libnah to Lachish (מִלִּבְנָה לָכִישׁ - millibnah Lakhîsh):
- Libnah (לִבְנָה - Libnah): A previously conquered city, marking the point of departure. Its name possibly means "whiteness" or "transparency," though its primary significance here is geographical—it has just fallen (Josh 10:29).
- Lachish (לָכִישׁ - Lakhîsh): A powerful, well-fortified Canaanite city, a crucial stronghold controlling important trade routes and the Shephelah region. Its mention here signifies a progression to an even more significant strategic target, underlining the magnitude of the task and the strength of the divine assistance needed for its capture. It was likely a center for Baal worship, making its capture also a religious polemic.
- and encamped against it (וַיַּחֲנֻוּ עָלֶיהָ - vayyahǎnu ‘aleyhā):
- encamped (וַיַּחֲנֻוּ - vayyahǎnu): Indicates the establishment of a military camp, a methodical siege operation. It speaks of military strategy and persistence, settling in for a sustained engagement rather than a mere hit-and-run attack. This denotes preparation for battle.
- and fought against it (וַיִּלָּחֶם עָלֶיהָ - vayyilḥem ‘aleyhā):
- fought (וַיִּלָּחֶם - vayyilḥem): Connotes direct military conflict. It points to the physical, violent nature of the conquest as commanded by God. This emphasizes that while God fought for Israel, Israel was also commanded to actively engage in battle, combining divine sovereignty with human obedience. The constant repetition of "fought against it" throughout Joshua 10 (and the preceding verse) underlines the consistent military engagement and conquest process.
Joshua 10 30 Bonus section
- Archaeological Significance of Lachish: Lachish (Tel Lachish) is one of the most thoroughly excavated biblical sites in Israel. Archaeological finds have revealed a massive, highly fortified city with strong defenses, demonstrating its significant role in the Canaanite world and later in Israelite and Judean history. Evidence of massive destruction layers, sometimes attributed to various periods including the late Bronze Age (Joshua's era), provide material correlates to the biblical narratives of conquest and later battles (e.g., Sennacherib's siege of Lachish in 2 Kgs 18:14, Is 36:2).
- The Herem Principle: The actions described in Joshua 10, including the fight against Lachish, fall under the herem (pronounced khay-rem) principle—the concept of devoting certain things, including entire cities and their inhabitants, to destruction. This was not general ancient warfare but a specific divine command for Israel against the wicked practices of the Canaanites (Deut 9:5, Gen 15:16), signifying judgment against their idolatry, immorality, and child sacrifice. The capture of Lachish, like other cities, was thus an act of divine justice and separation, crucial for maintaining the purity of God's people in the promised land.
- Joshua's Relentless Obedience: The consecutive accounts of victories (Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, Debir) highlight Joshua's unflagging obedience and effective leadership. His commitment to the divine command never faltered, despite the strength of the fortified cities. This portrayal solidifies his status as a faithful servant of God, setting a precedent for leadership within Israel.
Joshua 10 30 Commentary
Joshua 10:30 serves as a brief but impactful statement marking the unwavering progression of the Israelite conquest under Joshua's command. After the divine intervention and victories over the southern Amorite kings, Israel did not rest. The systematic movement from Libnah to Lachish illustrates the deliberate and relentless execution of God's command to possess the land. Lachish was not an insignificant outpost but a prominent and formidable Canaanite city, signaling that Israel, with God's power, was tackling the strongest resistance. The repetition of "all Israel with him" emphasizes the national unity and corporate participation in this divinely mandated warfare, highlighting their collective obedience. The immediate encampment and fighting signify both military preparedness and an unwavering commitment to complete the task. This verse encapsulates the continued divine initiative in the conquest and Israel's diligent and unified response, emphasizing that the promised inheritance was secured not by sporadic raids, but through God's empowering presence coupled with their persistent, comprehensive obedience in every encounter. This act was part of the removal of ungodly cultures, setting the stage for a covenant nation.