Joshua 10 37

Joshua 10:37 kjv

And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein.

Joshua 10:37 nkjv

And they took it and struck it with the edge of the sword?its king, all its cities, and all the people who were in it; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon, but utterly destroyed it and all the people who were in it.

Joshua 10:37 niv

They took the city and put it to the sword, together with its king, its villages and everyone in it. They left no survivors. Just as at Eglon, they totally destroyed it and everyone in it.

Joshua 10:37 esv

and captured it and struck it with the edge of the sword, and its king and its towns, and every person in it. He left none remaining, as he had done to Eglon, and devoted it to destruction and every person in it.

Joshua 10:37 nlt

They captured the town and killed everyone in it, including its king, leaving no survivors. They did the same thing to all of its surrounding villages. And just as he had done at Eglon, he completely destroyed the entire population.

Joshua 10 verses

Joshua 10 37 Meaning

Joshua 10:37 describes the capture and complete destruction of the city of Debir by Joshua and the Israelite army. Following the command of God, Debir, its king, its associated towns, and all its inhabitants were put under the ban (Hebrew: cherem), meaning they were utterly destroyed without any survivors. This act mirrored the comprehensive judgment previously executed on Hebron and Libnah, reinforcing the consistent application of God's judgment during the conquest of Canaan.

Joshua 10 37 Context

Joshua 10:37 is situated within the narrative of Joshua's southern campaign, where the Israelite army swiftly subdued various Canaanite cities after their decisive victory over the five Amorite kings at Gibeon. The chapter meticulously details the execution of the cherem, or the "ban," on each conquered city. This command required the complete destruction of the city, its inhabitants, and sometimes even its livestock and goods, consecrating them to God as an act of divine judgment. Debir, originally called Kiriath-sepher, was a significant city, possibly a center of learning or a fortified stronghold. Its capture represented the systematic cleansing of the land from its inhabitants whose profound wickedness had led to God's judgment. The repeated phrase "as he had done to Hebron and to Libnah" (Josh 10:28, 30, 32, 35, 37) emphasizes the consistent and thorough nature of the divine command and Israel's obedience. This action fulfilled God's ancient promises to Abraham regarding the land while also executing divine justice against the nations whose iniquity had reached its full measure (Gen 15:16).

Joshua 10 37 Word analysis

• And they captured it: The Hebrew word is וַיִּלְכְּדֻהָ (vayyilk'duhā), from the root לָכַד (lakhad), meaning "to capture, seize, take." It signifies a successful military conquest, asserting full control over the city.
• and struck it: The Hebrew is וַיַּכּוּהָ (vayyakkūhā), from the root נָכָה (nakah), meaning "to strike, hit, smite." This often denotes a decisive blow or an act of violent destruction in a military context.
• with the edge of the sword: The Hebrew is לְפִי־חֶרֶב (l'fî-ḥerev). Literally, "by the mouth of the sword." This idiomatic expression denotes total slaughter by sword, leaving no one alive. It implies a thorough and merciless execution of judgment.
• with its king: מַלְכָּהּ (malkāh). The focus on the king signifies the complete overthrow of political and military leadership, demonstrating absolute victory and nullifying any form of resistance or governance.
• all its towns: וְאֶת־כָּל־עָרֶיהָ (w'et-kol-`āreyhā). This highlights that the conquest extended beyond the main city of Debir to its satellite settlements or dependent villages, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the land-taking.
• and all the souls who were in it: וְאֵת כָּל־הַנֶּפֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר־בָּהּ (w'et kol-hannefesh asher-bāh). The Hebrew word נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh) can mean "soul," "life," or "person." Here it emphatically refers to every single living inhabitant, underscoring the universal nature of the judgment against the population.
• he left no survivor: לֹא הִשְׁאִיר לָהּ שָׂרִיד (lo' hish'îr lāh sārîd). This phrase reinforces the completeness of the cherem, signifying that no one was spared. It speaks to the utter finality of the judgment, leaving no seed of potential revival or future opposition.
• but utterly destroyed it: הֶחֱרִים אֹתָהּ (heḥerîm 'ôtāh), from the root חָרַם (charam), meaning "to put under the ban," "to utterly destroy," or "to devote." This is the key term for the cherem policy, where people, cities, or objects were consecrated to God for destruction due to their extreme wickedness or opposition to His will. It was an act of sacred warfare and divine judgment.
• as he had done to Hebron and to Libnah: This phrase serves as a powerful reiteration and standard of judgment. It signifies that the action at Debir was not an isolated incident but a consistent application of divine command, demonstrating Israel's faithful obedience and the unchanging nature of God's directive throughout the conquest.
• for he utterly destroyed all who were in it: A repetition of the core outcome, further emphasizing the absolute thoroughness of the destruction of all living beings within the city as part of the divine ban.

Joshua 10 37 Bonus section

The cherem (utter destruction) described in this verse is often one of the most ethically challenging aspects of the Old Testament for modern readers. It is crucial to understand that this was a specific, time-bound divine command for the unique context of the conquest of Canaan, directed against peoples whose iniquity (as described in passages like Genesis 15:16 and Leviticus 18) had reached its climax, making them ripe for judgment. This does not establish a universal precedent for holy war or endorse such actions in all future conflicts. Instead, it demonstrates God's character as the ultimate sovereign judge over all nations and creation, and His righteous abhorrence of sin, which has a tangible impact on the land itself. The phrase "mouth of the sword" emphasizes that the destruction was systematic and complete.

Joshua 10 37 Commentary

Joshua 10:37 succinctly presents the relentless and uncompromising nature of God's judgment against the Canaanite peoples, enacted through the obedient hand of Israel. The complete destruction of Debir, from its king to every single inhabitant and outlying town, illustrates the cherem command in its full severity. This was not a wanton act of cruelty but a divinely ordained purification of the land, removing deep-seated idolatry and profound moral corruption, including practices like child sacrifice and pervasive immorality, which had accumulated for centuries. The consistency of this judgment, highlighted by the reference to Hebron and Libnah, underscores that God's justice is neither arbitrary nor wavering. It served multiple purposes: to exact a righteous penalty for gross sin, to prevent the spiritual defilement of Israel by isolating them from Canaanite influences, and to demonstrate God's unwavering sovereignty and power in fulfilling His covenant promises to give the land to Abraham's descendants. It serves as a stark reminder of the ultimate consequences of rebellion against God's holiness.