God shows He can overpower any threat, thereby ensuring victory for those who trust Him.
And the LORD confounded them before Israel, and He slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and pursued them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. (v.10) This verse begins by highlighting the LORD’s sovereign intervention on behalf of Israel, using the word confounded to emphasize God’s power to create chaos in the enemy ranks. The Israelite army, led by Joshua—who served as Moses’ successor from around 1406 BC to 1390 BC—then strikes a decisive blow and continues the pursuit. Joshua, firmly established as the leader of Israel by this point, fits into the historical timeline after the death of Moses (Deuteronomy 34:9) and leads the people into the Promised Land in fulfillment of the covenant God made with Abraham (Genesis 15:18).
The text further describes how the LORD “slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon.” Gibeon was an important Canaanite city north of Jerusalem, known for forging a treaty with Joshua earlier (Joshua 9). From Gibeon, the battle moves westward, following the winding mountainside path known as the “ascent of Beth-horon.” Beth-horon was actually divided into Upper and Lower Beth-horon, serving as critical pass routes in the region. The battle continues as far south and west as Azekah—an area nestled in the lowlands of the Shephelah—and Makkedah, a city whose location places it among other strategic strongholds under Canaanite control. Each of these locations magnifies the sweeping nature of this victory and demonstrates that God is with His people, fulfilling promises to give them the land (Deuteronomy 7:24).
Reading this verse in light of the broader biblical narrative shows the faithfulness of God working through Joshua, a figure who foreshadows Jesus’ role as the deliverer and conqueror (Hebrews 4:8). The LORD confounding Israel’s enemies is reminiscent of other saving acts, such as the confusion He stirred among opposing armies throughout Israel’s history (Judges 7:22), underscoring how the ultimate battle belongs to the LORD. This account aims to encourage believers by showing that no enemy plan is too formidable when God intervenes on behalf of His people.
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Joshua 10:10 meaning
And the LORD confounded them before Israel, and He slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and pursued them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. (v.10) This verse begins by highlighting the LORD’s sovereign intervention on behalf of Israel, using the word confounded to emphasize God’s power to create chaos in the enemy ranks. The Israelite army, led by Joshua—who served as Moses’ successor from around 1406 BC to 1390 BC—then strikes a decisive blow and continues the pursuit. Joshua, firmly established as the leader of Israel by this point, fits into the historical timeline after the death of Moses (Deuteronomy 34:9) and leads the people into the Promised Land in fulfillment of the covenant God made with Abraham (Genesis 15:18).
The text further describes how the LORD “slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon.” Gibeon was an important Canaanite city north of Jerusalem, known for forging a treaty with Joshua earlier (Joshua 9). From Gibeon, the battle moves westward, following the winding mountainside path known as the “ascent of Beth-horon.” Beth-horon was actually divided into Upper and Lower Beth-horon, serving as critical pass routes in the region. The battle continues as far south and west as Azekah—an area nestled in the lowlands of the Shephelah—and Makkedah, a city whose location places it among other strategic strongholds under Canaanite control. Each of these locations magnifies the sweeping nature of this victory and demonstrates that God is with His people, fulfilling promises to give them the land (Deuteronomy 7:24).
Reading this verse in light of the broader biblical narrative shows the faithfulness of God working through Joshua, a figure who foreshadows Jesus’ role as the deliverer and conqueror (Hebrews 4:8). The LORD confounding Israel’s enemies is reminiscent of other saving acts, such as the confusion He stirred among opposing armies throughout Israel’s history (Judges 7:22), underscoring how the ultimate battle belongs to the LORD. This account aims to encourage believers by showing that no enemy plan is too formidable when God intervenes on behalf of His people.