God’s faithfulness in providing victory for His people stands as a profound lesson in both obedience and trust.
Joshua 10 describes a compelling sequence of conquests led by Joshua, who succeeded Moses around 1406 BC as the leader of the Israelites. In the midst of these events, the account states, “They captured it on that day and struck it with the edge of the sword; and he utterly destroyed that day every person who was in it, according to all that he had done to Lachish.” (v.35) This “it” refers to Eglon, a city in the southern region of Canaan, possibly located in the Shephelah, a fertile lowland between the Judean highlands and the coastal plain. At this point in Israel’s campaign, Joshua’s forces were systematically defeating the kings who had joined forces against them, and Eglon was the latest stronghold to fall, sharing the fate of neighboring Lachish.
The phrase, “according to all that he had done to Lachish,” (v.35) underscores the completeness of Joshua’s actions. Lachish was a significant Canaanite city about twenty-five miles southwest of Jerusalem. Its strategic location made it a key site of conflict, both here and in later Israelite history (2 Kings 18:14). By including the reference to Lachish, the text emphasizes that Eglon’s fate matched that of other cities that opposed Israel’s advance. Joshua’s leadership, grounded in his faith in God’s promises (Joshua 1:9), highlights God’s power to deliver His people and fulfill His covenant, a theme carried forward in the New Testament, where Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s covenant promises (Luke 1:68-75).
The thorough victory over Eglon, “struck it with the edge of the sword,” (v.35) also demonstrates the seriousness with which the Israelites took their divine mandate. The total destruction mirrored earlier commands given to ensure that the corruption and idolatry of the inhabitants did not infiltrate Israel’s worship of the one true God (Deuteronomy 7:1-4). While this can appear severe to modern readers, it served to preserve the Israelites’ devotion and reflect God’s plan to establish a community devoted to His righteousness. The resolute nature of their victory underscores the unstoppable momentum that God provided for His people—a reminder, for believers today, of God’s determination to carry out His purpose for good (Romans 8:28).
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Joshua 10:35 meaning
Joshua 10 describes a compelling sequence of conquests led by Joshua, who succeeded Moses around 1406 BC as the leader of the Israelites. In the midst of these events, the account states, “They captured it on that day and struck it with the edge of the sword; and he utterly destroyed that day every person who was in it, according to all that he had done to Lachish.” (v.35) This “it” refers to Eglon, a city in the southern region of Canaan, possibly located in the Shephelah, a fertile lowland between the Judean highlands and the coastal plain. At this point in Israel’s campaign, Joshua’s forces were systematically defeating the kings who had joined forces against them, and Eglon was the latest stronghold to fall, sharing the fate of neighboring Lachish.
The phrase, “according to all that he had done to Lachish,” (v.35) underscores the completeness of Joshua’s actions. Lachish was a significant Canaanite city about twenty-five miles southwest of Jerusalem. Its strategic location made it a key site of conflict, both here and in later Israelite history (2 Kings 18:14). By including the reference to Lachish, the text emphasizes that Eglon’s fate matched that of other cities that opposed Israel’s advance. Joshua’s leadership, grounded in his faith in God’s promises (Joshua 1:9), highlights God’s power to deliver His people and fulfill His covenant, a theme carried forward in the New Testament, where Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s covenant promises (Luke 1:68-75).
The thorough victory over Eglon, “struck it with the edge of the sword,” (v.35) also demonstrates the seriousness with which the Israelites took their divine mandate. The total destruction mirrored earlier commands given to ensure that the corruption and idolatry of the inhabitants did not infiltrate Israel’s worship of the one true God (Deuteronomy 7:1-4). While this can appear severe to modern readers, it served to preserve the Israelites’ devotion and reflect God’s plan to establish a community devoted to His righteousness. The resolute nature of their victory underscores the unstoppable momentum that God provided for His people—a reminder, for believers today, of God’s determination to carry out His purpose for good (Romans 8:28).