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Joshua 10:38 meaning

God grants victory to those who faithfully follow His guidance.

Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to Debir, and they fought against it (v.38). This verse describes yet another stage in Joshua’s campaign throughout Canaan, as he and the Israelites continue the momentum of their victories over powerful city-states. Joshua (who lived around 1400 BC as the leader of Israel after Moses) leads his people with determination, showing confidence in the promises God gave to him, promises that He would deliver the inhabitants of the land into the hands of Israel (Joshua 1:2-5). Debir, located in the hill country of Judah southwest of present-day Hebron, was a fortified city in the region. This city, once called Kiriath-sepher (Joshua 15:49), was culturally significant for its role in the broader Canaanite territory, making it a strategic location for the Israelite conquest.

In Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to Debir, and they fought against it (v.38), we see Joshua’s leadership on display. Historically, Joshua stands as a transitional figure between Moses (who died around 1406 BC) and the period of the Judges (which began soon after Joshua’s death). As he leads the nation to victory, Joshua foreshadows the kind of faithfulness and trust in God’s guidance that will be echoed centuries later by Jesus, whose name in Hebrew (Yeshua) is the same as Joshua. Both Joshua and Jesus lead God’s people into a promised rest (Hebrews 4:8-9), demonstrating God’s faithfulness throughout generations.

Finally, this verse highlights how the people of Israel, united under God’s command, were able to press forward in their conquests without delay. Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to Debir, and they fought against it (v.38) underscores the resolute attitude that Joshua had as he systematically overcame the cities of southern Canaan, paving the way for Israel’s settlement in the Promised Land.

Joshua 10:38