20 And it came to pass, when Joshua H3091 and the children H1121 of Israel H3478 had made an end H3615 of slaying H5221 them with a very H3966 great H1419 slaughter, H4347 till they were consumed, H8552 that the rest H8300 which remained H8277 of them entered H935 into fenced H4013 cities. H5892
And it came to pass, when Israel H3478 had made an end H3615 of slaying H2026 all the inhabitants H3427 of Ai H5857 in the field, H7704 in the wilderness H4057 wherein they chased H7291 them, and when they were all fallen H5307 on the edge H6310 of the sword, H2719 until they were consumed, H8552 that all the Israelites H3478 returned H7725 unto Ai, H5857 and smote H5221 it with the edge H6310 of the sword. H2719
But of the cities H5892 of these people, H5971 which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 doth give H5414 thee for an inheritance, H5159 thou shalt save alive H2421 nothing that breatheth: H5397
And the LORD H3068 discomfited H2000 them before H6440 Israel, H3478 and slew H5221 them with a great H1419 slaughter H4347 at Gibeon, H1391 and chased H7291 them along the way H1870 that goeth up H4608 to Bethhoron, H1032 and smote H5221 them to Azekah, H5825 and unto Makkedah. H4719
And David H1732 said H559 to Abishai, H52 Now shall Sheba H7652 the son H1121 of Bichri H1075 do us more harm H3415 than did Absalom: H53 take H3947 thou thy lord's H113 servants, H5650 and pursue H7291 after H310 him, lest he get H4672 him fenced H1219 cities, H5892 and escape H5337 us. H5869
And Abijah H29 and his people H5971 slew H5221 them with a great H7227 slaughter: H4347 so there fell down H5307 slain H2491 of Israel H3478 five H2568 hundred H3967 thousand H505 chosen H977 men. H376
Why do we sit still? H3427 assemble H622 yourselves, and let us enter H935 into the defenced H4013 cities, H5892 and let us be silent H1826 there: for the LORD H3068 our God H430 hath put us to silence, H1826 and given us water H4325 of gall H7219 to drink, H8248 because we have sinned H2398 against the LORD. H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Joshua 10
Commentary on Joshua 10 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 10
We have in this chapter an account of the conquest of the kings and kingdoms of the southern part of the land of Canaan, as, in the next chapter, of the reduction of the northern parts, which together completed the glorious successes of the wars of Canaan. In this chapter we have an account,
Jos 10:1-6
Joshua and the hosts of Israel had now been a good while in the land of Canaan, and no great matters were effected; they were made masters of Jericho by a miracle, of Ai by stratagem, and of Gibeon by surrender, and that was all; hitherto the progress of their victories had not seemed proportionable to the magnificence of their entry and the glory of their beginnings. Those among them that were impatient of delays, it is probable, complained of Joshua's slowness, and asked why they did not immediately penetrate into the heart of the country, before the enemy could rally their forces to make head against them, why they stood trifling, while they were so confident both of their title and of their success. Thus Joshua's prudence, perhaps, was censured as slothfulness, cowardice, and want of spirit. But,
After Israel had waited awhile for an occasion to make war upon the Canaanites, a fair one offers itself.
Jos 10:7-14
Here,
Jos 10:15-27
It was a brave appearance, no doubt, which the five kings made when they took the field for the reducing of Gibeon, and a brave army they had following them; but they were all routed, put into disorder first, and then brought to destruction by the hail-stones. And now Joshua thought, his work being done, he might go with his army into quarters of refreshment. Accordingly it was resolved, perhaps in a council of war, that they should presently return to the camp at Gilgal (v. 15), till they should receive orders from God to take possession of the country they had now conquered; but he soon finds he has more work cut out for him. The victory must be pursued, that the spoils might be divided. Accordingly he applies himself to it with renewed vigour.
Jos 10:28-43
We are here informed how Joshua improved the late glorious victory he had obtained and the advantages he had gained by it, and to do this well is a general's praise.