Fought against Libnah - This city was near Makkedah, see Joshua 15:42 , and fell to the tribe of Judah, Joshua 10:20 , Joshua 10:42 , and was given to the priests, Joshua 21:13 . Sennacherib besieged it, after he had been obliged to raise the siege of Lachish. See 2 Kings 19:8 ; Isaiah 37:8 . read more
Lachish - It appears that this was anciently a very strong place; notwithstanding the people were panic-struck, and the Israelites flushed with success, yet Joshua could not reduce it till the second day, and the king of Assyria afterwards was obliged to raise the siege. See above, and see the note on Joshua 10:3 . read more
Horam king of Gezer - It is likely that Horam was in a state of alliance with the king of Lachish, and therefore came to his assistance as soon as it appeared that he was likely to be attacked. Joshua probably sent a detachment against him, before he was able to form a junction with the forces of Lachish; and utterly destroyed him and his army. Gezer is supposed to have been situated near Azotus. See 1 Maccabees 16:34. It fell to the tribe of Ephraim, Joshua 16:3 , but was probably... read more
Eglon - It is likely that this town was not any great distance from Lachish. See on Joshua 10:3 ; (note). read more
Hebron - and the king thereof - See the note on Joshua 10:3 . From Joshua 10:23 ; we learn that the king of Hebron was one of those five whom Joshua slew and hanged on five trees at Makkedah. How then can it be said that he slew the king of Hebron when he took the city, which was some days after the transactions at Makkedah? Either this slaying of the king of Hebron must refer to what had already been done, or the Hebronites, finding that their king fell in battle, had set up... read more
Verse 29 29.Then Joshua. passed, etc We have now a description of the taking of the cities, out of which the army of the enemy had been raised; and herein God displayed his power no less wonderfully than in the open field, especially when the rapidity is considered. For although those who had fled hither in trepidation might have produced some degree of panic, still, when the fear was allayed, they might be useful for defense. (104) The garrison had been increased by their numbers. When,... read more
The great victory and its results. Many of the considerations which this passage suggests have been already anticipated. Thus the celerity of Joshua's march (verse 9) suggests the same set of ideas as Joshua 4:10 . The destruction of the cities teaches the same lessons as the destruction of Jericho; while the miraculous interposition in the battle of Beth-horon is hardly to be distinguished, as a source of spiritual instruction, from the destruction of Jericho. Again, the confederacy... read more
All Israel. The expression is not to be pressed in a literal sense. "All Israel" is simply equivalent to "all his disposable troops." Libnah . This belonged to the lowlands of Palestine. See note on Joshua 9:1 ; also Joshua 15:42 . It became a Levitical city. It revolted from Judah in the reign of Joram ( 2 Kings 8:22 ). It seems to have returned to its allegiance, since we find it not included in the conquest of Israel by Shalmaneser, while, on the other hand, it undergoes a siege... read more
And Joshua passed. No indication of time is given in the rest of this chapter. The campaign was probably an affair of some weeks, though none of the cities could have made a prolonged resistance. read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 10:38
And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir ,.... A city, according to Kimchi, which he passed by when he went to Hebron, and did not fight against it; but, when he had taken Hebron, returned and took it; and which Bunting F8 Travels of the Patriarchs, &c.; p. 96. says was but a mile from it, and twenty two miles from Jerusalem, towards the south; it is the same with Kirjathsepher and Kirjathsannah, Joshua 15:15 ; the city of a book or books; and the Rabbins say F9 ... read more