Joshua 10:38 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 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. I. Here is a particular account of the several cities which he immediately made himself master of. 1. The cities of three of the kings whom he had conquered in the field he went and took possession of, Lachish (Josh. 10:31, 32), Eglon (Josh. 10:34, 35), and Hebron, Josh. 10:36, 37. The other two, Jerusalem and Jarmuth, were not... read more

John Gill

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 10:1-43

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 10:38

And Joshua returned. Rather, Joshua turned. Debir was not on the way back from Hebron to Eglon, but in a different direction. His march was now southward instead of eastward. Debir . A city of importance, since only Hebron and it are mentioned in the history of the campaign as having cities dependent on them. It is also called Kirjath-Sepher ( Joshua 15:15 ; 1:11 ), and Kirjath-Sannah ( Joshua 15:49 ). The first name signifies "the city of the hook," from whence it has been... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 10:38

Joshua returned - The words mark a change in the direction of the march. Joshua from Hebron turned to the southwest, and attacked Debir or Kirjath-sepher and its dependencies Joshua 15:15. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 10:38

Joshua 10:38. Joshua returned to Debir Joshua had not been there before, but having advanced as far south and west as he thought expedient, even as far as Gaza, which was in the western coast, (Joshua 10:41,) he now returned toward the camp at Gilgal, which was north-east from him, and in his march thither took Debir, which afterward was a city of Judah, (Joshua 15:49,) and one of the cities of the priests, Joshua 21:15. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Joshua 10:1-43

Victory in southern Canaan (10:1-43)The five kings who between them controlled much of southern Canaan saw Joshua’s control of Gibeon as a threat to their security. They decided to conquer Gibeon and so stop any further move south by Israel (10:1-5).Joshua faced his biggest battle thus far. He knew that it would be a life-or-death struggle, but God encouraged him with the assurance of victory (6-8). God then helped make victory possible by causing some unusual changes in the weather that were... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Joshua 10:38

Debir = Oracle: south of Hebron. Called Kirjath sepher = Book Town (Joshua 15:15 .Judges 1:11; Judges 1:11 ), and Kirjath sannah = Precept Town (Joshua 15:49 );. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Joshua 10:38

"And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir, and fought against it: and he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remain, as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah and the king thereof.""And all Israel with him ..." (Joshua 10:38). This expression appears in every paragraph throughout the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Joshua 10:28-39

Seven other victories followed the battle at Gibeon. In the record of these encounters the writer highlighted two important facts. Israel was obedient to God’s command to exterminate the Canaanites in these cities. Second, it was Yahweh who gave Israel’s enemies into her hands (Joshua 10:30; Joshua 10:32).". . . Yahweh has shown himself to be a God who accepts a people who follow him despite their past mistakes." [Note: Ibid., p. 119.] The purpose of Joshua’s raids was to destroy the military... read more