Joshua 10:30

KJV

And the LORD delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that [were] therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the LORD {H3068} delivered {H5414} it also, and the king {H4428} thereof, into the hand {H3027} of Israel {H3478}; and he smote {H5221} it with the edge {H6310} of the sword {H2719}, and all the souls {H5315} that were therein; he let {H7604} none remain {H8300} in it; but did {H6213} unto the king {H4428} thereof as he did {H6213} unto the king {H4428} of Jericho {H3405}.

Complete Jewish Bible

ADONAI also handed it and its king over to Isra'el. He defeated it with the sword, everyone there - he left no one, and he did to its king what he had done to the king of Yericho.

Berean Standard Bible

And the LORD also delivered that city and its king into the hand of Israel, and Joshua put all the people to the sword, leaving no survivors. And he did to the king of Libnah as he had done to the king of Jericho.

American Standard Version

and Jehovah delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining in it; and he did unto the king thereof as he had done unto the king of Jericho.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 10:30 recounts the swift and decisive conquest of Libnah by the Israelites under Joshua's command, explicitly attributing the victory to the LORD's active hand. This verse highlights God's unwavering commitment to delivering the Promised Land into Israel's possession, detailing the complete destruction of the city and its inhabitants—a severe act of judgment consistent with the divine command for *cherem* (utter devotion to destruction) against the wicked Canaanite nations, mirroring the fate of Jericho.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Joshua 10:30 is situated within the broader narrative of Israel's southern campaign, immediately following the monumental victory over the coalition of five Amorite kings at Gibeon, a battle marked by the miraculous intervention of the sun standing still ([Joshua 10:12-14](/joshua/10-12 "Joshua 10:12-14 - The Sun Stands Still")). Having pursued and executed the defeated kings, Joshua and the Israelite army embarked on a rapid series of conquests of their strongholds. Libnah was one of the first major cities targeted in this phase, demonstrating the relentless momentum of the divinely-empirected campaign. The verse's emphasis on God's "delivery" of the city underscores that these military successes were not merely strategic triumphs but direct fulfillments of God's covenant promises and commands, building upon the precedent set by the fall of Jericho and Ai.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Libnah was a fortified city in the Shephelah, the low hills between the coastal plain and the Judean mountains, making its capture strategically important for controlling the region. In the ancient Near East, conquest often involved brutal warfare, but the specific command for *cherem* (utter destruction) against the Canaanites, as seen here and in other conquest narratives, was unique. This was not simply typical ancient warfare; it was a divinely mandated act of judgment against cultures steeped in idolatry, child sacrifice, and other abominable practices ([Deuteronomy 18:9-12](/deuteronomy/18-9 "Deuteronomy 18:9-12 - Abominable Practices")). God's intention was to prevent the moral and spiritual corruption of Israel by completely removing the pagan influences from the land, ensuring the purity of His covenant people. The severity of the judgment reflects the gravity of the Canaanites' sin and God's holiness.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully reinforces several overarching themes found throughout the book of Joshua. Firstly, **Divine Sovereignty and Faithfulness** are paramount; the phrase "And the LORD delivered it also" immediately attributes the victory not to Israel's military prowess, but to God's active intervention and faithfulness to His covenant promises to give the land to Abraham's descendants ([Genesis 15:18-21](/genesis/15-18 "Genesis 15:18-21 - God's Covenant with Abraham")). Secondly, the verse illustrates the **Doctrine of *Cherem*** (utter devotion to destruction), a concept central to the conquest, where cities and their inhabitants were "devoted" or "set apart" for God through complete destruction, preventing the spread of idolatry and evil practices among the Israelites ([Deuteronomy 20:16-18](/deuteronomy/20-16 "Deuteronomy 20:16-18 - The Command for Cherem")). Finally, the comparison to Jericho highlights the **Consistency of God's Judgment and Israel's Obedience**, establishing a pattern of divine judgment against unrighteousness and Israel's unwavering adherence to God's often difficult commands, as seen in the fall of [Jericho](/joshua/6 "Joshua 6 - The Fall of Jericho").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **delivered (Hebrew, _natan'_):** This verb, meaning "to give," "to place," or "to deliver," is crucial here as it unequivocally attributes the success of the conquest to God's active agency. It emphasizes that the city and its king were not merely conquered by Israel's might but were *given* into their hands by divine power. This choice of word underscores the theological conviction that Israel's victories were God's victories, a testament to His faithfulness to His promises.
* **smote (Hebrew, _nakah'_):** While a common verb for striking or hitting, in the context of warfare, it signifies a decisive and often fatal blow. Coupled with "with the edge of the sword," it describes the execution of the divine judgment with brutal efficiency, leaving no doubt about the completeness of the destruction. It reflects the harsh reality of ancient warfare, but within the biblical narrative, it is presented as the instrument of God's righteous wrath against profound wickedness.
* **let none remain (Hebrew, _hish'ir'_):** This phrase, derived from the root "to leave over" or "to survive," in the negative, directly conveys the concept of *cherem*. It means that no one was spared, no survivor was left. This absolute eradication was a specific, divinely commanded act of purification and judgment, distinct from typical ancient Near Eastern warfare which often spared women, children, or skilled laborers for slavery. Its inclusion here signals the total devotion of Libnah to destruction as an offering to God's justice.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the LORD delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel;":** This opening clause immediately establishes God as the primary actor and source of Israel's victory. The city of Libnah and its king were not conquered by Israel's strength alone, but were "delivered" by the LORD, indicating divine intervention and empowerment. This highlights God's active participation in the conquest, fulfilling His promises to His people.
* **"and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that [were] therein;":** This describes the execution of the conquest. "He" refers to Joshua, acting as God's instrument. The phrase "smote it with the edge of the sword" signifies a complete military defeat and the killing of all inhabitants. "All the souls that were therein" emphasizes the totality of the judgment, including every living person within the city walls.
* **"he let none remain in it;":** This clause explicitly states the implementation of *cherem*, the command for utter destruction. No one was spared, ensuring the complete eradication of the Canaanite presence and their idolatrous practices from the city. This was a severe but specific act of holy war, designed to prevent the moral and spiritual corruption of Israel.
* **"but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho.":** This concluding comparison links the conquest of Libnah to the earlier, foundational victory at Jericho. It underscores the consistency of God's judgment and Israel's obedience. Just as Jericho's king was utterly destroyed, so too was Libnah's, establishing a pattern and demonstrating that God's commands and judgments were to be applied uniformly and without deviation throughout the conquest.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. **Repetition** is evident in the consistent pattern of conquest described, particularly the "smote... let none remain" motif, which reinforces the thoroughness of the *cherem* command across multiple cities. This repetition creates a rhythmic, almost liturgical sense of divine judgment being executed. **Parallelism** is explicitly used in the final clause, "but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho," drawing a direct comparison that highlights the consistency of God's commands and Israel's obedience. This serves as a literary shorthand, leveraging the audience's knowledge of the iconic Jericho narrative to convey the severity and divine mandate behind Libnah's fall. Furthermore, the language itself, with its direct and stark portrayal of destruction, functions as a form of **hyperbole** common in ancient Near Eastern conquest accounts, emphasizing the decisive and complete nature of the victory from a divine perspective, even if some minor details might be generalized for narrative impact.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 10:30 powerfully articulates the themes of divine sovereignty, justice, and the consequences of unrepentant sin. The LORD's active role in "delivering" Libnah into Israel's hands underscores that the conquest was fundamentally a theological event, a fulfillment of God's ancient promises to Abraham and a demonstration of His power over all nations. The implementation of *cherem* reveals a facet of God's holiness that demands separation from profound evil, emphasizing the gravity of idolatry and the corrupting influence of the Canaanite practices. While challenging to modern sensibilities, this passage serves as a stark reminder of God's intolerance for sin and His commitment to establishing a holy people in a holy land. It also highlights the importance of Israel's obedience to God's specific, though difficult, commands for that particular historical moment.

* [Deuteronomy 7:1-6](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-6 - Command to Destroy Nations")
* [Leviticus 18:24-28](/leviticus/18-24 "Leviticus 18:24-28 - Land Vomits Out Inhabitants")
* [Numbers 33:50-56](/numbers/33-50 "Numbers 33:50-56 - Drive Out Inhabitants")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua 10:30, though depicting a specific historical act of divine judgment, offers profound insights for contemporary believers. It reminds us that God is actively involved in the affairs of humanity, sovereign over nations and outcomes. While we no longer engage in physical *cherem*, the principle of God's absolute holiness and His demand for separation from sin remains eternally relevant. This passage calls us to examine the "idols" in our own lives—anything that takes the place of God—and to ruthlessly "destroy" them, allowing God to purify our hearts and minds. It challenges us to trust in God's perfect justice, even when His ways are difficult to comprehend, and to cultivate a spirit of unwavering obedience to His revealed will, knowing that His commands, even when challenging, are always for our ultimate good and His glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's sovereignty in the conquest of Libnah impact your trust in His control over your own life's battles and challenges?**
* **In what areas of your life might you be harboring "idols" or practices that need to be "utterly destroyed" for the sake of spiritual purity and devotion to God?**
* **How does the severity of God's judgment on the Canaanites inform your understanding of the seriousness of sin and the importance of holiness today?**

### FAQ
**Why did God command such extreme destruction (cherem) in the conquest narratives?**

Answer: The command for *cherem* (utter devotion to destruction) was a unique and specific divine mandate for the conquest of Canaan, not a general principle for all warfare. It served several critical purposes. Firstly, it was an act of divine judgment against the Canaanite nations, whose wickedness, including child sacrifice, widespread idolatry, and sexual perversions, had reached a point where the land itself was said to "vomit out its inhabitants" ([Leviticus 18:24-28](/leviticus/18-24 "Leviticus 18:24-28 - Abominations of the Land")). God, as the righteous judge of all the earth, was executing justice. Secondly, *cherem* was a measure to protect Israel from the corrupting influence of these pagan practices. By completely eradicating the inhabitants and their religious systems, God sought to prevent Israel from falling into idolatry and moral depravity, ensuring their purity as His covenant people ([Deuteronomy 20:16-18](/deuteronomy/20-16 "Deuteronomy 20:16-18 - No Survivors")). It was a severe but necessary act to establish a holy nation in a holy land, setting the stage for the coming of the Messiah.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Joshua's conquest of Libnah represents a physical fulfillment of God's promise to give Israel the land and a demonstration of His judgment against sin, it finds its ultimate spiritual fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Christ is the true and greater Joshua, leading His people not into a physical land, but into spiritual victory and eternal rest. The "deliverance" of Libnah foreshadows Christ's ultimate victory over the powers of darkness, sin, and death, which He "delivered" into our hands through His crucifixion and resurrection ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph Over Powers")). Just as Joshua executed God's judgment on the wicked, Jesus, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), bore the full weight of God's righteous judgment on the cross, utterly destroying the power of sin for all who believe ([Romans 8:3](/romans/8-3 "Romans 8:3 - God Condemned Sin in the Flesh")). The *cherem* of Canaanite cities, though violent, points to a future, final judgment where Christ, as the [King of Kings and Lord of Lords](/revelation/19-16 "Revelation 19:16 - King of Kings"), will utterly eradicate all evil and establish His perfect, eternal kingdom, ushering in a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells ([Revelation 21:1-4](/revelation/21-1 "Revelation 21:1-4 - New Heaven and New Earth")). Thus, the conquest narrative, understood through the lens of Christ, transforms from a historical account of physical warfare into a profound theological truth about spiritual deliverance, divine justice, and the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.