Joshua 10:39

KJV

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 remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he took {H3920} it, and the king {H4428} thereof, and all the cities {H5892} thereof; and they smote {H5221} them with the edge {H6310} of the sword {H2719}, and utterly destroyed {H2763} all the souls {H5315} that were therein; he left {H7604} none remaining {H8300}: as he had done {H6213} to Hebron {H2275}, so he did {H6213} to Debir {H1688}, and to the king {H4428} thereof; as he had done {H6213} also to Libnah {H3841}, and to her king {H4428}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They captured it, its king and all its villages, defeating them with the sword and utterly destroying everyone there; he left no one. He did to D'vir and it king as he had done to Hevron and as he had done to Livnah and its king.

Berean Standard Bible

And they captured Debir, its king, and all its villages. They put them to the sword and devoted to destruction everyone in the city, leaving no survivors. Joshua did to Debir and its king as he had done to Hebron and as he had done to Libnah and its king.

American Standard Version

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 remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to the king thereof.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 10:39 concludes a pivotal phase of Israel's southern campaign, detailing the capture and complete destruction of Debir and its inhabitants. This verse underscores the systematic and thorough nature of the conquest of Canaan, emphasizing Joshua's unwavering obedience to God's specific commands for judgment upon the land's wicked nations, mirroring the severity applied to Hebron and Libnah. It highlights the divine mandate behind the *herem* (devotion to destruction) and the fulfillment of God's ancient promises to Israel regarding the Promised Land.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Joshua 10:39 is situated at the climax of Joshua's rapid southern campaign, following the miraculous victory at Gibeon where the sun stood still, allowing Israel to decisively defeat the coalition of five Amorite kings ([Joshua 10:12-14](/joshua/10-12 "Joshua 10:12-14 - The Sun Stands Still")). This victory initiated a series of swift conquests against the cities of the defeated kings. The narrative meticulously records the capture of Makkedah ([Joshua 10:28](/joshua/10-28 "Joshua 10:28 - Conquest of Makkedah")), Libnah ([Joshua 10:29-30](/joshua/10-29 "Joshua 10:29-30 - Conquest of Libnah")), Lachish ([Joshua 10:31-32](/joshua/10-31 "Joshua 10:31-32 - Conquest of Lachish")), Eglon ([Joshua 10:34-35](/joshua/10-34 "Joshua 10:34-35 - Conquest of Eglon")), Hebron ([Joshua 10:36-37](/joshua/10-36 "Joshua 10:36-37 - Conquest of Hebron")), and finally Debir in this verse. The repeated formula "as he had done to X, so he did to Y" emphasizes the consistent and comprehensive nature of the judgment applied to each city, culminating in the complete subjugation of the southern region before the narrative shifts to the northern campaign.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The conquest described in Joshua took place during the Late Bronze Age (roughly 1550-1200 BC), a period characterized by city-states and frequent warfare in the Levant. The Canaanite inhabitants of the land were known for their polytheistic idolatry, including the worship of Baal and Asherah, and abhorrent practices such as child sacrifice, cultic prostitution, and various forms of immorality, which are condemned throughout the Pentateuch ([Leviticus 18:24-28](/leviticus/18-24 "Leviticus 18:24-28 - Abominable Practices of the Canaanites")). God's command for *herem* (Hebrew: חֵרֶם, _ḥērem_), or "devotion to destruction," was a unique and specific divine judgment against these nations, whose "iniquity was not yet complete" in Abraham's time but had reached its full measure by Joshua's era ([Genesis 15:16](/genesis/15-16 "Genesis 15:16 - The Iniquity of the Amorites")). This was not a general ancient warfare practice, but a divinely ordained act intended to prevent Israel's corruption by Canaanite religious and moral practices and to maintain the holiness of the Promised Land as God's dwelling place among His people ([Deuteronomy 7:1-6](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-6 - Command to Destroy Canaanites")).
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Joshua and the broader Old Testament narrative. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Judgment and Holiness**, demonstrating God's righteous wrath against profound human wickedness and His absolute intolerance for idolatry and moral corruption. The *herem* command underscores God's holiness and His commitment to purifying the land for His covenant people. Secondly, the verse emphasizes **Obedience to God's Commands**. Joshua's consistent and thorough execution of the *herem* in Debir, mirroring his actions in Hebron and Libnah, exemplifies faithful obedience to the divine mandate, even when the commands are severe and difficult ([Deuteronomy 20:16-18](/deuteronomy/20-16 "Deuteronomy 20:16-18 - Laws for Warfare and Herem")). This obedience is presented as a prerequisite for Israel's success and blessing. Lastly, Joshua 10:39 reinforces the **Fulfillment of God's Promises**. The systematic conquest and eradication of the Canaanite presence directly fulfilled God's ancient covenant promises to Abraham and his descendants to give them the land and drive out its inhabitants ([Genesis 12:7](/genesis/12-7 "Genesis 12:7 - God's Promise of Land to Abraham"); [Exodus 23:27-31](/exodus/23-27 "Exodus 23:27-31 - God's Promise to Drive Out Inhabitants")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Destroyed (Hebrew, _ḥāram'_):** The KJV phrase "utterly destroyed" translates the Hebrew verb חָרַם (_ḥāram_), which carries the theological meaning of "to devote," "to set apart," or "to put under the ban." In the context of warfare against the Canaanites, it signifies the complete consecration of a city and its inhabitants, often for destruction, as an act of divine judgment. This was not merely a military strategy but a religious act, ensuring that nothing from the idolatrous culture would remain to corrupt Israel. It implies a total separation from anything deemed an abomination to Yahweh, emphasizing God's absolute holiness and His demand for purity from His covenant people.
* **Smote (Hebrew, _nākhah'_):** The verb נָכָה (_nākhah_) means "to strike, smite, beat, wound, kill." When used with "edge of the sword," it describes the violent and decisive military action taken by the Israelites. It conveys the physical force and thoroughness of the conquest, highlighting the direct and often brutal means by which God's judgment was executed through His chosen instruments.
* **Left none remaining (Hebrew, _hish'ir'_ with negative):** The phrase "he left none remaining" comes from the verb הִשְׁאִיר (_hish'ir_), meaning "to leave over, allow to remain," used here with a negative particle. This emphasizes the absolute completeness of the *herem* command. It signifies that no survivors were permitted, no remnant of the original inhabitants or their idolatrous practices was to persist, ensuring the total purification of the land and the prevention of future spiritual contamination for Israel.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof;":** This clause refers to Debir, its king, and the surrounding towns or dependent settlements. It indicates the successful military capture and subjugation of the entire urban and regional entity, signifying a comprehensive victory beyond just the main city.
* **"and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that [were] therein;":** This describes the execution of the *herem* command. "Smote them with the edge of the sword" details the method of destruction, while "utterly destroyed all the souls" emphasizes the complete eradication of every living person within the captured territory. This was a direct fulfillment of God's command to eliminate the Canaanite population due to their severe wickedness.
* **"he left none remaining:":** This phrase reiterates and emphasizes the absolute thoroughness of the destruction. It underscores that the command of *herem* was carried out without exception, leaving no survivors who could potentially re-establish Canaanite idolatry or corrupt Israel.
* **"as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof;":** This clause draws a direct parallel between the conquest of Debir and the earlier conquest of Hebron ([Joshua 10:36-37](/joshua/10-36 "Joshua 10:36-37 - Conquest of Hebron")). It highlights the consistency of Joshua's actions and the uniform application of the *herem* command across different cities in the southern campaign, reinforcing the idea of a systematic divine judgment.
* **"as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.":** This further reinforces the pattern of thorough conquest by drawing another parallel, this time with Libnah ([Joshua 10:29-30](/joshua/10-29 "Joshua 10:29-30 - Conquest of Libnah")). The repetition emphasizes Joshua's unwavering obedience and the comprehensive nature of the campaign, ensuring that God's will for the land's purification was meticulously executed.

#### Literary Devices
Joshua 10:39 employs several literary devices to convey its message with force and clarity. **Repetition** is a prominent feature, particularly in the phrases "as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir" and "as he had done also to Libnah." This **Parallelism** serves to emphasize the systematic, consistent, and thorough nature of Joshua's conquest, highlighting his unwavering obedience to God's commands across multiple cities. It creates a sense of inevitability and completeness. The language of "utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining" uses **Hyperbole**, a common rhetorical device in ancient Near Eastern conquest accounts, to underscore the totality of the victory and the comprehensive nature of the *herem*. While the *herem* was a literal command, the phrasing conveys the absolute devastation and the complete removal of the enemy presence, leaving no doubt about the outcome. This emphatic language contributes to the overall tone of divine judgment and the fulfillment of prophecy.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 10:39 serves as a stark reminder of God's absolute holiness and His righteous judgment against profound human sin and idolatry. The *herem* command, executed with such thoroughness, was not an act of arbitrary cruelty but a unique, divinely ordained judgment against nations whose wickedness had reached its full measure, threatening to corrupt God's chosen people. It demonstrates that God takes sin seriously and will not tolerate practices that defile His creation or His covenant community. This passage foreshadows a broader biblical principle: God's ultimate victory over evil and His commitment to establishing a pure people and a holy dwelling place. While the direct application of *herem* is specific to Old Testament Israel's conquest of Canaan, the underlying theological truths about God's character—His justice, holiness, and intolerance for sin—remain eternally relevant.

* [Deuteronomy 9:5](/deuteronomy/9-5 "Deuteronomy 9:5 - Not for Your Righteousness")
* [Leviticus 18:24-25](/leviticus/18-24 "Leviticus 18:24-25 - Land Vomits Out Inhabitants")
* [Romans 1:18](/romans/1-18 "Romans 1:18 - God's Wrath Against Ungodliness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the historical context of the *herem* command is unique to ancient Israel's conquest of Canaan, Joshua 10:39 offers profound spiritual lessons for believers today. It compels us to consider the profound seriousness of sin and idolatry in God's eyes. Just as God commanded the thorough removal of corrupting influences from the Promised Land, so too are believers called to engage in a spiritual battle against sin and worldly influences within their own lives. We are to "put off the old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires" ([Ephesians 4:22](/ephesians/4-22 "Ephesians 4:22 - Put Off the Old Self")) and to "destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God" ([2 Corinthians 10:5](/2_corinthians/10-5 "2 Corinthians 10:5 - Taking Thoughts Captive")). This passage challenges us to examine our own hearts and lives, identifying any "idols" or sinful patterns that defile our relationship with God, and to ruthlessly "destroy" them through repentance, faith, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Our spiritual conquest is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil, requiring a similar thoroughness in obedience to God's word.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the thoroughness of God's judgment in Joshua 10:39 inform your understanding of His holiness and justice?**
* **In what ways might we, as New Testament believers, be called to "utterly destroy" spiritual idols or sinful habits in our own lives?**
* **What does Joshua's unwavering obedience teach us about the importance of following God's commands, even when they are difficult or counter-cultural?**

### FAQ
**Was the *herem* command in Joshua 10:39 an act of genocide?**

Answer: The *herem* command, as executed in Joshua 10:39 and elsewhere, involved the complete destruction of the Canaanite inhabitants of certain cities. From a modern humanitarian perspective, this appears to be genocide. However, biblically, it is presented as a unique, divinely ordained act of righteous judgment, not a general pattern for warfare or an endorsement of ethnic cleansing. God had warned these nations for centuries, and their iniquity (including child sacrifice, cultic prostitution, and extreme idolatry) had reached a point where His patience was exhausted ([Genesis 15:16](/genesis/15-16 "Genesis 15:16 - The Iniquity of the Amorites")). The purpose was twofold: to execute divine justice upon an exceedingly wicked people and to prevent the spiritual corruption of Israel, who were to be God's holy people in a land consecrated to Him ([Deuteronomy 7:1-6](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-6 - Command to Destroy Canaanites")). It was a specific, limited command for a particular time and place, not a universal moral principle for all generations.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Joshua 10:39 describes a historical act of physical conquest and divine judgment, it finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the spiritual victory achieved by Jesus Christ. Just as Joshua thoroughly conquered the enemies of Israel and cleansed the Promised Land, so Christ, the greater Joshua, has utterly defeated the spiritual enemies of humanity—sin, death, and the devil. The thoroughness of the *herem* in Debir foreshadows the comprehensive nature of Christ's triumph on the cross, where He "disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him" ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). Furthermore, the purification of the land for God's people points to Christ's work in cleansing His church, making us a holy people set apart for God ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ Cleanses the Church")). He "destroys" the power of sin in our lives, leaving "none remaining" of its dominion, so that we might live in the "promised land" of new life in Him ([Romans 6:6](/romans/6-6 "Romans 6:6 - Our Old Self Crucified")). Ultimately, Christ's final victory will culminate in a new heaven and new earth, where sin and its effects are completely eradicated, and "nothing unclean will ever enter it" ([Revelation 21:27](/revelation/21-27 "Revelation 21:27 - No Unclean Thing Enters New Jerusalem")), fulfilling the ultimate purpose of God's righteous judgment and purification.

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.

Cross-References

Joshua 10:37

And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that [were] therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that [were] therein.

Deuteronomy 3:3

So the LORD our God delivered into our hands Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none was left to him remaining.

Joshua 11:8

And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.

2 Kings 10:11

So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.

Obadiah 1:18

And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be [any] remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken [it].

Joshua 10:40

So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded.

Joshua 10:33

Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.