Lies and Deception
trines of devils” (1 Ti. 4:1).
3 (9:14–17) Prayerlessness, Results of—Prayer, Lack of—Seeking, the LORD, Failure of—Deception, How to Conquer—Lying, How to Conquer: there was the tragic weakness of God’s people in facing deception and lies. They failed to pray, failed to seek the counsel of the LORD. Consequently, Joshua and his officials had no way to know that they were being deceived.
OUTLINE
SCRIPTURE
3. The tragic weakness of God’s people in facing deception & lies: A lack of prayer, of failing to seek the LORD
a. The failure to consult God
b. The treaty of peace made with the deceivers, the Gibeonites
14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.
15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
c. The leaders ratified the treaty
d. The deception & lies discovered within three days
16 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.
e. The Israelites sent military forces to all four cities of the Gibeonites
17 And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjath-jearim.
The result of the deception was tragic: a treaty of peace was signed with the deceitful Gibeonites. The leaders of Israel ratified the treaty. And note, the deception and lies were not discovered for three full days. The response of the Israelites was immediate. They sent military forces to all four cities of the Gibeonites: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.
Thought 1. As we walk throughout life, we are always facing the enemies of deception and lies, of exaggeration and half-truths. God does not want us deceived and misled. He does not want us …
• making commitments to people who deceive and lie
• giving money to deceitful organizations
• buying merchandise that is deceptively advertised
• following false, deceitful movements, whether religious or secular
• giving our loyalties to false ministers and deceitful workers
• being lured into a lifestyle that will defeat and destroy us
• being enticed into immorality, greed, covetousness, gluttony, anger, hostility, abuse, lawlessness, violence and other such behaviors
God wants to protect us from deception and lies, from being misled, defeated, and destroyed. But there is only one way to guard against these things: we must seek the LORD! We must seek His presence and counsel, His guidance and knowledge. And we must constantly be seeking Him as we walk step by step, day by day. God’s presence is constantly needed to guard against deceitfulness and dishonesty. God and God alone is our protection against the enemy who seeks to deceive and mislead us.
“Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Lu. 1:78–79).
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come” (Jn. 16:13).
“The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way” (Ps. 25:9).
“For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death” (Ps. 48:14).
“Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory” (Ps. 73:24).
“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Is. 30:21).
“And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them” (Is. 42:16).
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Mt. 7:7).
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mt. 26:41).
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (Jn. 15:7).
“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually” (1 Chr. 16:11).
“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Ti. 1:12).
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Pe. 5:7).
“He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him” (Ps. 91:15).
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Is. 41:10).
4 (9:18–27) Deception, How to Overcome—Lying, How to Overcome: there were the steps necessary to correct and overcome the deception and lies. Throughout this particular point, note the emphasis upon keeping and honoring one’s word. Three steps are taken to overcome the deceit of the Gibeonites.
OUTLINE
SCRIPTURE
4. The steps necessary to correct & overcome the deception & lies
a. Step 1: Protecting & honoring God’s name
1) The Israelites grumbled against the leaders
18 And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
2) The leaders would not attack because they had sworn “by the LORD”: God’s name & honor were at stake
19 But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
b. Step 2: Seeking to avoid God’s wrath & judgment
1) The leaders determined not to break their word, their oath
20 This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
2) The leaders laid plans for dealing with the deception, for subjecting the enemy
21 And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.
c. Step 3: Rebuking the deceivers & guarding against future deception
1) The summons & rebuke of the Gibeonites by Joshua
22 And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?
2) The judgment of the Gibeonite deceivers: To always work as servants in the house of God
23 Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.
3) The reason for the Gibeonite deception
• They feared for their lives
24 And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
• They willingly, voluntarily surrendered to serve the Israelites
• They were saved from the angry soldiers by Joshua
25 And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.
26 And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.
4) The protection against the deceivers: Were made servants in the Tabernacle (this led them to worship the LORD & kept them from spreading idolatry among Israel)
27 And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.
a. The first step taken to overcome the deception and lie was critical: the step of protecting and honoring God’s name (vv.18–19). God’s name was the major concern of the officials. Note that the Israelites grumbled against Joshua and the cabinet because they had allowed themselves to be deceived. However, the cabinet was not going to attack the Gibeonites. The reason is striking: they had sworn to the peace treaty, given their word in the name of the LORD. God’s name and honor were at stake; consequently they could not retaliate against the Gibeonites. They had to honor God’s name by doing exactly what they had promised, that is, keeping the peace agreement. By keeping their word, they proved their loyalty to God. They demonstrated that God is a God of truth, a God who keeps His word and promises—a God who expects His followers to keep their word and promises also. The LORD’s people are to be moral and just in all their dealings; consequently, this message had to be conveyed both to the Israelites and to all other peoples. But this was not all.
b. The second step necessary to overcome deception and lies was also critical, that of avoiding God’s wrath and judgment (20–21). Joshua and the officials had made an oath in God’s name. Consequently, the treaty had to be kept because it was God’s treaty, a peace treaty made in His name. Thus, their loyalty was due God, not so much the Gibeonites. If Joshua and the leaders broke the covenant, they would face the wrath and judgment of God, for they had given their word in the name of the LORD. Therefore they had to honor God’s name by keeping their word. To dishonor God’s name by breaking the treaty would have put them under the judgment of God.
For this reason, the leaders determined not to break their word but to let the Gibeonites live. But note: they laid plans for dealing with the deception, laid plans to protect the Israelites from future deception and defeat at the hands of the Gibeonites. They appointed the Gibeonites to handle the menial duties for the house of God (Tabernacle). Thereafter, the Gibeonites would be the woodcutters and water carriers for the Tabernacle.
c. The third step necessary to overcome deception and lies is that of rebuke and of guarding against future deception (vv.22–27).
1) Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and rebuked them publicly (v.22).
2) Joshua then executed the judgment against the Gibeonite deceivers (v.23). They were always to serve in the menial duties of the Tabernacle. They were always to be in a position of subordination, never elevated to the position of an ally. The deceivers were not in fact allies, but rather enemies. Their deception and lies had proven they were enemies, scheming to mislead God’s people. Consequently, they had to suffer the judgment of subjection and service (v.23).
3) The Gibeonites explained why they had deceived the Israelites: because they had feared for their lives. Note that they willingly, voluntarily surrendered to serve the people of God. Because of their willing surrender, Joshua was able to save them from the angry soldiers (vv.24–26).
4) Now note the protection against future deception and the evil influence of the Gibeonites (v.27). They were made servants in the Tabernacle itself, the very worship center of God’s holy presence. This meant that the Gibeonites would focus their lives—all their attention and work—upon the LORD and His worship. This would keep them from spreading their false worship and idolatry among the Israelites. And it would mean that eventually the Gibeonites would become worshipers of the true and living God, the LORD God Himself.
Warren W. Wiersbe points out that there is nothing in Scripture to indicate that the Gibeonites ever created any problem for the Israelites. In fact, over 500 of them returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity (Ezr. 2:43–58; 8:20). This would seem to indicate that they had become true followers and worshipers of the LORD.
The point to see is this: by assimilating the Gibeonites into the society of Israel, God’s people had to protect themselves against any evil influence of the Gibeonite’s. This the Israelites did by focusing the very lives and work of the Gibeonites around the Tabernacle. Instead of these evil deceivers influencing God’s people, God Himself would confront the Gibeonites with His very presence in the Tabernacle. Day by day, they would be confronted by the presence of God. The righteous influence of God would be influencing them instead of their confronting the people of God with their evil influences and false worship. This was the way Joshua and the leaders protected God’s people against any future deception and lies of the Gibeonites.
Thought 1. How can we overcome deception and lies? How can we guard ourselves so that we will not be deceived or misled? By taking the very same three steps that Joshua and the Israelites took.
(1) We must seek to protect and honor God’s name. When we honor our word, we honor God. When we keep our promises, we honor God. And when we honor God, God dwells with us. He gives us His presence and guidance. He counsels us and protects us against deceitfulness and dishonesty. His Spirit guards and protects us, giving us clear insight into deception. God enables us to see when people are attempting to deceive us. He gives us insight to see lies, and He gives us the power to conquer deception and lies.
Simply stated, when we keep our word, we honor God. And when we honor God, God gives us His presence and guidance. He protects us against deception.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Mt. 5:16).
“Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Lu. 1:78–79).
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (Jn. 15:7).
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come” (Jn. 16:13).
“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another” (Ep. 4:25).
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness” (Ep. 6:12–14).
“For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death” (Ps. 48:14).
“The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment” (Pr. 12:19).
“O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth” (Is. 25:1).
“These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates” (Zec. 8:16).
“The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity” (Mal. 2:6).
(2) We must seek to avoid God’s wrath and judgment. If we fail to keep our promises, we ourselves become liars—false promisers. Failing to keep our word means that we have lied. We were not truthful, and we deceived some person. The person took our word, our promise, and acted upon it. That is, the person made a promise or did something or built something or purchased something based upon our word. But all to no avail. For what he acted upon was our false promise, our lie.
God condemns all liars, every single person who fails to keep his word or promise. Integrity, truthfulness is one of the foundation stones of society and of relationships. Without truthfulness, everything is based upon falsehood and lies and deception. And the result is most tragic: relationships in society crumble. Relationships in society cannot exist apart from truthfulness. For this reason, God’s judgment will fall upon all deceivers and liars.
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Re. 21:8).
“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds” (Col. 3:9).
“But the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped” (Ps. 63:11).
“Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing [lying]: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man” (Ps. 5:6).
“He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight” (Ps. 101:7).
“Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight” (Pr. 12:22).
“A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape” (Pr. 19:5).
“The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death” (Pr. 21:6).
(3) We must rebuke those who deceive us, and we must guard against future deception. We must set up a wall of protection against all deception and lies, lest we be misled and base our lives upon falsehoods. If we base our lives upon deception and falsehood, our lives will crumble, be defeated and destroyed.
Note this fact: the only sure protection is God Himself. Just as the Gibeonites had to be focused upon the LORD, so we must be focused upon the LORD. We must continually walk in the LORD, keep our minds upon Him, continually seeking His presence and guidance. As we walk in the LORD, He promises to look after us, to guard and protect us against the enemies of deception and lies.
“But there shall not an hair of your head perish” (Lu. 21:18).
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Pe. 5:7).
“The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace” (Ex. 14:14).
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars” (2 Chr. 16:9).
“And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer” (2 S. 22:2).
“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee” (Ps. 5:11).
“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower” (Ps. 18:2).
“Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me” (Ps. 31:2).
“Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues” (Ps. 31:20).
“Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah” (Ps. 32:7).
“The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them” (Ps. 34:7).
“Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity” (Ps. 64:2).
“I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust” (Ps. 91:2).
“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler” (Ps. 91:4).
“Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word” (Ps. 119:114).
“Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me” (Ps. 143:9).
“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him” (Na. 1:7).
CHAPTER 10
E. The Conquest of a Southern Coalition & of South Canaan: Victory Through Loyalty—An Example of Strong Loyalty, 10:1–43
1. Joshua’s loyalty in keeping his word, promises, commitments
a. The king & people of Jerusalem were stricken with terrible fearDS1
1) They had heard of Israel’s conquest of Ai & Jericho
2) They had heard of the treaty between Israel & Gibeon
Now it came to pass, when Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;
3) They were very concerned over Gibeon
• Its strategic importance
• Its size
• Its well-trained, experienced army
2 That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.
b. The king of Jerusalem formed a coalition of five southern Amorite kings
3 Wherefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying,
1) The purpose: To recapture Gibeon as a strategic defense against Israel
4 Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.
2) The march & attack against Gibeon
5 Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.
c. The Gibeonites appealed to Joshua to honor their treaty: To come quickly & save them from the coalition of the enemy
6 And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.
d. The loyalty of Joshua: He marched to face the enemy & honor the treaty—his commitment, his word & promise
7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.
2. Joshua’s loyalty in prayer (see 12, 14)
a. The session of prayer & God’s assurances of victory
8 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.
b. The brilliant strategy of Joshua: An all-night march & a surprise attack
9 Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.
c. The answer from the LORD that caused panic among the enemy
1) The panic gave Israel a great victory: Chased them all the way to Azekah & Makkedah
10 And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Beth-horon, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.
2) The panic was caused by a hailstorm
• The storm hit the enemy as they fled
• The hail was so large it killed more than the swords of the Israelites
11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Beth-horon, that the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.
d. The LORD answered by causing the sun & moon to stand stillDS2
1) Joshua had prayed for the miracle: Needed more daylight to defeat the enemy
12 Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
2) God answered the prayer: Caused the sun & moon to stand still until the enemy was defeated
• Is verified in the “Book of Jashar”
• Lasted about one day
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
e. The LORD listened & answered Joshua’s prayer in a staggering, confounding way: There has never been a day like that day, before or after
14 And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.
f. The result of answered prayer: Victory—the army returned to Gilgal
15 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.
3. Joshua’s loyalty in pursuing total victory, in persevering
16 But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.
a. The flight of the five kings
1) Joshua was informed that they were hiding in the cave
2) Joshua commanded that the cave be closed up with large rocks & guarded
17 And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.
18 And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them:
b. The command of Joshua to his army: Pursue the enemy to wipe them out
19 And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hand.
c. The spectacular, stunning victory: Destroyed all five armies—all except a few who escaped back to their fortified cities
20 And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities.
d. The result of the striking victory
1) The army returned safely
2) The enemy feared Israel
21 And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.
e. The dramatic symbol of victory
1) Joshua ordered the five kings to be brought out of the cave & summoned the army to gather together
22 Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave.
23 And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.
2) Joshua ordered his commanders to place their feet on the necks of the five kings: A symbol of victory for the conquerors & of humiliation for the defeated
24 And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.
f. The dramatic charge to be strong & courageous
1) Declared while their feet were on the kings’ necks
2) Declared that the LORD would humiliate all His enemies
25 And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.
g. The dramatic warning of God’s rejection & judgment upon all who oppose Him
1) The five kings were executed & left hanging on trees until evening: A symbol & warning of God’s rejection & judgment
2) The bodies were sealed in the cave as a memorial: To warn all the unrighteous & ungodly of the world
26 And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.
27 And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave’s mouth, which remain until this very day.
4. Joshua’s loyalty in waging constant warfare against the enemy, in being faithful
a. Joshua conquered Makkedah
1) Utterly destroyed everyone
2) Executed the king as a warning (see vv.22–27)
28 And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho.
b. Joshua conquered Libnah
29 Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah:
1) The LORD gave the victory
2) The population was executed
3) The king was executed as a warning (see vv.22–27)
30 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.
c. Joshua conquered Lachish
31 And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it:
1) The city was taken in one day
2) The population was executed
32 And the LORD delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah.
d. Joshua defeated king Horam of Gezer, the most important city of the area: Had come up to help defend Lachish
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.
e. Joshua conquered Eglon
34 And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it, and fought against it:
1) The city was taken in one day
2) The population was executed
35 And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.
f. Joshua conquered Hebron
36 And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron; and they fought against it:
1) The king & population of the city & villages were all executed
2) The city itself was destroyed
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.
g. Joshua conquered Debir
38 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it:
1) The king & population of the city & villages were all executed
2) The city & king were destroyed as a warning of God’s rejection & judgment (see vv.22–27)
39 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.
5. Joshua’s loyalty resulted in conquering a large part of the promised land: A picture of victory over spiritual enemies
a. The territory conquered
b. The obedience of Joshua: Executed the population as a symbol & warning of God’s judgment upon the evil of the world
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.
c. The outer boundaries
• South: Kadesh-Barnea
• North: Gaza
• East of Jordan: From Goshen to Gibeon
41 And Joshua smote them from Kadesh-barnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.
d. The success of the campaign: Was conquered in one campaign because the LORD fought for His people
42 And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.
6. Joshua’s loyalty in establishing a base camp for physical & spiritual renewal
43 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.