STRONG AND COURAGEOUS WITH GOD

Passage: Joshua 10:16-43

Key verse: 25

NIV

Five Amorite Kings Killed

16 Now the five kings had fled(A) and hidden in the cave at Makkedah. 17 When Joshua was told that the five kings had been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah, 18 he said, “Roll large rocks up to the mouth of the cave, and post some men there to guard it. 19 But don’t stop; pursue your enemies! Attack them from the rear and don’t let them reach their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.”

20 So Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely,(B) but a few survivors managed to reach their fortified cities.(C) 21 The whole army then returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one uttered a word against the Israelites.

22 Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.” 23 So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. 24 When they had brought these kings(D) to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, “Come here and put your feet(E) on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and placed their feet(F) on their necks.

25 Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous.(G) This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.” 26 Then Joshua put the kings to death and exposed their bodies on five poles, and they were left hanging on the poles until evening.

27 At sunset(H) Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the poles and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large rocks, which are there to this day.(I)

Southern Cities Conquered

28 That day Joshua took Makkedah. He put the city and its king to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it. He left no survivors.(J) And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.(K)

29 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah(L) and attacked it. 30 The Lord also gave that city and its king into Israel’s hand. The city and everyone in it Joshua put to the sword. He left no survivors there. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.

31 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish;(M) he took up positions against it and attacked it. 32 The Lord gave Lachish into Israel’s hands, and Joshua took it on the second day. The city and everyone in it he put to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah. 33 Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezer(N) had come up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army—until no survivors were left.

34 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Lachish to Eglon;(O) they took up positions against it and attacked it. 35 They captured it that same day and put it to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it, just as they had done to Lachish.

36 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron(P) and attacked it. 37 They took the city and put it to the sword, together with its king, its villages and everyone(Q) in it. They left no survivors. Just as at Eglon, they totally destroyed it and everyone in it.

38 Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned around and attacked Debir.(R) 39 They took the city, its king and its villages, and put them to the sword. Everyone in it they totally destroyed. They left no survivors. They did to Debir and its king as they had done to Libnah and its king and to Hebron.(S)

40 So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev,(T) the western foothills and the mountain slopes,(U) together with all their kings.(V) He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded.(W) 41 Joshua subdued them from Kadesh Barnea(X) to Gaza(Y) and from the whole region of Goshen(Z) to Gibeon. 42 All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought(AA) for Israel.

43 Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.(AB)

Read full chapter
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Five Amorite Kings Executed

16 These five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at (A)Makkedah. 17 And it was told to Joshua, “The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.” 18 And Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave and set men by it to guard them, 19 but do not stay there yourselves. Pursue your enemies; (B)attack their rear guard. Do not let them enter their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.” 20 When Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished striking them with a great blow (C)until they were wiped out, and when the remnant that remained of them had entered into the fortified cities, 21 then all the people returned safe to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah. (D)Not a man moved his tongue against any of the people of Israel.

22 Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me from the cave.” 23 And they did so, and brought those five kings out to him from the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. 24 And when they brought those kings out to Joshua, Joshua summoned all the men of Israel and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, “Come near; put your feet on the necks of these kings.” Then they came near and put their feet on their necks. 25 And Joshua said to them, (E)“Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. (F)For thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.” 26 And afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hanged them on five trees. And (G)they hung on the trees until evening. 27 But at the time of the going down of the sun, Joshua commanded, and (H)they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and they set large stones against the mouth of the cave, which remain to this very day.

28 As for (I)Makkedah, Joshua captured it on that day and struck it, and its king, with the edge of the sword. He devoted to destruction every person in it; he left none remaining. And he did to the king of Makkedah (J)just as he had done to the king of Jericho.

Conquest of Southern Canaan

29 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Makkedah to (K)Libnah and fought against Libnah. 30 And the Lord gave it also and its king into the hand of Israel. And he struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it; he left none remaining in it. And he did to its king (L)as he had done to the king of Jericho.

31 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Libnah to (M)Lachish and laid siege to it and fought against it. 32 And the Lord gave Lachish into the hand of Israel, and he captured it on the second day and struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it, as he had done to Libnah.

33 Then Horam king of (N)Gezer came up to help Lachish. And Joshua struck him and his people, until he left none remaining.

34 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Lachish to (O)Eglon. And they laid siege to it and fought against it. 35 And they captured it on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword. And he devoted every person in it to destruction that day, as he had done to Lachish.

36 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to (P)Hebron. And they fought against it 37 and captured it and struck it with the edge of the sword, and its king and its towns, and every person in it. He left none remaining, as he had done to Eglon, and devoted it to destruction and every person in it.

38 Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned back to (Q)Debir and fought against it 39 and he captured it with its king and all its towns. And they struck them with the edge of the sword and devoted to destruction every person in it; he left none remaining. Just as he had done to Hebron and to Libnah and its king, so he did to Debir and to its king.

40 So Joshua struck the whole land, the hill country and the Negeb and the lowland (R)and the slopes, and all their kings. He left none remaining, (S)but devoted to destruction all that breathed, just as the Lord God of Israel commanded. 41 And Joshua struck them from (T)Kadesh-barnea as far as Gaza, and all the country of (U)Goshen, as far as Gibeon. 42 And Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, (V)because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. 43 (W)Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

Read full chapter
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. The call to be strong and courageous (16-27) The five Amorite kings were held in a cave while the destruction of their armies was completed. Joshua brought out the kings and put them to death in dramatic fashion. The army feared about what lay ahead. If these five kings did this, what could they expect in the future? There are times when we get fearful and discouraged as we are drawn into the will of God. But we must remember that God is with us and His power will uphold us. 2. God proves there is nothing to fear (28-43) Joshua and his army swept across the southern region. Thanks to God, they were experiencing total victory, fulfilling his promise to plant his people in the land. When it is God's right time, no opposing force can stop the Lord and his plan to bless.

Prayer: Lord, as you draw me into deeper commitment, fear and discouragement harass me. But there is nothing to fear. Your guidance is perfect.

One Word: Drawing nearer to God in confidence