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.

JOSHUA 10:28KJV
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Joshua 10:28 (KJV)

What does Joshua 10:28 mean?

Joshua 10:28 describes how Joshua captured the city of Makkedah in a single day, killed its king and all the people in it, and left no survivors, treating the king of Makkedah the same way he had treated the king of Jericho. The verse emphasizes the complete destruction carried out by Joshua and the Israelites during their conquest of Canaan.

Joshua is leading the Israelites in battle as they take over cities in the land of Canaan, following what they believe are God’s instructions. The verse records a specific event where Joshua’s forces defeat Makkedah, kill everyone in the city, and destroy its king, just as they had done previously in Jericho. This verse is part of a larger narrative showing the systematic conquest of the land.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 10:28

  • The word for "destroyed" is הֶחֱרִים (hecherim), often translated as "utterly destroyed" or "devoted to destruction." This word signals that everything in the city was set apart for destruction, not just defeated in battle.
  • The word for "souls" is נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh), which literally means "life" or "person." Here, it highlights that every person in the city was killed—no one was spared.
  • The phrase "edge of the sword" uses פִּי (pi, "mouth") and חֶרֶב (cherev, "sword"), a Hebrew way of saying "by the sword’s blade," emphasizing the violence and totality of the attack.

Why Joshua 10:28 matters

  • Joshua 10:28 clarifies that the destruction of Makkedah was total, not partial, which helps explain the seriousness and finality of these battles in the conquest narrative.
  • The verse connects the fate of Makkedah’s king to that of Jericho’s king, showing a pattern in Joshua’s campaign and reinforcing the methodical approach of the Israelites.
  • This verse helps readers see the historical context of ancient warfare and the specific commands the Israelites believed they were following, which can be important for understanding the tone and actions described in Joshua.

Where else these words appear

“Makkedah” Hebrew H4719 · used in 8 verses

  • Joshua 10:10 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 Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.
  • Joshua 10:17 And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.
  • Joshua 10:29 Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah:

“remain” Hebrew H8300 · used in 28 verses

  • Numbers 21:35 So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land.
  • Joshua 10:39 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.
  • Isaiah 1:9 Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

“destroyed” Hebrew H2763 · used in 48 verses

  • Exodus 22:20 He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
  • Joshua 10:1 Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek 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;
  • 1 Samuel 15:20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

“Jericho” Hebrew H3405 · used in 53 verses

  • Numbers 22:1 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
  • Joshua 4:19 And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.
  • Joshua 18:21 Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz,