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.
JOSHUA 10:37KJVWhat does Joshua 10:37 mean?
Joshua 10:37 describes how Joshua and the Israelites captured the city of Hebron, killed its king and all its inhabitants, and destroyed all the surrounding towns, leaving no survivors, just as they had done to the city of Eglon earlier. The verse emphasizes the complete destruction carried out during this conquest.
In context, Joshua is leading the Israelites in a military campaign through southern Canaan. This verse is part of a summary showing the thoroughness of their actions as they take city after city. The language highlights that Joshua followed the same pattern of total destruction ("utterly destroyed") as with previous cities, underlining the seriousness and finality of these battles.
The Hebrew behind Joshua 10:37
- "Smote" (נָכָה, nākhāh): This word means to strike or hit, often with deadly force. In this context, it underscores the violence and decisiveness of the attack on Hebron and its people.
- "Edge" (פֶּה, peh): Literally meaning "mouth," this word is used in Hebrew to refer to the "edge" or "mouth" of the sword, painting a vivid picture of the sword as if it were devouring.
- "Souls" (נֶפֶשׁ, nefesh): This word refers to people or living beings. Here, it stresses that every person in the city was included in the destruction, not just the leaders or soldiers.
- "Destroyed" (חָרַם, khāram): This term means to devote to destruction or to set apart for complete destruction, often for religious reasons. Its use here signals that the destruction was total and carried out as an act of dedication or judgment.
Why Joshua 10:37 matters
- The verse clarifies that the destruction was not limited to the main city but included all its surrounding towns and inhabitants, showing the scale of the conquest.
- By repeating the actions done to Eglon, the verse connects this event to a broader pattern in Joshua’s campaign, emphasizing consistency in following commands.
- The use of strong words for destruction and completeness helps readers understand the seriousness of these events and the mindset of the Israelites as they entered the land.