
Text -- Joshua 10:40 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
That is, all mankind, they reserved the cattle for their own uses.

Wesley: Jos 10:40 - -- This is added for the vindication of the Israelites, whom God would not have to suffer in their reputation for executing his commands; and therefore h...
This is added for the vindication of the Israelites, whom God would not have to suffer in their reputation for executing his commands; and therefore he acquits them of that cruelty, which they might be thought guilty of, and ascribes it to his own just indignation. And hereby was typified the final destruction of all the impenitent enemies of the Lord Jesus, who having slighted the riches of his grace, must for ever feel the weight of his wrath.
All the country of the hills - See the note on Deu 1:7

Clarke: Jos 10:40 - -- Destroyed all that breathed - Every person found in arms who continued to resist; these were all destroyed, - those who submitted were spared: but m...
Calvin -> Jos 10:40
Calvin: Jos 10:40 - -- 40.So Joshua smote all the country, etc Here the divine authority is again interposed in order completely to acquit Joshua of any charge of cruelty. ...
40.So Joshua smote all the country, etc Here the divine authority is again interposed in order completely to acquit Joshua of any charge of cruelty. Had he proceeded of his own accord to commit an indiscriminate massacre of women and children, no excuse could have exculpated him from the guilt of detestable cruelty, cruelty surpassing anything of which we read as having been perpetrated by savage tribes scarcely raised above the level of the brutes. But that at which all would otherwise be justly horrified, it becomes them to embrace with reverence, as proceeding from God. Clemency is justly praised as one of the principal virtues; but it is the clemency of those who moderate their wrath when they have been injured, and when they would have been justified, as individuals, in shedding blood. But as God had destined the swords of his people for the slaughter of the Amorites, Joshua could do nothing else than obey his command.
By this fact, then, not only are all mouths stopped, but all minds also are restrained from presuming to pass censure. When any one hears it said that Joshua slew all who came in his way without distinction, although they threw down their arms and suppliantly begged for mercy, the calmest minds are aroused by the bare and simple statement, but when it is added, that so God had commanded, there is no more ground for obloquy against him, than there is against those who pronounce sentence on criminals. Though, in our judgment at least, the children and many of the women also were without blame, let us remember that the judgment-seat of heaven is not subject to our laws. Nay, rather when we see how the green plants are thus burned, let us, who are dry wood, fear a heavier judgment for ourselves. And certainly, any man who will thoroughly examine himself, will find that he is deserving of a hundred deaths. Why, then, should not the Lord perceive just ground for one death in any infant which has only passed from its mother’s womb? In vain shall we murmur or make noisy complaint, that he has doomed the whole offspring of an accursed race to the same destruction; the potter will nevertheless have absolute power over his own vessels, or rather over his own clay. 108
The last verse 109 confirms the observation already made, that the fixed station of the whole people was in Gilgal; and that the soldiers who had gone out to war, returned thither, both that they might rest from their fatigues, and place their booty in safety. It would not have been proper to allow them to be more widely scattered till the casting of the lot had shown where each was to have his permanent abode.
TSK -> Jos 10:40
TSK: Jos 10:40 - -- all the country : Josh. 15:21-63, Jos 18:21-28, Jos 19:1-8, Jos 19:40-48
utterly : Jos 10:35, Jos 10:37; 1Ki 15:29; Psa 9:17; 2Th 1:7-9
as the Lord : ...
all the country : Josh. 15:21-63, Jos 18:21-28, Jos 19:1-8, Jos 19:40-48
utterly : Jos 10:35, Jos 10:37; 1Ki 15:29; Psa 9:17; 2Th 1:7-9
as the Lord : Jos 6:17, Jos 8:2, Jos 8:27, Jos 9:24; Exo 23:31-33, Exo 34:12; Deu 7:2-16, Deu 26:16, Deu 26:17

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Jos 10:40
Barnes: Jos 10:40 - -- See Jos 9:1. "The south"was the Negeb Num 13:17. Render "the springs""slopes."The word here means the district of undulating ground between "the val...
Poole -> Jos 10:40
Poole: Jos 10:40 - -- All that breathed i.e. all mankind, by a synecdoche; for they reserved the cattle for their own uses.
As the Lord God of Israel commanded: this is ...
All that breathed i.e. all mankind, by a synecdoche; for they reserved the cattle for their own uses.
As the Lord God of Israel commanded: this is added for the vindication of the Israelites, whom God would not have to suffer in their reputation for executing his commands; and therefore he acquits them of that implacable hatred and heinous cruelty which they might be thought guilty of, and ascribes it to himself and his own just indignation against this most wicked people.
Haydock -> Jos 10:40
Haydock: Jos 10:40 - -- Hills of Judea. ---
South of the promised land. ---
Plain. Hebrew, Sephela, a flat country near Eleutheropolis. (St. Jerome in Abd. i. 19; 1 Ma...
Hills of Judea. ---
South of the promised land. ---
Plain. Hebrew, Sephela, a flat country near Eleutheropolis. (St. Jerome in Abd. i. 19; 1 Machabees xii. 38.) ---
Asedoth, "of the springs." ---
Remains. God ordered these people to be utterly destroyed, in punishment of their manifold abominations; and that they might not draw the Israelites into the like sins. (Challoner)
Gill -> Jos 10:40
Gill: Jos 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,.... That part of the land of ...
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,.... That part of the land of Canaan which lay southward, and consisted of hills and vales; which abounded with springs, and was a well watered country, and agrees with the description Moses gives of it, though he never saw it, Deu 8:7,
he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed; that is, all human creatures; for as for the cattle, they were spared as a prey:
as the Lord God of Israel commanded; this law is extant, Deu 20:16; and which is here observed to clear the Israelites from the charge of cruelty and inhumanity; since what they did was not of themselves, nor from a private spirit of revenge, nor a greedy desire after the substance of the inhabitants; but in obedience to the command of God, and who ordered this as a righteous punishment of those people for their gross abominations of idolatry, incest, &c. see Lev 18:1.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Jos 10:1-43
TSK Synopsis: Jos 10:1-43 - --1 Five kings war against Gibeon.6 Joshua rescues it.10 God fights against them with hailstones.12 The sun and moon stand still at the word of Joshua.1...
MHCC -> Jos 10:28-43
MHCC: Jos 10:28-43 - --Joshua made speed in taking these cities. See what a great deal of work may be done in a little time, if we will be diligent, and improve our opportun...
Matthew Henry -> Jos 10:28-43
Matthew Henry: Jos 10:28-43 - -- We are here informed how Joshua improved the late glorious victory he had obtained and the advantages he had gained by it, and to do this well is a ...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Jos 10:40-41
Keil-Delitzsch: Jos 10:40-41 - --
Summary of the Conquest of the Whole of Southern Canaan . - In the further prosecution of his victory over the five allied kings, Joshua smote the ...
Constable -> Jos 5:13--13:1; Jos 10:28-43
Constable: Jos 5:13--13:1 - --C. Possession of the land 5:13-12:24
Before Israel entered the land of Canaan, God had been preparing fo...
