Joshua 10:19

Authorized King James Version

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.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְאַתֶּם֙
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
#2
אַֽל
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
#3
תַּעֲמֹ֔דוּ
And stay
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
#4
רִדְפוּ֙
ye not but pursue
to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively [of time] gone by)
#5
אַֽחֲרֵ֣י
after
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
#6
אֹֽיְבֵיכֶ֔ם
your enemies
hating; an adversary
#7
וְזִנַּבְתֶּ֖ם
and smite the hindmost
to curtail, i.e., cut off the rear
#8
אוֹתָ֑ם
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#9
אַֽל
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
#10
נְתָנָ֛ם
hath delivered
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
#11
לָבוֹא֙
them not to enter
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#12
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#13
עָ֣רֵיהֶ֔ם
into their cities
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
#14
כִּ֧י
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
#15
נְתָנָ֛ם
hath delivered
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
#16
יְהוָ֥ה
for the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#17
אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֖ם
your God
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
#18
בְּיֶדְכֶֽם׃
them into your hand
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Joshua Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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