Joshua 10:35
And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
Eglon's one-day conquest, compared to Lachish's two-day siege, suggests either inferior fortifications or psychological collapse. Ancient warfare depended heavily on morale—when defenders believed their cause hopeless, resistance crumbled rapidly. News of Lachish's fall (the region's strongest fortress) likely shattered Eglon's will to resist. Psychological warfare, achieved through reputation and demonstrated power, often proved more decisive than siegecraft.
The southern campaign's total duration probably spanned only days or weeks—a remarkably compressed timeline for conquering multiple fortified cities. This speed prevented Canaanite regrouping, maintained Israelite momentum, and demonstrated divine favor. Ancient Near Eastern conquest accounts typically described campaigns spanning seasons or years; Joshua's rapid victories stood apart, testifying to Yahweh's unique power.
Archaeological evidence for Late Bronze Age destructions in the Shephelah region broadly supports the biblical narrative's timeframe, though precise site identifications and dating remain debated. The pattern of destruction followed by gap in occupation, then Iron Age Israelite settlement, appears at multiple tells, consistent with conquest followed by Israelite territorial allotment.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's ability to collapse normal timelines (one-day conquest instead of month-long siege) encourage you when facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles?
- What does the consistent application of <em>herem</em> across all cities teach about God's impartial justice and the certainty of His judgments?
- How should the typological connection between Joshua's conquest and final judgment shape your urgency in evangelism and personal holiness?
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Analysis & Commentary
And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword—Eglon fell in a single day, faster than even Lachish's two-day siege. The phrase "on that day" (bayom hahu, בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא) emphasizes the immediacy and decisiveness of victory. God's power compressed siege timelines that normally required months or years into hours. This acceleration of conquest demonstrated supernatural intervention—human military capacity alone could not explain such rapid success against fortified cities.
And all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish—the double emphasis "that day" appears twice, stressing the completeness and speed of judgment. The Hebrew hecharim (הֶחֱרִים, "utterly destroyed") again invokes herem, the irrevocable devotion to destruction. The comparative phrase "according to all that he had done to Lachish" maintains the pattern of consistent justice—same standard, same application, same result.
From a redemptive-historical perspective, the repeated herem executions prefigure the eschatological day when God will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:31). Just as Joshua executed judgment "on that day," so Christ will judge "on that day" (2 Timothy 1:12, 18; 4:8). The Old Testament conquest operates typologically, pointing forward to final judgment when all wickedness faces complete eradication and God's kingdom is fully established (Revelation 21:1-8).