10:34-39
The conquest continued with Eglon. “They took up positions against it and attacked it” is a phrase that appears several times. There is also a great emphasis on the cities and people being completely destroyed. Even allowing for an element of hyperbole, this does seem repulsive to us. We must remember that it was done in obedience to the Lord. We must also remember that these were not quaint little villages with quaint customs. Their customs quite possibly included child sacrifice. And so Hebron and Debir suffer the same fate. There is also mention that the kings were killed. There was to be no favouritism.
10:40-43
The conquest of the southern region was now complete, and the emphasis is on this being done in accordance with the Lord’s instructions. Evidence that “totally destroyed” etc involves some hyperbole is given in 10:41 where it says “Joshua subdued them”. Israel was victorious because the Lord fought for them. Having completed this work Joshua returned to Gilgal.
To put all this in terms that are relevant for our Christian lives, we are to give all of our lives over to Christ, not just parts of our lives.
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